---
title: Again
link: https://harper.blog/2024/11/06/again/
source: harper-blog
published: 2024-11-06T23:00:00Z
updated: 2024-11-06T23:00:00Z
first_seen: 2026-09-27T19:29:15.293681927Z
authors:
- Harper Reed
summary: 'We find ourselves here again. Over the past 20 years that I have had this blog, I have written entries about the disappointment of the world not going the way I had hoped. Bush, 9/11, Covid, etc. These are all experiences where I had hoped we as a people would choose one way, and instead we went another way. This time feels different. Maybe it is because Trump has stated so many things that seem insane: mass deportations, political violence against his “enemies,” a threat that we will never have to vote again, a failed coup, etc. Many things that I always feared would happen in the US, but never thought would actually happen. Not to get too hyperbolic, but we may be fucked. How to deal? I have no idea. I can tell you one of the ways I handle shit like this: I read. I read a lot. In almost all cases, reading has helped me through these times of strife. Here is my hastily curated “we may be fucked” reading list. Maybe it will help you. The ideas in these books certainly helped me. It didn’t make me feel better tho. How we got here: These Truths by Jill Lepore The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism by Katherine Stewart Where we may be going Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler The Deluge by Stephen Markley American War by Omar El Akkad Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen Ugh Yep. Now what? No idea. Here is a good post that helped me think through where we may be going. It isn’t pretty. Good luck. Thank you for using RSS. I appreciate you. Email me'
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---

We find ourselves here again.

Over the past 20 years that I have had this blog, I have written entries about the disappointment of the world not going the way I had hoped.

Bush, 9/11, Covid, etc. These are all experiences where I had hoped we as a people would choose one way, and instead we went another way.

**This time feels different.** Maybe it is because Trump has stated so many things that seem insane: mass deportations, political violence against his “enemies,” a threat that we will never have to vote again, a failed coup, etc. Many things that I always feared would happen in the US, but never thought would actually happen.

Not to get too hyperbolic, but **we may be fucked**.

## How to deal?

I have no idea. I can tell you one of the ways I handle shit like this: I read.

I read a lot. In almost all cases, reading has helped me through these times of strife.

Here is my hastily curated “we may be fucked” reading list. Maybe it will help you. The ideas in these books certainly helped me. It didn’t make me feel better tho.

### How we got here:

1. [These Truths](https://amzn.to/3AvZBAE) by Jill Lepore
2. [The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism](https://amzn.to/3ArehRH) by Katherine Stewart

### Where we may be going

1. [Parable of the Sower](https://amzn.to/4elihRJ) by Octavia E. Butler
2. [The Deluge](https://amzn.to/4fyo07C) by Stephen Markley
3. [American War](https://amzn.to/3NUHwPZ) by Omar El Akkad
4. [Nuclear War: A Scenario](https://amzn.to/3UAKT1Z) by Annie Jacobsen

## Ugh

Yep.

## Now what?

No idea. Here is a good [post](https://www.popehat.com/p/and-yet-it-moves) that helped me think through where we may be going. It isn’t pretty.

![](https://harper.blog/2024/11/06/again/worse.jpg)

Good luck.