At a time when political and cultural divisions often dominate the national conversation, author and educator Carl Nordgren believes Americans may have more in common than they realize. His new book, Common Ground for US: Warning! This Book Makes Folks Optimistic, explores creativity as a shared human quality that can help people approach an uncertain future with greater optimism and purpose.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience as an entrepreneur and 25 years as an educator, Nordgren has worked with students, entrepreneurs, educators, scientists and leaders to help them develop their creative abilities. Through that work, he says he identified creativity as a potential source of common ground that extends beyond political, social and economic differences.
Nordgren points to research using NASA’s creativity assessment tool and grading scale, which he says found that 98% of participants demonstrated natural-born creative genius. He uses that finding as a starting point for examining what might happen if people placed greater emphasis on their creative capacity.
In Common Ground for US, Nordgren addresses the challenge of preparing for a future that cannot be predicted with certainty. Rather than focusing solely on existing political or economic divisions, he encourages readers to consider how creativity, collaboration and resourcefulness could contribute to what he describes as sustainable abundance.
The book also explores Nordgren’s concept of “Common Wealth,” which he describes as an approach to leveraging resources for the benefit of citizens. He offers ideas for political and community leaders while also encouraging individuals to reconsider how they communicate, collaborate and participate in their communities.
At the heart of the book is an optimistic message: people possess creative abilities that can be developed and applied to some of society’s biggest challenges.
Nordgren’s career has combined entrepreneurship, education and storytelling. He spent 20 years as an entrepreneur before moving into education, where he has taught at Duke University and Knox College and led workshops for the general public and specialized groups. He is also an award-winning and bestselling novelist and hosts the weekly radio program “Exploring Your Creative Genius” on 97.9 The Hill WCHL.
A graduate of Knox College, Nordgren lives in Durham, North Carolina, with his wife, Marie. Together, they raised three daughters.
Published by Torchflame Books, Common Ground for US: Warning! This Book Makes Folks Optimistic was released June 4, 2026. The book is available through online retailers and local bookstores.
For Nordgren, creativity is not simply an individual talent. It is a capacity he believes can connect people—and potentially provide a new way to think about America’s future.
I can also make this more Finurah-focused, emphasizing Nordgren’s ideas about entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership and building “Common Wealth.”