Medium – Book
About the Book – Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the United States (yay!) writes her autobiography – the tale of a daughter of immigrants who grew up in California and became a prosecutor, District Attorney, Attorney General, Senator and Vice President (and who knows, maybe the first female President of the United States?) She describes her upbringing, the key moments of her career and the achievements that she is most proud of, alongside her criticisms of the previous administrations and her vision for an equal, progressive United States.
My Rating – 4/5
My Thoughts – OK, so first things first – I am not American, but have a great interest in American politics, as well as the politics of my country. And bearing in mind the bluster and rank inadequacy going on in my own country’s politics, quite frankly looking at America at the moment is quite the relief! Kamala’s voice is strong in this book, although, in common with some other books by progressive politicians I have read, it can be a bit sound bite-y on occasion. This is only my own personal preference though, and in my opinion doesn’t damage the overall message of the book – that it is good for us to be kind, tolerant and compassionate towards our fellow people on this earth, whilst still standing for our convictions.
A few things impressed me (even more) about Kamala whilst reading this book. Firstly, her appreciation for her education and those that imparted it to her. She loves books (me too!) and learning and discusses the value of these to every person, both in America and worldwide. She is not afraid to put herself in the firing line as she talks truth to power on all sorts of matters – from healthcare to jobs to mortgages to the rights of the woman and minorities. Finally, that she did not just focus on herself – the whole book is full of those people who helped Kamala make her way in the world and none of them seem unimportant. Whilst I would say that Michelle Obama’s book is stronger (although she is not, per se, a politician), I enjoyed this book and recommend it!
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