In a year where our country witnessed a widening gap between rich and poor, a toxic chemical leak, long delays for veterans at hospitals and clinics, botched lethal injectionsracially-charged protestsrecord low voter turnout and stunning Congressional dysfunction, we at NationSwell turned to these ten books for stories of hope. Confronted by complex issues, these authors never flinched. Instead, they brought us creative solutions and unwavering heroics. Read on for our top ten books of 2014 (alphabetized by author):

[ph]

[ph]

[ph]

[ph]

[ph]

[ph]

[ph]

[ph]

[ph]

[ph]

Are there any inspiring books we missed? Let us know in the comments below.