Scan barcode
A review by aswhitesell
Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together by Van Jones
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.