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The Truths We Hold: An American Journey
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From one of America's most inspiring political leaders, a book about the core truths that unite us, and the long struggle to discern what those truths are and how best to act upon them, in her own life and across the life of our country.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's commitment to speaking truth is informed by her upbringing. The daughter of immigrants, she was raise ...more
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's commitment to speaking truth is informed by her upbringing. The daughter of immigrants, she was raise ...more
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Summary
(01-20-2021) Congratulations, Kamala Harris, for becoming the 49th Vice President of the USA.
Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney who is the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to become the USA's vice president.
What did I learn from this book?
1) The importance of books in a human beings life
Kamala is a person who knew the importance of books and reading right from childhood. That might be the thing which helped her to devel ...more
(01-20-2021) Congratulations, Kamala Harris, for becoming the 49th Vice President of the USA.
Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney who is the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to become the USA's vice president.
What did I learn from this book?
1) The importance of books in a human beings life
Kamala is a person who knew the importance of books and reading right from childhood. That might be the thing which helped her to devel ...more
Congrats to Kamala Harris ....
Vice President running mate with Joe Biden.
Doing the happy dance!!! I’m pleased!!!
Audiobook...read by Kamala Harris
After listening to Pete Buttigieg’s book,
“The Shortest Way Home”....STILL IMPRESSED and in ‘aw’ of him....
...I consider him a strong important viable candidate for President....
I wasn’t planning on listening to the other major contenders’ books....
But here I am again...
....with many thanks to *Connie* for being an inspiration.... ( who is doing her r ...more
Vice President running mate with Joe Biden.
Doing the happy dance!!! I’m pleased!!!
Audiobook...read by Kamala Harris
After listening to Pete Buttigieg’s book,
“The Shortest Way Home”....STILL IMPRESSED and in ‘aw’ of him....
...I consider him a strong important viable candidate for President....
I wasn’t planning on listening to the other major contenders’ books....
But here I am again...
....with many thanks to *Connie* for being an inspiration.... ( who is doing her r ...more
Update 11/08/20:
Congratualations to Kamala Harris, the US' first female, first Black, first Asian-American Vice-President!
____________________________
Original review 3/25/19:
Not being from California, I hadn't heard of Senator Kamala Harris until recently. Because she has entered the Democrat presidential race, I wanted to learn more about her. The first thing I learned in this book was that I was pronouncing her name wrong. It's "Comma-la" not "Kah-MAL-uh. This is what happens when you don't wa ...more
Congratualations to Kamala Harris, the US' first female, first Black, first Asian-American Vice-President!
____________________________
Original review 3/25/19:
Not being from California, I hadn't heard of Senator Kamala Harris until recently. Because she has entered the Democrat presidential race, I wanted to learn more about her. The first thing I learned in this book was that I was pronouncing her name wrong. It's "Comma-la" not "Kah-MAL-uh. This is what happens when you don't wa ...more
I bought The Truths We Hold: An American Journey because I'm settling on a U.S. presidential candidate to volunteer for. My mom's experience volunteering for Beto O'Rourke's Senate campaign showed me how rewarding that experience can be (and also got me a rad T-shirt). With California bumping its primary up to March 2020, the Golden State will finally help decide who the Democratic nominee will be and I want to help the candidate who best represents my interests win. Twenty-three have entered th
...more
A solid memoir from the junior U.S. Senator for California, The Truths We Hold sketches the author’s early life, political career, and 2020 campaign platform. Over the course of ten short chapters Kamala Harris alternates between recounting her personal history and outlining her vision for the nation; the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father, Harris positions herself as a bold liberal capable of building an expansive coalition of voters and achieving wide-ranging reforms once in offi
...more
I expected this book to be more of a personal life memoir, but the content was less personal and more of political achievements and issues on which America, as a nation, will need to focus. It can be said the focus of this book is more on the American voters than the regular Global readers (like me!).
The content does show and highlight the credibility, integrity, personal character and also clarity of Kamala Harris as an individual.
I will surely look forward to a more focussed memoir from Kama ...more
The content does show and highlight the credibility, integrity, personal character and also clarity of Kamala Harris as an individual.
I will surely look forward to a more focussed memoir from Kama ...more
It was wonderful to listen to this in Kamala's own voice. Her voice is nice and clear, engaging. Her views on criminal justice reform, banks, immigration and other issues, seem somewhat to align with mine. A fairer, more just country for all. Sounds good in theory but socioeconomic problems are so hard to solve. An ongoing struggle of many, many years and many, many people, aid packages, etc. Greed and the wealthy, well good luck with that.
Her background is an interesting one, her career as Dist ...more
Her background is an interesting one, her career as Dist ...more
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey by Senator Kamala Harris takes a dive into the current state of American politics as well as the policies, legislation, and initiatives Harris has undertaken in her present and previous roles.
The book is a mix of memoir and political observations. I didn’t realize how much Harris has accomplished prior to reading this book but will say the parts about her personal life were more interesting to me.
Harris’ intelligence is obvious and I appreciated her mess ...more
The book is a mix of memoir and political observations. I didn’t realize how much Harris has accomplished prior to reading this book but will say the parts about her personal life were more interesting to me.
Harris’ intelligence is obvious and I appreciated her mess ...more
It is difficult to critique political memoirs without seeming to be critical the high-minded ideals these writers espouse. Kamala Harris appears outside the norm for the kind of Washington politician we’ve put up with these past twenty years. Formerly Attorney General of California, she had to find solutions to big thorny problems that plagued governance of that state. If she didn’t “solve” the problems for all time, she always came down fighting for the side of individuals against corporate ent
...more
There are many ways to have a rich childhood. Having parents who are financially well-off is only one way. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary the second definition of rich is "having high value or quality". By this definition, Kamala Harris had a rich childhood.
Kamala was raised in a loving home by highly educated parents. From an early age they instilled in her the importance of working hard and fighting for her beliefs. She attended marches for justice while still in a stroller. Visit ...more
Kamala was raised in a loving home by highly educated parents. From an early age they instilled in her the importance of working hard and fighting for her beliefs. She attended marches for justice while still in a stroller. Visit ...more
I first noticed Kamala Harris during her questioning of a witness in the Trump impeachment hearing. She didn’t grand stand and she didn’t read a statement written by an aide. She searched for the facts and demanded direct answers to her questions. She was formidable.
Her book reveals her strong family values and her connection to the personal struggles and travails of her constituents. She stresses the importance of innovative ideas to solve problems, as in her criminal justice programs of Calif ...more
Her book reveals her strong family values and her connection to the personal struggles and travails of her constituents. She stresses the importance of innovative ideas to solve problems, as in her criminal justice programs of Calif ...more
Pleased to be finishing this one on MLK day and the day Harris announced her candidacy.
This was an interesting read, a little slow in the middle. The first and last chapters were my favorites, showcasing her origins and her exhortations for the future.
It gave me that little extra insight into a potential (when I started it) candidate that I was looking for.
The threshold question I’m holding for any candidate in the current cycle, beyond the basics of whether I find their values and track reco ...more
This was an interesting read, a little slow in the middle. The first and last chapters were my favorites, showcasing her origins and her exhortations for the future.
It gave me that little extra insight into a potential (when I started it) candidate that I was looking for.
The threshold question I’m holding for any candidate in the current cycle, beyond the basics of whether I find their values and track reco ...more
I have followed Kamala Harris’ career since she was the District Attorney of San Francisco. When she was Attorney General of California, I impressed with her prosecution of the banks during the mortgage crisis. She has done a good job as Senator representing California.
The book is well written. Harris reveals her early life and career. She also points out that she was tossed into the civil rights problems from the beginning because her mother is a Tamil Indian and her father is a black and both ...more
The book is well written. Harris reveals her early life and career. She also points out that she was tossed into the civil rights problems from the beginning because her mother is a Tamil Indian and her father is a black and both ...more
Reading this I felt it was another unscrupulous politician lying all the way to the voting booth. Yet, among all the crap politicians with an unintelligent following, Harris seems to have by far the most aggressive bunch of bullies.
Original review: Another unscrupulous politician lying all the way to the voting booth.
The unpleasant is pushed under the rug, the presumed positive is inflated. Business as usual.
I clearly don't get the US politics. I get the mindless tribalism that make Harris good ...more
Original review: Another unscrupulous politician lying all the way to the voting booth.
The unpleasant is pushed under the rug, the presumed positive is inflated. Business as usual.
I clearly don't get the US politics. I get the mindless tribalism that make Harris good ...more
This genre often leaves a lot to be desired. I loved hear her talk about her life and the work she’s done but it lacks in vulnerability because it’s a companion piece for running for President not a tell all. It’s good for what it is and she’s a wonderful human. Hearing about her work as a prosecutor and her plans for the country was all good. But overall it’s nothing ground breaking or exciting.
I am proud to call Kamala Harris my Senator. As a San Fransisco native I have watched her career and have now had the pleasure to vote for her a few times. It was nice to read about her family history, to read about where she came from and how she worked her way up to her current position. I also really enjoyed reading about things that I remember occurring in real life and seeing it from her perspective. I liked reading about how she fought for criminal justice reform, how she negotiated during
...more
Senator Kamala Harris is one of the politicians I admire & respect, and one of the three candidates I was hoping to run in 2020, which she has officially announced in January. The presidential candidacy pool is getting really crowded & it’s still very early on, and I’m certainly not set on anyone; but Senator Harris is a strong candidate with an impressive background & experience (and temperament, very important) and even early on as a Junior Senator from California, I saw something in her & kne
...more
The Truths We Hold is a great opportunity to get to know Kamala Harris, which I was eager to do after she was chosen as Joe Biden's running mate. I'm glad I did. This gave me a lot of confidence in Harris's priorities and personal compass, and I'm a lot happier with the ticket knowing she's on it. The book was released in January 2019 in conjunction with her own bid for president, so it's interesting to hear some early echoes of the present. In the preface, she describes "a battle for the soul o
...more
Kamala Harris grew up in California, the daughter of immigrant parents. Her father came to the United States from Jamaica and her mother came from India. Her parents were active in the civil rights movement and passed on to her a concern for social justice.
In this book, Kamala writes about her early life, her education, her career as a young lawyer, deputy district attorney and then district attorney for San Francisco, Attorney General of California, and finally, life as a United States Senator. ...more
In this book, Kamala writes about her early life, her education, her career as a young lawyer, deputy district attorney and then district attorney for San Francisco, Attorney General of California, and finally, life as a United States Senator. ...more
The unfolding of Kamala Harris' early life illustrates how she was shaped into a tough but compassionate person. Her parents were immigrants that came to the United States for educational opportunities and both graduated with PhDs. Her father was an economist from Jamaica, and her mother was a cancer researcher from India. She and her sister were raised in a working class African-American neighborhood in Oakland by their mother after their parents divorced. After Harris attended Howard Universit
...more
Believing that Ms. Harris will be announcing her run for President, I wanted to learn more about her. I always try to go to the source whenever possible, so I figured this would be a great place to start. The book is interesting, and my overwhelming thought upon finishing it? If anyone wants to know what her platform would be, it's here. Some things are highlighted more than others, but it's all here - her priorities, why, some of the things she has done, etc. So for anyone wanting more informat
...more
4.5 Stars
’We need to speak truth: that, with the exception of Native Americans, we all descend from people who weren’t born on our shores—whether our ancestors came to America willingly, with hopes of a prosperous future, or forcibly, on a slave ship, or desperately, to escape a harrowing past.’
So much about the recent years that has proved so disturbing is summed up in the above, the very foundation of this country, those of us in the USA, is based on the fact that the vast majority of peop ...more
’We need to speak truth: that, with the exception of Native Americans, we all descend from people who weren’t born on our shores—whether our ancestors came to America willingly, with hopes of a prosperous future, or forcibly, on a slave ship, or desperately, to escape a harrowing past.’
So much about the recent years that has proved so disturbing is summed up in the above, the very foundation of this country, those of us in the USA, is based on the fact that the vast majority of peop ...more
Update: Mike's Campaign Journal, 10/07/20, 9:22 P.M. EST
I wake from an unplanned nap, and go downstairs to the kitchen. My dad, who has been watching the Harris-Pence debate in the living room, comes in for something to drink.
"She's blowing it, Mike", he tells me.
My dad doesn't follow politics religiously; but he seems surprised that Harris has a tendency, when she's asked a question about policy, to respond with a sentimental story about childhood or some pseudo-inspirational cliche that seems ...more
I'm not someone naturally inclined to read memoirs by politicians, but the tumultuous “leadership” in America over the past four years has been so horrendous and upsetting to witness I wanted to do something more to celebrate and engage with the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris rather than just following the news. Also, other than knowing the professional roles Kamala Harris has held as a senator from California and attorney general as well as the policies she spoke abou
...more
As far as ghost-written political memoirs go, this is not the best I've read, but it's also not annoying. I wanted to know more about Kamala Harris and now I know more. My biggest takeaway is that she's not a big institutional thinker. She sees things like a prosecutor. For example, in dealing with the banking crisis, she wanted to charge the banks with wrong-doing and she settled with them due to frauds and deceptions. Same with her takes on other laws--who did something wrong and how can they
...more
4 stars
This is a book that had been on my tbr a while, and when Kamala Harris was picked to be Biden’s VP I bumped it up. I’m glad I listened because I feel I learned a lot about her, but this also felt very much like a campaign book. Normally when I listen to political based biographies or books, there’s an overall point to be made. This book didn’t really have one except to highlight Harris’ many accomplishments (which are indeed, incredible).
Regardless, I am glad I listened because I learne ...more
This is a book that had been on my tbr a while, and when Kamala Harris was picked to be Biden’s VP I bumped it up. I’m glad I listened because I feel I learned a lot about her, but this also felt very much like a campaign book. Normally when I listen to political based biographies or books, there’s an overall point to be made. This book didn’t really have one except to highlight Harris’ many accomplishments (which are indeed, incredible).
Regardless, I am glad I listened because I learne ...more
On January 20th Kamala Harris will make history when she is sworn in as the first
1) Woman Vice President
2)Black Vice President
3)Indian Vice President
And I'm sure there are more ways in which Kamala is historic but I'll just leave it at those 3.
During the primaries I didnt support Kamala Harris, given her history of being pro- police I just didnt trust her, plus I'm #YangGang4Lyfe. And she wasn't my first choice to be Joe Biden's VP, Stacey Abrams or Tammy Duckworth would be my picks. But on ...more
1) Woman Vice President
2)Black Vice President
3)Indian Vice President
And I'm sure there are more ways in which Kamala is historic but I'll just leave it at those 3.
During the primaries I didnt support Kamala Harris, given her history of being pro- police I just didnt trust her, plus I'm #YangGang4Lyfe. And she wasn't my first choice to be Joe Biden's VP, Stacey Abrams or Tammy Duckworth would be my picks. But on ...more
I was team Harris during the primary until the debate when she attacked Biden on busing. It was a cheap shot and it cost her. Yet in the end, she is in a much better position if she gets to be Vice president first and perhaps then President.
I really liked this autobiography. She speaks plainly but with insight and also thoughtfully, unlike the current occupant of the white house. She is a smart, educated and caring person and she comes across as someone who understands the problems we face and ...more
I really liked this autobiography. She speaks plainly but with insight and also thoughtfully, unlike the current occupant of the white house. She is a smart, educated and caring person and she comes across as someone who understands the problems we face and ...more
I really like Kamala Harris and follow politics rather closely, which as it turns out is a bad thing for this book. Harris notes at the beginning that it is not a political platform book but...it totally is. I was really hoping it was going to genuinely be more about her life growing up and her relationships etc., but that was a really minor aspect of it. Most of the book is in fact her political platform and since I know that and the issues she discusses, I was mostly bored. I probably should h
...more
Kamala Harris is a badass. While I am from CA originally, I currently live and vote in Texas, so sadly she is not my senator. However, I've taken notice of her over the last two years as she has had greater presence on the national stage fighting for human rights, social justice, and environmental responsibility. I enjoyed learning more about her life, family, career, and political platform. She is one I will be watching as the field of democratic candidates takes shape for 2020.
...more
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| Play Book Tag: The Truths We Hold - Kamala Harris; 4 stars | 4 | 16 | Jan 17, 2021 04:56PM | |
| Kamala Harris “Th...: Based on the Preface and Chapter 1, what is your impression of the author? | 1 | 4 | Aug 15, 2020 07:15AM | |
| Play Book Tag: The Truths We Hold by Kamal Harris, 4 stars | 10 | 34 | Aug 03, 2019 05:49PM | |
| Two Broads Talkin...: Kamala Harris: The Truths We Hold | 5 | 15 | Apr 02, 2019 01:22PM |
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Kamala D. Harris is a lifelong public safety and civil rights leader, and is currently serving as a U.S. Senator from California. She began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, then was elected District Attorney of San Francisco. As California's Attorney General, Kamala prosecuted transnational gangs, big banks, Big Oil, for-profit colleges and fought against attacks on the
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Thank you so much for your kind words. It is a great inspiring ...more
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