MARCH 2016 - AudioFile
The author served as mayor of Newark for seven years and is now a U.S. senator from that state. His audiobook lays out his vision of what this country can become if we can unite and find our compassion. It’s a personal account, and Booker relies on his experiences to make his points. As narrator, he brings the same energy and enthusiasm that he does to his personal appearances and speeches. He reads with passion and conviction, and he uses his voice to urge listeners to take action on the issues he discusses. There are times when his delivery is too fast and he swallows words, but these are forgivable because they show us his humanity and, yes, his compassion. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
An exceedingly good book, and an important book, and a reminder of what makes [Cory] Booker an important and, through it all, a promising public figure.”—PolitickerNJ
“What sets Senator Booker’s work apart from that of similar political books is that it seeks to elevate discourse rather than bring down opponents of the opposite partisan persuasion. This is a refreshing take, one that is truly worthy of study and contemplation.”—The Huffington Post
Library Journal
03/15/2016
This first book by Booker, the junior senator from New Jersey and one of the rising stars nationally of the Democratic Party, is highly readable and engaging. Both within his home state and via his social media presence, Booker has become known for his positive, approachable manner, and this work, which blends memoir and politics is written in that voice. He begins by documenting his familial history and follows with how he entered politics; prior to the U.S. Senate, Booker, a Yale Law School graduate, was a city councilman and mayor of Newark, NJ, his adopted hometown. He focuses chapters on the local leaders (e.g., heads of tenants' organizations) who inspired him and shaped his experiences, and consistently credits them for their tireless work in the city. His impassioned call for reforms to the country's criminal justice system, especially with regards to mandatory minimum sentences and the lack of resources for the recently released, is backed up by data and his time living with and advocating for Newark's most vulnerable. Whether readers agree or disagree with the senator's politics, his titular appeal for Americans to recognize their history of interdependence and to work to improve the lives of others is hard to dispute. VERDICT Booker's book will likely interest and inspire not only his constituents but also a range of U.S. readers, especially those concerned with the criminal justice system and the current state of partisan politics. [See Prepub Alert, 7/20/15; "Editors' Fall Picks," LJ 9/1/15, p. 32.]—Amanda Mastrull, Library Journal
MARCH 2016 - AudioFile
The author served as mayor of Newark for seven years and is now a U.S. senator from that state. His audiobook lays out his vision of what this country can become if we can unite and find our compassion. It’s a personal account, and Booker relies on his experiences to make his points. As narrator, he brings the same energy and enthusiasm that he does to his personal appearances and speeches. He reads with passion and conviction, and he uses his voice to urge listeners to take action on the issues he discusses. There are times when his delivery is too fast and he swallows words, but these are forgivable because they show us his humanity and, yes, his compassion. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
