United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good

Booker does a fantastic job of connecting anecdotal moments from his time on city council and as mayor to give life to infuriating realities that Michelle Alexander conveys in her work, The New Jim Crow; furthermore, he connects to themes that promote reforms within the criminal justice system that Bryan Stevenson has dedicated his life’s work to rectify.There is a refreshing theme of humility throughout this book that was not always evident in Booker’s “larger than life” presence when he was first elected as mayor. Despite “having more degrees than the month of July”, Booker acknowledges a difference between schooling and education since many of his most revered mentors throughout his post-academia journey lacked the prestige tied to so much of the education portion of his resume. Booker’s recognition of the prevalent “poverty of empathy” is powerful, his connections to Gandhi and Martin L. King are uplifting; however, there are moments of hopeless that he conveys without resolve - clearly, he has much work ahead of him.Though I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I was really disappointed that there was no mention of lessons learned from successes and failures of education reform - specifically the $100 million from Facebook. This was such a highly publicized segment of his mayoral tenure before he took the vacant senate seat. As an educator, it made me think that the political tensions around this topic could not plausibly be "United".Regardless, I hope Senator Booker continues to write because his prose is passionate. It made me believe that he does have the power to uplift the masses to unite through an "interdependence" that he beautifully conveys through both personal anecdotes and parables.

Cory Booker seems to be putting his money where his mouth is, so to speak. He’s very well educated and could have done any kind of law he wanted. Instead, he moved into a poor neighborhood in Newark, NJ, intending to help the community. That he has done. He listened, learned, and took action on some of the toughest problems faced by these people: poverty, violence, racidivism, pollution, depression, and discouragement. I had to admire the way he approached these problems, coming up with things to try, instead of just throwing up his hands and giving up, as many other politicians have done. This is how he rose through the ranks to the US Senate. I learned a lot by reading his book. I hope more people embrace his determination to conquer, not run away from, some of these problems.

I listened to the audiobook version, which is narrated by the author. Booker's purpose for the book was to help the reader understand his own personal mission in the government and how he hopes to help better the lives of Americans. He illustrates his family's journey through segregation and the combination of hard work, kindness, and luck that helped to get his family (and him) to where he is today. He discusses his own work in Newark and the various people who influenced him. He avoids name-dropping his celebrity friends and instead highlights the people who were on the ground doing the work when he came along to offer his help and his vision.I appreciated the fact that Booker highlights many of the mistakes he made during the journey from Rhodes Scholar and Yale Law School graduate to Newark mayor and later U.S. Senator. Not only did he make mistakes in his approach and vision as to what he could accomplish when he first moved into Newark, but talks about mistakes that led to significant consequences. He perspective on helping alleviate poverty and racial division is inspiring and it is obvious that he is still the optimist, despite nearly twenty years of public service.The only criticisms I have are that 1) he can be a little repetitive with facts/data/sayings through the book and 2) that he did not provide a list of sources for the data he cited in the book. I know on a recent interview someone mentioned that and he said they have the information but decided not to put it in the book because it can be easily recalled online, but citations would have been preferred for me.

Need to clarify my star rating. Book was great read. Very impressive bio....until you see and hear the man in action. Huge disappointment!

This book was fun to read and it was great to get familiar with what's happened in Cory's life since high school. We went to High School together. He wouldn't remember me, but I certainly remember him and his brother Cary. Always had a bit of a crush on the both of them!The book is well written, and Cory is an amazing person. He takes you through his journey of getting a real life education in how to help people in very challenging situations. Highly recommended.

I purchased this book to find out something of a senator in the news, to discover how he thought. Sound up finishing the book in a long afternoon.Although the book runs on a bit (that's why 4 stars), Cory Booker tells a fascinating story. Recommended for anyone who wants to see behind the scenes of the "news".

Wonderful, Wonderful book. I highly recommend this book. Refreshing "Political" read. It makes you believe that Politicians are and can be honest and down to earth. In this Presidential year we can trust someone again. I do hope Senator Booker will run for Governor in NJ and all the way to the President of the United States.. This book is not about being a Republican or a Democratic, it is about the understanding of doing the right thing, and following your beliefs (and your gut feeling) My daughter is 14, and is in the 8th grade, she is being subjected to the "nasty" debates, I am going to have her read this book, and her father and I will sit down for dinner, yes, without her iphone and discuss the book. This book in my house won't just be read one time and put away on the bookshelf to gather dust, I will read it every time I start to feel angry or disappointed in our politicians. Thank You Senator Booker for being REAL.

Almost 8 years ago I read Barack Obama’s “Audacity of Hope”, conscious that it was the first book by an aspiring political figure I had read; why, I wondered, had I not been inspired to read anything similar by a British politician? United is my next, and therefore still only my second, book by a contemporary politician. Cory Booker, former Mayor of Newark, NJ, and now the (Democrat) junior senator for New Jersey, is also an African American politician. While he increasingly well known in the US, and is talked of as a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton, I don’t think I’d heard of him other than via the (American) Freakonomics podcast, which did an episode on him at the beginning of March, and had I think interviewed him a few time previously. He was billed as offering new approaches to achieve bipartisan approaches, having reached out to such right wingers as Newt Gingrich, Grover Norquist and Rand Paul. Trying to reduce the US’s massive prison population is the principal common ground.Some of the facts quoted in the book, while not coming entirely as surprises, were jaw dropping. The size of the American prison population, the extent to which America’s black population is the focus of this attention, the extent to which being an ex-convict, or even just having been arrested, makes it so difficult to earn an honest living thereafter, the fact that the minimum wage for (tip-eligible) waiting staff is just $2.13 per hour, made me gasp with astonishment. The UK is, sadly, not as different as it might be, but God help us if we follow the USA further in some of the dark directions Cory Booker shines a light on.Booker’s is an inspirational book. If only half of it is true then he is an immensely energetic and committed man. I find every reason to believe that very much more than half is true, with the caveat that Booker’s relentless positivity about the people he has met along his political way, his optimism for the future, and his willingness to admit past mistakes are written at least in part to demonstrate his suitability for future, higher office. He has erred, but he has learned; he made enemies, but he won (most of) them back as friends. These are not bad attributes in a politician, or a potential president – neither of the likely two contenders, at time of writing Trump and Clinton, seem to be very good at either of those things, and either seems likely further to polarise American politics.I almost decided to award 4 rather than 5 stars because I had hoped for by way of techniques for working towards the unity that Booker espouses. He shows how he successfully reached out to his own community (which sounds like it was hard enough!), but it is rather light on how to he proposes to unite the Republican and Democrat on matters other than the burgeoning prison population. I had been expecting more, but despite that caveat this book is well worth the read.Whether Mr Booker will be offered the position of running mate by Hillary Clinton, assuming she wins the nomination, and whether it’d be in his best interests to accept it, remain to be seen. I suspect that we will hear more of him, even on this side of the pond, and in the meantime I look forward to his guest appearances on Freakonomics and occasional posts on Facebook. He is a man unafraid to confront the world the way it really is and to strive to make it better.

Cory Booker gives one hope that America isn't lost forever. If it can make it through the next 4-8 years then there are still those in the political system who understand that public service and self service are different things.United talks not so much about the great things that Booker has done, although they are many, but more about those lesser known figures from the Newark, New Jersey community who have worked with far less acclaim to do the right thing by the neighbours, communities and city. This isn't a biography, but a collection anecdotes telling of his major influences and inspirations.Through the lens of Booker's experience this is story of normal people going to unusual lengths to fight for equality, wellbeing and fair chance for all. That this book could inspire this white English, middle class reviewer to become more involved in community matters speaks volumes to the simple, powerful message that he has managed to convey.Booker has spoken of how hard it was to write this book, but that isn't apparent from the writing which is assured, easy to read and well organised in a way that makes this ideal either to dip in and out of, or to finish in a single sitting. All the more impressive for that fact that is was written in the middle of the night whilst also working as an aisle crossing Democratic junior senator during the day.

Frank self characterization as frenetic, earnest, compassionate, action biased, and passionate about socioeconomic justice. Here's a vegan and a man of faith who is not afraid to literally live out his ideals and use government and politics as a means to a better end for all.

In a very broken political system all over the world today, I found this book quite inspiring and a clarion call our generation in a time where we have seen people who will say anything just for the quest for power and political office, not minding stifling progress for selfish interest.

Cory Booker has led an interesting life to date. He is also quite willing to show his less than stellar times and can be hard on himself. As a senator, he shows how involved in doing the right thing he tries hard to be while many try to derail him. His morals and values are exactly what this planet needs and I wish him the very best in his endeavors. A thoughtfully-written book and one I enjoyed very much. I also listened to him as he was a speaker at The Food Revolution Summit and was very impressed!

Senator Booker has authored a most unusual political book - in his highly personal reflections and analysis, Cory provides numerous real-life case studies, vignettes, historical perspectives and future scenarios all couched deeply in HOPE. This is an excellent resource of inspiration that politics and those who serve can still flourish and dream in an age of cynicism and hurt.

Inspiring