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el_entrenador_loco's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
ladyheroj's review against another edition
3.0
Bernie's politics? I'd give 'em 5 stars. When I picked this book up at my local library, I didn't realize it was a reprint of something he wrote back in 1997. But in a way, that made this book even more refreshing to me. Because his message HAS NOT CHANGED. Nineteen years, and I couldn't find a flip-flop? Insert a surprised-face emoji here! (But in a way, it was also tragic because it also meant that not much has changed in nineteen years. Or it's gotten worse, will get worse...but that's for a different discussion, not a book review.)
What got the book 3 stars? The writing style is dry. Now, Bernie's known for his direct, blunt speech and that's something I like about him. But in the book, it left something to be desired. There would be times where I'd wonder "why were we told these little details?" I literally laughed out loud, not in a good way, when a chapter ended on the sentence "We ate cold cuts." Why tell us that? Why not end on the previous sentence about how everyone was gathered to wait the election's outcome? It could be to show how Bernie and his camp are more down-to-earth than his opponents, but that comparison (at least with the food) was never made. So why write that one little sentence and ruin the momentum? But if the writing style is dry, again it's because it mimics his speech. And there are times when the book comes across as quite conversational, which is a nice touch. I also rate the book three stars because of its organization. It cuts from his campaign against Susan Sweetser in '96 to his time as mayor and House Representative (and thus his campaigns for those offices). I think this was done to add a stronger sense of narrative, but instead it just struck me as unnecessary and even confusing at times.
While not the best-written book, I'd still recommend it. Because Bernie's message is legit, he walks what he talks, and damn if I don't feel more inspired to do my part for America's democracy.
What got the book 3 stars? The writing style is dry. Now, Bernie's known for his direct, blunt speech and that's something I like about him. But in the book, it left something to be desired. There would be times where I'd wonder "why were we told these little details?" I literally laughed out loud, not in a good way, when a chapter ended on the sentence "We ate cold cuts." Why tell us that? Why not end on the previous sentence about how everyone was gathered to wait the election's outcome? It could be to show how Bernie and his camp are more down-to-earth than his opponents, but that comparison (at least with the food) was never made. So why write that one little sentence and ruin the momentum? But if the writing style is dry, again it's because it mimics his speech. And there are times when the book comes across as quite conversational, which is a nice touch. I also rate the book three stars because of its organization. It cuts from his campaign against Susan Sweetser in '96 to his time as mayor and House Representative (and thus his campaigns for those offices). I think this was done to add a stronger sense of narrative, but instead it just struck me as unnecessary and even confusing at times.
While not the best-written book, I'd still recommend it. Because Bernie's message is legit, he walks what he talks, and damn if I don't feel more inspired to do my part for America's democracy.
scottpm's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of a Congressional campaign and a progressive hero. It actually had many layers to it. It was a good read and very informative.
moseslh's review against another edition
4.0
Sanders' political autobiography details his rise against all odds from obscurity to national prominence as a democratic socialist in a rural state that was the most consistently Republican-voting in the nation. His story is an inspiring one and is told in a manner that makes for very easy, light reading. I appreciate that he admits on the front cover that it was co-written with a friend, rather than trying to take credit for a ghostwriter's work, another piece of evidence that the honesty he is so admired for is genuine and sincere. However, it doesn't always sound like Bernie's voice, which I suspect is attributable to Huck Gutman's co-authorship. My biggest complaint with this book is that it is advertised in a misleading way. Based on the book's cover and summary, one would assume it to be a recent autobiography talking about everything leading up to Bernie's current presidential campaign, but upon reading it becomes clear that it is really just a rebranding of a 1997 autobiography with a new title, introduction, and afterword. The actual text of the book has clearly not been updated for the present day; when it talks about the "current" minimum wage, for instance, it is talking about the minimum wage in 1997. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading it and learning more about the 45th president of the United States. Or 46th, if that doesn't work out.
laurenash's review against another edition
3.0
POPSUGAR'S 2016 Reading Challenge: A political memoir.
I feel the need for the following disclaimer: it didn't actually take me as long to read as it looks like... I picked it up on April 2nd but didn't read much further than the preface. I set it down so I could read other books. I started it for real on the 24th. I read 20% in one sitting, but not because it was unputdownably interesting. It's kind of dry. But, I leave this book knowing more about his previous work and political agenda. This was the one category I was dreading for because--though it's important--politics bore the hell out of me.
I feel the need for the following disclaimer: it didn't actually take me as long to read as it looks like... I picked it up on April 2nd but didn't read much further than the preface. I set it down so I could read other books. I started it for real on the 24th. I read 20% in one sitting, but not because it was unputdownably interesting. It's kind of dry. But, I leave this book knowing more about his previous work and political agenda. This was the one category I was dreading for because--though it's important--politics bore the hell out of me.
cjdawn236's review against another edition
3.0
I found myself a little disappointed with this book. I don't pretend to know much about politics, and I had read this book hoping to learn more about Bernie the man, and only learned about his campaigns.
Another aspect I found disappointing was the lack of information about his life since 1996. I knew when I started the book it had been originally published 10 years earlier, but I thought with the update it would contain more information about what Bernie has been up to in the last decade. Instead, there is just an Afterward by a third party giving a quick overview of the past decade and what Sanders hopes to accomplish as president. I had hoped Sanders might have taken at least a little bit of time to update the book himeslf, but that was not the case.
Overall, though this book was interesting and did help me learn a lot about Sanders as a politician, it didn’t help me learn anything more about who he is as a human and I was somewhat disappointed.
Another aspect I found disappointing was the lack of information about his life since 1996. I knew when I started the book it had been originally published 10 years earlier, but I thought with the update it would contain more information about what Bernie has been up to in the last decade. Instead, there is just an Afterward by a third party giving a quick overview of the past decade and what Sanders hopes to accomplish as president. I had hoped Sanders might have taken at least a little bit of time to update the book himeslf, but that was not the case.
Overall, though this book was interesting and did help me learn a lot about Sanders as a politician, it didn’t help me learn anything more about who he is as a human and I was somewhat disappointed.
veuxmourir's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings on this one. I love Bernie, so I obviously loved the political ideology this book expressed, but the writing wasn't too great. It switched between past and present tenses and skipped around in the timeline quite a bit, so there were times that I got confused. All in all, though, I'd say this is definitely an interesting read whether you're a supporter of Bernie or not.
stablebayesian's review against another edition
4.0
Bernie would've won.
The book goes through bernie's life in politics while hammering his iconic talking points. An important point he touched on is citizen education. I wish to see this being done outside of an electoralist framework such as union organizing, mutual aid etc. rather than just voter outreach.
Also, Newt Gingrich is literally Satan.
The book goes through bernie's life in politics while hammering his iconic talking points. An important point he touched on is citizen education. I wish to see this being done outside of an electoralist framework such as union organizing, mutual aid etc. rather than just voter outreach.
Also, Newt Gingrich is literally Satan.
genevievesuzanne's review against another edition
5.0
I think everyone should read this book, especially if they know very little about politics. Bernie explains his frustrations with the two party system, corporate media, campaign finance and negative attacking methods, and especially how scared politicians were and are of progressive change.
He explicitly maps out his plan for changes this country needs to make in order to save ourselves from complete financial ruin and throwing ourselves back into the Stone Age (although he does not use that phrase). At one point, I believe in the afterword, he explains exactly what he means by calling himself a socialist- something I think a lot of people hold onto with negative connotations.
On the contrary, the book does hop back and forth in time which can be confusing and the sentences are a bit choppy in places. In the last chapter while he is explaining what we can do to get ourselves back on track, the facts and numbers are overwhelming and hard to push through.
Overall I highly recommend this book and strongly encourage everyone to open their eyes to what American politicians are actually doing. Change and positive growth will not come without educating and organizing the people. I believe this book can be a first step for many.
He explicitly maps out his plan for changes this country needs to make in order to save ourselves from complete financial ruin and throwing ourselves back into the Stone Age (although he does not use that phrase). At one point, I believe in the afterword, he explains exactly what he means by calling himself a socialist- something I think a lot of people hold onto with negative connotations.
On the contrary, the book does hop back and forth in time which can be confusing and the sentences are a bit choppy in places. In the last chapter while he is explaining what we can do to get ourselves back on track, the facts and numbers are overwhelming and hard to push through.
Overall I highly recommend this book and strongly encourage everyone to open their eyes to what American politicians are actually doing. Change and positive growth will not come without educating and organizing the people. I believe this book can be a first step for many.