Make Change by Shaun King Summary
Overview of Make Change
In "Make Change," Black Lives Matter leader Shaun King delivers a practical blueprint for dismantling systemic oppression. Endorsed by Bernie Sanders, this activism guide reveals how organized movements create lasting justice. What unique gift will you contribute to the revolution King believes is within reach?
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Key takeaways
The Call to Action That Cannot Be Ignored
That beautiful July morning in Santa Monica changed everything. Walking into my Global Green office, I had no idea a video message from a college friend would transform my life's direction. On my screen was Eric Garner, gasping "I can't breathe" as police officers choked him to death. Within weeks, I abandoned my stable career without a backup plan to fight police brutality and systemic racism full-time. It wasn't a calculated decision - it was a moral imperative I could no longer ignore. What makes this journey worth sharing isn't just passion but strategy. While many feel overwhelmed by America's ongoing struggles with racial injustice, climate crisis, and economic inequality, the most common question remains: "What can I actually do that matters?" The answer lies not in performative outrage or passive concern, but in understanding how change truly happens - through ordinary people making extraordinary commitments to solving specific problems. We've been taught a dangerously misleading story about human progress - that history moves steadily upward, from barbarism to civilization, from injustice to justice. This "Instagramification" of history jumps from highlight to highlight, obscuring the messy reality of how societies actually evolve. When historian Leopold von Ranke created the first exhaustive timeline of world history, he discovered something shocking: human history resembled the jagged Himalayas - sharp peaks of progress followed by devastating valleys of regression. We're currently experiencing what I call "the dip" - a period of regression following significant progress. The election of America's first Black president threatened established power structures, and the backlash was predictable to anyone familiar with historical patterns. Understanding this cycle doesn't mean accepting it - it means recognizing that our current struggles aren't anomalies but part of an ongoing battle between progress and regression.
Finding Your Purpose Through Decision and Action
Breaking Through Mental Barriers to Engagement
The Three Essential Elements of Successful Movements
Self-Care as Revolutionary Practice
The Power of Learning from Failure
What Problem Will You Make Your Own?
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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