A teacher describes how she ran for public office with her sixth grade class managing her campaign as part of a hands-on civics lesson in democracy, in an account that examines the follies of America's two-party political system.

The remarkable story of a teacher who ran a grassroots campaign for Congress . . . from her sixth-grade classroom “You can’t run for office in this country unless you’re a millionaire or you know a lot of millionaires.” This offhand remark from one of her sixth-grade students dismayed public school teacher Tierney Cahill. When she told the kids that in a democracy anyone can run for office, they dared her to prove it–by running herself. She accepted their challenge on one condition: that they, her students, manage the campaign. A single mom with three kids and more than one job to make ends meet, Cahill was in for a decidedly uphill battle, especially as a Democrat in largely Republican Reno, Nevada. But Cahill had always felt a responsibility to make a positive impact on an increasingly inequitable world. With her eager students leading the way, and a war chest of just seven thousand dollars (compared to opponents with one hundred times the funds), Cahill not only got her name on the ballot but she won the Democratic primary. And as the campaign moved forward, Cahill’s students blossomed beyond her wildest expectations. Ms. Cahill for Congress is the inspiring story of an exceptional teacher who proved that anyone really can run for office–and even without money or connections, make a difference in a great many lives.

The Boycott By: Melissa Hall Trace Ferris is an ordinary guy living an ordinary life. He has lived in the same small town all his life and works as a delivery truck driver. He visits his mother every weekend and spends his free time after work with his old high school buddies at the local dive bar. Trace is content with his life, for the most part. And things get even better when Felicity Holmes walks into his life—a self-assured, intelligent, funny, and drop-dead gorgeous woman, and the first woman he’s dated in a long time. As Felicity and Trace enjoy the beginning of their relationship, the political election season looms, and it brings with it a torrent of harsh smear campaigns, fear tactics, and pandering politicians. Sick of all the constant political drama, the couple decides to take a stand for the sake of their own peace of mind. They are boycotting all things politics. When people in the community start seeing how much happier they are, they join in on the boycott. As the movement grows, Trace and Felicity catch the attention of frustrated politicians who fear the disastrous effects it could have on the election.

From the bestselling author of How the Irish Saved Civilization and The Gifts of the Jews, his most compelling historical narrative yet. How did an obscure rabbi from a backwater of the Roman Empire come to be the central figure in Western Civilization? Did his influence in fact change the world? These are the questions Thomas Cahill addresses in his subtle and engaging investigation into the life and times of Jesus. Cahill shows us Jesus from his birth to his execution through the eyes of those who knew him and in the context of his time—a time when the Jews were struggling to maintain their beliefs under overlords who imposed their worldview on their subjects. Here is Jesus the loving friend, itinerate preacher, and quiet revolutionary, whose words and actions inspired his followers to journey throughout the Roman world and speak the truth he instilled—in the face of the greatest defeat: Jesus' crucifixion as a common criminal. Daring, provocative, and stunningly original, Cahill's interpretation will both delight and surprise. BONUS MATERIAL: This ebook edition includes an excerpt from Thomas Cahill's Heretics and Heroes.