I imagine that seeing the name Van Jones is either going to make people decide not to read this or jump for joy thinking it will validate liberal views. I hope both sides would rethink their positions and give this a try.

To put it all out there, I am a liberal. A liberal with a capital L and not afraid to be called a bleeding heart. However, I do try to keep up with the press and thoughts of conservatives. Nothing has ever made me understand some of the reasons people voted for Trump like this book. At some points I felt ashamed, because it was like Van Jones was speaking directly to me. I can only hope that those conservatives who read the book can find some understanding of liberals, as well.

We may not agree, but we can talk and find a way to listen to one another.

This book really laid out positive steps that we can take in this horrendous political climate to unite and move forward together. It seems like everyone focuses on our differences which further divides us. This book actually is unique in the fact that it focuses on uniting us as a Country. This is definitely a book I will recommend.

I remember seeing Van Jones commenting during the 2016 election, but there was so much noise going on that he didn't make any kind of special impression on me. Although I do remember his teary "How do I explain this to my children" speech on November 9, 2016. So I started Beyond the Messy Truth curious but without any particular expectations. But, WOW, from the get go, Jones had my attention and he kept it from beginning to end. Here are some of my disorganized thoughts about why:
-He has so much to say about what led to the 2016 election results that is insightful, and that goes well beyond rhetoric or knee jerk partisanship.
-He draws on personal experience, interviews and research, seamlessly weaving it all together.
-He is articulate and engaging, and comes across as someone I would happily spend time talking to about everything and anything.
-Two of his chapters are standouts, each one a letter to opposite sides of the political spectrum, challenging Democrats and Republicans to check some of their assumptions.
-He is a pragmatist. He has his own strongly held progressive political beliefs, but he believes even more in appealing to Democrats and Republicans to work together on issues where there is or should be common ground -- such as prison reform, the opioid crisis, and the looming employment crisis caused by technology.
-He weaves in his own moving personal story -- growing up in the Southern US, working for a small newspaper, going to a state university in Tennessee, going to Yale law school, working in the White House under Obama, etc...
-He personalizes a lot of what he has to say with stories of people he has met and worked with -- including perhaps surprisingly Newt Gingrich, a staunch Republican journalism professor and Prince, and also including many seemingly ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
-He speaks from the heart and with a sense of urgency.
Even as a Canadian, I found what he had to say and how he said it insightful, moving and inspiring. I hope he isn't spitting in the wind. To me, this is a must read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

A great book to make you think

This was an absolutely wonderful read from someone that makes you think no matter what side you are on. Van Jones just comes literally makes you stop and think because he talks to you and not down or through you. In the world today you need someone like Van Jones and a book like this to make you think.

Most of us who actively follow politics and related news everyday are guilty of surrounding ourselves in an echo chamber that strengthens our own existing views. Neither do we tolerate opposing views, nor do we even want to listen to them. What we don’t realize is that this is exactly what has led to the current political scenario – partisan bickering, no concrete solutions for the issues ravaging the people on both sides of the aisle, growing disrespect and contempt for anyone with a different POV.

That is why I think this book is important. It’s not a one-stop guide to solve all problems that exist, but it is a good beginning. Van Jones gives us a glance into his childhood and upbringing as a young black kid in the South. He delves into his own personal experiences to help us understand that for identifying problems and solutions, it is not only necessary but better for people of all ideological spectrums, races and classes to find common ground. In his open letters to both liberals and conservatives, he points out the flaws in each of the party’s approaches to furthering their goals and ideologies at the expense of common people. At the end, he discusses in detail issues like criminal justice reform, opioid addiction crisis and job creation which have supporters across both left and right, it’s just that we need to be prepared to engage with everyone to work on solving the crises.

I believe that everyone invested in the betterment of the country, especially youngsters should read this book, if not completely, at least look at the appendices which give information about lots of resources to get to know both sides of every story. We should play our part to ensure that our common goal is achieved – Liberty and Justice for All.

This book is a must read. Van Jones has written what many a voter, me included, has wanted to hear from our public figures. In short, from the author's perspective as a person of color who grew up in our country, he knows all too well the benefits of political parties, and the growing edges with in as well.

Jones owns up front that he is a Democrat but he also says what many public figures will not; that the party has its problems and is part of the problem in Washington, DC. Likewise, and surprising for one who identifies as a Democrat, Jones lifts up the gifts and strengths of the Republican party while pointing out where they fall short.

He makes his case to each party (and its followers) in two early chapters, each titled "An Open Letter to Liberals/Conservatives." There he shines light on where the party in question does not include someone or some group even though that group fits into the party's overall message.

Following those sections Mr. Jones presents ideas on how parties can come together, and illustrates what that might look like by living the example himself. He recounts how, by working at CNN he met fellow commentator Newt Gingrich. Even though they share profound ideological differences, they listened to each other. This was helped along by the fact that Jones had read Gingrich's work for years (challenging himself throughout his life by facing the ideas of his successful, political opposite). Remaining open to each other, both of their views were challenged, and they each grew to new understandings about the other in their working and dialoguing together. In fact the duo, along with others began leading some workshops and discovered ways where Congress persons were able to reach and work across the aisle with their other.

The latter half of the book is filled with additional ideas on how members can cross party lines and do the necessary action of working together. Some of these ideas include responding to the Opioid Addiction Crisis, Prison Incarceration, and more.

Speaking about the former leads into his surprising, but satisfying recounting of his friendship with Prince which further illustrates what people can do if they will only agree to work together.

This book is fascinating, needed and will benefit all who read it. If you find you automatically discount someone because of the "D" or "R" next to their name, or make them an enemy because of the same, then you must read this book. It is time that this nation comes together and work together as a nation made up of people with different world views. Van Jones eloquently shows us the way.

In a political environment that seems to be at peak polarization, where accusations of “fake news” and “lies” are thrown against opposing views from all sides, is it possible to close the gap and return to civil discourse? How in the world did we get here?

Van Jones seeks to offer some perspectives, responses, and suggestions to both of these questions.

He begins with a brief history lesson that includes his own personal story and involvement with politics. In his experience and analysis, the current political environment that ended up electing Donald Trump as President, began forming and festering in the 1990’s. The major issues which neither party addressed adequately, or when they tried, did so improperly, include: economic policies that eliminated many manufacturing jobs; social policies that incarcerated many without hope of recovery and restoration; economic policies that resulted in a “bubble” and a subsequent burst causing many Americans hardship and loss; foreign policy based on force rather than diplomacy; and a lack of sound, comprehensive immigration policy. Jones uses these as foundational pillars for the remainder of his book as he argues where each party went astray and how we might be able to come back together today.

In the following two chapters he takes each side separately and pens an “open letter” where he outlines the problems he sees with each, and how each has failed to live up to the American ideal and because of it, has failed the people. He offers suggested solution tailored to each party, based around five themes: Honor Your Traditions; Uphold Religious Liberty; Respect All Americans; Fix the Party; and Solve Real Problems.

The next chapter discusses race and racial inequalities. Even when the issue doesn’t appear to be explicitly racial, an underlying historical and systemic racial inequalities influence many issues. This must be articulated and addressed if America hopes to move forward.

The final chapters offers hope and a way forward. Jones brings in his own personal stories and experiences that show that coming together, finding common grounds, and working across ideological lines is, in fact possible and necessary. Throughout the book he stresses that liberals need conservatives, and conservatives need liberals. Liberals stress justice and conservatives stress liberty. But both are part of the American ideal that we strive for, and we need both. We need a healthy dialogue and argument (in the technical, rhetorical sense) between the two if we want to find and implement just and sound solutions to societal issues.

Jones has some strong criticism directed toward fellow liberals and progressives on the issue of “friendly fire” and “call-out culture,” that is, where some take aim at others who should be allies for not being “perfect” enough in their rhetoric and activism. He writes that criticism, when made, should not be done in ways that tear down, but for the purposes of building up and offering a path forward. Jones writes that what we are seeking is not some kind of moral and rhetorical perfection, but action that make genuine difference and effect real change for the better.

A final theme that Jones repeats through his book is that America was founded on both a vision and a reality. The vision is an ideal where all people are equal and free. The reality is that when the nation was founded, America was quite far from that ideal. Throughout the ensuing centuries, Americans have made progress, through fits and starts, through wars and tragedies, toward closing the gap between reality and the ideal vision. We have come a long way, but there is still a long ways to go. The year 2017 seems to be a giant step backwards for many, but it is not without precedent and the history of America shows that steps backwards are not the final word. It is not democracy itself that will save America, but individuals who love democracy and America coming together from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all races, and all ideologies; who are willing to argue passionately about ideas but also find common ground with people who don’t think alike, that will move America forward, closer to the ideals on which she was founded.

(Based on ARC supplied by the publisher through NetGalley.)