Looking for a little inspiration? One of the recent Indivisible national calls had a warmup survey —
Prompt: Share inspiration with fellow Indivisibles! What movies, shows, books, or art fuel you? We’ll start: Andor (S1) is a story of courage and sacrifice—worth watching, even if you’re not a Star Wars fan. What’s on your list? We’ll share at our next call!
Below is a collection of recommendations gathered from Indivisible members across the country. Thank you to everyone who shared!
1. BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
A. History, Politics, & Resistance
- On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
- The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas
- How We Learn to Be Brave by Bishop Mariann Budde
- A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
- Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson
- Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes & Mariame Kaba
- American Cassandra: The Life of Dorothy Thompson by Peter Kurth
- Patriot by Alexei Navalny
- Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum
- Break ’Em Up by Zephyr Teachout
- The Sirens’ Call by Chris Hayes
- Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
- How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa
B. Novels & Memoirs (Inspiration & Courage)
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
- Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
- The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure
- The Women by Kristin Hannah
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- West with the Night by Beryl Markham
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
2. MOVIES & TV THAT INSPIRE
A. Historical & Social Justice
- Selma
- Norma Rae
- Silkwood
- Bad Day at Black Rock
- The Help
- Erin Brockovich
- Trumbo
- Bridge of Spies
- Grand Theft Hamlet (theater production),
- Harriet
- Rustin (Bayard Rustin’s story)
- Cesar Chavez
Documentaries
- Copa 71
- Join or Die
- What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?
B. Resistance & Political Themes
- Andor (Star Wars series)
- Don’t Look Up
- All the President’s Men
- The Flight of the Phoenix
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Zero Day (fictional Netflix show about a national crisis)
- Occupied (Norwegian drama)
- The Hunters (about Nazis in hiding)
- Handmaid’s Tale (TV series)
- 1984
- Animal Farm (book/film references)
C. Escapism, Heartfelt, and Science Fiction
- Ted Lasso
- Shrinking
- Bad Sisters
- Abbott Elementary
- Silo (Apple TV)
- Severance
- Dark
- Paradise (Hulu)
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Parks and Recreation
- Heartstopper
- Lord of the Rings (films & TV spinoffs)
- Star Trek
3. MUSIC & PODCASTS
Music for Inspiration
- Indivisible spotify playlist!
- Classic protest songs (Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan)
- Carsie Blanton (albums After the Revolution and Love & Rage)
- Elvis Costello’s “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”
- Gospel choirs singing “Do You Hear the People Sing” from Les Misérables
- Jazz radio (e.g., KCSM), Motown, Led Zeppelin II
4. ART, CREATIVITY, & PERSONAL PRACTICES
A. Art & Exhibits
- Museums and art exhibits focusing on social issues or personal renewal
- Ai Weiwei’s art/memoir, politically charged installations, Ukrainian art expressing resilience
- Using painting, pottery, weaving, sculpture, or photography for self-expression and sanity
B. Nature & Reflection
- Hiking, walking, camping, or simply enjoying a nearby park for peace of mind
- Meditation, journaling, or reading poetry (Mary Oliver, Naomi Shihab Nye, Andrea Gibson)
- Taking regular “device-free” moments to reset and refocus
C. Community & Action
- Creating or joining local demonstrations, sign-waving at Tesla dealerships, or hosting watch parties
- Engaging friends and neighbors in conversation, letter-writing campaigns, or phone banking
- Organizing in-person groups (book clubs, local Indivisible meetups) for shared motivation
