Back for More

In case you haven't noticed, we're well into handbook season: Recently published tomes on how to stretch your electoral worth to its limit have been circulating for the past month or two, and this week The Village Voice issued its call to action, since "no one is overqualified to work for John Kerry."

But only a few months ago the same paper was pondering the way forward if Bush were to be re-elected — just as a precaution, they said, like they feared the worst. And that longer view — after the colorfully titled books have either proved their worth or been left, useless, on the shelf — is essential if we're not to feel we're starting from scratch in time for 2008.

All of which is to say that, oddly mirroring the rise that marked him as uniquely popular a year ago, this may be Howard Dean's time, again. Not running for political office, but racing for change and bolstering his established grassroots org, Democracy for America. And yes, he has a book out: You Have the Power: How to Take Back Our Country and Restore Democracy in America (Simon & Schuster).

If you know of Dean and have never read his written prose, it's worth catching him — we can all agree that appreciation of a powerful phrase or well-built argument is still nonpartisan. Eight months ago, he was derided for a yelp of enthusiasm on an Iowa podium; since then, with his measured theses and pointed rebukes posted online, it's almost too easy to posit that he's taken up print because no one accuses you there of appearing unpresidential when you speak your mind.

Howard Dean reads Sat., Sept. 18, 5 p.m., free, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341.

— Respond to this article in our Forums — click to jump there