A Politics of Love

Publisher's Summary

In this stirring call to arms, the activist, spiritual leader, and New York Times best-selling author of the classic Return to Love confronts the cancerous politics of fear and divisiveness threatening the US today, urging all spiritually aware Americans to return to - and act out of - our deepest value: love.

America’s story is one of great social achievement. From the abolitionists who fought to outlaw slavery, to the suffragettes who championed women’s right to vote, to the civil rights proponents who battled segregation and institutionalized white supremacy, to the proponents of the women’s movement and gay rights seeking equality for all, citizens for generations have risen up to fulfill the promise of our nation. Over the course of America’s history, these activists have both embodied and enacted the nation’s deepest values.

Today, America is once again is in turmoil. A spiritual cancer of fear threatens to undo the progress we have achieved. Discord and hatred are dissolving our communal bonds and undermining the spirit of social responsibility - the duty we feel toward one another. In this powerful spiritual manifesto, Marianne Williamson offers a tonic for this cultural malignancy. She urges us to imitate the heroes of our past and live out our deepest spiritual commitment: where some have sown hatred, let us now sow love.

Williamson argues that we must do more than respond to external political issues. We must address the deeper, internal causes that have led to this current dysfunction. We need a new, whole-person politics of love that stems not just from the head but from the heart, not just from intellectual understanding but from a genuine affection for one another. By committing to love, we will make a meaningful contribution to the joyful, fierce, and disruptive energies that are rising at this critical point in time. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "we must think anew, and act anew...and then we shall save our country".

©2019 Marianne Williamson (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Marianne is my hero!

I think this should be recommended reading for all Americans regardless of political party. She is a humanitarian over everything. If you are human and you have a heart you need to read this book. She has such a great way of connecting to all types of people. People who are more strongly to the right might dismiss her because she definitely has left leaning views but be patient and really listen. She has some things to say that are truly Universal truths and such a poignant social commentary on what is happening in American politics today. An absolute must read.

some insightful concept but epetitive and preachy

I like many of the overall concepts, but it felt preachy and repetitive. This book could have been one fourth as long. And the author used the word "should" like it was going of style.

Beautiful

Yes.... I'm inspired to be a stand for love and be in action foro democracy.

CAN OUR POLITICS CHANGE?

So much disagreement, almost nobody seems happy with the status quo, even Trump supporting Republicans. The system is not working for many, including those who work hard and follow the rules. Many do not participate in our democracy at all. If we want things to change, we must participate and open our minds to different ideas and voices, regardless of where they come from. I’m an independent and not yet endorsing a candidate for the 2020 elections. Not for President, not for any other office. I have started to read about and listen to as many candidates as possible, study the issues, really consider who would best represent me, my family, my community, our country. One of the candidates who I’ve been reading about / listening to is Marianne Williamson. Marianne’s bio describes her as a lecturer, activist and author. She has devoted most of her adult life to advocating for others and sharing her tremendous insight through her books, videos, lectures. I have read many of Marianne’s books and find her work incredibly insightful (see “A Return to Love” and “Healing the Soul of America”). She has a tremendous understanding of this country’s history, its mistakes (yes, we make mistakes!) and ideas about how we can heal as a nation. In Marianne’s latest book, “A Politics of Love”, she addresses the current divisiveness in our politics and prescribes a new way forward. Marianne has a unique perspective on our challenges as a nation and she has garnered sufficient support to be eligible for the Dem debate stage. But even if the Dems don’t tweak the rules to knock out lesser known candidates like Marianne, it will be difficult to have her voice heard amongst so many. I encourage you to take a look for yourself. Marianne is willing to talk about things most will not (eg, reparations relating to slavery). I believe most of us are interested to hear new voices and to get the best ideas on the table. There are many people and forces in this country that seek to prevent this from happening, those that want to maintain the status quo or even turn back the clock. Marianne has progressive views on healthcare, racial reconciliation, climate change and foreign policy. She believes that love, not hate, is what will truly change our politics. That we need to prioritize taking care of those less fortunate and wage peace instead of war (she has proposed new federal agencies devoted to peace and children). While these concepts may sound quaint or even strange today, they are not radical ideas. Historic figures like Martin Luther King Jr and Dwight Eisenhower talked about waging peace. And business titans like Bill Gates and Ray Dalio have said the current situation with wealth inequality and an insufficient social safety net are not sustainable. Marianne has been a champion of these ideas for decades and is now aiming to bring them more firmly into the national dialogue. Marianne’s views / ideas will resonate with many but not all. But if we put aside our preconceived notions about how things are and instead focus on what could be, we will see our current challenges in a new light. If we all participate and focus on what’s important to us, our families and communities, we can restore our democracy and contribute to the common good. We can’t expect things to get better if we follow the same old play book.

Love yes love yes love it love it love

The perfect time the perfect place the Perfect era : Now is the Time Now is the hour for LOVE to shower it’s powerful healing light back into this great nations very inculcation- originally...:-)

Excellent book!

This was an excellent book and a great synopsis of an American history lesson. If you have not had a great education in American history or understand how we got to where we are in this country, this book is a good place to start.

The only thing missing is Marianne’s voice in the narration, but it’s probably because she’s a little busy running for President right now.

brilliant bridge of spirituality and politics

as usual, Marianne Williamson knocks it out of the park. the information and her knowledge is stellar. not sure the consciousness of America is ready for this right now but this is moving us in the right direction

Changed how I view politics

I have always liked Marianne Williamson but never thought of how spirituality could align with politics completely. Everything she says in here makes sense including the answer to, “How are we going to pay for that?” I think there is value to reading every political candidate’s book, if they have one, because voters can learn what the candidate believes in and what their real vision for our country is, beyond the sound bites. Even if you don’t want to support Marianne as a candidate, her book might change the way you view politics and the candidates, and remind you of how much better things can be.

No one could deny the premises of this book

Quotes from Ike Eisenhower, Abe Lincoln,
JFK, Teddy Roosevelt, MLK, Gandhi, and the Bible are most accurately applied with history in a wonderful presentation and challenge for us all to search our hearts and take actions.

This bk inspired me to be active in my community!

She had me at hello w/ the opening of this audiobk.
Marianne sets it straight so magnificently in this audiobk. Wow! I was skeptic abt Marianne running for POTUS being a leader in the metaphysical world of A Course In Miracles.. But Wow!!!!!... Marianne's case for 'a need for love in politics' is soo well worded!! Wow.. she has my full attention!!! She equates our political issues as human issues.. and the solution to all human issues is a holistic persective on love applied to humans responsibly. She's NOT airy-fairy at all. She writes so eloquently, that I'm super inspired by her running for POTUS, as a greater unification of our society to work together, while being of service to each other as American citizens.. She straight talks re: being self accountable, letting go of our own cynicism, & taking responsibility for where we presently are as a society. She focuses on where we are as individuals in our privileged society, and wakes us up to be responsible and take seriously the need to take care of our democracy. She bluntly states we need to wake up as people in this country, to shake off our numb disparity, and take advantage of this present need to wake up, re-assess & work w/ our many strengths together, rather than just focusing on our differences that is making us stray as a nation.

This bk has massively inspired me to step up in my community! In reality, the biggest act of rebellion these days is to be of massive service to others, create community, and share our gifts & talents, rather than seeking my own comfort. Archaic is the time of our conditioned focus on things rather than people.

Her bk is about returning to the sacred power of human right for pursuit of happiness for ea individual, while looking out for those in extreme poverty. It's now unhealthy for our society to have so much massive disparity in the world, let alone in our own communities. Not looking out for ea other, will cost us even more in the end, than the inconvenience of stopping to make sure our resources aren't squandered.

I can go on and on.. Her bk is very well written, as a call to action for all of us to wake up to what's really needed for our own reclamation of our voice in being of service to make our society better, even in the smallest ways. And I gotta say, she's not ever saying we need to become socialist or communist. She's just about bringing back the human power of the human soul (love) into our politics, just as was done every time our society has flourished in our society.

Even though this wasn't read by Marianne, the narrator does a good enough job to reveal Marianne's way of projecting the narration successfully.. w/ emphasis on words that feels aligned w/ Marianne's tone.