We're thrilled to announce today that Gov. Howard Dean has joined Progressive Book Club as board chairman! The governor, who has just written a book on health care reform to be published later this summer, needs no introduction, but below he explains why he took the position and why he believes, as we do, that books and ideas are are vitally important to the progressive movement even -- make that especially -- in the digital age.

Dear Progressive,

It’s an honor to join the Board of Directors of the Progressive Book Club. PBC has transformed the traditional book club and created a 21st century platform that enables people who want to learn, connect, debate, support progressive causes and take action. Over the past few years, progressives have worked together to build an infrastructure and a movement that helped to elect President Obama and begin to undo the damage of the last eight years.

PBC has become a critical part of that infrastructure. I believe that as Democrats and Progressives our values are core American values. And just as we must show up and ask for people’s votes everywhere, we must also engage and stand up for our ideas and our values everywhere. In books, in our neighborhoods, or online. In the past, we lacked the infrastructure to provide a broad platform that continuously identifies and cultivates progressive ideas and new voices, while empowering people to debate, connect and mobilize around these ideas. ... Read more.