Throughout the memoir, Harris weaves in her perspectives on major social and political issues facing the United States. She shares personal anecdotes and experiences that have shaped her worldview and political philosophy. The book serves as both a personal narrative and a platform for Harris to communicate her vision for addressing the country's challenges through shared struggle and values.

Themes

• Immigrant experience and social justice

• Leadership and public service

• Criminal justice reform

• Women's empowerment and representation

• Economic equality and opportunity

• Healthcare and access to care

• Unity and shared American values

Setting

The Truths We Hold is set primarily in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, spanning Kamala Harris's life from childhood through her political career. The memoir begins in Oakland, California in the 1960s and 1970s, where Harris was raised in a diverse, working-class neighborhood that valued social justice and community engagement.

The geographical scope of the book expands as Harris's career progresses. It follows her journey from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she served as District Attorney, to Sacramento as she became California's Attorney General. The setting then shifts to Washington D.C. as Harris takes on her role as a United States Senator, providing insight into the national political landscape of the mid-2010s.

Throughout the narrative, Harris frequently returns to her roots in Oakland and the broader California context, using her experiences in these locations to frame her perspective on national issues. The book concludes in the tumultuous political climate of 2017-2018, setting the stage for Harris's eventual vice presidential candidacy and her vision for America's future.

Key Figures

• Kamala Harris: The author and main subject of the memoir. Daughter of immigrants who became a prosecutor, California Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and eventually Vice President. Harris describes her upbringing in Oakland and her career fighting for social justice and progressive values. She shares her experiences and insights on leadership, problem-solving, and addressing major challenges facing America.

• Shyamala Gopalan Harris: Kamala's mother, an admired cancer researcher from India. She was an activist in the civil rights movement and had a significant influence on Kamala's values and commitment to social justice.

• Donald Harris: Kamala's father, an esteemed economist from Jamaica. He was also involved in the civil rights movement and contributed to Kamala's upbringing and worldview.

• Beau Biden: The late son of Joe Biden, who served as Delaware Attorney General. Harris mentions him positively in the book, which may have influenced Joe Biden's decision to choose her as his running mate in 2020.

Quick facts

• The book was published on January 8, 2019, just days before Harris announced her 2020 presidential campaign

• It became a #1 New York Times bestseller

• A young readers edition was published a few months later in May 2019

• The book is 336 pages long

• It was published by Penguin Books

• The book's full title is The Truths We Hold: An American Journey

• It was Harris's second book, following her children's book Superheroes Are Everywhere

• The book covers Harris's upbringing as the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India

• It describes her career progression from prosecutor to U.S. Senator

• Some reviewers compared it to Barack Obama's memoir Dreams from My Father

About the Author

Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, first Black person, and first person of South Asian descent to serve as Vice President of the United States. Born in Oakland, California to immigrant parents from India and Jamaica, Harris began her career as a prosecutor before being elected as California's Attorney General in 2010. She went on to serve as a U.S. Senator from California from 2017 to 2021.

As Vice President under Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025, Harris played a key role in the administration's efforts on immigration, foreign policy, and voting rights. She cast a record number of tie-breaking votes in the evenly divided Senate, helping to pass major legislation like the American Rescue Plan. Harris also took on diplomatic responsibilities, traveling to Central America to address migration issues and representing the U.S. at international conferences.

In 2024, after Biden withdrew his re-election bid, Harris became the Democratic nominee for president. Though she ran a historic campaign as the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket, Harris ultimately lost the general election to Donald Trump in a close race. Her defeat was attributed in part to economic concerns and a broader backlash against incumbent parties globally.

Throughout her career, Harris has been an advocate for criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ equality. She has faced criticism from both progressives and conservatives at times, but maintains a devoted base of supporters. As a barrier-breaking figure in American politics, Harris's rise to national prominence is inspiration.