Carry On

Reflections for a New Generation

By: John Lewis, Andrew Young, Kabir Sehgal

Narrated by: Don Cheadle

Length: 2 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

*GRAMMY WINNER*

*National Bestseller*

*Nominated for an Audie for Best Business/Personal Development Audiobook*

A brilliant and empowering collection of final reflections and words of wisdom from venerable civil rights champion, the late Congressman John Lewis at the end of his remarkable life.

Congressman John Lewis was a paragon of the Civil Rights Movement and political leadership for decades. A hero we won't soon forget, Lewis was a beacon of hope and a model of humility whose invocation to "good trouble" continues to inspire millions across our nation. In his last months on earth, even while battling cancer, he dedicated time to share his memories, beliefs, and advice—exclusively immortalized in these chapters—as a message to the generations to come.

Organized by topic ranging from justice, courage, faith, mentorship, and forgiveness to the protests and the pandemic, and many more besides, Carry On collects the late Congressman's thoughts for listeners to draw on whenever they are in need of guidance. John Lewis had great confidence in our future, even as he died in the midst of one of our country's most challenging years to date. With this book, he performs that crucial passing of the baton, empowering us to live up to the legacy he has left us with his perseverance, dedication, profound insight, and unwavering ability to see the good in life.

©2021 John Robert Lewis and Kabir Sehgal (P)2021 Grand Central Publishing

Critic Reviews

“Lewis makes the struggle for freedom plain and clear. From spirituality to politics to fear, John Lewis left the next generation with pockets of wisdom and encouraged us to Carry On struggling for justice with this small guide.” (Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an Antiracist)

"Lewis (1940-2020) lays bare the vision and stratagems that sustained him through his lifelong, often brutal struggle for Black liberty.... The author’s courage and conviction are crystal clear, and it’s also evident that he never feared death because he knew that his life had purpose. A bright, morally unwavering worldview from an exemplary human being." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"His aphorisms are punchy yet never cliched, and you can take his inspirational words with you and play them anytime you need a lift. Actor Don Cheadle narrates each of Lewis’ 43 short essays with clarity and passion, knowing just where to put the right amount of emphasis.... Cheadle more than succeeds in embodying the congressman’s message of hope." (BookPage) 

Enjoyed the book, but wish there was more!

I finished this book a couple days before actually writing this review as I needed a few days to collect my thoughts and feelings about it. Even though I gave Carry On: Reflections For A New Generation by John Lewis and Andrew Young a 3 star rating I would actually raise it to 3.5 and maybe 3.75 stars if I could. This book is a quick read with short chapters and pretty much is just a collection of thoughts from John Lewis on a mix of topics from voting, religion, hope, love, faith, racism, the Covid-19 Pandemic, and so much more.

I just couldn't give this book the 4 or 5 stars I wanted to. I just felt the book was just too quick and random on the topics and feel like it would be one of those books that would be great sitting on your end table or coffee table for a passerby to just pick up and glance at every now and then. I also feel sometimes there wasn't enough depth in the topics when I was hoping there would be. Don't get me wrong, there was quite a bit of stuff that I found inspiring and had my attention. I also enjoyed the writing as it was simple and to the point. I really enjoyed John Lewis discussing his meetings with Martin Luther King Jr. and his time and participation with the Freedom Riders and other marches along with his shared wisdom and insight into things, but I also wish many of those stories were longer and went deeper than they did in this book. In the end I did enjoy this book and do recommend it if you want to know more of who John Lewis was as a person and see how the man thought and where he comes from.

Mind Opening!!

Every thing about this Book is informative and heartfelt, He wore his heart and spirit every day of his life!!!!

Beautiful final words

I truly enjoyed hearing the final words and thoughts of Representative Lewis. I am encouraged by these reflections/lessons that were shared in the book and just the encouragement needed for future generations.

A gift to the world!

What a gift to the world and all who work to carry on, to extend Congressman Lewis’s legacy, to channel his example, his courage, his unyielding commitment, and his hope.

Great Inspirational book

Great narration and timely for this generation. I highly recommend this audio book for today.

Great

Loved it and it was great history lesson and I felt like I was part of the story.

AMAZING!!!!!

A real man, a real and true leader, without ANY doubt a man of GOD

Excellent reflections

It is important to understand this book is a series of reflections; it is not intended as in-depth historical commentary. I will be buying a print copy of this book because it is one I will go to again and again. I know I will listen to it again when I need inspiration.