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mommamouse's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
nabenn67's review against another edition
5.0
I passionately disagree with his opinion of Newt Gingrich, but Van Jones is an intelligent voice of reason in such a dangerous bipartisan time. So much good advice and an important reminder to treat each other -- EVERYONE -- with respect.
kmsaunders's review against another edition
4.0
Jones provides practical ideas for bridging the ever-growing divide in our country. Lots of basis for common ground.
megatsunami's review against another edition
4.0
This was really good and powerful. Few people are able to speak from the heart AND the brain at the same time the way Van Jones does. I still was left with a lot of questions at the end. How can I work together with people who hold values I'm deeply opposed to? I don't know, but this book is a great start.
zacmonday's review against another edition
4.0
I only knew a little of Jones before picking this one up. I knew him a little from CNN, but it was an NPR interview about the book that sold me.
What a great listen. In the intro, he warned he'd lay out some ideas readers agreed and disagreed with. Many authors have done this, but what caught me most by surprise in the book was how I agreed and disagreed. Jones would say, "We need to do this," and I'd agree. Then, I'd disagree on the how or even the why. On other topics I was in complete agreement.
Jones's thesis throughout is about shooting past the middle ground and finding common ground. For this, and for his sense of urgency, I appreciated the book very much.
What a great listen. In the intro, he warned he'd lay out some ideas readers agreed and disagreed with. Many authors have done this, but what caught me most by surprise in the book was how I agreed and disagreed. Jones would say, "We need to do this," and I'd agree. Then, I'd disagree on the how or even the why. On other topics I was in complete agreement.
Jones's thesis throughout is about shooting past the middle ground and finding common ground. For this, and for his sense of urgency, I appreciated the book very much.
mrfoley25's review against another edition
4.0
A bit dated already but comes with bipartisan solutions and a reminder that we're still moving towards our founding ideals.
jeannemurray3gmailcom's review against another edition
5.0
Really interesting. Gave me a lot to think about. As a liberal, I have had hard time understanding conservative views. This book helped me realize some of the reasoning behind conservative views, although still not agreeing. It also showed that there are many topics that conservatives and liberals can agree on and work together on to solve problems. I highly recommend reading this book.
aswhitesell's review against another edition
5.0
I received this pre-release book in a Goodreads giveaway, in exchange for my unbiased review. With that in mind, please know I would have gladly paid for it, because it truly is worth it. Rarely do I read a book in two days, but I couldn’t put this down. I truly wanted answers to the questions posed by the subtitle: How did we come apart? How do we come together? This book delivers, and then some, if you are willing to listen to the answers with an open mind and an open heart.
Perhaps my favorite quote of the book is from Nelson Mandela: “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” The time has come to stop pointing fingers, laying blame, and calling names. For the good of the country, we must work in partnership. Please, do yourself a favor and read this book to learn *how* - and then encourage others to do the same. Then we can move this country forward, for everyone’s benefit.
Van Jones, in his experience with law, environment, politics, and news, presents a well thought, well presented format, with the chapters labeled as follows: America Betrayed By Both Parties; An Open Letter to Liberals; An Open Letter to Conservatives; Whitelash; Prince, Newt, And The Way Forward (portraits in strange bedfellows); The Beautiful Work (four solutions); and Reclaiming Our Founding Dream. So, he stipulates the questions, sets forth the answers, and follows with appendices and resources to get people informed and involved.
There are so many problems, but with multiple solutions. Primarily among these: consider the other side’s perspectives, how they reached them, and how working together benefits everyone.
Perhaps my favorite quote of the book is from Nelson Mandela: “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” The time has come to stop pointing fingers, laying blame, and calling names. For the good of the country, we must work in partnership. Please, do yourself a favor and read this book to learn *how* - and then encourage others to do the same. Then we can move this country forward, for everyone’s benefit.
Van Jones, in his experience with law, environment, politics, and news, presents a well thought, well presented format, with the chapters labeled as follows: America Betrayed By Both Parties; An Open Letter to Liberals; An Open Letter to Conservatives; Whitelash; Prince, Newt, And The Way Forward (portraits in strange bedfellows); The Beautiful Work (four solutions); and Reclaiming Our Founding Dream. So, he stipulates the questions, sets forth the answers, and follows with appendices and resources to get people informed and involved.
There are so many problems, but with multiple solutions. Primarily among these: consider the other side’s perspectives, how they reached them, and how working together benefits everyone.
janellreads's review against another edition
4.0
Great read no matter which side of the aisle you're on. The author goes into how the deeply held convictions and values of both progressives and conservatives are essential to our democracy, how both sides at their best are are asking vital questions the other side sometimes ignores, how common ground can be found and issues turned into bi-partisan movements, etc. Much needed sense-talking and hope in this age of political divisiveness.
mjmbecky's review against another edition
4.0
Clearly outlines the election of 2016 and how we fell apart as a country in our vision toward equality and justice. Nothing startling here, but I do think he speaks to the necessity of opposing views to keep a balanced government. I think I just needed the space here to think through our goals as a country and how to stay focused on those goals.