Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Make Change summary
Shaun King
How to Fight Injustice, Dismantle Systemic Oppression, and Own Our Future
22 mins
Brief summary
Make Change by Shaun King is a call to action for anyone looking to make a positive impact on society. King tells his personal story and shares strategies and ideas for fighting injustice while also inspiring readers to take action in their own communities.
Table of Contents
Make Change
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
In order to understand change, you need to understand history.
The most profound insight about how the world works came to Shaun in a college class he didn’t really want to take.
It was 2015, and he’d just gotten more serious about his activism. Over the past few months, he’d emerged as a leading social media figure in the budding Black Lives Matter movement. But the many setbacks the movement had suffered were taking a toll on him. In November 2014, 12-year-old Tamir Rice had been shot in Cleveland, Ohio, for playing with a toy gun. A little later, the police officers responsible for the murder of Michael Brown and Eric Garner had been cleared of all charges.
So Shaun tried to build a deeper foundation for his work by enrolling in the Master of African American Studies program at Arizona State University.
Here’s the key message: In order to understand change, you need to understand history.
In one of his first classes, Introduction to Historiography, Shaun learned about Leopold von Ranke – a nineteenth-century German historian who’d attempted to compile a complete timeline of world history. Initially, Shaun was convinced that the theories of an old, white German man couldn’t possibly provide any useful insight into modern-day activism.
But Ranke's grand historical project revealed something that shook up Shaun's entire worldview. Up until then, Shaun had believed that human history was evolving toward peace and justice.
But Ranke’s timeline showed that history was a constant fluctuation of peaks and dips: peace and war, prosperity and famine, fascism and freedom. Reliably, progressive pushes to make the world a better place were followed by conservative backlash. For instance, when Black people enjoyed a brief period of relative freedom after the Civil War, the American South soon introduced oppressive Jim Crow laws that constituted an updated version of slavery.
And right now, one could argue that we’re living in the “dip” following the election of America’s first Black president, Barack Obama. But none of history’s worst dips – war, genocide, or fascism – have happened out of the blue. Even the election of a right-wing demagogue like Donald Trump had a decade-long buildup. Trump’s presidency was enabled by economic, social, and political structures set up long ago and allowed to thrive by people who chose not to see their systemic flaws.
And while it’s easy to slide into a dip, it’s a lot harder to come out of one. Doing so requires many people working together to build a better future – people like you.
Want to see all full key ideas from Make Change?
Key ideas in Make Change
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Make Change about?
Informed by the life and work of successful social justice activist Shaun King, Make Change (2020) is your guide on how to join the fight for a better world. King is a leading figure in the fight against police brutality and mass incarceration in America, and his wins and losses along the way have taught him vital lessons on how to create real, lasting social change. No matter the cause you’re invested in, these blinks will show you how to use your skills and resources to make a real difference.
Make Change Review
Make Change (2020) by Shaun King is a thought-provoking book that explores the possibilities for change within ourselves and our society. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Through compelling stories and personal experiences, it sheds light on the challenges and injustices that persist in our world, inspiring readers to take action.
- With concrete strategies and practical tips, it shows how small actions can make a big difference, empowering individuals to create positive change in their communities.
- The book's engaging and accessible approach makes it compelling and relatable, ensuring that readers will find it both insightful and enjoyable to read.
Best quote from Make Change
Make that problem into your problem.
—Shaun King
Who should read Make Change?
- Budding activists and future organizers
- Shaun King admirers who want to know more about his life and work
- Anyone looking to make a real difference in the world
Categories with Make Change
Book summaries like Make Change
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
31 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Make Change FAQs
What is the main message of Make Change?
The main message of Make Change is to inspire and empower individuals to create positive social change.
How long does it take to read Make Change?
The reading time for Make Change varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Make Change a good book? Is it worth reading?
Make Change is a thought-provoking read that offers valuable insights into social activism. It is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of Make Change?
The author of Make Change is Shaun King.
What to read after Make Change?
If you're wondering what to read next after Make Change, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Glass Closet by John Browne
- Blueprint for Revolution by Srdja Popovic and Matthew Miller
- The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink
- And Then We Rise by Common
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
- Walmart by Natalie Berg and Bryan Roberts
- Indistractable by Nir Eyal
- In Praise of Folly by Erasmus
- She/He/They/Me by Robyn Ryle