No, You Shut Up

March 15, 2020
A black woman opens up about her journey to the forefront of American politics. Sanders knew from an early age that being black put her at a disadvantage. "Wherever my pinpoint location was exactly," she writes, "I knew for sure that I was way outside [the] innermost circle." She also knew she wasn't going to let the establishment--those with access to the power in this country, i.e., older white men--hold her back. In this snappy narrative, the author chronicles her internships and college studies, which put her on track to becoming a commentator on CNN and then Bernie Sanders' national press secretary during his 2016 presidential campaign. She has created waves in the political arena and opened doors for those coming up behind her, much like Donna Brazile and other black women have done for her. Currently, the author is a senior adviser for Joe Biden's 2020 campaign, and she addresses the reasons she moved from one candidate to another during the past four years. Sanders interweaves "pieces of advice" sidebars into her personal narrative--e.g., build as many relationships and networks as possible, since you never know when they may be useful; write down your goals and work toward achieving them; be true to yourself in looks and manners; and so on. The author also includes a solid analysis of the political landscape and does not hold back her views on the Trump administration. The powerful message of her book can be encapsulated by these three sentences: "No one is going to hand you power or open the door for you to voice your opinion or your desires. You have to demand it. And part of the way you do that is saying out loud, to anyone who will listen, what it is that you want, and then backing those words up with actions." Provocative, galvanizing words that should inspire others to take action against the status quo.

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March 20, 2020

Sanders, senior adviser for Democrat Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign, shares her secrets to political success. Sanders quickly moved up the ranks of political operatives through exercising a combination of knowledge, skill, and determination, becoming the national press secretary for Vermont senator Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign at age 25. In this memoir and how-to guide, Sanders engages readers who feel politically silenced, walking them through the structures of political power, redefining normalcy, engaging with revolutionary ideals, bridging ideological gaps, and being persistent. She illustrates these points with anecdotes from her own life and from the lives of those who have inspired her. Sanders is frank about the racism and professional setbacks that she experienced and includes interludes that impart career advice, such as the importance of networking, staying true to oneself, and being clear about one's goals. The book ends with a call to action for the Democratic Party to unite but is not tied to a particular candidate. VERDICT A much-needed pep talk for Democrats during the 2020 election cycle. Recommended for readers interested in contemporary U.S. politics.--Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

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