eternalcat's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 The first half was a bit difficult to get through for some reason. Overall, a very informative book.
madcru's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
saratroupe's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a must-read. Bernie taught me so much about the reality of the state of the world. It's eye-opening and very sad, but it is full of truth. Learning about how he built his campaign from the ground up with the help of ordinary people's time and monetary contributions inspired me. He gathered people who are passionate about saving the world that we live in and he provided real thought out solutions to many of the problems that we face as a nation. Bernie taught me about the very corrupt world of politics and how that corruption controls so many aspects of our society, economy, and environment. He is a wonderfully intelligent man who cares about the good of all people. I hope that others will read this book because it forces you to face many of the dauntingly large-scale problems in our country. We live in a world where the top of the top, such a small number of people, have so much power. But Bernie showed us all through his campaign that from the very bottom, ordinary people can join together, and with numbers, we can make a movement. Change is possible, but only if we come together to work towards the change that we believe in. It is an important reminder that in order to make change you can't just sit and wait--YOU have to actually DO something. Each and everyone of us can be an agent of change. Be part of something bigger. Contribute to our communities. Take time to do something nice for someone in need. Stand up for equal rights and treatment of all people. Volunteer for an environmental protection group. Bring food to a homeless shelter. If nothing else, HAVE EMPATHY FOR OTHERS. Thank you Bernie for opening my eyes and my heart.
annemariewellswriter's review against another edition
5.0
I loved listening to this book. I love Bernie's ideas and he explains his reasoning and plans in lay terms that are easy for the average citizen to understand. This book can be used to empower progressives to be able to better explain themselves when it comes to the issues. It just makes me sad that the ideas won't come to fruition in the next four years, or longer, or at all.
leannaaker's review against another edition
4.0
This book not only discusses Bernie's campaign, but also discusses in plain terms, many of the problems facing our country today. The book is, at the same time, depressing and motivating. A good read, all the way around.
jiaphet's review against another edition
5.0
If you are a progressive this is a great book to read. You learn about Bernie's experience running for office and how he raised the money he did. He also dedicates a big portion of the book to the policies themselves. He answers the question of "How are you going to pay for it? in here very clearly. He also had it up on his site but people don't care to search it up.
sfletcher26's review against another edition
3.0
Finished, finally.
It's strange, I was really looking forward to reading this. Having followed the 2016 US election (let's face it it was hard not to have) and having been amazed at the reaction Sanders was getting (an ardent socialist in a culture that up until now has been fearful of the S word) I thought this couldn't be anything other than a winner. Well it wasn't. Its not that its not interesting. It is, Sanders' ideas are radical and thought provoking. Indeed I find my political views are pretty much aligned with those of Sanders and therefore was interested in what he had to say. But unfortunately it wasn't the message that I had problems with its how the message was delivered. Suffice it to say Sanders is no writer and in this it shows.
The first half of the book is a Sanders eye view of the Democratic nomination campaign and it is what it is. The second half though sadly reads like a collection of poorly edited stump speeches and falls flat for that. I lost count of the number of times I had to read about how the US was the greatest, most rich, most entrepreneurial, in fact most everything country in the world. in some cases it might be true but bloody hell do I have it shoved down my throat every 10 pages. Yes it's rhetoric but in a book less is sometimes more.
In retrospect this may have been better had I have thought to have got it as an audio book. As a book book though its sadly less satisfying.
It's strange, I was really looking forward to reading this. Having followed the 2016 US election (let's face it it was hard not to have) and having been amazed at the reaction Sanders was getting (an ardent socialist in a culture that up until now has been fearful of the S word) I thought this couldn't be anything other than a winner. Well it wasn't. Its not that its not interesting. It is, Sanders' ideas are radical and thought provoking. Indeed I find my political views are pretty much aligned with those of Sanders and therefore was interested in what he had to say. But unfortunately it wasn't the message that I had problems with its how the message was delivered. Suffice it to say Sanders is no writer and in this it shows.
The first half of the book is a Sanders eye view of the Democratic nomination campaign and it is what it is. The second half though sadly reads like a collection of poorly edited stump speeches and falls flat for that. I lost count of the number of times I had to read about how the US was the greatest, most rich, most entrepreneurial, in fact most everything country in the world. in some cases it might be true but bloody hell do I have it shoved down my throat every 10 pages. Yes it's rhetoric but in a book less is sometimes more.
In retrospect this may have been better had I have thought to have got it as an audio book. As a book book though its sadly less satisfying.
arixen's review against another edition
4.0
This took a while. First because I only read it on break. Second the first part of the book was all about his campaign which was dry as hell to the point I was going to donate the damn book. But the second part of the book was far better hence the 4 stars.