The Violence Inside Us

A Brief History of an Ongoing American Tragedy

By: Chris Murphy

Narrated by: Chris Murphy

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

“An engrossing, moving, and utterly motivating account of the human stakes of gun violence in America.” (Samantha Power, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Education of an Idealist)

Is America destined to always be a violent nation? This sweeping history by U.S. senator Chris Murphy explores the origins of our violent impulses, the roots of our obsession with firearms, and the mythologies that prevent us from confronting our national crisis.

In many ways, the United States sets the pace for other nations to follow. Yet on the most important human concern - the need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from physical harm - America isn’t a leader. We are disturbingly laggard. To confront this problem, we must first understand it. In this carefully researched and deeply emotional book, Senator Chris Murphy dissects our country’s violence-filled history and the role that our unique obsession with firearms plays in this national epidemic.

Murphy tells the story of his profound personal transformation in the wake of the mass murder at Newtown, and his subsequent immersion in the complicated web of influences that drive American violence. Murphy comes to the conclusion that while America’s relationship to violence is indeed unique, America is not inescapably violent. Even as he details the reasons we’ve tolerated so much bloodshed for so long, he explains that we have the power to change. Murphy takes on the familiar arguments, obliterates the stale talking points, and charts the way to a fresh, less polarized conversation about violence and the weapons that enable it - a conversation we urgently need in order to transform the national dialogue and save lives.

©2020 Chris Murphy (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"An engrossing, moving, and utterly motivating account of the human stakes of gun violence in America.... From his earliest days in the Senate, when he grieved with the families of the children of Sandy Hook Elementary, Chris Murphy has fearlessly challenged the fatalism of those who have resigned themselves to mass shootings. All the while he has exposed the cynicism of those in America who put profit over people. With a historian’s talent for narrative and a memoirist’s gift for introspection, Murphy shines a light on the men and women who will not rest until American laws are changed to protect our citizens, while offering an inspiring blueprint for how this struggle can - and will - be won." (Samantha Power, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Education of an Idealist and former US ambassador to the United Nations)

"The Violence Inside Us is not a book by a politician - it is a book by a father, a neighbor, a citizen - and it offers a comprehensive and deeply personal accounting of the entrenched role of guns in America, as well as a path forward to break this cycle of senseless violence and the toll it has taken on our society, especially our nation’s children." (Darren Walker, president, the Ford Foundation)

"This book is essential to understanding America’s gun violence epidemic, our history of gun ownership, and the nature of violence itself. It’s an essential primer for anyone who’s sick of thoughts and prayers in the wake of these tragedies and wants to be armed with the knowledge to ght for change." (Tommy Vietor, cohost, Pod Save America)

Violent American

This is outstanding. A good listen too. It will open your eyes wide. Disgust you. It summarizes the shame the USA will not face and or fix.
Sharing friends and family.

Intelligently written on a complicated subject

I will listen to this book again. I was surprised that a politician could be so well informed and able to write about a complicated subject in such a clear way.
I spent 6 years of my life at university to make sense out what I was seeing when I was working in the prisons. After that education I was so frustrated with politicians who ran on agendas that we already had the data that proved their agenda was a failed agenda. Why?
Bravo! Chris Murphy. I hope this book becomes required reading for everyone.
No matter which side of the issue you are on, you will be able to read this book and gain some perspective that you did have before. There is a lot of knowledge in this book. Well worth the time and money.

great history of violence

this book was well researched and really puts Chris Murphy in a different class than most politicians. he demonstrates a mastery and command of the issues in this area that is impressive.

excellent

a comprehensive breakdown of the violence the united states was founded on, the violence we hide and ignore; the violence we export and how we can change it all. and obviously, guns.

America needs more white men like Chris Murphy.

Chris is smart, brave, and open to change - not a typical American white boy.

worthless garbage

I listened for the 1st part of it And found it to be more psychobabble drivel pushed on all of us... it is so pathetic how this author references Biden as a champion while he vilifies any and all opposition to the democrats agenda.. If any scholar wishes to write a book about the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN PARTY which existed before the Republicans split away in opposition to the failures within the party now known as the Democrat party. Abraham Lincoln was by no means a champion in freeing the slaves but he knew for our country to move forward it had to be done. unlike Lyndon Baines Johnson who pushed for civil rights Bill in 1964 to garner votes from African Americans because Democrats knew at the time they were losing favor because of their segregationist policies. meanwhile DEMOCRATIC senator Robert Byrd( Former KKK CYCLOPS-recruiter)( Hero to the Clinton's and Biden families) filibustered the bill. To sit and make up all these lies within this book is a spectacular disservice to all Americans. Just like Arianna Huffington this author is disillusioned and is spreading more disinformation to all of you.. WE CAN DO BETTER..AMERICANS DESERVE BETTER!!