“None of us can do it all. But all of us can do something. And it might as well be the next needed thing.–Sharon McMahon, The Small and the Mighty

Many people are familiar with Sharon McMahon, aka America’s Government Teacher, from her social media presence. The Small and the Mighty is her first book. She profiles twelve individuals and the influence they’ve had on the United States and its citizens. If you think this sounds familiar, you’re not wrong. John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage focuses on eight Americans, all men and mostly senators, whose courage in difficult situations had a large impact on the nation. In McMahon’s book, there are a few people you may be familiar with, but most have largely been lost to history and the majority of the small and mighty are women. Their stories are remarkable and often infuriating as they “did the next needful thing,” regardless of the difficulty.

Despite the obvious research and professionalism that went into this book, McMahon often chooses to employ colloquial language and imagined conversations as she shares these stories. This may work well in the classroom and on an Instagram reel, but is less effective in written form. It lends a casualness that feels out of place with the seriousness of the subject. It pops up in unexpected places which can be a bit jarring to the reader. There is a lot going on and a lot of names being thrown out within each story, so at times it can feel a bit convoluted.  I read the book but several friends who listened to the audiobook felt the audio was distracting.

With that being said, I still recommend the book and feel it is worth your time. The spotlighted individuals truly made our nation a better place and are a good reminder that change begins with individuals–the small and the mighty.

Content Advisory: Racism, sexism