The Idea of America: Reflections on Inequality, Democracy, and the Values We Share

by Darren Walker

Overview

Darren Walker has lived the promise of America.

Born to a single mother in a Louisiana charity hospital, the pride of Head Start and public schools in rural East Texas, Walker serves today as the tenth President of the Ford Foundation, among the largest private foundations in the United States. Since 2013, he has overseen more than $7 billion in grantmaking, while transforming philanthropy and inspiring conversations about and commitments to democratic values and institutions around the world. As Walker writes, “I have lived on both sides of American inequality. And I know, all too personally, that the distance between the two has never been greater.”

In The Idea of America: Reflections on Inequality, Democracy, and the Values We Share, Walker argues that we can narrow our widening divides by rediscovering our common aspirations and common good. With an original foreword by President William Jefferson Clinton, this prescient, timely compendium introduces us to an essential leader of and for our moment—in his own words—through his most essential reflections, essays, and speeches.

Across 97 selected pieces, many published here for the first time, Walker shares from his:

• Uniquely American story and extraordinary life's journey
• Bold leadership of the Ford Foundation, whose efforts and assets he marshaled to uproot inequalities of all kinds
• Audacious vision for a philanthropy that prioritizes justice beyond generosity—and that practices a new Gospel of Wealth for our new gilded age
• Lifelong passion for arts and culture, wellsprings of empathy and of social change
• Trailblazing advocacy for a more democratic capitalism, which ensures that where markets lead, justice follows
• Urgent reaffirmation of America's enduring promise—that from many, we are one, and that all deserve dignity, fairness, and opportunity

Ultimately, Walker calls for courageous, moral leadership from us all—challenging us to step back from the extremes, to lean into nuance and complexity, and to build longer bridges.

“Hope,” Walker affirms, “is the oxygen of democracy.” The Idea of America gives powerful testimony to all that is possible “if we renew our fidelity to the values that bind us, both despite and because of our differences.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781394353828
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	09/03/2025
Pages:	624
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 1.50(h) x 9.50(d)

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Advance Praise for Darren Walker’s The Idea of America

Darren Walker is driven by a deep conviction that the idea of America can be realized if we work together—and his book will make believers out of readers, too. It beautifully captures the spirit of optimism, creativity, and compassion that has made him one of the most influential leaders of the twenty-first century and a force for change on so many important issues. -Michael Bloomberg

Darren Walker's collection of essays, speeches, and reflections is a testimony from one of the most powerful voices in modern philanthropy. The Idea of America explores how rediscovering our common principles can illuminate a united path forward, at a time when we need it most. -Amal Clooney & George Clooney

Darren Walker reaches into the marrow of who we are now–and who we might still become. Through a stunning chronicle of his life and learnings, Darren offers not just a reflection, but a reckoning: He shares his vision while reminding us that justice and dignity are not merely ideals of the past, but tasks of the present.  Darren is dynamic, propulsive, intentional.  His influence is a sprawl–from emerging artists to the world’s most high-profile leaders. The Idea of America speaks to that reach, and, more importantly, to the rare and generous spirit that fuels it. In this beautiful book, Darren Walker’s unshakable purpose becomes our rallying call.  - Ava DuVernay

With the values of pluralism, inclusion, and social justice under assault, we need to reassert how our historic, shared ideals should unite Americans rather than pull us apart.  In these bracing essays, Darren Walker summons us, on the 250th anniversary of our founding, to remember our higher calling as a nation. - Walter Isaacson 

Darren Walker ushered in a new era in the history of American philanthropy, dedicated to closing the inequality gap, centering human dignity, and advancing social justice.  In his valedictory book, he curates years of brilliant reflections, seminal essays, and beautifully crafted speeches. Readers witness his remarkable rise, his inquisitive and fertile mind, the clarity of his strategic vision, and the courage of his convictions. Through his visionary leadership, he has rallied us to the enduring creed of forging a more perfect union for all, especially our most disadvantaged fellow citizens. Darren Walker is a singular leader and a unique historical figure, and this collection is both a deeply moving record of his theory and practice of philanthropy, as well as an invaluable resource for those seeking inspiration in these challenging times, eager to build on his legacy by imagining and pursuing a more just and hopeful future. - Henry Louis Gates, Jr.