Thank you! + I need your help

Also, an invitation and a giveaway!

Gracious reader,

Thanks to you, my book, The Soul of Civility, became a #1 New Release in several categories last week—including Civics!

Francis Fukuyama called it “A remarkable book… a worthwhile read…”

Tyler Cowen referred to it in an endorsement as “Elegant and articulate…”

Other endorsers are former Democratic Congressman Lee Hamilton, Toby Young, Joel Stein of TIME, among other people with whom you may be familiar.

A million thanks to those of you who already have pre-ordered the book. For those of you who haven’t, please do so now!

A Parable of Creativity

There was once a woman who wanted to change the world. She had an endless stream of ideas for how to do so, but for some reason, she couldn’t seem to realize them. She felt a calling to her work, but there seemed to be no end of worthy causes that diverted her time and attention—children, people in need, organizations and initiatives that needed support. She was incredibly generous, and all of this—though noble—prevented her from bringing her ideas to fruition.

At the end of every season or event where she had lent a helping hand, she would renew her resolve to her creative work: “Now, I can finally get this done! Now I can do the work that I was called to do.”

And yet, like clockwork, a new need would arise, and she would find herself drawn into a yet another litany of commitments that re-channeled her energy away from her artistic passions.

What do you make of this story?

On one hand, there is no question that this woman improved a lot of lives. One could even argue that she helped more people with her active philanthropic efforts than with her creative work.

On the other hand, there is also no question that she was constantly disappointed at not having more to show for herself—more creative output that manifested her creative abilities and passions.

Most people tend to be on one side or the other of these two extremes: being all-consumed by their creative pet projects—the rest of the world be damned—or losing themselves and their creative identity entirely to the needs of others and to the everyday demands on us from the world at large.

It is a challenge to balance being a citizen of the world—helping those around us, where we are—and realizing and fulfilling our creative gifts. One is communal, the other is solitary. For us to become fully human, we need both sides to be fully expressed.

How do you navigate this balance?

Confession

I have a confession. I fear both being and being perceived as the woman from the parable. I think that’s why I was so disappointed by the news that my book-publication date had been pushed back by two months.

Some of you who have already purchased the book may have received a note from your book retailer of choice that my book-publication date is now October 10, 2023.

At first, I feared that I was the woman from the parable—the one who will never be able to bring her creative fruits to the world because she’s too busy engaging with that world.

The publication date was pushed back because I made several changes to the book that I know will result in a better reading experience for you. I thought to myself: Is this self-sabotage? Is part of me purposefully, although subconsciously, pushing back my publication date because I fear the vulnerability of bringing this project to the world?

Then, however, I reminded myself that my changes that resulted in the deferred release date are for your benefit, dear reader. I know they made the book better, and they will create an enhanced experience for you.

I trust that my book will be released, and that this arduous journey to publication—and your patience!—will be worthwhile.

Why Pre-Orders Matter

Many an author asks readers to order their book. Few readers understand why pre-orders matter.

The first and most important reason that pre-orders matter is that it communicates to book retailers that there is demand for this book—so that they don’t run of stock during publication week.

Pre-ordering ensures that you will get a book the week it comes out!

Second, all books purchased before publication week count toward the “bestseller lists”—from Amazon to the New York Times and more. There is no perfect recipe for being a bestseller, but encouraging early buys is one way to position a book for success.

Pre order here!

I need your help.

I now have two additional months to prepare for my book launch. I’d like to make the most of it, and I need your help to do so. Who and what organizations should I be talking to in advance of the book coming out?

• Who do you listen to? Podcasts, recurring events, other dialogues?

• Who do you read? Columnists, authors?

• What organizations are doing great work in the realm of civility in the face of our differences?

• What institutions might be interested in book buys?

In addition to the above, here are FOUR things you can do to help with the book:

1. Buy one!

2. If you have already purchased one, consider purchasing one as a gift

3. Buy several and save! Bulk orders mean serious discounts :)

4. Ask your local bookstore to carry it.

Please write to me with your ideas of who I should be aware of/connected to—and share with me whether you’ve engaged with any of the above four ways to help with the book—for a chance to win The Everyday Patriot: How to Be a Great American Now, the latest book by Civic Renaissance subscriber and bestselling author, Tom Morris [more on Tom below].

I can’t do this without you. Many thanks to all of you for being part of this community.

Thank you for your help.

Lexi

PS: A Special Invitation

Those who have pre-ordered the book will be invited to monthly events with me and special guests. This first event is with Tom Morris, public philosopher and bestselling author of the wonderful book If Aristotle Ran General Motors. Stay tuned for details on this December event, forthcoming at the end of November!