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Happy Birthday to The Soul of Civility

What we’ve created together, and what comes next.

Gracious reader,

Today is the anniversary of the publication of The Soul of Civility! 🎉

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since The Soul of Civility launched into the world.

It’s important to pause and celebrate how far we’ve come together in such a short time.

(Watch the full video for some behind the scenes stories from the beautiful chaos that has been the last two years!)

Since then, it’s been an extraordinary journey:

✅ Over 120 cities across 5 countries on book tour (with two/ three small children)

✅ Hundreds of talks—virtual and in person

✅ From Stanford to Yale, from the UK House of Lords to Canadian Parliament

✅ Featured and reviewed in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MSNBC, TIME and dozens of other national and international outlets

✅ And culminating recently with our Civility Summit, where over 100 local mayors, city council members, and community leaders gathered around a set of simple but revolutionary ideas:

  • That politeness is not civility.

  • That agreement is not the goal.

  • That flourishing across deep difference—seeing and honoring the humanity in one another—is what this movement is all about.

The Soul of Civility has book has become a handbook for grassroots leaders who want to heal our divided world—leaders across vocations, politics, and geography who are building things in their own communities.

And now, we’re entering a new phase.

I’m doing fewer keynotes and investing more intentionally in local leaders who want to bring these ideas to life where they live.

That’s why I launched the Civic Renaissance Ambassador Program—a community of teachers, mayors, judges, city councilpersons, state representatives, and citizens who are starting book clubs, hosting summits, and creating civic renewal in their hometowns.

Applications close TONIGHT.

Become a Civic Renaissance Ambassador

Also, please share this with a friend who you think should join this movement, and would be a good ambassador!

Share

If you’ve ever wanted to start a conversation, build a coalition, or bring The Soul of Civility to your workplace, classroom, church, or community—this is your invitation.

Join us.

Even if you’re not ready to apply, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to Civic Renaissance. You’ll be the first to hear major updates, join my inner circle, and help sustain this movement for the long term.

And we have another exciting project:

This month, we’re launching a bipartisan book club in the Texas State Legislature, where lawmakers will be reading The Soul of Civility together.

If you’re a state legislator—or know one—please reach out.

If you’re in another state and want to bring this model to your legislature, email ahudsonassist@gmail.com and we’ll get you on the list for the national rollout.

Finally, to celebrate this one-year anniversary:

📚 For today only, anyone who buys the book will receive a personalized thank-you video.

You can buy a copy—or a box—to give as Christmas gifts or to start a group in your community.

  • People like Patty in Colorado, who gives them to everyone who visits her office.

  • Or John DeLucia, who keeps a box of books in his car to give away.

  • Or Rich in Indiana, whose Soul of Civility Bible study is now the most attended in five years.

  • Or Richard in Iowa, who gave hundreds of copies to local leaders and organizations.

Send your receipt to ahudsonassist@gmail.com, and I’ll send you a personal video message of thanks.

How you can help now

  • Subscribe to Civic Renaissance and support this movement of civic renewal

  • A representative in the Texas State Legislature is launching a bipartisan book club around The Soul of Civility.

    If you are a legislator and would like to be part of this initiative, please email ahudsonassist@gmail.com.

  • If you live in Texas—or know someone who does—reach out to your state representative and encourage them to join the book club when they receive their invitation in the coming weeks.

  • If you are an elected represntative in another state and want to bring The Soul of Civility to your community, reach out ahudsonassist@gmail.com.

  • Share in the comments what The Soul of Civility has meant to you. I’ve loved hearing from hundreds of you over the last few years. Your story can encourage others.

This book is not the end—it’s the beginning. The Soul of Civility is a canvas for an urgent national conversation, one that must also take root in our local communities.

We are building something beautiful together: a movement of people committed to human dignity, mutual respect, and flourishing across difference.

Thank you for your friendship, accountability, and partnership in this work.

The best is yet to come.

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