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Two Paths: America Divided or United
This program is read by the author.
When former Ohio governor John Kasich ran for president, his powerful message of hope and togetherness struck a chord with American voters. In Two America Divided or United , he carries that message forward by reflecting on the tumultuous 2016 campaign, sharing his concerns for America and his hopes for our future, and sounding a clarion call to reason and purpose, humility and dignity, righteousness and calm.
“The country never looked so grand and magnificent as it did from ten thousand feet,” he writes of his time on the campaign trail, “and it was always a thrilling, faith-affirming thing to look out our window and see the sun splashing across Bryce Canyon in Utah, or the lights of the New York skyline at night as we flew past the Statue of Liberty, or an open field in the heartland that ran as far as our eyes could see.... I’d look out and think what an honor it would be to lead this great nation, what a blessing.”
To be sure, the full story of the 2016 Presidential race will be written over time, but to understand what it was to be on the front lines of one of the most divisive and corrosive campaign battlegrounds in history, listeners won’t find a richer, more thoughtful firsthand account than this one―a frank, refreshing assessment of the American dynamic and a clear path we might follow toward a more promising tomorrow.
As former governor Kasich reminds us in these pages, America is great because America is good―and because Americans have stayed true to who we one nation, under God, indivisible.
When former Ohio governor John Kasich ran for president, his powerful message of hope and togetherness struck a chord with American voters. In Two America Divided or United , he carries that message forward by reflecting on the tumultuous 2016 campaign, sharing his concerns for America and his hopes for our future, and sounding a clarion call to reason and purpose, humility and dignity, righteousness and calm.
“The country never looked so grand and magnificent as it did from ten thousand feet,” he writes of his time on the campaign trail, “and it was always a thrilling, faith-affirming thing to look out our window and see the sun splashing across Bryce Canyon in Utah, or the lights of the New York skyline at night as we flew past the Statue of Liberty, or an open field in the heartland that ran as far as our eyes could see.... I’d look out and think what an honor it would be to lead this great nation, what a blessing.”
To be sure, the full story of the 2016 Presidential race will be written over time, but to understand what it was to be on the front lines of one of the most divisive and corrosive campaign battlegrounds in history, listeners won’t find a richer, more thoughtful firsthand account than this one―a frank, refreshing assessment of the American dynamic and a clear path we might follow toward a more promising tomorrow.
As former governor Kasich reminds us in these pages, America is great because America is good―and because Americans have stayed true to who we one nation, under God, indivisible.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2017
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About the author
John Kasich
13 books46 followersJohn Richard Kasich Jr. is an American politician and author who was the 69th governor of Ohio from 2011 to 2019, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 2001, and a Republican candidate for the presidential nomination in 2000 and 2016.
Kasich was born and grew up in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, and moved to Ohio in 1970 to attend college. After a single term in the Ohio Senate, he served nine terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio's 12th congressional district. His tenure in the House included 18 years on the House Armed Services Committee and six years as chair of the House Budget Committee. Kasich was a key figure in the passage of both 1996 welfare reform legislation and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Kasich decided not to run for re-election in 2000 and ran for president instead. He withdrew from the race before the Republican primaries.
After leaving Congress, Kasich hosted Heartland with John Kasich on Fox News from 2001 to 2007 and served as managing director of the Lehman Brothers office in Columbus, Ohio. He ran for governor of Ohio in 2010, defeating Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland. He was re-elected in 2014, defeating Democratic challenger Ed FitzGerald by 30 percentage points. Kasich was term-limited and could not seek a third gubernatorial term in 2018; he was succeeded by fellow Republican Mike DeWine.
Kasich ran for president again in 2016, finishing in fourth place in the Republican primaries behind Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. He won the primary in his home state of Ohio and finished second in New Hampshire. Kasich declined to support Trump as the Republican presidential nominee and did not attend the 2016 Republican National Convention, which was held in Ohio. From 2019 to 2023, Kasich was a CNN contributor. Since March 2023, he has been an analyst on NBC News. Kasich is known as one of Trump's most prominent critics within the Republican Party, and endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for president in a speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Kasich was born and grew up in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, and moved to Ohio in 1970 to attend college. After a single term in the Ohio Senate, he served nine terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio's 12th congressional district. His tenure in the House included 18 years on the House Armed Services Committee and six years as chair of the House Budget Committee. Kasich was a key figure in the passage of both 1996 welfare reform legislation and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Kasich decided not to run for re-election in 2000 and ran for president instead. He withdrew from the race before the Republican primaries.
After leaving Congress, Kasich hosted Heartland with John Kasich on Fox News from 2001 to 2007 and served as managing director of the Lehman Brothers office in Columbus, Ohio. He ran for governor of Ohio in 2010, defeating Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland. He was re-elected in 2014, defeating Democratic challenger Ed FitzGerald by 30 percentage points. Kasich was term-limited and could not seek a third gubernatorial term in 2018; he was succeeded by fellow Republican Mike DeWine.
Kasich ran for president again in 2016, finishing in fourth place in the Republican primaries behind Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. He won the primary in his home state of Ohio and finished second in New Hampshire. Kasich declined to support Trump as the Republican presidential nominee and did not attend the 2016 Republican National Convention, which was held in Ohio. From 2019 to 2023, Kasich was a CNN contributor. Since March 2023, he has been an analyst on NBC News. Kasich is known as one of Trump's most prominent critics within the Republican Party, and endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for president in a speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
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June 4, 2017
John Kasich began writing this book as soon as he became the last man standing in the 2016 Republican primary contest between sixteen candidates and Donald Trump. We know Trump won by deriding and dismissing his opponents, but Kasich seemed to run under Trump’s radar. Neither Trump nor Kasich were beholden to Far Right money being shoveled to the other candidates by the Koch brothers’ organizations, and the Republican Party kept some distance from the two of them as well. But other than that, Trump and Kasich have practically nothing in common.
This book is not a difficult read. It’s as though we had an opportunity to sit around listening to Kasich tell stories about the campaign, what it’s like to run for president, what the candidates are like behind closed doors, how to begin to think about a national campaign, etc. It’s intrinsically interesting stuff, but not especially critical to know.
Although I am not Republican, I sought out information about Kasich to see what was different about his thinking from my own. Frankly, he was the only one I could stand to listen to. He is not a jerk, and often acts like a mature adult, which I find appealing. He has the common man touch in that he doesn’t seem particularly philosophy-, ideology-, or theory-based. He comes across as someone who puts one foot in front of the other, and while he has guiding principles, for the most part he is relying on material tested in a big swing state with enormous social strains and stresses.
That a governor can take so much time to campaign and then promote his book on the way to beginning a new campaign means either that he is really good at finding people who can do his job for him while he is away or he has a reservoir of goodwill from voters that he is gradually spending. One’s career is often derailed after a failed bid for president, but it almost looks as though Kasich could carry on as a perennial candidate until he decides to retire, not winning national office but managing his state coffers admirably.
Kasich makes no bones about the fact that he is a religious man. In my mind it is appropriate for him to bring up God because Kasich is actually a nice guy who appears to think about others. It’s in his daily conversation and in the way he treats others. Placed side-by-side with other candidates who also claim to be religious, Kasich comes off as looking pretty authentic in contrast.
In this book there is a chapter that makes enormous sense to me, and none of the other candidates anywhere has talked about it, Democrats either. In that chapter Kasich discusses the how the electorate often worries about a crisis of leadership when perhaps we face a crisis of followship. In other words, a leader is as good as his staff and the people on his team. (We all know this, we’re just not used to purported leaders telling us this. We can’t just pick someone and expect them to fix everything while we go back to our own concerns.) We should be the change we want to see. We need to find candidates that speak for us and deliver on our priorities, and we need to work to make him/her viable in the leadership job.
This book is named after a speech Kasich gave April 12, 2016 to the Women’s National Republican Club in New York City. Kasich had come in second in the NH Republican primary in February after 100 town hall events in the state. In April, the remaining candidates were down to three: Trump, Kasich, and Cruz, just as in that NH primary vote. It is the speech in which he said he would not “take the low road to the highest office in the land” and that “American is still great.” Of the two paths he speaks of, one is that of fear and division, the other is a sometimes steep path to overcoming issues which need resolution. The view on that second path is great, Kasich says, and we’ll be working with great folks (instead of the loud, greedy, insensitive boors on the other path).
I have no idea why more conservatives are not interested in the Kasich message. He seems perfectly rational, thoughtful, and effective, just what you’d think we’d want in a lawmaker, judge, or executive. He may not be the brightest bulb in the bushel, but like he says, he shouldn’t have to be. He has us. And besides, I think he knows a whole lot more than he communicates. Wisely.
This book is not a difficult read. It’s as though we had an opportunity to sit around listening to Kasich tell stories about the campaign, what it’s like to run for president, what the candidates are like behind closed doors, how to begin to think about a national campaign, etc. It’s intrinsically interesting stuff, but not especially critical to know.
Although I am not Republican, I sought out information about Kasich to see what was different about his thinking from my own. Frankly, he was the only one I could stand to listen to. He is not a jerk, and often acts like a mature adult, which I find appealing. He has the common man touch in that he doesn’t seem particularly philosophy-, ideology-, or theory-based. He comes across as someone who puts one foot in front of the other, and while he has guiding principles, for the most part he is relying on material tested in a big swing state with enormous social strains and stresses.
That a governor can take so much time to campaign and then promote his book on the way to beginning a new campaign means either that he is really good at finding people who can do his job for him while he is away or he has a reservoir of goodwill from voters that he is gradually spending. One’s career is often derailed after a failed bid for president, but it almost looks as though Kasich could carry on as a perennial candidate until he decides to retire, not winning national office but managing his state coffers admirably.
Kasich makes no bones about the fact that he is a religious man. In my mind it is appropriate for him to bring up God because Kasich is actually a nice guy who appears to think about others. It’s in his daily conversation and in the way he treats others. Placed side-by-side with other candidates who also claim to be religious, Kasich comes off as looking pretty authentic in contrast.
In this book there is a chapter that makes enormous sense to me, and none of the other candidates anywhere has talked about it, Democrats either. In that chapter Kasich discusses the how the electorate often worries about a crisis of leadership when perhaps we face a crisis of followship. In other words, a leader is as good as his staff and the people on his team. (We all know this, we’re just not used to purported leaders telling us this. We can’t just pick someone and expect them to fix everything while we go back to our own concerns.) We should be the change we want to see. We need to find candidates that speak for us and deliver on our priorities, and we need to work to make him/her viable in the leadership job.
This book is named after a speech Kasich gave April 12, 2016 to the Women’s National Republican Club in New York City. Kasich had come in second in the NH Republican primary in February after 100 town hall events in the state. In April, the remaining candidates were down to three: Trump, Kasich, and Cruz, just as in that NH primary vote. It is the speech in which he said he would not “take the low road to the highest office in the land” and that “American is still great.” Of the two paths he speaks of, one is that of fear and division, the other is a sometimes steep path to overcoming issues which need resolution. The view on that second path is great, Kasich says, and we’ll be working with great folks (instead of the loud, greedy, insensitive boors on the other path).
I have no idea why more conservatives are not interested in the Kasich message. He seems perfectly rational, thoughtful, and effective, just what you’d think we’d want in a lawmaker, judge, or executive. He may not be the brightest bulb in the bushel, but like he says, he shouldn’t have to be. He has us. And besides, I think he knows a whole lot more than he communicates. Wisely.
May 12, 2017
File under what could have been.
I was excited to vote for John Kasich in Tennessee's primary in 2016. By then it was mostly clear that Donald Trump had built a momentum which was tipping toward winning. But I'd heard Kasich's message in fits and starts during the debates and tuned into to Facebook Live feeds of his town halls.
The reason he ended up getting my support is well flushed out in this book. A reiteration of his refusal to "take the low road to the highest office." And his insistence that nothing gets accomplished without buy in from both sides - a factor I think was crushed by GOP leadership (McConnell) during Obama's eight years as president - was something I've always thought about politics. Even politics in Washington.
As new media sources have become more and more partisan (even delving into outright lies) it seems impossible to have rational discourse these days. And the problem seems to have gotten worse over the general election and now through the first months of Donald Trump's presidency. But these pages, this book reiterates what we already know. It doesn't have to be this way. Nuance and open mindedness take effort and time. But isn't our country worth it?
I know after the general election I took a hard look at where I was receiving my news sources and tried to take an extra second to let my initial reaction to news headlines become tempered by a second or third run through to see if the meat of the article really jibed with the headline. You'd be surprised (or maybe not surprised) to learn that a lot of times it doesn't.
I was struck by Kasich's recounting of a townhall where a gentleman asked Kasich what he intended to do to fix the opioid epidemic, and Kasich turned that right back and asked the man what he was doing to fix it. It's an honest question. On November 8, I had a tear filled conversation with a good friend about how I clearly wasn't doing enough to make my world, heck my neighborhood, into the place I wanted to live.
While sometimes, most of the time, I live at the base level described by Kasich in this book, in those moments where I go higher I try to keep my November 8 lessons in mind. What am I doing to make my community better? And that usually involves putting down the smart phone and really trying to connect with people, even to smile and say hello, thank you and please. Connecting to people, just like Kasich did on the campaign trail.
Thanks John Kasich for such a thoughtful analysis and a good example.
I was excited to vote for John Kasich in Tennessee's primary in 2016. By then it was mostly clear that Donald Trump had built a momentum which was tipping toward winning. But I'd heard Kasich's message in fits and starts during the debates and tuned into to Facebook Live feeds of his town halls.
The reason he ended up getting my support is well flushed out in this book. A reiteration of his refusal to "take the low road to the highest office." And his insistence that nothing gets accomplished without buy in from both sides - a factor I think was crushed by GOP leadership (McConnell) during Obama's eight years as president - was something I've always thought about politics. Even politics in Washington.
As new media sources have become more and more partisan (even delving into outright lies) it seems impossible to have rational discourse these days. And the problem seems to have gotten worse over the general election and now through the first months of Donald Trump's presidency. But these pages, this book reiterates what we already know. It doesn't have to be this way. Nuance and open mindedness take effort and time. But isn't our country worth it?
I know after the general election I took a hard look at where I was receiving my news sources and tried to take an extra second to let my initial reaction to news headlines become tempered by a second or third run through to see if the meat of the article really jibed with the headline. You'd be surprised (or maybe not surprised) to learn that a lot of times it doesn't.
I was struck by Kasich's recounting of a townhall where a gentleman asked Kasich what he intended to do to fix the opioid epidemic, and Kasich turned that right back and asked the man what he was doing to fix it. It's an honest question. On November 8, I had a tear filled conversation with a good friend about how I clearly wasn't doing enough to make my world, heck my neighborhood, into the place I wanted to live.
While sometimes, most of the time, I live at the base level described by Kasich in this book, in those moments where I go higher I try to keep my November 8 lessons in mind. What am I doing to make my community better? And that usually involves putting down the smart phone and really trying to connect with people, even to smile and say hello, thank you and please. Connecting to people, just like Kasich did on the campaign trail.
Thanks John Kasich for such a thoughtful analysis and a good example.
May 16, 2017
Summary: The presidential candidate's memoir of his campaign and the choice of the low and high paths of political engagement we face and his vision for that high path.
No matter who you favored in the recent presidential campaign, you probably would agree that it was one of the most rancorous and ugly on record. John Kasich, current governor of Ohio and one of sixteen Republican candidates was determined not to pursue the coarse, mud-slinging style pursued by other candidates. He describes observing the behavior of the other candidates at the first Republican debate and determining, "I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land."
This memoir describes Kasich's campaign journey from his wrestling with whether to run to his second place finish in New Hampshire and the joy he found in town hall discussions with prospective voters to his decision to suspend his campaign under pressure from Republican leadership, including Reince Priebus. He recounts the reasons why he refused to endorse Donald Trump after reviewing numerous video clips of his campaign rallies. Weighing heavily for him was the fact that he is the father of two teenage daughters, and given what Trump did and said, he considered it "unthinkable" that he could ever endorse Trump. Consequently, he spent the convention outside the convention hall and voted for John McCain as a write in during the election.
Kasich argues that his faith as a Christian shaped the convictions that led to a refusal to stoop to the tactics of others, or to endorse the paragon of these tactics. He writes:
"What does God expect of me? I believe He expects me to live on a higher plane, all the while knowing that I will surely fail. I believe the higher plane he sets before me is a call to resist the gravitational pull of life on earth, which is just a lot of the base stuff that can fill our days in negative ways: envy, hatred, jealousy, intolerance, self-aggrandizement, looking merely to accumulate wealth or fame. If you think about it, when it's time for us to leave this earth, these negatives can all seem kind of mundane. Yet, in the ills of society we see these negatives on full and forceful display. It's the way we sidestep those negatives and walk in the light that will come to define us after all" (p. 122).
He contends that our present character of politics reflects not only leadership but also "followship." He believes we all share responsibility for amplifying "fake news" and perpetuating the echo chambers of one-sided discourse. Political followers need to hold leaders to higher standards, and hold those standards as well.
Toward the end of the book, he includes much of the text of his "Two Paths" speech to the Women's National Republican Club in New York, which outlines his vision both for an elevated discourse, and probably provides the most concise summary of the policies Kasich would have pursued as president.
I had two reactions as I read this book. One was the recurring thought, "if only...." I do not know if Kasich could have defeated Hilary Clinton. But what a different country it would have been if he'd had that chance. The other was thinking it was Kasich's focus on the ethos of his campaign, which became his message, that probably was one of the reasons he lost. It wasn't a compelling message for most Americans, apparently.
Is Kasich as good as he appears in this book? He presents himself as a man of faith, a family man, a principled and determined politician willing to reach across the aisle. Living in Ohio, I'd say most of this is true, except when he has a majority behind him, as he has enjoyed during his tenure as governor. Only a voter referendum reversed efforts to break up unions for public workers, similar to what was done in Wisconsin. It is not apparent to me how much he has "reached across the aisle" in our state and certainly our legislature has engaged in the gerrymandering of districts he says must be ended for electoral reform.
Still, this book gives a good glimpse of what the country missed in overlooking Kasich. Truth was that I urged my friends in other states to join the island of sanity that was Ohio during the primaries and vote for Kasich on the Republican side. If only....
No matter who you favored in the recent presidential campaign, you probably would agree that it was one of the most rancorous and ugly on record. John Kasich, current governor of Ohio and one of sixteen Republican candidates was determined not to pursue the coarse, mud-slinging style pursued by other candidates. He describes observing the behavior of the other candidates at the first Republican debate and determining, "I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land."
This memoir describes Kasich's campaign journey from his wrestling with whether to run to his second place finish in New Hampshire and the joy he found in town hall discussions with prospective voters to his decision to suspend his campaign under pressure from Republican leadership, including Reince Priebus. He recounts the reasons why he refused to endorse Donald Trump after reviewing numerous video clips of his campaign rallies. Weighing heavily for him was the fact that he is the father of two teenage daughters, and given what Trump did and said, he considered it "unthinkable" that he could ever endorse Trump. Consequently, he spent the convention outside the convention hall and voted for John McCain as a write in during the election.
Kasich argues that his faith as a Christian shaped the convictions that led to a refusal to stoop to the tactics of others, or to endorse the paragon of these tactics. He writes:
"What does God expect of me? I believe He expects me to live on a higher plane, all the while knowing that I will surely fail. I believe the higher plane he sets before me is a call to resist the gravitational pull of life on earth, which is just a lot of the base stuff that can fill our days in negative ways: envy, hatred, jealousy, intolerance, self-aggrandizement, looking merely to accumulate wealth or fame. If you think about it, when it's time for us to leave this earth, these negatives can all seem kind of mundane. Yet, in the ills of society we see these negatives on full and forceful display. It's the way we sidestep those negatives and walk in the light that will come to define us after all" (p. 122).
He contends that our present character of politics reflects not only leadership but also "followship." He believes we all share responsibility for amplifying "fake news" and perpetuating the echo chambers of one-sided discourse. Political followers need to hold leaders to higher standards, and hold those standards as well.
Toward the end of the book, he includes much of the text of his "Two Paths" speech to the Women's National Republican Club in New York, which outlines his vision both for an elevated discourse, and probably provides the most concise summary of the policies Kasich would have pursued as president.
I had two reactions as I read this book. One was the recurring thought, "if only...." I do not know if Kasich could have defeated Hilary Clinton. But what a different country it would have been if he'd had that chance. The other was thinking it was Kasich's focus on the ethos of his campaign, which became his message, that probably was one of the reasons he lost. It wasn't a compelling message for most Americans, apparently.
Is Kasich as good as he appears in this book? He presents himself as a man of faith, a family man, a principled and determined politician willing to reach across the aisle. Living in Ohio, I'd say most of this is true, except when he has a majority behind him, as he has enjoyed during his tenure as governor. Only a voter referendum reversed efforts to break up unions for public workers, similar to what was done in Wisconsin. It is not apparent to me how much he has "reached across the aisle" in our state and certainly our legislature has engaged in the gerrymandering of districts he says must be ended for electoral reform.
Still, this book gives a good glimpse of what the country missed in overlooking Kasich. Truth was that I urged my friends in other states to join the island of sanity that was Ohio during the primaries and vote for Kasich on the Republican side. If only....
June 8, 2017
This was one of the most disappointing books I've read in a long time. From the title, I expected Kasich to offer an analysis of how we might get out of the terrible Trump of a mess we are in politically. Instead, the title simply refers to a speech he gave, which he prints as one chapter. Instead, the first 2/5ths tell his life story, revealing that John Kasich thinks he is pretty hot stuff. The last 3/5ths tell of his failed campaign for President. There is some reflection, but nothing very deep or helpful. In addition, he proves remarkably disingenuous at times. He says he beat Ted Strickland for governor in 2010 because Strickland had "dropped the ball" on the economy, ignoring the fact that the entire national economy collapsed during Strickland's term, something he hardly could cause. He takes total credit for reviving that economy during his first term, ignoring the role President Obama's aggressive economic actions aided the turn-around (and never seeming to notice that that recovery could not have happened if his favorite political goal--a balanced budget amendment--had been in place.) He even tiptoes over the fact that he spent the 10 years between leaving the House and running for governor working for Lehman Brothers and doesn't even take note of their collapse in 2008. There are a lot of things that need to be read and contemplated about our present political situation. This isn't one of them.
August 10, 2017
A candidate hobbled in the modern era by his virtues of dignity, intelligence and rationality
Note - I am pretty left-leaning. However, a lot in this book makes sense, and if it doesn't Kasich seems like the kind of guy who will say 'OK, then come into my office an let's hammer out our differences.'
He doesn't insult. He doesn't denigrate. And this may be the problem.
In today's era, where people like the easy path of Twitter-insulting one's enemies with as little intelligence is possible, Kasich doesn't take the bait. What does he do?
* Works bipartisan all the way. His democrat was a mentor, and is moderate on many issues - global warming for example, which he does not deny.
* He is a budget hawk, but cuts wasteful spending across the board. He doesn't use PBS as a punching bag - he cuts everywhere there is wasteful spending, even the military.
* Speaking of that - he writes his own budgets. It's his thing. He wrote a national budget in the Clinton era, and got 30 votes.
* He still manages to get irked by Ted Cruz. Mr. Cruz is a smart guy, and has his principles - but ooh he can rub people the wrong way, including Mr. Kasich, who writes a chapter on this.
* More than anything though, Mr. Kasich brings hopes to bring dignity back to the Republican party, and thus the nation.
Maybe his problem is that his fans are people like me - who will read his book, and then vote across the aisle anyway.
But still - when I read this book I can't help feeling hopeful. Dignity, intelligence and bipartisanship are universal virtues, and Mr. Kasich appears to have enough for all.
Note - I am pretty left-leaning. However, a lot in this book makes sense, and if it doesn't Kasich seems like the kind of guy who will say 'OK, then come into my office an let's hammer out our differences.'
He doesn't insult. He doesn't denigrate. And this may be the problem.
In today's era, where people like the easy path of Twitter-insulting one's enemies with as little intelligence is possible, Kasich doesn't take the bait. What does he do?
* Works bipartisan all the way. His democrat was a mentor, and is moderate on many issues - global warming for example, which he does not deny.
* He is a budget hawk, but cuts wasteful spending across the board. He doesn't use PBS as a punching bag - he cuts everywhere there is wasteful spending, even the military.
* Speaking of that - he writes his own budgets. It's his thing. He wrote a national budget in the Clinton era, and got 30 votes.
* He still manages to get irked by Ted Cruz. Mr. Cruz is a smart guy, and has his principles - but ooh he can rub people the wrong way, including Mr. Kasich, who writes a chapter on this.
* More than anything though, Mr. Kasich brings hopes to bring dignity back to the Republican party, and thus the nation.
Maybe his problem is that his fans are people like me - who will read his book, and then vote across the aisle anyway.
But still - when I read this book I can't help feeling hopeful. Dignity, intelligence and bipartisanship are universal virtues, and Mr. Kasich appears to have enough for all.
July 5, 2017
There is nothing striking or genius here. It is basically just a memoir of Kasich's part in the 2016 presidential primaries. It has some interesting insights on the election process, but mostly he just comes across as a plain guy with a lot of integrity and goodwill (i.e., exactly the kind of politician I'd like). Good guy, but not a great book.
July 7, 2017
I expect this one to stick with me longer than most political books I've read or listened to. Kasich speaks from the heart. He seems to be sincerely interested in helping people and is willing to take flak from his party for holding to his convictions. I don't agree with him on everything, but his story and political philosophy are inspiring.
October 19, 2017
This was an interesting book - only the third autobiography written by a politician I think - Dreams of my Father by Obama (not a full autobiography so similar to this book) and the other was My Life by Bill Clinton - a whole life story - up to the first part of this century.
So although there is a "co author" reading the book and having listened occasionally to the speeches and interviews of Mr. Kasich this book seems to be written almost the way he would talk - so the co writer is either also his speechwriter of is organizing and composing I guess.
Dreams from Obama was written in 1995 so I think there was not a great political scheme here but both the Clinton book mentioned and this Kasich book are definitely political posturing as well as telling a story.
The Clinton book was I think posturing to support Hillary in a run for the White House. The Kasich book was to thank his supporters and volunteers for their help during the campaign (and I guess to keep them in reserve for possible future use) - the Clinton book ran his whole life and lined up more support efforts (easier as an ex Pres I assume) - it seemed except for Ken Starr who tried to prosecute the Clintons it seems that Bill felt everyone (every Democrat and many Republicans) had some justifiable reason for what they did and they could support Hillary in a future election without thinking Bill had called them dirty dogs in his book. The Kasich book took issue with and attacked unethical, unmoral and generally bad behavior without naming names and hoped that Donald Trump would succeed in his presidency (the Kasich book was about the 2016 campaign for Pres) - the was likely written very early in the new administration and before the final paths that Mr. Trump is taking were revealed.
It is interesting that both Clinton and Kasich met presidents early in their young adulthood - Kennedy for Clinton and Nixon for Kasich - and it seems that they both gravitated into their respective parties from that point on.
Kasich in his book would not abandon the Republican leaning although he was non discriminating in respecting most republicans. When he mentioned our failures to balance the budget and he mentioned that it recently was only accomplished at the end of the last century he did not find a way to credit Clinton for the balancing.
Kasich spins together democracy and decentness and some christianity and family in this book so we can all know him better and I assume think positively about him for future endeavors.
He says he would welcome all and I believe it but he seems to feel that the Republicans must lead the way for him to succeed.
Although I never thought that Trump would get the nomination in the beginning I always felt that the only Republican capable of winning the election without Trump there was Kasich.
This book is an interesting read and it will become more relevant if Kasich runs again and then this is more interesting background.
Getting it from the library was more economical - don't think we will feel a need to pass this book down to future generations.
So although there is a "co author" reading the book and having listened occasionally to the speeches and interviews of Mr. Kasich this book seems to be written almost the way he would talk - so the co writer is either also his speechwriter of is organizing and composing I guess.
Dreams from Obama was written in 1995 so I think there was not a great political scheme here but both the Clinton book mentioned and this Kasich book are definitely political posturing as well as telling a story.
The Clinton book was I think posturing to support Hillary in a run for the White House. The Kasich book was to thank his supporters and volunteers for their help during the campaign (and I guess to keep them in reserve for possible future use) - the Clinton book ran his whole life and lined up more support efforts (easier as an ex Pres I assume) - it seemed except for Ken Starr who tried to prosecute the Clintons it seems that Bill felt everyone (every Democrat and many Republicans) had some justifiable reason for what they did and they could support Hillary in a future election without thinking Bill had called them dirty dogs in his book. The Kasich book took issue with and attacked unethical, unmoral and generally bad behavior without naming names and hoped that Donald Trump would succeed in his presidency (the Kasich book was about the 2016 campaign for Pres) - the was likely written very early in the new administration and before the final paths that Mr. Trump is taking were revealed.
It is interesting that both Clinton and Kasich met presidents early in their young adulthood - Kennedy for Clinton and Nixon for Kasich - and it seems that they both gravitated into their respective parties from that point on.
Kasich in his book would not abandon the Republican leaning although he was non discriminating in respecting most republicans. When he mentioned our failures to balance the budget and he mentioned that it recently was only accomplished at the end of the last century he did not find a way to credit Clinton for the balancing.
Kasich spins together democracy and decentness and some christianity and family in this book so we can all know him better and I assume think positively about him for future endeavors.
He says he would welcome all and I believe it but he seems to feel that the Republicans must lead the way for him to succeed.
Although I never thought that Trump would get the nomination in the beginning I always felt that the only Republican capable of winning the election without Trump there was Kasich.
This book is an interesting read and it will become more relevant if Kasich runs again and then this is more interesting background.
Getting it from the library was more economical - don't think we will feel a need to pass this book down to future generations.
November 25, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Of important note in case this would deter you: the book is not focused on politics or policy positions. It’s an accounting of the 2016 election (especially the primary) from Gov. Kasich’s perspective. It also gets more interesting as it goes along. As a literary object, it’s not too special (and he as much as says this up front; he wrote it for a few specific purposes), but there are several reasons I enjoyed it:
- I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes detail on Presidential campaigning (some humorous as well)
- However much you do or don’t agree with him, Gov. Kasich’s messages of working together, staying out of the echo chamber, and not settling I think are needed right now
- I found myself remembering some of the same highlights and concerns that Gov Kasich did which reaffirmed some of my feelings about the whole situation
- I enjoy Gov. Kasich’s respectful candor and find it genuine
For any open person, I think this is a worthwhile read regardless of one’s position on the political spectrum. I find so much value in listening to different perspectives, especially if they are generally focused in some sort of positive way.
It’s interesting, as I saw Gov. Kasich speak when I got my copy signed. I was truly impressed by how sharp of a person he is. He was interesting to listen to and seemed as genuine as he portrays himself to be. I also remember the event well, as Gov Kasich had a conversation with my daughter and offered her a famous Kasich hug, which was featured in his online “Two Paths” promotion video. Anyway, he signed my copy “Keep the Faith,” which I assumed to be a reference to his strong religious beliefs. And while that’s also true, I learned by the end of the book what other meanings that phrase has and why he would offer it more broadly. I found that uplifting.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
- I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes detail on Presidential campaigning (some humorous as well)
- However much you do or don’t agree with him, Gov. Kasich’s messages of working together, staying out of the echo chamber, and not settling I think are needed right now
- I found myself remembering some of the same highlights and concerns that Gov Kasich did which reaffirmed some of my feelings about the whole situation
- I enjoy Gov. Kasich’s respectful candor and find it genuine
For any open person, I think this is a worthwhile read regardless of one’s position on the political spectrum. I find so much value in listening to different perspectives, especially if they are generally focused in some sort of positive way.
It’s interesting, as I saw Gov. Kasich speak when I got my copy signed. I was truly impressed by how sharp of a person he is. He was interesting to listen to and seemed as genuine as he portrays himself to be. I also remember the event well, as Gov Kasich had a conversation with my daughter and offered her a famous Kasich hug, which was featured in his online “Two Paths” promotion video. Anyway, he signed my copy “Keep the Faith,” which I assumed to be a reference to his strong religious beliefs. And while that’s also true, I learned by the end of the book what other meanings that phrase has and why he would offer it more broadly. I found that uplifting.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
July 22, 2017
I've never voted for John Kasich, but I always thought he was a decent man. This book supports my theory. Kasich reruns his thoughts and actions in deciding to run for president in 2016 and in the final decision to suspend his campaign.
Perhaps it was the appalling negativity of that campaign that made me proud that Kasich is my governor. He refused to get into the pit and grovel with the other candidates.
This book is a reaffirmation of his thoughts and decisions about his refusal to get into the pit or to endorse the eventual nominee.
I would hope in the future voters will follow a closing admonishment of the book to his daughters, "...I want to do everything I possibly can to ensure that when you fill out your first presidential ballots, you can vote for a candidate who inspires you, who challenges you, who encourages all Americans to think freely and to dream bigly and to celebrate our differences."
Perhaps it was the appalling negativity of that campaign that made me proud that Kasich is my governor. He refused to get into the pit and grovel with the other candidates.
This book is a reaffirmation of his thoughts and decisions about his refusal to get into the pit or to endorse the eventual nominee.
I would hope in the future voters will follow a closing admonishment of the book to his daughters, "...I want to do everything I possibly can to ensure that when you fill out your first presidential ballots, you can vote for a candidate who inspires you, who challenges you, who encourages all Americans to think freely and to dream bigly and to celebrate our differences."
April 11, 2019
A longish campaign pamphlet whose main theme seems to be summarized in the title: American politicians can take the high road or the low road. Sadly, it appears that many of us are content for them to take the low road.
Despite the fact that I agree with him on many platform issues, I found the book rather boring and gave up after a few chapters and a peek at the end.
Despite the fact that I agree with him on many platform issues, I found the book rather boring and gave up after a few chapters and a peek at the end.
August 11, 2017
Not always the most exciting read, but a refreshingly positive and much needed message in this dark hour of American politics.
April 18, 2020
Thoughtful and open reveal of Kasich's experiences during his presidential campaign. He is a man to be admired and emulated!
December 22, 2019
This is a book that brings some sanity, clarity, common sense, and integrity to the most recent Presidential campaign. It restores some hope and promise to what America has stood for more than 200 years. A great book to read in today's political turmoil and partisan polarized America. Listed below is a brief summary of the Kasich's book:
"When Ohio Governor John Kasich ran for president, his powerful message of hope and togetherness struck a chord with American voters. In Two Paths: America Divided or United, he carries that message forward by reflecting on the tumultuous 2016 campaign, sharing his concerns for America and his hopes for our future, and sounding a clarion call to reason and purpose, humility and dignity, righteousness and calm.
“The country never looked so grand and magnificent as it did from ten thousand feet,” he writes of his time on the campaign trail, “and it was always a thrilling, faith-affirming thing to look out our window and see the sun splashing across Bryce Canyon in Utah, or the lights of the New York skyline at night as we flew past the Statue of Liberty, or an open field in the heartland that ran as far as our eyes could see.... I’d look out and think what an honor it would be to lead this great nation, what a blessing.”
To be sure, the full story of the 2016 Presidential race will be written over time, but to understand what it was to be on the front lines of one of the most divisive and corrosive campaign battlegrounds in history, readers won’t find a richer, more thoughtful firsthand account than this one―a frank, refreshing assessment of the American dynamic and a clear path we might follow toward a more promising tomorrow.
As Governor Kasich reminds us in these pages, America is great because America is good―and because Americans have stayed true to who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible." -
amazon.com
"When Ohio Governor John Kasich ran for president, his powerful message of hope and togetherness struck a chord with American voters. In Two Paths: America Divided or United, he carries that message forward by reflecting on the tumultuous 2016 campaign, sharing his concerns for America and his hopes for our future, and sounding a clarion call to reason and purpose, humility and dignity, righteousness and calm.
“The country never looked so grand and magnificent as it did from ten thousand feet,” he writes of his time on the campaign trail, “and it was always a thrilling, faith-affirming thing to look out our window and see the sun splashing across Bryce Canyon in Utah, or the lights of the New York skyline at night as we flew past the Statue of Liberty, or an open field in the heartland that ran as far as our eyes could see.... I’d look out and think what an honor it would be to lead this great nation, what a blessing.”
To be sure, the full story of the 2016 Presidential race will be written over time, but to understand what it was to be on the front lines of one of the most divisive and corrosive campaign battlegrounds in history, readers won’t find a richer, more thoughtful firsthand account than this one―a frank, refreshing assessment of the American dynamic and a clear path we might follow toward a more promising tomorrow.
As Governor Kasich reminds us in these pages, America is great because America is good―and because Americans have stayed true to who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible." -
amazon.com
December 14, 2018
I picked this book up on a whim not really knowing much about John Kasich, or his presidential campaign. I had seen him on talk shows promoting this book, and I was surprised by how unlike a typical politician he seemed. Usually political books can be incredibly hard to get through. I can only read so much about politics before getting a headache. This book however, had me completely swept up in it. It wasn't the usually one sided, angry, political bashing I was used to. This book was more A message for hope. While I didn't agree with all of his views, I could see where he was coming from. I would highly recommend this book to people currently worried with how the world is heading. Whether you're republican, democrat, independent or anything in between this book has something for everyone.
May 28, 2017
With the political climate during the presidential race. I didn't know too much about John Kasich. I only heard about him two months before the end the republican race. In the book, he apparently was running all along. I must have missed something. I kept hearing he was a bad candidate.
I never cared about politics till the past election 2016. I followed what my father told us. I was poorly informed. Now, I realize that was a mistake. Light bulb went on. I am so, sorry for years I didn't care until now( I am in my 50's). Better late than never I guess. I was always a republican. This year was a turn around for me. I didn't like any of the candidates running for office, republican. I of course liked what Bernie had to say. But, I knew he would never get in the running. Too many people think he is a socialist.
I certainly didn't like Trump. I knew what he did in the 1980's in NYC. Slum lord, Real Estate loop holes, Casino, connections with mafia. So, I knew when the end was near. It was certainly not Trump, and I didn't want Clinton either. But, out of the two, Clinton was a better choice.
Trump is reckless, incompetent, distractible, narcissistic, egomaniac, and was on a power trip. Didn't want to see him press that button! So, you would probably realize I was so upset over the election. I am one of those that need a valium. Every day is another upset. And, this is only May. G-d help us.
After the election. I have been listening to John Kasich. He sounds like a reasonable guy( Governor, Ohio). He doesn't agree with Trump when it comes to health care. Finally someone that is sane. I thought it was me. I liked what he has to say. I listened to him on CBS Sunday Morning News. I enjoyed listening to him. He was a breath of fresh air. Finally someone that has the same ideas I have. Besides, he is a republican. He believes in listening to both sides. Not yelling at each other.
For the first time he brought me hope for our government again. I was given the book from St. Martin Publishing to review " Two Paths". Which is a entire chapter on his speech called, Two Paths. Everyone should check it out. I also recommend that you check out his website on his policies. Mr. Kasich has good integrity. He will stand up for what is right. There is so many things I liked what he had to say. He has good values,
I don't totally agree with what he has to say. As, he hasn't swayed me when it comes to 2020. But, he has made me feel good about the country. There is still hope. I still believe in regulation. Because if government didn't watch over. There would be factories, industries that can find a loop hole. Government didn't intend for big corporate lawyers to use the law to their advantage. The big wealthy, eg. Trump, Koch brothers, and others would find a way to get over on us. That is why I still believe in regulation.
Mr Kasich also believes in everything going back to the states. Mr. Kasich if you believe that. Show me, that lunch programs, medicaid, and other programs would be fairly giving to each citizen of the state. I don't trust the states. I have seen too many things happen.
I have read other reviews of the book. Some people thought he wrote this for his re-entry for the presidential race in 2020. So what! I think this is a good introduction. Including myself who don't know him. I wish I had paid attention to Mr. Kasich!!! He is a better choice than Donald Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Carson. Because they sold out to the people. Where I feel, Mr. Kasich didn't sell out to anyone. I even feel that Bernie Sanders sold out. That is why many people went to Trump who were Sanders supporters.
Mr. Kasich stands up for family values, and what is right for the American People. He hasn't sold out. Where Donald Trump tapped into the anger of many Americans. Which he knew how to divide our country. Mr. Kasich during the entire campaign sent a positive message at every speech, town hall, debate, etc. I felt a warmth when he gave his messages. It gave me warm chills up and down my spine.
He seems to be from the old republicans( moderate). Not the right extremists. Which gave me a good feeling. Some people that reviewed the book felt it was rhetoric. I didn't feel that way. I did feel though at the end it was getting redundant. I still loved the book. I am glad I read it. Very easy read. It gave me hope for our country. Soon though Trump will be back in the USA from Europe and it will start again. Hopefully, I can remember there are other people out there. Who care about us. Not just their own agenda.
I never cared about politics till the past election 2016. I followed what my father told us. I was poorly informed. Now, I realize that was a mistake. Light bulb went on. I am so, sorry for years I didn't care until now( I am in my 50's). Better late than never I guess. I was always a republican. This year was a turn around for me. I didn't like any of the candidates running for office, republican. I of course liked what Bernie had to say. But, I knew he would never get in the running. Too many people think he is a socialist.
I certainly didn't like Trump. I knew what he did in the 1980's in NYC. Slum lord, Real Estate loop holes, Casino, connections with mafia. So, I knew when the end was near. It was certainly not Trump, and I didn't want Clinton either. But, out of the two, Clinton was a better choice.
Trump is reckless, incompetent, distractible, narcissistic, egomaniac, and was on a power trip. Didn't want to see him press that button! So, you would probably realize I was so upset over the election. I am one of those that need a valium. Every day is another upset. And, this is only May. G-d help us.
After the election. I have been listening to John Kasich. He sounds like a reasonable guy( Governor, Ohio). He doesn't agree with Trump when it comes to health care. Finally someone that is sane. I thought it was me. I liked what he has to say. I listened to him on CBS Sunday Morning News. I enjoyed listening to him. He was a breath of fresh air. Finally someone that has the same ideas I have. Besides, he is a republican. He believes in listening to both sides. Not yelling at each other.
For the first time he brought me hope for our government again. I was given the book from St. Martin Publishing to review " Two Paths". Which is a entire chapter on his speech called, Two Paths. Everyone should check it out. I also recommend that you check out his website on his policies. Mr. Kasich has good integrity. He will stand up for what is right. There is so many things I liked what he had to say. He has good values,
I don't totally agree with what he has to say. As, he hasn't swayed me when it comes to 2020. But, he has made me feel good about the country. There is still hope. I still believe in regulation. Because if government didn't watch over. There would be factories, industries that can find a loop hole. Government didn't intend for big corporate lawyers to use the law to their advantage. The big wealthy, eg. Trump, Koch brothers, and others would find a way to get over on us. That is why I still believe in regulation.
Mr Kasich also believes in everything going back to the states. Mr. Kasich if you believe that. Show me, that lunch programs, medicaid, and other programs would be fairly giving to each citizen of the state. I don't trust the states. I have seen too many things happen.
I have read other reviews of the book. Some people thought he wrote this for his re-entry for the presidential race in 2020. So what! I think this is a good introduction. Including myself who don't know him. I wish I had paid attention to Mr. Kasich!!! He is a better choice than Donald Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Carson. Because they sold out to the people. Where I feel, Mr. Kasich didn't sell out to anyone. I even feel that Bernie Sanders sold out. That is why many people went to Trump who were Sanders supporters.
Mr. Kasich stands up for family values, and what is right for the American People. He hasn't sold out. Where Donald Trump tapped into the anger of many Americans. Which he knew how to divide our country. Mr. Kasich during the entire campaign sent a positive message at every speech, town hall, debate, etc. I felt a warmth when he gave his messages. It gave me warm chills up and down my spine.
He seems to be from the old republicans( moderate). Not the right extremists. Which gave me a good feeling. Some people that reviewed the book felt it was rhetoric. I didn't feel that way. I did feel though at the end it was getting redundant. I still loved the book. I am glad I read it. Very easy read. It gave me hope for our country. Soon though Trump will be back in the USA from Europe and it will start again. Hopefully, I can remember there are other people out there. Who care about us. Not just their own agenda.
July 20, 2017
During the 2016 presidential campaign, I found Donald Trump and John Kasich the most interesting presidential candidates. But where Trump was interesting in the way that a train wreck is interesting, Kasich came across as someone who defied political norms in a positive way. In fact, he was one of the few leading Republicans who defied pressures to endorse his party's nominee.
I'm not sure what I expected to get by reading this book -- perhaps a look at what makes Kasich tick. And I think I got that; a lot of it has to do with his religious faith. But, to be honest, in most of the book he comes across as too good to be true, someone with an unbelievable amount of integrity. It's not that he was bragging his fine qualities, but he seemed so, well, perfect that he didn't seem totally authentic. I do think he's in the top quintile of decency, but I still would have liked to read some more about his personal struggles and how he dealt with them.
The book is written in a somewhat folksy, rambling style, chronicling his ill-fated campaign in chronological order but with plenty of flashbacks and flashforwards. He shared enough of the details to keep the book interesting, but not enough to satisfy. In too many cases, he relies on the reader to remember details of some of the debates and other events -- he, for example, alludes several times to Trump's history of abusing women, but he never quotes any of the offensive things that Trump said. I realize that Kasich was trying to keep the book from going into the political gutter, but it still would have been helpful to be told more of the specifics that led to Kasich's reactions to Trump. He also criticizes many of his opponents from going into the gutter, but he never names which ones did and how.
Overall, I appreciated the message of the book: Act with integrity, and be willing to work with your adversaries for the good of all. But I would have appreciated the message even more if it had come from someone I could relate to more on a personal level.
I'm not sure what I expected to get by reading this book -- perhaps a look at what makes Kasich tick. And I think I got that; a lot of it has to do with his religious faith. But, to be honest, in most of the book he comes across as too good to be true, someone with an unbelievable amount of integrity. It's not that he was bragging his fine qualities, but he seemed so, well, perfect that he didn't seem totally authentic. I do think he's in the top quintile of decency, but I still would have liked to read some more about his personal struggles and how he dealt with them.
The book is written in a somewhat folksy, rambling style, chronicling his ill-fated campaign in chronological order but with plenty of flashbacks and flashforwards. He shared enough of the details to keep the book interesting, but not enough to satisfy. In too many cases, he relies on the reader to remember details of some of the debates and other events -- he, for example, alludes several times to Trump's history of abusing women, but he never quotes any of the offensive things that Trump said. I realize that Kasich was trying to keep the book from going into the political gutter, but it still would have been helpful to be told more of the specifics that led to Kasich's reactions to Trump. He also criticizes many of his opponents from going into the gutter, but he never names which ones did and how.
Overall, I appreciated the message of the book: Act with integrity, and be willing to work with your adversaries for the good of all. But I would have appreciated the message even more if it had come from someone I could relate to more on a personal level.
April 18, 2018
4.5 stars. This is an intriguing account of the 2016 GOP primary. John Kasich is a nine-term US Congressman and the current two-term governor of the state of Ohio. He was one of the last candidates to throw his hat in the ring, but at the end of all the debates, state primaries, and town halls, he was the last one standing opposite Donald Trump. Governor Kasich is a very principled man, deeply religious and true to his word, and he tells a good story. Here's a sample of the writing: "What worries me, too, is that, in the past, people's vote in the presidential election was a general reflection of how they felt things were going. They'd consider the state of the economy, our national security, the impact of social and entitlement programs on their lives. They'd vote yes or no, up or down, red or blue - often on the basis of this candidate's record or that candidate's promise. This time around, though, there were different forces at play. This time around, the motivating forces seemed to be more personal. This time around, people voted on the basis of how things were going for them in their lives, in their families, in their communities. This time around, people voted for change. They voted for a strongman who promised them he could fix all the problems in this country, all the problems in the world, even. He saw that our lives were broken and he said he could fix them." This is up close and personal, and one cannot help but wonder what would be the mood of the country today if Governor Kasich had somehow won the Republican primary and then gone on to face Hillary Clinton, a candidate he was projected to beat.
April 29, 2018
I choose to read this book out of some sort of weird sense of obligation. I try to read a variety of types of books to keep myself informed and somewhat well-rounded. I always have trouble picking adult non-science nonfiction (and adult non-scifi fiction) and so being an Ohioan and seeing this at my library I decided I should give it a listen. I followed the 2016 election more closely than any other and in the end I voted my conscience for "none of the above" for president. I could not bring myself to support John Kasich in the primary because I didn't approve of some of what he did as govenor, especially in the realm of education where I work. I did approve of how he carries himself through the campaign and how he didn't budge on his morals. It was interesting here to hear him describe how he kept his head down, but at times he seemed to be making it clear that he didn't have a chance of winning- although one has to wonder how much of this is reevaluating things in hindsight. I can't say that my mind was changed or that I learned anything new or was inspired by this book. I suppose I view Gov. Kasich is a more favorable light, and I appreciate that he didn't Trump-bash in the book (not because I agree with or approve of Trump, but) because I agree with him that we need to root for America and that the office deserves respect.
December 21, 2021
Before I started this book I asked myself why should I bother to read the story of a presidential candidate who ran against Donald Trump in 2016? I mean, that's ancient history, right? We all know what happened. John Kasich lost, although he was one of the last Republican candidates to drop out.
Then it occurred to me it might be a good idea to learn more about this candidate because I recalled when he dropped out, he refused to endorse Donald Trump. This was well before Trump's disastrous term of office which culminated in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Kasich, however, was able to determine, unlike all the other Republican candidates, that the well being of the country was more important than loyalty to a political party.
Because of this, I decided to read this book even though by political standards it's ancient history.
What I found was a deeply caring individual who loves his country and its citizens. I wish more Americans would take the time to read this book and learn how an honorable man conducts a presidential campaign.
I know it won't make any difference in the next Republican presidential primary, because there is little hope for that party. But perhaps it will inspire other candidates not to give up on politics but continue to strive to serve our country. I'm trusting to hear more from Mr. Kasich in the future.
Then it occurred to me it might be a good idea to learn more about this candidate because I recalled when he dropped out, he refused to endorse Donald Trump. This was well before Trump's disastrous term of office which culminated in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Kasich, however, was able to determine, unlike all the other Republican candidates, that the well being of the country was more important than loyalty to a political party.
Because of this, I decided to read this book even though by political standards it's ancient history.
What I found was a deeply caring individual who loves his country and its citizens. I wish more Americans would take the time to read this book and learn how an honorable man conducts a presidential campaign.
I know it won't make any difference in the next Republican presidential primary, because there is little hope for that party. But perhaps it will inspire other candidates not to give up on politics but continue to strive to serve our country. I'm trusting to hear more from Mr. Kasich in the future.
June 8, 2017
Two paths.
One choice - the path that exploits anger, encourages resentment, turns fear into hatred, and divides people. This path solves nothing, demeans our history, weakens our country, and cheapens each of us. It has but one beneficiary and that is the politician who speaks of it.
The other path is the one America has been down before. It is well trod, it is at times steep, but it is solid. It is the same path our forebears took together.
It is from this higher path that we are offered the greater view. And imagine for a moment with me that view. Fear turns to hope because we remember to take strength from each other. Uncertainty turns to peace because we reclaim our faith in the American ideals that have carried us upward before. And America's supposed decline becomes its finest hour because we came together to say no to those who would prey on our human weakness and instead chose leadership that serves, helping us look up, not down.
This is the path I believe in.
This is the America I believe in."
Ah, Kasich. If only.
He's someone who seems to actually be able to {gasp} sit down with people he disagrees with and have a civil discussion, without personally attacking whoever he's talking to.
December 29, 2025
Loved the audiobook especially since it was narrated by Kasich. I could go on and on about how much I wish I had paid more attention to the 2016 election but I was selfishly focused on having just graduated from nursing school, starting a new job, first real place on my own, etc etc. I knew the governor of my state was initially in the running and that I had positive thoughts of him but didn't know much else. This book definitely tugs at the heart strings of 'what could have been'; a logical, of sound mind, true to himself and his beliefs, respectable politician. A man that could have done more to help bridge the gaps between our two party system and not widen the divide.
Kasich puts it clearly, he lost because he wasn't willing to be loud (yell), ignorant and play dirty, something that is all too common in today's politics, likely a continuation of America's acceptance of the very election the book is based on. Even worse is how he highlights just when the media continued to stray from facts and go for click bait, which has only continued to worsen over time.
Overall an informative read that has me hopeful we as a country can find our way out of this perpetual world of spiraling hate.
Kasich puts it clearly, he lost because he wasn't willing to be loud (yell), ignorant and play dirty, something that is all too common in today's politics, likely a continuation of America's acceptance of the very election the book is based on. Even worse is how he highlights just when the media continued to stray from facts and go for click bait, which has only continued to worsen over time.
Overall an informative read that has me hopeful we as a country can find our way out of this perpetual world of spiraling hate.
March 7, 2019
I don't normally rate a book this low, but I was really disappointed.
I have always respected and liked John Kasich and thought he was a great guy. He wasn't my 1st pick for the Republican nomination in 2016, that was Marco Rubio, but I definitely thought he would make a better president than Trump.
When I saw this book at the library, I thought it might be worth listening too. I listened to Kasich read the audio book and he came across as very arrogant and condescending. There is a way to share your accomplishments and good things you've done without sounding like you are better than everyone else. Yet, Kasich wasn't capable of doing that.
I have a hard time not finishing a book, so I kept listening, but it only got worse.
I have met my share of politicians and political pundits. I've had many that only confirmed what a great person I already thought they were, but there are those that once I hear them speak and/or meet them my view of them changes. Unfortunately, Kasich is the latter.
I have always respected and liked John Kasich and thought he was a great guy. He wasn't my 1st pick for the Republican nomination in 2016, that was Marco Rubio, but I definitely thought he would make a better president than Trump.
When I saw this book at the library, I thought it might be worth listening too. I listened to Kasich read the audio book and he came across as very arrogant and condescending. There is a way to share your accomplishments and good things you've done without sounding like you are better than everyone else. Yet, Kasich wasn't capable of doing that.
I have a hard time not finishing a book, so I kept listening, but it only got worse.
I have met my share of politicians and political pundits. I've had many that only confirmed what a great person I already thought they were, but there are those that once I hear them speak and/or meet them my view of them changes. Unfortunately, Kasich is the latter.
April 21, 2024
John Kasich's book, Two Paths, derives its name from a definitive speech given during his 2016 presidential campaign. The title, and the notion of two paths, inherently presents a false dichotomy and a notion that we are at a crossroads with only two possible courses of action. Were this in fact to be the case, I would surely choose Kasich's path; his book is filled with optimism and his policy discussions, however brief, feel incredibly pragmatic. I believe John Kasich has a good heart and is committed to his core principles. I don't think anyone can read this book or observe him on the campaign trail and feel any differently. I am appreciative, too, for his hope that this book will inspire a better future for America. However, a good portion of the book simply feels like a description of a failed campaign rather than a continuation of any sort of movement. It's hard not to get through this book without feeling some remorse over what this campaign might have been, but I could not help but read it through the realist lens of what was. A fine book, a wonderful man: 3/5.
May 27, 2017
A report on the 2016 presidential election by one of the participanta. Lots of details of what went on and also how the campaign looked to those who were looking from the side.
My impression from this book is that I wish the author could have been the winner of this election; do I say he *should* have been? No, he waited too long to become a candidate, he waffled over the decision until it was too late to build a real, well-financed campaign.
But I feel he was by far and away the best candidate for the job; read his comments about the objectives for this country and the people who *really* are the ones to make it work. This man believes in what he says, and he was not going to take the low road of the other candidates to make his election happen. It wasn't worth taking that path.
I've been the one of the many beneficiaries of his governorship of our wonderful state, Ohio, and i wish him well in his further endeavors in the political arena.
My impression from this book is that I wish the author could have been the winner of this election; do I say he *should* have been? No, he waited too long to become a candidate, he waffled over the decision until it was too late to build a real, well-financed campaign.
But I feel he was by far and away the best candidate for the job; read his comments about the objectives for this country and the people who *really* are the ones to make it work. This man believes in what he says, and he was not going to take the low road of the other candidates to make his election happen. It wasn't worth taking that path.
I've been the one of the many beneficiaries of his governorship of our wonderful state, Ohio, and i wish him well in his further endeavors in the political arena.
June 29, 2017
John Kasich started in politics at the age of 23. He was elected to the state senate at 26 and to the Congress at 30. He spent 18 years in Washington and is currently serving his second term as governor of Ohio. He also was the sixteenth Republican candidate to enter the race for President of the United States (and the last traditional Republican to remain after all the others had dropped out) with Donald Trump, who of course went on to win the general election.
Kasich started working on this book when he suspended his campaign and wrote it to share some of the lessons he has learned during his many years of public service, and "to shine a light on what it means to run for office, what it means to be a leader and what it means to stand on principle."
Written in a straightforward, no-nonsense, say-it-like-it-is style that I have come to associate with John Kasich, I found this book totally fascinating.
Kasich started working on this book when he suspended his campaign and wrote it to share some of the lessons he has learned during his many years of public service, and "to shine a light on what it means to run for office, what it means to be a leader and what it means to stand on principle."
Written in a straightforward, no-nonsense, say-it-like-it-is style that I have come to associate with John Kasich, I found this book totally fascinating.
November 2, 2017
A very interesting read from and about one of the final candidates to become the Republican party nominee in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. A little more talk about religion than I would prefer, but that seems to be part of his package. Great insight into his strategies, experiences and challenges during the campaign. Readers also get a good sense of his character, values and aspirations for the country.
It was timely to read this about one year after the actual elections and compare his approach to the policies and behavior of the winning candidate during his first several months. There is a stark contrast between the two personalities, their preparedness for office and their worldviews.
Well worth reading for anyone interested in the thoughts and opinions of a successful, seasoned U.S. politician who has served extensively at the state and federal level. He articulates his values and ideas succinctly and with passion.
It was timely to read this about one year after the actual elections and compare his approach to the policies and behavior of the winning candidate during his first several months. There is a stark contrast between the two personalities, their preparedness for office and their worldviews.
Well worth reading for anyone interested in the thoughts and opinions of a successful, seasoned U.S. politician who has served extensively at the state and federal level. He articulates his values and ideas succinctly and with passion.
May 10, 2017
I enjoyed Ohio Governor John Kasich's book detailing his time on the campaign trail. His tenacious spirit and can-do attitude exemplify the American spirit. This guy sent a letter to President Nixon through his college president and ended up spending 20 minutes speaking with Nixon personally in the Oval Office! That takes guts.
I enjoyed his message that America is already great and I thought it was classy of him to keep the mudslinging to a minimum, instead focusing on how he felt he was the best person possible to lead this nation by focusing on balanced budgets and fiscal conservatism. I cheered inside when he regaled us with an exchange from a town hall in which he emphasized that it's the individual citizens that need to step up and help solve problems n their communities like the heroine epidemic instead of leaving it to their governments.
I enjoyed his message that America is already great and I thought it was classy of him to keep the mudslinging to a minimum, instead focusing on how he felt he was the best person possible to lead this nation by focusing on balanced budgets and fiscal conservatism. I cheered inside when he regaled us with an exchange from a town hall in which he emphasized that it's the individual citizens that need to step up and help solve problems n their communities like the heroine epidemic instead of leaving it to their governments.
June 29, 2017
When politicians write books, I expect to learn about their political views.
In this book, Kasich details his presidential campaign with bits of his previous political positions sprinkled around for background. Kasich puts ethics and honesty as top priorities. Kasich is a storyteller and captivates the reader with his life changing moments in his career. This book is more of a motivational memoir of a career politician. Lots of softball stories with feel good themes.
This book is surprisingly devoid of policy. It is difficult to discern if Kasich is a liberal, conservative or independent. Kasich spends more time discussing the play by play of the presidential 2016 GOP primary. The Two Paths message is addressed at the end of the book and it is a fairly generic message about unity.
In this book, Kasich details his presidential campaign with bits of his previous political positions sprinkled around for background. Kasich puts ethics and honesty as top priorities. Kasich is a storyteller and captivates the reader with his life changing moments in his career. This book is more of a motivational memoir of a career politician. Lots of softball stories with feel good themes.
This book is surprisingly devoid of policy. It is difficult to discern if Kasich is a liberal, conservative or independent. Kasich spends more time discussing the play by play of the presidential 2016 GOP primary. The Two Paths message is addressed at the end of the book and it is a fairly generic message about unity.
November 28, 2017
I'm a Democrat voter, and I feel that John Kasich is a sane political leader, even though he is a Republican. It would be nice to be able to discuss our opinions with others instead of things deteriorating into a shouting match.
In Two Paths: America Divided or United, he presents the message that we need to take a critical eye to how the political climate is deteriorating. He takes the readers through the presidential campaign that he ran to give background on how this side of life can be. He urges people to choose hope and togetherness rather than fear and division.
It seems that more would be accomplished in Congress if we would try to see where the other side is coming from. Unfortunately, these days, rather than negotiation and compromise, each side seeks to win at all costs and works for the destruction of the other side. This is not a mature way to handle issues.
In Two Paths: America Divided or United, he presents the message that we need to take a critical eye to how the political climate is deteriorating. He takes the readers through the presidential campaign that he ran to give background on how this side of life can be. He urges people to choose hope and togetherness rather than fear and division.
It seems that more would be accomplished in Congress if we would try to see where the other side is coming from. Unfortunately, these days, rather than negotiation and compromise, each side seeks to win at all costs and works for the destruction of the other side. This is not a mature way to handle issues.
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