Los Angeles, CA — September 20, 2025 — In just four days, What Does It Mean to Be an American? did more than launch, it struck a nerve. The new book by Kelby Smith, with contributions from Ebiezer (“Ebie”) and Markus Loving, has surged to #1 Best Seller in Law Legal Education, United States Local Government, Constitutional Law, and State & Local Government on Amazon, while also securing the #1 Hot New Release in United States Local Government, Law, Constitutional Law and Legal Education.
The momentum is being driven by a simple, resonant premise: many Americans sense that the “official story” doesn’t quite add up. The book meets that feeling head-on, inviting readers to re-examine citizenship, jurisdiction, and liberty through the lens of the founders and the often-overlooked distinction between U.S. citizenship and State Citizenship.
“More than a book, this is a call to awaken. To question. To seek truth,” the authors write. They frame the work as both historical inquiry and practical guide: how the founders viewed citizenship; why State versus U.S. Citizenship matters; and how individuals can lawfully live as free, private men and women in a modern republic. The appeal is not academic. For thousands of early readers, it’s personal.
“Readers aren’t just buying a book, they’re entering a conversation about identity, allegiance, and lawful freedom,” said Kelby Smith, author and Executive Director of HIS Advocates, s.s.m. “This week’s response tells me people are ready to reclaim responsibility for their rights and to live privately, honorably, and in alignment with the Constitution and with God. I’m humbled and grateful.”
For Ebiezer (“Ebie”), a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and the ministry’s IT Director, the book’s rise reflects a deeper hunger. “True liberty begins with knowing who you are in God,” he said. “When you realign your life with first principles, spiritual and constitutional, you experience a freedom the world can’t manufacture and can’t take away. That’s the heartbeat of this project.”
The book’s voice is accessible and unflinching. It pairs historical and legal references with lived experience, offering a blueprint for those who feel America has drifted from its founding vision. “If you’ve ever had a gut feeling that America has strayed from its founding vision,” the authors note, “this book will validate your instincts and give you a roadmap back to true freedom.”
Markus Loving, a multi-best-selling author and Executive Director of OMD Market Research Foundation, adds: “I’ve chased truth since I was a kid. This book connects the dots between history, law, and faith and shows people how to act. The early chart success says Americans want clarity, not noise. We’re honored for the chance to help deliver it.”
That roadmap is what readers are sharing and recommending. It’s practical without being prescriptive, principled without being partisan. By recentering the conversation on first principles and lawful processes, the authors restore a sense of agency to everyday citizens seeking more than slogans; people ready to “reclaim their American identity” in a manner that is informed, private, and aligned with the Constitution.
What Does It Mean to Be an American? is the latest extension of the HIS Advocates’ mission to educate and equip individuals to lawfully live in the private, supported by a censorship-free media platform (HISAdvocates.TV) and a national community of learners and practitioners.
Availability
What Does It Mean to Be an American? is available now on Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/What-Does-Mean-American-Citizenship-ebook/dp/B0FNLS9P6Z/
About the Authors
Kelby Smith is Executive Director of HIS Advocates, s.s.m., a private, self-supported, unincorporated ministry dedicated to lawful education on State Citizenship and constitutional freedom. He also founded HISAdvocates.TV, available on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung, LG, mobile apps, YouTube, and more.
Ebiezer (“Ebie”) is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, founder of Kingdom Country Foundation, and director of the Cybersecurity Research Foundation. At HIS Advocates, he serves as IT Director, member counselor, and special-projects lead, integrating biblical scholarship with legal-historical research.
Markus Loving is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and Executive Director of OMD Market Research Foundation, helping leaders build legacy, prosperity, and purpose through strategy, media, and publishing.
Media Contact
Press Inquiries — What Does It Mean to Be an American?
kelby@hisadvocates.org | (844) 447-2386 ext. 701
Amazon rankings reflect positions as of August 28, 2025, and are subject to change.
