For mission-driven brands, merchandise can be a significant revenue generator, not just a marketing gimmick. The Kyiv Independent's online store, selling clothing with provocative slogans related to its coverage, grew to become the company's second-largest source of income, demonstrating the power of a highly engaged community.

Contrary to the belief that banning a book increases its sales (the Streisand effect), the current wave of book bans is successfully creating a chilling effect. This leads to decreased sales and access for authors, particularly those from marginalized groups.

The narrative that bookstores are a dying business is not new. For centuries, booksellers have feared existential threats, from public libraries in the 19th century to radio, movies, TV, and paperbacks in the 20th. The belief that the industry is imperiled has always been a staple of the business.

The success of "Abundance" was driven less by its text and more by the environment it entered. It landed when the Democratic Party's brand was at a low, offering a clear critique and positive vision that filled an enormous ideological void for the center-left, answering a question the party was asking itself.

Unlike watching a movie as an observer, reading makes you embody the character, lighting up the brain as if you're living their experiences. This unique power to generate deep empathy is why books face such intense banning efforts from those who want to control who children empathize with.

Activism isn't binary. A 'covert' approach involves expressing values through business decisions like partnerships, hiring, or amplified voices. This is a valid, often safer, alternative to direct 'overt' public statements, allowing for a spectrum of engagement based on comfort and capacity.

The successful anti-slavery movement in Britain was founded primarily by entrepreneurs who applied their skills in scaling companies and operations to a moral cause. This historical example shows that business acumen is a powerful, and perhaps essential, tool for large-scale social change.

Social movements build on one another. The campaign against slavery was not an isolated event; it directly inspired and provided the organizational template for the 19th-century women's rights movement. Similarly, the US Civil Rights movement created the model and momentum for the gay rights movement, showing how progress on one issue makes progress on others more likely.

Historian Heather Cox Richardson notes that eras of significant political fear and instability, like the late 19th century or today, are also periods of great cultural creativity. New art, music, literature, and influential voices emerge, acting as a testament to the human spirit and forming a lasting cultural legacy.