âThe Small and the Mightyâ selected as U of Iâs 2025-26 Common Read
April 15, 2025
MOSCOW, Idaho â 69ÂÜŔňapp has chosen ââ by as its Common Read for 2025-26.
âThe committee chose âThe Small and the Mightyâ for its engaging storytelling,â said Barb Kirchmeier, U of Iâs director of General Education and Independent Study in Idaho. âWhile the bookâs tone is conversational, the committee believes that students will find the book engaging and accessible. Its storytelling style makes historical content approachable.â
McMahon earned a reputation as âAmericaâs Government Teacherâ during the 2020 election for her viral efforts on Instagram to combat political misinformation. Committed to providing clear, nonpartisan insights on democracy, she has built a following of more than a million â affectionately called the âGovernerdsâ â who rely on her for factual, logic-driven explanations.
The bookâs summary says, âIn her debut book, (McMahon) tells the inspiring stories of 12 Americans â regular people with human foibles â whose extraordinary heroism in the face of mounting trials created the character of our country. With the same clarity and candor thatâs earned her millions of fans, McMahon follows the daughter of formerly enslaved parents who sparked a reformation in Black education, a Japanese immigrant who nearly died in combat and became a consequential Senator, and even the electrician who saved her husbandâs life. Her unforgettable prose and meticulous research tell the story of America from the perspective of the unsung heroes whose devotion to their country will restore your faith in the American dream.â
âMcMahon has a remarkable ability to make you laugh as you learn about the unsung heroes who shaped our country,â bestselling author Adam Grant said of the book. âBy the end of the book, you wonât just be enlightened and entertained â youâll feel empowered by newfound confidence that you donât need to be rich or famous to make a difference.â
In addition to writing a No. 1 New York Times best seller, McMahon â a former high school government and law teacher â hosts âHereâs Where It Gets Interesting,â a podcast ranked in the top 1%, and writes the widely read newsletter âThe Preamble.â
Now in its 18th year, the Common Read is designed to engage the university and Moscow community in a shared intellectual experience. Opportunities to engage with the Common Read will be provided throughout the academic year.
Other recent Common Reads have included âThe Anthropocene Reviewedâ by John Green, âThe Nature Fixâ by Florence Williams, âSo you Want to Talk About Raceâ by Ijeoma Oluo, âGrit: The Power and Passion of Perseveranceâ by Angela Duckworth, âThe Book of Unknown Americansâ by Cristina Henriquez, âThere Thereâ by Tommy Orange and âEducated: A Memoirâ by Tara Westover.
Copies of âThe Small and the Mightyâ will be available later this summer through the and .
â
Media Contact:
Barb Kirchmeier
Director of General Education and Independent Study in Idaho
208-885-9258
barbara@uidaho.edu
About the 69ÂÜŔňapp
The 69ÂÜŔňapp, home of the Vandals, is Idahoâs land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur dâAlene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 12,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.