Ron Wyden | It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change

In Conversation with Michael Solomonov

Endowed Lecture: Pine Tree Foundation

It Takes Chutzpah is an inspirational call to action by a senior U.S. politician, describing how Americans of all age groups, persuasions, and occupations can defy convention, chart new pathways for their communities, schools, at work and in life. US Senator Ron Wyden is widely praised for coming up with sensible-sounding ideas no one else had thought of and making the counter-intuitive political alliances that prove helpful in passing bills. In It Takes Chutzpah, he offers a progressive leader's manifesto for being a courageous warrior during turbulent times.

"Chutzpah" is a Yiddish word that describes a trait that many Jews consider in-born. Ron explores chutzpah's long history and many interpretations and reclaims the word chutzpah for a new American generation, showing how it can be used for good to reclaim idealism and enact positive change. He shares "Ron's 12 Rules of Chutzpah" that enable any individual or group to achieve their objectives, including:

1. If you want to make change, you've got to make noise.

2.In a world where everyone thinks and acts for the short-term, always play the long game.

3. Leading is coaching: Whether in legislation or in life, you've got to bring people and ideas together around a shared goal.

Ron identifies several key values--free speech, health care, reproductive rights, a clean environment, and reigning in Big Tech--and draws on his decades of public service to stress that preserving those values means that loud brashness and boldness will be needed now more than ever.

The 2024/25 Author Events Series is presented by Comcast.

Recorded May 15, 2025

Facebook:   / authorevents  
Instagram:   / flpauthorevents  
Twitter/X: https://x.com/authorevents

The views expressed by the authors and moderators are strictly their own and do not represent the opinions of the Free Library of Philadelphia or its employees.