Beyond the Messy Truth
How We Came Apart, How We Come Together
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Narrated by:
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Prentice Onayemi
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By:
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Van Jones
About this listen
A passionate manifesto that exposes hypocrisy on both sides of the political divide and points a way out of the tribalism that is tearing America apart - by the CNN political contributor and host hailed as "a star of the 2016 campaign" (New York Times) who tries to "fight the right way" (New Yorker).
Van Jones burst into the American consciousness during the 2016 presidential campaign with an unscripted, truth-telling style and an already established history of bridge-building across party lines. His election night commentary became a viral sensation. A longtime progressive activist with deep roots in the conservative South, Jones has made it his mission to challenge voters and viewers to stand in one another's shoes and disagree constructively.
Now, in Beyond the Messy Truth, Jones offers a blueprint for transforming our collective anxiety into meaningful change. Tough on Donald Trump but showing respect and empathy for his supporters, Jones takes aim at the failures of both parties before and after Trump's victory. He urges both sides to abandon the politics of accusation and focus on real solutions. Calling us to a deeper patriotism, he shows us how to get down to the vital business of solving, together, some of our toughest problems.
"The entire national conversation today can be reduced to a simple statement - 'I'm right, and you're wrong,'" Jones has said. But the truth is messier; both sides have flaws. Both parties have strayed from their highest principles and let down their core constituencies. Rejecting today's political tribalism, Jones issues a stirring call for a new "bipartisanship from below". Recognizing that tough challenges require the best wisdom from both liberals and conservatives, he points us toward practical answers to problems that affect us all regardless of region or ideology: rural and inner-city poverty, unemployment, addiction, unfair incarceration, and the devastating effects of the pollution-based economy on both coal country and our urban centers.
In explaining how he arrived at his views, Jones shares behind-the-scenes memories from his decades spent marching and protesting on behalf of working people, inspiring stories of ordinary citizens who became champions of their communities, and little-known examples of cooperation that have risen from the fog of partisan conflict. In his quest for positive solutions, Van Jones encourages us to set fire to our old ways of thinking about politics and come together where the pain is greatest.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2017 Van Jones (P)2017 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Van Jones is a light in the darkness when we need it most. Beyond the Messy Truth breaks with the tribalism of today's politics and offers us a way forward. In the tradition of the great bridge builders of our past, Van's love for this country and all its people shines through." (Cory Booker, US senator, New Jersey)
"Speaking with heartfelt conviction and clarity of purpose, [Van] Jones proffers an achievable pathway to harmony for ideologues of both conservative and liberal persuasions." (Booklist)
"Part manifesto, part manual for activism, [Beyond the Messy Truth] is enlivened by case histories and personal anecdotes that serve as support for the author's assertions.... The author proposes common projects that may bring opposing sides together...[and] offers concrete suggestions to revive democracy, heal culture wars, and prevent a Trump victory in 2020." (Kirkus Reviews)
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Story
America's great promise of equality has always rung hollow in the ears of African Americans. But today the situation has grown even more dire. From the murders of black youth by the police to the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act to the disaster visited upon poor and middle-class black families by the Great Recession, it is clear that black America faces an emergency - at the very moment the election of the first black president has prompted many to believe we've solved America's race problem.
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The Dysfunctional Mindset of American
- By Paul T. on 07-09-16
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Bannon
- Always the Rebel
- By: Keith Koffler
- Narrated by: William LeRoy
- Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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To understand the Trump White House, you need to understand Steve Bannon: what's driving him, what his true role is, and what he's trying to accomplish on behalf of the American middle class. White House reporter Keith Koffler penetrates the fog surrounding the mysterious senior White House advisor, tracing Bannon's wild and distinctly American path to the White House in this first-ever honest biography of the controversial figure.
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The "real" Steve Bannon! Great read!
- By Amazon Customer on 12-20-17
By: Keith Koffler
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The Forgotten
- How the People of One Pennsylvania County Elected Donald Trump and Changed America
- By: Ben Bradlee
- Narrated by: Kiff Vandenheuvel
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Forgotten, Ben Bradlee, Jr., reports on how voters in Luzerne County, a pivotal county in a crucial swing state, came to feel like strangers in their own land - marginalized by flat or falling wages, rapid demographic change, and a liberal culture that mocks their faith and patriotism.
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Wow
- By Walter on 11-05-18
By: Ben Bradlee
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Under Fire
- Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House
- By: April Ryan, Tamron Hall - foreword
- Narrated by: Janina Edwards
- Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Veteran White House reporter April Ryan thought she had seen everything in her two decades as a White House correspondent. And then came the Trump administration. In Under Fire, Ryan takes us inside the confusion and chaos of the Trump White House to understand how she and other reporters adjusted to the new normal. She takes us inside the policy debates, the revolving door of personnel appointments, and what it is like when she, as a reporter asking difficult questions, finds herself in the spotlight, becoming part of the story.
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- By Deborah on 09-03-18
By: April Ryan, and others
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Rise Up
- Confronting a Country at the Crossroads
- By: Al Sharpton
- Narrated by: Al Sharpton, Leon Nixon
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Beginning with a foreword by Michael Eric Dyson, Rise Up is a rousing call to action for our nation, drawing on lessons learned from Reverend Al Sharpton’s unique experience as a politician, television and radio host, and civil rights leader.
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Inspired and inspiring
- By Jessica S on 10-13-20
By: Al Sharpton
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Mad Politics
- Keeping Your Sanity in a World Gone Crazy
- By: Dr. Gina Loudon, Sean Hannity - foreword
- Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result, America has been insane since the Reagan era. But the election of Donald Trump is certainly not like what America has done before. The media delights in diagnosing President Trump as “mad” - but what if he’s actually the cure for a country who’s been going mad for years?
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Fantastic book all the way threw.
- By Francis Cavanaugh on 08-30-20
By: Dr. Gina Loudon, and others
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Cowards
- What Politicians, Radicals, and the Media Refuse to Say
- By: Glenn Beck
- Narrated by: Ron McLarty
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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As we approach the most important presidential election in America’s history, something has been lost among all of the debates, attack ads, and super- PACs - something that Americans used to hold in very high regard: THE TRUTH. The truth can no longer be something we hope for; it must be something we live. When courage prevails, cowards do not - and this book was written to ensure that’s exactly what happens.
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Guess what... Its by Glenn Beck!!
- By Joseph on 07-17-12
By: Glenn Beck
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Boom!
- Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today
- By: Tom Brokaw
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 18 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Boom! One minute it was Ike and the man in the grey flannel suit, and the next minute it was time to "turn on, tune in, drop out". While Americans were walking on the moon, Americans were dying in Vietnam. Nothing was beyond question, and there were far fewer answers than before.
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boring survey of a generation
- By Andy on 01-01-08
By: Tom Brokaw
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The Black Presidency
- Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America
- By: Michael Eric Dyson
- Narrated by: Michael Eric Dyson
- Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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A provocative, lively deep dive into the meaning of America's first Black president and first Black presidency, from "one of the most graceful and lucid intellectuals writing on race and politics today" (
Vanity Fair).
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Unbalanced, narrow and personal
- By CH on 02-06-18
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Stupid Black Men
- How to Play the Race Card - and Lose
- By: Larry Elder
- Narrated by: Larry Elder
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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In Stupid Black Men, Larry Elder takes on the mind-set of those people who always capture the most media attention - as well as masses of public money - people who say that racism is the root of all problems and who end up hurting precisely those they claim to be helping.
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New fan
- By Levonne Burris on 07-15-19
By: Larry Elder
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What Unites Us
- Reflections on Patriotism
- By: Dan Rather, Elliot Kirschner
- Narrated by: Dan Rather
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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In a collection of original essays, the venerated television journalist, Dan Rather, celebrates our shared values and what matters most in our great country, and shows us what patriotism looks like. Writing about the institutions that sustain us, such as public libraries, public schools, and national parks; the values that have transformed us, such as the struggle for civil rights; and the drive toward science and innovation that has made the US great, Rather brings his experience on the frontlines of the world's biggest stories, and offers listeners a way forward.
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Hope. For both sides of the aisle.
- By Leigh A. Barrett on 01-30-18
By: Dan Rather, and others
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We Gon' Be Alright
- Notes on Race and Resegregation
- By: Jeff Chang
- Narrated by: Jeff Chang
- Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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In these provocative, powerful essays acclaimed writer/journalist Jeff Chang (Can't Stop Won't Stop, Who We Be) takes an incisive and wide-ranging look at the recent tragedies and widespread protests that have shaken the country. Through deep reporting with key activists and thinkers, passionately personal writing, and distinguished cultural criticism, We Gon' Be Alright links #BlackLivesMatter to #OscarsSoWhite, Ferguson to Washington, DC, and more.
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a conversation that needs to happen
- By Angie B on 03-11-17
By: Jeff Chang
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Let's Move On
- Beyond Fear & False Prophets
- By: Vicente Fox, Sulay Hernandez-Elhussein
- Narrated by: Thom Rivera
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Vicente Fox offers his unique viewpoint as a former head of state, avid historian, and true admirer of America’s constitutional ideals. He knows where a Trump presidency can lead—and it is nowhere good. Let’s Move On is a political manifesto written in Fox’s trademark, no-nonsense style where he both denounces Trump’s malignant anti-intellectualism and inspires people to rise up and resist.
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Inspirational, honest and thought provoking
- By Cristina on 06-18-23
By: Vicente Fox, and others
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America by Heart
- Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag
- By: Sarah Palin
- Narrated by: Sarah Palin
- Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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America by Heart is a highly personal testament to Sarah Palin's deep love of country, her strong roots in faith, and her profound appreciation of family. The book includes brief readings from classic and contemporary works that have moved and inspired her, as well as other Americans, both famous and obscure, whom she admires.
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A CREDIT WELL SPENT
- By Garry on 11-25-10
By: Sarah Palin
What listeners say about Beyond the Messy Truth
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Rebel C.
- 01-05-20
I loved this book
My only complaint would be a disappointment in it not being read by Van himself.
Great job.
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- Susan Sliger
- 10-21-17
This book opened my eyes.
My eyes were opened to several ways to make out country better. Ideas which include all Americans are the ideas that have a chance of working.Thank you for telling your story to me a liberal who needed fresh prospective.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Angela W.
- 10-15-17
A must read for any true Patriot!
This book artfully finds common ground in our political divide. Democrat or Conservative it challenges your stereotypes, and pushes you to think critically, and honestly about your own positions and your opponents. A practical book that leaves you with practical ways we can work together locally with our political opposites to better our communities. Thank you, Van Jones!
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- Judith
- 09-06-18
The Messy Truth, But Where Do We Go From Here and How??
It was a wonderful, eye-opening book of factual information that we all need to pay attention to, NOW!! As a private citizen, where do we go from here? I’m ready to begin the parade to “bettering” our Universe. I’m calling my Senator, not certain that will help. Thank you for the book!!
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- Gino
- 11-14-17
Insightful outlook for change...
This book presented itself to be an insightful outlook on how to invoke change. Vans approach is insightful and intriguing while presenting the harsh realities of the current climate in this country. I found the book to be amazing, informative, trailblazing and motivational.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-20-17
Good read
Great book love it i recommend reading or listening to either way good choice. Great job Van
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- Dexter Williams
- 12-14-17
great deep dive into what's plaguing our country
whatever your politics or opinion of Van this book is a fair assessment and offers some awesome advice
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- Dedria Gaffney
- 03-07-18
A must read
A wonderful look into his life..his views and his thoughts. everyone must read or listen to this book!!!
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- Passionately Opinionated
- 10-21-20
Finally a balanced perspective of the Red and Blue
The final chapter of the book is brilliant. I would love to see his name on a future presidential ballot.
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- Earl Simon
- 11-14-17
A fair, balanced view on the issues that affect us
Well worth the read. Van Jones offers his personal view on the issues that affect us today and attempts to give a moral view rather than a political view for the solutions and a way out of this madness!
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2 people found this helpful