Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together, Paperback

Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - 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--from the CNN host hailed as "a star of the 2016 campaign" (The New York Times), now seen on The Van Jones Show

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, during which he coined the term "whitelash," 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.

In Beyond the Messy Truth, he offers a blueprint for transforming our collective anxiety into meaningful change. Jones urges both parties to abandon the politics of accusation. He issues a stirring call for a new "bipartisanship from below," pointing us toward practical answers to problems that affect us all regardless of region or ideology. He wants to tackle 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. Along the way, Jones shares memories from his decades of activism on behalf of working people, inspiring stories of ordinary citizens who became champions of their communities, and little-known examples of cooperation in the midst 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 to help those most in need.

Includes an invaluable resource of contacts, books, media, and organizations for bipartisan bridge-building and problem solving.

"Van Jones is a light in the darkness when we need it most. In the tradition of the great bridge builders of our past, Van's love for this country and all its people shines through."--Cory Booker, U.S. senator, New Jersey

"Van Jones's voice has become an integral part of our national political debate. He is one of the most provocative and interesting political figures in the country."--Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator, Vermont

About the author

Van Jones is a CNN political contributor and host of the recurring CNN primetime special The Messy Truth with Van Jones. A graduate of the University of Tennessee and Yale Law School, he was a special adviser to the Obama White House and is the author of two New York Times bestsellers. Jones founded the social justice accelerator the Dream Corps and has led numerous social and environmental justice enterprises, including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change, and Green For All. He has earned many honors, including the World Economic Forum's "Young Global Leader" designation and a Webby Special Achievement Award, and he has been named one of Rolling Stone's 12 Leaders Who Get Things Done, Fast Company's 12 Most Creative Minds on Earth, and Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World. He lives with his wife and two children in the Los Angeles area.