Amplify: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World

In this accessible and practical debut, Met, whose CV includes playing the bass in a multiplatinum band and cofounding a climate research and advocacy nonprofit, draws on his varied experiences to make the case that the “fan-building tactics” performers employ can be applied “to move people to action on climate or other important issues.” The key, he argues, is to be seen as a “trusted messenger” by offering an authentic “insider’s view.” Met provides numerous examples to illustrate this point, from how his own band, AJR, produced “making of” documentaries that helped solidify its link to its fan base, to how Greta Thunberg and Andrew Yang were able to connect with far-reaching audiences about climate change and universal basic income by presenting earnest explainers on social media. While the strategies Met shares seem more like a marketing guide for influencers than anything else—a core piece of advice is to be “highly intentional about what [one] shares and when, which allows [one] to be transparent about their work without being dull and without ever crossing the line into oversharing”—it’s nonetheless advice that those hoping to become front men for political causes can make valuable use of. Aspiring activists will want to check this out. (June)