The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon

 

Summary (from the publisher): America’s favorite government teacher offers thrilling, heartfelt stories of ordinary American heroes. Most pundits and historians sell a dangerously naïve version of the American story—either praising its most consequential figures uncritically or criticizing them unfairly. Sharon McMahon believes the truth is more human. In her debut book The Small and the Mighty, she tells the inspiring stories of twelve Americans--regular people with human foibles--whose extraordinary heroism in the face of mounting trials created the character of our country. With the same clarity and candor that's earned her millions of fans, McMahon follows the daughter of formerly enslaved parents who sparked a reformation in Black education, a Japanese immigrant who nearly died in combat and became a consequential Senator, and even the electrician who saved her husband’s life. Her unforgettable prose and meticulous research tell the story of America from the perspective of the unsung heroes whose devotion to their country will restore your faith in the American dream. The portraits of our nation’s most improbable champions, innovators, and rebels in this book celebrate the United States and reveal our common humanity. The Small and the Mighty is the encouragement we all need in an age of doomscrolling and division.

Review: The way I audibly gasped when this book when I got the notification that this book came in off of my library holds! In this inspiring book, Sharon McMahon takes the reader on a tour of American history by introducing twelve relatively unknown Americans who changed history where they were, with what they had, against great odds. 

This book is for anyone who loves the story of the underdog. I teared up multiple times listening to these moving stories. The individuals in this book faced unthinkable realities - prejudice, hardships, poor treatment and more - and yet, they persevered and in their own ways contributed to the good that exists in our country. I loved the story of Clara Brown, an enslaved woman who was separated from her children and made her own way as a laundress in the Rockies and never gave up hope of being reunited with her children. I also appreciated the story of Virginia Randolph, who was born to formerly enslaved parents and became a pioneering black educator in Henrico County. The chapter on the internment camps also got me; just shocking every time I read about what Japanese Americans went through. 

I listened to the audiobook version of this and I'm so glad I did. The author narrates it herself and as somehow who is a longtime follower of her popular Instagram account and podcast, her voice sounds like an old friend. She also both writes and reads this in a very conversational style. I felt as if she was just sitting down with me telling me a story. I feel like her teaching style in her former life was probably much the same, and it gave a lot of insight into how engaging and instructive she is simultaneously. 

Thank you to Sharon McMahon for making history accessible and engaging and for encouraging many readers (and even those who typically don't read at all!) to pick up a non-fiction book for a change. I also appreciate that the thesis of this book is that all Americans, no matter where, no matter who, no matter how much or how little you have or own, have the power to make a positive difference for the good of others: "It is us, the small and mighty, who make America great." 

Stars: 4