The National Writers Series is honored to welcome Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State and one of the nation’s most courageous defenders of democracy, to discuss her powerful and inspiring new book, The Purposeful Warrior, an Open Field title from Maria Shriver.
As Michigan’s chief election official, Benson has overseen some of the most secure and highest-turnout elections in the state’s history. But her life changed one snowy evening in December 2020 when armed protesters descended onto her doorstep, threatening her family. Her only crime: certifying a fair and accurate Presidential election in which the protesters’ preferred candidate – Donald Trump – did not win. Benson refused to back down. She stood her ground, spoke out louder, and helped expose and defeat a coordinated national effort to overturn the election.
In The Purposeful Warrior, Benson shares the lessons she’s learned throughout her extraordinary career—from investigating domestic terrorist networks to becoming the youngest woman to lead a top 100 law school, to running the Boston Marathon while more than eight months pregnant. With clarity and conviction, she demonstrates how all of us can stand up to injustice, find strength in our values, and become warriors for ourselves and for one another.
Drawing from her own story as well as those of other bold changemakers, Benson shows that even in moments of fear, frustration, or despair, we have the power to act with integrity, grit, and grace. Whether we’re confronting bullies, challenging the status quo, or defending the vulnerable, she reminds us that purposeful warriors don’t just resist what’s wrong—they fight for what’s right.
Benson has been praised for her leadership, courage, and commitment to protecting voting rights and strengthening democracy. The Purposeful Warrior is her call to action for a more just and compassionate world, and a roadmap for anyone ready to make a difference.
Join us for an unforgettable evening with a national leader and changemaker whose story will leave you inspired to lead with purpose, speak up with courage, and fight for a better future.
The event begins at 7 p.m. and includes a Q&A and author signing. Each ticket includes a hardcover copy of The Purposeful Warrior (or opt for a two-ticket package with one book). Please note: signed books are only available at the live event.
Doug Stanton is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of In Harm’s Way and 12 Strong, made into a major motion picture by Jerry Bruckheimer, and The Odyssey of Echo Company. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, Time, The Washington Post, Men’s Journal, The Daily Beast, Newsweek, Esquire, and Outside.
He was awarded the 2021 Steven Ambrose Oral History award. He attended Interlochen Arts Academy, Hampshire College, and received an MFA from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. He created the National Writers Series in 2009 with his wife, Anne, and attorney Grant Parsons. He and Anne have three children and live in Traverse City.
