Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World

Age 12, Grades Grade 7

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Black Friend and a seasoned activist comes an indispensable guide to social and political progressivism for young people and anyone wanting to get more involved.

Every generation inherits the problems created by the ones before them, but no generation will inherit as many problems—as many crises—as the current generation of young people. From the devastations of climate change to the horrors of gun violence, from rampant transphobia to the widening wealth gap, from the lack of health care to the lack of housing, the challenges facing the next generation can feel insurmountable. But change, even revolution, is possible; you just have to know where to start. In Better Than We Found It, best-selling author Frederick Joseph and debut author Porsche Joseph make the case for addressing some of the biggest issues of our day. Featuring more than two dozen interviews with prominent activists, authors, actors, and politicians, this is the essential resource for those who want to make the world better than we found it.

Featuring interviews with:

Mehcad Brooks

Keah Brown

Julián Castro

Sonja Cherry-Paul

Chelsea Clinton

Charlotte Clymer

Mari Copeny, aka Little Miss Flint

Greg D’Amato

Jesse Katz

Amed Khan

Daniel Alejandro Leon-Davis

Willy and Jo Lorenz

Ben O’Keefe

Brittany Packnett-Cunningham

Anna Paquin

Robert Reich

Brandon T. Snider

Nic Stone

Anton Treuer

Andrea Tulee

David Villalpando

Elizabeth Warren

Shannon Watts

Natalie Weaver

Brandon Wolf

About the Author

Frederick Joseph is the author of The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person, which was an instant New York Times bestseller and received four starred reviews, as well as the memoir Patriarchy Blues: Reflections on Manhood. An award-winning activist, philanthropist, and marketing professional, he was named to the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, is a recipient of the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, and was selected for the 2018 Root 100, an annual list of the most influential African Americans. Frederick Joseph lives in New York City with his wife, Porsche, and their dog, Stokely.

Porsche Joseph is a development professional, writer, and former educator who has worked many years in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World is her debut book. She lives in New York City with her husband, Fred, and their dog, Stokely.