Books by Charles Euchner
The Rules of Activism (Polity Press, 2025). A story-driven analysis of political and social movements in the United States–how they form, how they organize and lead, their strategies and tactics, and their “democratic dare.”
Losing the Peace (forthcoming). A narrative drama of President Woodrow Wilson’s September 1919 campaign to promote the League of Nations. For almost a month, Wilson traveled 10,000 miles to 20 states to rally the public behind his vision for peace after World War I. Toward the end of the tour, Wilson collapsed and was sent back to Washington–where he suffered a serious stroke.
The Elements of Writing and other writing guides (The New American Press, 2011). The only brain-based, comprehensive guide for writing in all fields, this work identifies 79 simple and intuitive skills and provides case studies from accomplished writers. This guide has been adapted for teaching writing in specific subject areas: Writing About Place, Reading and Writing the Essay, and Writing About Politics and Government (forthcoming).
Other guides offer a strategy for writing succinctly (Keep It Short), case studies on exemplary writing (In Cold Type and Mad Men’s Guide to Persuasion), a brief parable of writing (The One-Minute Writer), and teaching writing in secondary schools (Teaching the Six Traits).
Nobody Turn Me Around (Beacon Press, 2010). A dramatic, moment-by-moment account of the 1963 March on Washington, Nobody Turn Me Around reveals the tensions and promise of the civil rights movement at its apex. Portraits of March leaders (like Martin Luther King, A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, and John Lewis) accompany portraits of the ordinary people who flocked to the Washington Mall.
The Last Nine Innings (Sourcebooks, 2006). An inning-by-inning account of one of the greatest World Series games ever, Game 7 of the 2001 Fall Classic between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees. Each inning reveals the inside game, with a focus on the transformation of the game at the turn of the century.
Little League, Big Dreams (Sourcebooks, 2006). Through the lens of the 2005 Little League World Series, an intimate portrait of the changing nature of youth sports. Portraits of the two LLWS finalists, from Hawaii and Curacao, hows how the teams gamed the system to reach the televised stage in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Urban Policy Reconsidered, with Stephen McGovern (Routledge, 2003). A though and balanced assessment of the major challenges facing American cities in the 21st century: economic development, poverty, housing, crime, and education. Based on a rich assessment of the literature on public policy, the study offers a dialogue to explore all sides of the issues.
Governing Greater Boston (Rappaport Institute, 2002 and 2003). This two-volume series, edited by Charles Euchner, explores the public policy issues facing the Greater Boston area. The first volume explores place-based issues: regional planning, transportation, housing, the environment, and more. The second volume explores people-oriented policies including education, health care, public management, and more.
Extraordinary Politics (Westview Press, 1996). A comprehensive study of the growth of protest and social movements in the United States. Chapters explore the spurs and limits to action, organizational issues, strategies and tactics, and the consequences of dissent.
Playing the Field (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993). The first major work to question the economic development arguments behind the wave of stadium-building in the late 20th century, Playing the Field explores the political and economic tensions of politics and development with case studies of the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Colts, and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.
Selecting the President (Congressional Quarterly, 1992). An overview of the processes of presidential nominations and elections, with a history of the major developments from Washington to Bush.
