Who is Thom Hartmann?

Discover Thom and what people have to say

Thom is a New York Times bestselling, four-times Project Censored Award-winning author, and host of The Thom Hartmann Program, which has been broadcasting live nationwide for 20 years on AM and FM radio, SiriusXM satellite, and as video on Free Speech TV, YouTube, and Twitter/X.

Here is what thought leaders have to say about Thom and his writings:

“Never one to shy away from the truth, Thom Hartmann has written books that are inspiring, wise, and compelling. His work lights the way to a better America.”
― Van Jones, CNN political contributor and New York Times bestselling author of Beyond the Messy Truth

“Thom Hartmann seeks out interesting subjects from such disparate outposts of curiosity that you have to wonder whether or not he uncovered them or they selected him.”
― Leonardo DiCaprio, actor, producer, and environmental activist

“Right through the worst of the Bush years and into the present, Thom Hartmann has been one of the very few voices constantly willing to tell the truth. Rank him up there with Jon Stewart, Bill Moyers, and Paul Krugman for having the sheer persistent courage of his convictions.”
— Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth, founder 350.org

“I would gladly follow Thom Hartmann into hell. I'd be unafraid because with Thom there, I knew the Devil's minions couldn't touch me. I strongly cry huzzah for this latest course on teaching me what a Democracy is.”
— Ed Asner, actor and activist

“Brilliantly illuminating of the reality of oligarchy in our past and our present and the imminent danger of oligarchy morphing into tyranny. On almost every page, I learned things that I should have known earlier as an American, but wasn't likely to find elsewhere. Urgently required reading if we are to advance toward democracy.”
— Daniel Ellsberg

"This is the most important, dynamic book on the cancers of monopoly by giant corporations written in our generation. I have read many books on monopolistic practices and have written on this subject. None had the potential to reach the moral imagination and indignation of the American people, where they live, work, and raise their families, like Hartmann's engrossing volume."
— Ralph Nader

“With the ever-growing influence of corporate CEOs and their right-wing allies in all aspects of American life, Hartmann’s work is more relevant than ever. Throughout his career, Hartmann has spoken compellingly about the value of people-centered democracy and the challenges that millions of ordinary Americans face today as a result of a dogma dedicated to putting profit above all else. This collection is a rousing call for Americans to work together and put people first again.”
— Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO

“The more of us who heed Thom Hartmann’s passionate message, the more likely it is that our highest hopes, rather than our darkest fears, will come to pass.”
— John Robbins, founder of EarthSave and author of Diet for a New America

“Thom is a national treasure. Read him, embrace him, learn from him, and follow him as we all work for social change.”
— Robert Greenwald (Brave New Films)

“With this masterpiece on the Supreme Court, Thom—the brilliant author of many important books—surpasses himself. It should be required reading for every person who cares about the future of our planet.”
— John Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

“Historian, legal scholar, and political analyst extraordinaire, Thom Hartmann presents a meticulously documented strategy for trimming the power of nine ideologically motivated political activists unaccountable to the will of the people. Hartmann’s most important and timely book to date.”
— David Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World and Change the Story, Change the Future

“Thom Hartmann’s thoughtful analysis of the history of the Supreme Court provides a clear and actionable blueprint for how champions of principled democracy can work to evolve the court in ways that makes it more responsive, transparent, and accountable.”
— Garlin Gilchrist, Lieutenant Governor, State of Michigan

“Hartmann looks at the Supreme Court today as a tool of the right and their corporate interests. He reminds us that the Declaration of Independence promises ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,’ not ‘property,’ and urges ‘we the people’ to lawfully subject SCOTUS to democratic governance.”
— Harvey J. Kaye, Professor of Democracy and Justice Studies, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, and author of Thomas Paine and the Promise of America

“In an age rife with media-inspired confusion and political cowardice, we yearn for a decent, caring, deeply human soul whose grasp of the problems confronting us provides a light by which we can make our way through the quagmire of lies, distortions, pandering, and hollow self-puffery that strips the American Dream of its promise. How lucky we are, then, to have access to the wit, wisdom, and willingness of Thom Hartmann, who shares with us here that very light, grown out of his own life experience.”
— Mike Farrell, actor, political activist, and author of Just Call Me Mike and Of Mule and Man

“Thom Hartmann has created an elegant historical road map that reveals how one of the most influential judicial bodies on the planet evolved into such a powerful and mysterious entity.”
— Mike Papantonio, Host of America’s Lawyer

“Thom Hartmann provides a clear-eyed view of the right-wing assault on the courts -- and a principled vision for restoring justice for the many, not just the few.”
— Lee Fang, investigative journalist

“Thom Hartmann gives fascinating play-by-play coverage of the federal judiciary’s fall from the ‘most harmless branch’ of government to a clear and present danger to liberty and democracy. Do you want to understand how the plutocrats are trying to gavel down on We the People? Read. This. Book.”
— Alan Grayson, former member of Congress

“A brilliant, highly readable account of the least-understood democratic branch of our government, its growing power, and its hijacking by the right, this book is essential reading for anyone who’s concerned with the future of our democracy and the fate of our world.”
— Richard Eskow, writer, journalist, consultant, and broadcaster

“Hartmann has the amazing ability to bring important history to life. His new book is a must-read for people of all political persuasions to understand the history of the Court and its political impact. It is an eye-opener on the betrayal of America and what it means for our future.”
— Bob Ney, Political Analyst, Talk Media News, and former member of Congress

“In a provocative and easy read, Hartmann warns we have ceded enormous political and economic power to the wealthy classes, despite our founding fathers’ intention to place more corrective power in the hands of the electorate.”
— Bill Luther, former member of Congress

“Hartmann once again goes deep to understand the origin of the crisis in the Supreme Court, which didn’t stem from Trump alone. To understand the power of the Court, its dangerously dysfunctional state, and what you can do, read this book.”
— Dahr Jamail, author of The End of Ice

“In this timely and important book, Thom Hartmann challenges us to fight for our fundamental right as American citizens to vote—a right that is not guaranteed in the Constitution but should be. For far too long, this basic principle of our democratic republic has been under constant attack, largely by corporate interests that literally profit from voter suppression. This book is an indispensable manual for waging—and winning—civic warfare. Use it!”
— David Bender, Political Director, Progressive Voices Network

“Is Thom Hartmann psychic or what? His book on voting is eerily prescient and right on time as usual. A grateful nation thanks you, Thom!”
— Stephanie Miller, comedian and talk show host

“34,000 REASONS TO READ THIS BOOK: That’s the number of gun-related deaths annually in America.”
— Norman Lear

“There is so much fascinating, I-didn’t-know-that history, my entire copy of Hidden History has turned yellow from highlighting stuff that’s cool, amazing, and vital. I didn’t know that Thomas Jefferson demanded passage of the Second Amendment so citizen militias would eliminate the need for our new nation to have a standing army. I didn’t know that the first big gun-control campaign was the KKK’s seizing of weapons from black citizens, kicking off a century of Jim Crow. Hartmann, who lets us know he enjoys squeezing off a few rounds from a semiautomatic handgun, eschews the usual BS we hear from both the NRA and NPR. Guns kill, but in an America where most gun deaths are suicides, Hartmann proves with undeniable stats that the bullets are loaded by despair and inequality. Truly a tour de force in a quick read. I’m a gun control skeptic, but I'll admit, Hartmann’s book blew me away.”
— Greg Palast, Puffin Foundation fellow in investigative reporting and author of the New York Times bestseller The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

“In this riveting book, The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment, Thom Hartmann exposes the searing social and human costs of a nation awash in firearms. Because it is impossible to understand the present without understanding the past, Hartmann shows how the history of genocide and slavery forms the bedrock of United States history and how the Second Amendment was ratified to preserve that racist framework. The book compellingly examines the myths at the root of modern American gun culture and how that culture emerged in reaction to social and economic changes in the United States, as well as savvy marketing and legal maneuvering by weapons manufacturers. As the humane journalist and thinker that he is, Hartmann makes sure to fuse history and the present by offering an array of realistic and ramifying solutions to ‘cure’ America of its gun violence epidemic.”
— Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor and Publisher, The Nation

“Thom Hartmann’s new book on America and guns achieves the impossible: it is brief yet definitive. I couldn’t put it down. And now I can’t stop thinking about it.”
— Scott Carter, playwright (Discord, C.3.3) and former Executive Producer, Real Time with Bill Maher

“When Thom Hartmann talks, I listen. What Thom Hartmann writes, I read. This book about the history of guns in America—and most importantly, what should be the future of guns in America—is important, mind-opening, and profoundly helpful.”
— Marianne Williamson

“Beneath the success and rise of American enterprise is an untold history that is antithetical to every value Americans hold dear. This is a seminal work, a godsend really, a clear message to every citizen about the need to reform our country, laws, and companies.”
— Paul Hawken, coauthor of Natural Capitalism and author of The Ecology of Commerce

“If you do not think that one person can do much--can do enough--to make a real difference, I urge you to read The Prophet’s Way. It will inspire and excite you. For it will show you in real life terms just what one person can do, and lift you to a place of new determination to play your rightful role in the Creation of Tomorrow.”
― Neale Donald Walsch, author of Conversations with God

“Among the many hidden truths about our gun culture and politics Thom reveals are the prerevolutionary connections of guns and slave control, as well as guns and Native American genocide. Reading this book dispels the connections we all assume, that the Second Amendment was fundamentally about freedom versus the minority controlling the majority, racism triumphing over human rights. Most importantly, Thom tells us what we can do right now to move forward.”
— Larry Cohen, Chair, Our Revolution; Past President, Communications Workers of America; and Founding Chair, Democracy Initiative

“With The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment, Thom Hartmann adroitly links the relationship of guns to slavery from Columbus through Reconstruction to racism in present-day America. He explains how common-sense gun regulation has dramatically reduced mass shootings, suicides, and other terrors of gun violence in countries like Australia. This book should be required reading for every legislator.”
— Earl Katz, political ethicist and Emmy-nominated documentary producer

“Ask yourself this: How did the United States, with 5 percent of the population, end up with 50 percent of all the guns, worldwide, in civilian hands? If you can’t answer that question, or if that statistic itself shocks you, then read Thom Hartmann’s brilliant The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment. From our blood-soaked history to practical, proven solutions, the book is illuminating, infuriating, and motivating. It should be required reading for every high school student—and member of Congress.”
— Medea Benjamin, author and cofounder of CODEPINK

“Unfortunately, the debate about guns in the United States has been intractable and inflammatory. Thankfully, Thom Hartmann sets the score straight in his new book about firearms in America and the Second Amendment. One by one, he rips away the false narratives and myths about guns in the United States. This is a powerful book that is incisive as a stepping-stone to a new understanding about and approach to gun reform in the Wild West of nations.”
— Mark Karlin, founder of BuzzFlash.com and former Chairman and President, Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence

“It’s no surprise to anyone that Thom Hartmann is a prolific, brilliant, bestselling author and talk radio host. What is a surprise is when the man meets the moment so perfectly. That happens in his new book, The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment. This profoundly personal yet typically insightful historical work so wonderfully encapsulates the pulse of our time and the sea change the Parkland kids and others have made in our national, and deadly, struggle with guns in America. Thom Hartmann is a national treasure, and so is this book.”
— Stephanie Miller, national radio host

“Political sloganeering aside, guns do in fact kill people. Tens of thousands of Americans are gunned down year after year in their homes, churches, schools, offices, cars, theaters, at birthday parties, playgrounds, music events—anywhere and everywhere. It’s a national plague directly traceable to a handful of corporate profiteers, gun lobby extremists, and gutless politicians. In this liberating book, Thom Hartmann exposes their scam and proposes a path to gun sanity.”
— Jim Hightower, populist radio commentator, syndicated columnist, and editor of the monthly newsletter The Hightower Lowdown

“There is a widely accepted false choice that either we protect the lives of our schoolchildren or we protect our freedom to own guns, but we can’t do both. If you want to understand how we’ve come to think in such black-and-white terms and how the debate over guns has become so polarized as to seem intractable, this book is for you. And if you want a sane, wise, and informed way to resolve the problem, this book is most definitely for you. Thom Hartmann is one of our most brilliant and most compassionate thought leaders. Read this book and you’ll be inspired and encouraged by practical answers and a true path forward.”
— John Robbins, bestselling author and co-founder and President, Food Revolution Network

“Hartmann has given us a riveting chronicle of the history of America’s gun culture. Hartmann at once unravels the anemic underpinnings of the deafening claims by gun-rights advocates for constitutional sanction while showing how gun rights ideology, born from slavery, is rooted in racial hatred and tribalism manipulated by economic demands of racketeering gun manufacturers and their corporate and political allies.”
— Robert F Kennedy, Jr.

“No one does a better job of rolling out the Constitution, opening up the historical records, and separating fact from fiction than Thom Hartmann. This book is brilliant. So brilliant that if every American were to read it and take its message to heart, the lies that are used to divide could lose their power. And we might just find the common ground that so frequently eludes us.”
— John Nichols, National Affairs Correspondent, The Nation

"Thom is the professor America needs. If people knew what he knows, we'd have a vastly different country. If you want to know anything and everything about the issue of guns in America, you have to read this book."
— Cenk Uygur, Host, The Young Turks, and CEO, TYT Network

“With his awesome command of history and politics, Thom Hartmann presents a terrifying, captivating, and meticulously documented analysis of the treachery by which the ruthlessly deranged gained the loyalty of the desperate using money’s power to corrupt. An urgent and essential read for those who seek a world that works for all.”
— David C. Korten, author of Change the Story, Change the Future

“Thom Hartmann...offers both a dire warning about the threat posed to our nation by the growing power of oligarchs and a prescription on how to save our nation from it.”
— Dean Obeidallah, host of The Dean Obeidallah Show, SiriusXM Radio

“Thom Hartmann has written a chilling account of how far our nation has strayed from democracy and is slowly embracing oligarchy. His focus on possible remedies, however, is the chief virtue of this fine book.”
— Dan Sisson, author of The American Revolution of 1800

“Thom Hartmann is America’s history teacher, a national treasure laying it out scary and clear: tyranny can happen here. Oligarchy’s choking democracy.”
— Mimi Kennedy, actress, board member, Progressive Democrats of America

“For every American interested in protecting our democracy, everyone puzzled about how America came to the brink of authoritarian rule, and for all who enjoy a being educated and entertained by enthralling, eyeopening, riveting journey in U.S. history, the Hidden History of Oligarchy is a must read!”
— Don Siegelman, former Governor of Alabama, author of Stealing Our Democracy

“Thom Hartmann shines a much-needed spotlight on the oligarchs’ brutal class war as it now crescendos in the Trump era. He makes clear that if we understand exactly what we’re up against, we can save our country, reject sociopathic greed and build an America that promotes shared prosperity.”
— David Sirota, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author

“In this groundbreaking book, Thom Hartmann makes a unique contribution to our understanding of ADHD. In considering ADHD in an evolutionary context, Thom was the first to point out the survival advantages of ADHD in hunter-gatherer societies and also the first to identify the link between ADHD and creativity. As such, Thom will be recognized as a pioneer contributing to the reconceptualization of ADHD from being considered only a ‘disorder’ to being viewed as a ‘mode of thought’ characterized by enhanced flexibility and creativity.”
― Richard Silberstein, professor emeritus of cognitive neuroscience at Swinburne University

“It is refreshing to find a book that places ADHD in a framework that does not imply dysfunction. . . . The metaphor of a ‘hunter in a farmer’s world’ fits so many of the ADHD youngsters and adults with whom I have worked.”
― Margaret (Peg) Dawson, Ed.D., NCSP, co-director of the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders

“Why are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and related conditions so common? Could they in some way be advantageous? These questions and some possible answers are woven through this book, providing basic factual information about ADHD with a twist that helps readers recognize the value--sometimes quite special--of people who have it.”
― Dale E. Hammerschmidt, M.D., FACP, emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota

“This book did for our family what years of being in and out of therapy failed to accomplish. It helped us to understand and appreciate each other’s unique way of doing and seeing.”
― Janie Bowman, mother of an ADHD adolescent

“A clear and positive view of our remarkable children with practical tips for the parent.”
― Stephen C. Davidson, M.Ed., founding member of “Safe Kids” of Georgia

“This is the most important book I have ever read. . . . Now I can do no less than give my remaining years to its message.”
― Joseph Chilton Pearce, author of The Crack in the Cosmic Egg and The Biology of Transcendence

“The Prophet’s Way produces its own butterfly effect: the simple act of reading it can change your life.”
― Michael Hutchison, author of Mega Brain Power and The Book of Floating

“Thom Hartmann is an absolutely original mind, with an original way of looking at the world: he has made an enormous contribution to our culture.”
― Owen Lipstein, former editor in chief of Psychology Today and Mother Earth News

“This book represents the path of a spiritual initiate and the signposts he met along the way. We Coptics are honored that Thom’s path included Hamid Bey and Master Stanley, two great lights of the 20th century.”
― John Davis, director of the Coptic Fellowship

“Thom Hartmann is one of the great adventurers of our time, both in the world at large and the world of ideas.”
― Jill Neimark, journalist and author of Bloodsong

“Thom Hartmann has a capacity to go to the essence of things. He does so with power and beauty.”
― Brother Wayne Teasdale, author of The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World’

“The Prophet’s Way draws you in like a novel, keeping you on the edge waiting to see what happens next, yet is a true story. Like a painting by a great master that was painted over and hidden for centuries, Thom Hartmann peels away the layers of distortion heaped on original visions of religion and faith which existed 2,000 years ago, revealing once again the essence of humanity, spirituality, and mysticism. This book helped me make a major change in my life for the better.”
― Rob Kall, coauthor of Biofeedback Theory & Practice; founder of FUTUREHEALTH, Inc.

“Thom Hartmann exposes many of the ugly truths hiding beneath the surface of contemporary ‘civilization.’ Hartmann’s book masterfully combines autobiography, science, and Christian spirituality and shows us how to rehabilitate our world with acts of compassion rooted in spiritual humility and faith in the Creator of all creatures and cultures. Easy to read, hard to practice.”
― Jay Fikes, Ph.D., author of Carlos Castaneda: Academic Opportunism and the Psychedelic Sixties and R

“Thom Hartmann is one of those people who puts it all together for us, explaining not only what has seriously gone wrong in the world but, even more important, all that can still go right. He is an awakener of the highest order.”
― Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love and Everyday Grace

“Thom is a national treasure. Read him, embrace him, learn from him, and follow him as we all work for social change.”
— Robert Greenwald, political activist and founder and president of Brave New Films

“Thom Hartmann is a creative thinker and committed small-d democrat. He has dealt with a wide range of topics throughout his life, and this book provides an excellent cross-section. The Thom Hartmann Reader will make people both angry and motivated to act.”
— Dean Baker, economist and author of Plunder and Blunder, False Profits, and Taking Economics Seriously