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Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together Audiobook
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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” (The New York Times) who coined the term “whitelash”
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.
The audio edition includes a PDF of resources for getting involved and making a difference.
Advance praise for Beyond the Messy Truth
“Van Jones is a light in the darkness when we need it most. Beyond the Messy Truth breaks with the tribalism of today’s politics and offers us a way forward. 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
“In an age when hardworking families across America are feeling left behind, Van’s commitment to letting other voices be heard is much needed in today’s discourse.”—Rick Santorum, former senator of Pennsylvania and Republican presidential candidate
“Whether you agree or disagree with him, 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
Includes an invaluable resource of contacts, books, media, and organizations for bipartisan bridge-building and problem solving.
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"Part manifesto, part manual for activism, [Beyond the Messy Truth] is enlivened by case histories and personal anecdotes that serve as support for the author’s assertions. . . . The author proposes common projects that may bring opposing sides together . . . [and] offers concrete suggestions to revive democracy, heal culture wars, and prevent a Trump victory in 2020."
— Kirkus Reviews
Quotes
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Van Jones is a light in the darkness when we need it most. Beyond the Messy Truth breaks with the tribalism of today’s politics and offers us a way forward. 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 -
Whether you agree or disagree with him, 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 -
Speaking with heartfelt conviction and clarity of purpose, [Van] Jones proffers an achievable pathway to harmony for ideologues of both conservative and liberal persuasions.
— Booklist -
Van Jones’s willingness to speak with, not to, those who may not traditionally hold his political and cultural point of view is on full display in Beyond the Messy Truth. In an age when hardworking families across America are feeling left behind, Van’s commitment to letting other voices be heard is much needed in today’s discourse.
— Rick Santorum, former senator of Pennsylvania and Republican presidential candidate -
If I say I’m actually friends with Van Jones, will that cause conservatives to read the book or just cause progressives not to? I hope they all read it—I disagree with Van on just about everything, but I respect him for being authentic in his convictions and for having the ability to articulate them forcefully but fairly.
— Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and Republican presidential candidate -
We should all be listening to Van Jones, because of how deeply he’s been listening to all kinds of people who are hurting in America. His vision for American politics calls forward the best of who we are, so that we can engage with humanity and solve real problems together.
— Ai-jen Poo, director, National Domestic Workers Alliance and co-director, Caring Across Generations -
Those of us who truly believe in the power of love and aloha welcome Beyond the Messy Truth with open arms, in the hope that it will be read by those from all parts of the country and all points on the political spectrum. This book will help start conversations and bring people together to find common ground and work toward a better America.
— Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. congresswoman, Hawaii -
What you will find in these pages is the work of one of the most thoughtful and honest progressives on the American political scene. We disagree, and our debates can get, well, messy. But every so often, we find a place of agreement and cause to celebrate. The great battle of ideas is a bedrock of our democracy—and there is no one better at this than Van Jones.
— Jeffrey Lord, political strategist and former CNN commentator -
“Van Jones is a light in the darkness when we need it most. Beyond the Messy Truth breaks with the tribalism of today’s politics and offers us a way forward. 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, US senator, New Jersey -
“Whether you agree or disagree with him, Van Jones’ 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, US senator, Vermont -
“Part manifesto, part manual for activism, [Beyond the Messy Truth] is enlivened by case histories and personal anecdotes that serve as support for the author’s assertions…The author proposes common projects that may bring opposing sides together…[and] offers concrete suggestions to revive democracy, heal culture wars, and prevent a Trump victory in 2020.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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New York Times bestseller
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About Van Jones
Van Jones is founding president of Rebuild the Dream, a pioneering initiative to restore good jobs and economic opportunity. He is also the cofounder of three thriving organizations: the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change, and Green For All. A Yale-educated attorney, Jones worked as the green jobs advisor to the Obama White House in 2009 and is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Green Collar Economy. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
About Prentice Onayemi
Prentice Onayemi is an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator and a voice and film actor who is known for his roles in The Steam-Room Crooner, AmeriQua, and as Joey in the Tony Award–winning play War Horse.