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

“Accessible and enlightening. . . . Whether considered individually or taken as a whole, these crucial topics will shape the future, and the Josephs want readers to be ready to join the conversation.” —Booklist (starred review)

What is disinformation, and how does it influence our lives? How did the wealth gap become so staggeringly wide? Why do so many Americans lack access to quality health care? And—most importantly—what can we do about it all? Through a combination of personal anecdotes and interviews, authors Frederick Joseph and Porsche Joseph make a compelling case for tackling some of the biggest issues of our day, from gun violence, the prison system, transphobia, and indigenous land theft to climate change, education, housing, and immigration. Covering sixteen topics and 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

Frederick Joseph is a Yonkers, New York–raised two-time New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. His books include the poetry collection We Alive, Beloved; the nonfiction works Patriarchy Blues, The Black Friend, and Better Than We Found It, co-written with Porsche Joseph; the picture book Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith; and the forthcoming YA novel This Thing of Ours. He was recognized with a 2021 International Literacy Association Young Adult Book Award, was named to the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for marketing and advertising, and is an activist, philanthropist, and poet. Frederick Joseph was also honored with a 2023 Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Vanguard Award and the 2018 Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, and he was selected for the 2018 Root 100, a list of the most influential African Americans.

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.