The Truths We Hold

An American Journey

By: Kamala Harris

Narrated by: Kamala Harris

Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times best seller

From Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, one of America's most inspiring political leaders, a book about the core truths that unite us, and the long struggle to discern what those truths are and how best to act upon them, in her own life and across the life of our country.

Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris' commitment to speaking truth is informed by her upbringing. The daughter of immigrants, she was raised in an Oakland, California, community that cared deeply about social justice; her parents - an esteemed economist from Jamaica and an admired cancer researcher from India - met as activists in the civil rights movement when they were graduate students at Berkeley. Growing up, Harris herself never hid her passion for justice, and when she became a prosecutor out of law school, a deputy district attorney, she quickly established herself as one of the most innovative change agents in American law enforcement. She progressed rapidly to become the elected District Attorney for San Francisco, and then the chief law enforcement officer of the state of California as a whole. Known for bringing a voice to the voiceless, she took on the big banks during the foreclosure crisis, winning a historic settlement for California's working families.

Her hallmarks were applying a holistic, data-driven approach to many of California's thorniest issues, always eschewing stale "tough on crime" rhetoric as presenting a series of false choices. Neither "tough" nor "soft" but smart on crime became her mantra. Being smart means learning the truths that can make us better as a community, and supporting those truths with all our might. That has been the pole star that guided Harris to a transformational career as California’s attorney general, as a United States senator, and now as vice president-elect, grappling in every role with an array of complex issues, from health care and the new economy to immigration, national security, the opioid crisis, and accelerating inequality.

By reckoning with the big challenges we face together, drawing on the hard-won wisdom and insight from her own career and the work of those who have most inspired her, Kamala Harris offers in The Truths We Hold a master class in problem solving, in crisis management, and leadership in challenging times. Through the arc of her own life, on into the great work of our day, she communicates a vision of shared struggle, shared purpose, and shared values. In a book rich in many home truths, not least is that a relatively small number of people work very hard to convince a great many of us that we have less in common than we actually do, but it falls to us to look past them and get on with the good work of living our common truth. When we do, our shared effort will continue to sustain us and this great nation, now and in the years to come.

©2018 Kamala Harris (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Its most memorable moments are those personal touches: Harris’s recollections of family, friendships and, above all, of her late mother, an Indian immigrant and cancer researcher who raised Harris and her younger sister...instructive for anyone trying to imagine a Vice President Harris.” (Carlos Lozada, The Washington Post)

"A life story that genuinely entrances." (Los Angeles Times)

“An engaging read that provides insights into the influences of Harris’ life.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“In an era when many of our current political memoirs are either looking back at the Obama years or are attempting to grapple with our current state of government unrest, it is exciting to see a highly respected and powerful woman of color and daughter of immigrants tell her own story and offer some hope for the future of our country.” (Bustle)

I found my Front Runner for 2020

We all are anxious to know what the future holds, especially since almost all of America is somehow in the grip of the longest government shutdown in history. After reading Kamala Harris' story of her years in office for civic service (service to others is the purpose of holding public office), I would argue that our government and country have been shut down since late January 2017.

In this book all the major challenges we face as a nation are addressed. That, in and of itself, makes it a useful text. What I was hoping for, and got in spades, was confirmation that Kamala Harris is qualified. She not only speaks the truth as she sees it, but she brings everyone into the dialogue, recognizing that a conversation of one is completely unproductive.

I like the plans she outlines for effective legislation to move toward solutions for health care, poverty, the death of financial security for American families, the opioid epidemic, mass incarceration and global climate shift. She has thought about it all, and she has proposed effective solutions. As of January 2019, she is the front runner for me. We need to prepare for a brighter future. It does not involve orange haired dinosaurs. It is thinking, compassionate leaders like Kamala, who are not afraid to talk about a real solution.

Interesting insights

Senator Harris has written a thoughtful memoir of her life in public service. First as a San Francisco District Attorney, then as the California Attorney General and finally her tenure in the United States Senate.

It is less an autobiography and more a polemic against the injustice she has witnessed in her life and fought to rectify. She narrates her own story with a sense of heart-felt honesty, which makes it a compelling listen.

One walks away from the book with a sense that this is a woman whose life is focused and centered on her job. She is a straight-forward and hard-nosed prosecutor that suffers no fools.

She holds good values

I'm not from her political party, but I'm definitely from her values. We agree on values and I'm inspired to see what she does with hers.

It’s such an uplifting story

Sometimes I don’t believe there’s a God because bad people like Hitler, Donald Trump were born, but yet there were Obama and Kamala Harris were born to correct the wrongs done by evils. Kamala seems to be very honest and very encouraging. This book giving me hope for better America is coming after being so afraid for my black grandkids being in this country in the last 4 years. I am so happy that now she is a VP of United States , I hope will write another book after she became president of United States. Thank you Kamala for being there for us poor and middle class.

Impressive & Methodical

I might not agree with all of Kamala’s proposed policies. I respect her for attempting bold and aggressive change. I wish her the best of luck and may she continue to pursue equal rights and justice for all.

Inspirational Game changer

Very Very impressive lady, great insight on Kamala as a person. She shares the VALUES she cherishes from her Mother, consequently, her Achievements as DA, Attorney General and now Senator. I really enjoyed her book, - more importantly “her”voice. Excited to watch and support all she is yet to achieve.

Let's make America normal again.

Loved the story. Voice for most middle class Americans. I couldn't put down from start to finish.

A reminder to never judge a book by its cover.

I didn't really know anything about Kamala Harris. I can now see her being President.

A must read

A must read. Purchased this because I wanted to know more about the candidate. Got more than I expected. Gave me an insiders veiw of the current political climate and of a country and a world that deserves to think beyond survival and the possibilities for a better tomorrow. Inspires hope and an obligation to act responsibly as an American.

My hope: Our next President

This lady is my inspiration that our nation will emerge from these dark times into the light of a new beginning, a time of love and brotherhood and especially truth!