A contested election results in the Great Gridlock, causing the power and light to go dark nationwide. A campaign headquarters is bombed. The nation’s capital is attacked. The story isn't about politicians or partisan positions, though. It's about what ordinary people do in tumultuous times like the one we are living through.
You join a group of ordinary people who find refuge in an Upcountry automotive manufacturing plant. Each controls the square foot you stand on to help hold the community together. A teacher starts a school for the children. A nurse opens a clinic. A team of engineers builds a hydroturbine to produce and share their light.
The election is the first Tuesday in November. The Tuesday Code is what you do next.
"The writing style and pace of the story make me want to binge read." — Paul Holbrook, Retired Executive
The Story and Reader Feedback
Riley, the new CEO of Bensalem Motor Works, built his career on order and stability. He tries to maintain control from the top. He keeps his head down. Signs what needs signing. Tells himself it’s an emergency. For now.
"What happens when our worst fears materialize? Leaves you wondering: What if?" — Sharon Durgin, Engineering Specialist & Community Leader
The Bensalem plant becomes a refuge for people Riley doesn’t understand. Victoria is a master teacher who gives people liberty while holding them to high standards. Leo is a street-smart teenager who survives the collapse by taking what he needs and sharing what he has.
“Fascinating and urgently relevant. It’s a powerful reminder of the American values, unity, and leadership needed to guide the rising generation.” — Ed Roman, High School Educator
None of them is a hero with a plan to save the country. Elections, institutions, and the machinery of power only hold when ordinary people take responsibility, keep faith with neighbors, and step up to control the square foot they stand on.
“Fast-paced with an interesting philosophical undertone. Hang on to your seat and be prepared to think!” — John Blackburn, Ph.D., Engineer
The story offers hope, but it doesn’t end by providing all the answers. These are still human beings. Some are heroic. Some remain greedy. Teenagers are still cynical.
"All too close to home. Captivating and concerning." — Chip Felkel, CEO & Political Strategist
About the Author
For decades, John Warner has written about the quiet choices ordinary people make in extraordinary moments that ultimately determine their futures. His previous non-fiction books, The Intelligence Tsunami, Sculpting Intuition, and Swamp Fox Insights, explore how the intersections of technology, power, and culture transform institutions and society.
John has been a founder, executive, investor, and board member in numerous entrepreneurial, academic, not-for-profit, and governmental organizations which brought together thousands of entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry leaders to accelerate new ideas and strengthen prosperity.
He is a member of the initial class of the Liberty Fellowship and of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Readers can follow his daily visual storytelling in his Photos By a Guy in a Hat Facebook group.
Ideal for Book Clubs and Civic Groups
The Tuesday Code arrives during the 250th anniversary of American independence, describing a world you can already imagine. In spite of the national crisis, ordinary people "shared our light, despite them." This novel offers no magic elixir. No single figure who fixes it all. What it offers is hope and a path that passes like a baton from one pair of hands to the next. This is where true democracy lives.
A Story of Power & Conscience, the novel explores deep themes of civic responsibility, leadership, and what one generation is willing to hand the next.
Fast-Paced & Grounded, it is a thrilling, realistic look at the challenges of our turbulent society, the opportunities and threats of artificial intelligence, and the enduring values that allow a community to thrive.
If you loved Station Eleven, Severance, or The Rose Code, this is your next read.
The novel includes a detailed author’s note describing its origins and twelve thought-provoking discussion questions. Contact John Warner to explore event presentations or participation in book club and civic group video calls.
On October 3, 2026, John was interviewed about The Tuesday Code by Joey Hudson on his The WORD in the Street podcast, originally broadcast on 98.9 WORD radio.
On September 10, 2026, John was interviewed about The Tuesday Code by David Meltzer, Blaine Bartlett, and Poonam Bhuchar on their Soul of Business podcast.
On October 2, 2026, John was interviewed about writing The Tuesday Code by Mike Switzer on the South Carolina Business Review on SC Public Radio. For over twenty years, John was Mike's weekly Monday morning guest on the show.
See photos of a well-attended A Conversation with John Warner at M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville on August 27, 2026. M. Judson sold out of their first order the following weekend.
John is also the author of Sculpting Intuition, a guide for leaders implementing The Tuesday Code principles in their organizations.
He has made dozens of innovation and entrepreneurship presentations to business and civic groups. Here is more about his work, including testimonials from business and civic leaders he has worked with.