Coming September 22, 2026
The Elections That Changed the World

From CNN's Chief Political Correspondent and New York Times bestselling author Dana Bash comes a riveting journey into the most crucial elections in history, from the throes and uprisings of Ancient Rome to the modern-day political climate that put today's leaders in power

Elections can usher in economic prosperity, fresh solutions for calcified problems, and new policies that improve the lives of citizens everywhere. They can lead to war, a scarcity of resources and a loss of deeply-held values. In other words, elections matter, sometimes in ways we can't even anticipate.

Beloved CNN correspondence Dana Bash and celebrated writer David Fisher take readers on a journey through some of the most pivotal moments in history:

• Julius Caesar's election as praetor amid the unique voting practices of ancient Rome
• The 1620 creation of the Mayflower Compact in a ship anchored off Cape Cod
• The informal, hands-up election at a church gathering that made Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of the Montogomery Improvement Association
• Catholic Cardinals' consequential selection of Pope John XXIII
• The ascendance of the first democratically elected female world leaders

This compelling book is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered Does my vote matter? and those who are curious about how our election systems came to be.