A solid collection of essays from an eclectic mix of progressive candidates who've run for offices up and down the ticket. Do a lot of these folks have remarkable stories? Yes. That intro by Tammy Ducksworth? Breathtaking. Her sacrifices and lifelong commitment to service are incomparable.

And yes, many of these candidates have the sort of lifelong dedication to public service that might make the average person wonder if they'd ever stand a chance to run (much less win) for anything.

But then you read about people like Ashley Bennett who was inspired to run after seeing a terrible meme posted online by one of her elected officials. Or Daniel Hernandez Jr. who started working on political campaigns to improve his applications for med school, and now serves in the Arizona House of Representatives.

Is there room in politics for all of us? Yes. But it's not easy or straightforward. These essays all help paint a picture of the talents, experience, toughness, and motivation needed to run. It's a perfect blend of inspiration and practical advice for would-be candidates.