A passionate manifesto that exposes hypocrisy on both sides of the political divide and points a way out of the tribalism that is tearing America apart – by the CNN political contributor and host hailed as “a star of the 2016 campaign” (New York Times) who tries to “fight the right way” (New Yorker).
Van Jones burst into the American consciousness during the 2016 presidential campaign with an unscripted, truth-telling style and an already established history of bridge-building across party lines. His election night commentary became a viral sensation. A longtime progressive activist with deep roots in the conservative South, Jones has made it his mission to challenge voters and viewers to stand in one another’s shoes and disagree constructively.
Now, in Beyond the Messy Truth, Jones offers a blueprint for transforming our collective anxiety into meaningful change. Tough on Donald Trump but showing respect and empathy for his supporters, Jones takes aim at the failures of both parties before and after Trump’s victory. He urges both sides to abandon the politics of accusation and focus on real solutions. Calling us to a deeper patriotism, he shows us how to get down to the vital business of solving, together, some of our toughest problems.
“The entire national conversation today can be reduced to a simple statement – ‘I’m right, and you’re wrong,'” Jones has said. But the truth is messier; both sides have flaws. Both parties have strayed from their highest principles and let down their core constituencies. Rejecting today’s political tribalism, Jones issues a stirring call for a new “bipartisanship from below”. Recognizing that tough challenges require the best wisdom from both liberals and conservatives, he points us toward practical answers to problems that affect us all regardless of region or ideology: rural and inner-city poverty, unemployment, addiction, unfair incarceration, and the devastating effects of the pollution-based economy on both coal country and our urban centers.
In explaining how he arrived at his views, Jones shares behind-the-scenes memories from his decades spent marching and protesting on behalf of working people, inspiring stories of ordinary citizens who became champions of their communities, and little-known examples of cooperation that have risen from the fog of partisan conflict. In his quest for positive solutions, Van Jones encourages us to set fire to our old ways of thinking about politics and come together where the pain is greatest.
Includes an invaluable resource of contacts, books, media, and organizations for bipartisan bridge building and problem solving.
Five Stars I am really enjoying this book. It truly fulfills its title.
Love it. I downloaded a sample of Beyond The Messy Truth; I really loved and enjoyed the book; it has teaching tools that make you think from every angle and to see another person’ s point of view. I look forward to reading the book in its entirety; I hope everyone will buy this book.
A 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.