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"In life and in politics, the most important work is often that which happens outside the wire."
Going "outside the wire" — military lingo for leaving the safety of a base — has taught Jason Kander to take risks and make change rather than settling for the easy option. After you've volunteered to put your life on the line with and for your fellow Americans in Afghanistan, cynical politics and empty posturing back home just feel like an insult.
Kander understands that showing political courage really just means doing the right thing no matter what. He won a seat in the Missouri Legislature at age twenty-seven and then, at thirty-one, became the first millennial in the country elected to statewide office. An unapologetic progressive from the heartland, he rejected conventional political wisdom and stood up to the NRA in 2016 with a now-famous Senate campaign ad in which he argued for gun reform while assembling a rifle blindfolded.
That fearless commitment to service has placed him at the forefront of a new generation of American political leaders. In his final interview as President, Barack Obama pointed to Kander as the future of the Democratic Party.
"...do something rather than be something..."
In Outside the Wire, Jason Kander describes his journey from Midwestern suburban kid to soldier to politician and details what he's learned along the way: lessons imparted by his dad on the baseball diamond, wisdom gained outside the wire in Kabul, and cautionary tales witnessed under the Missouri Capitol dome. Kander faced down petty tyrants in Jefferson City — no big deal after encountering real ones in Afghanistan. He put in 90,000 miles campaigning for statewide office in 2012 — no sweat compared to the thirty-seven miles between Bagram Air Base and Camp Eggers. When confronted with a choice between what's easy and what's right, he's never hesitated.
Outside the Wire is a candid, practical guide for anyone thinking about public service and everyone wishing to make a difference. It's a call to action, an entertaining meditation on the demands and rewards of civic engagement, and, ultimately, a hopeful vision for America's future — all seen through the eyes of one of its most dedicated servants.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
August 7, 2018 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781538747612
- File size: 56141 KB
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781538747612
- File size: 56141 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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July 1, 2018
The young politician whom Barack Obama called "the future of the Democratic party" reflects on lessons learned in the military and public service.Ask any Democratic strategist for a short list of names to watch, and Kander is sure to come up. A lawyer and former Army captain, he served in Missouri's House of Representatives and then as secretary of state. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2016 and was narrowly defeated, but he vastly outperformed Democrats in a state that went handily for Donald Trump. Since the election, Kander has traveled to nearly every state in America, advocating for voting rights as a part of his nonprofit organization Let America Vote. In many ways, his book is typical of political memoirs. He takes us through his military and political careers, laying out a case for his experience and how it has prepared him to lead. (Though he hasn't officially announced that he's running for another office, the book serves as a clear indication that we haven't seen the last of his name on a ballot.) What keeps the book from feeling canned or hackneyed is precisely what has made the author so successful as a politician: a magic combination of authenticity, principle, and humor. It's clear from the book that Kander has mastered the art of the humble brag; he highlights his accomplishments without apology but never comes across as arrogant. He underscores his progressive values even while calling a red state home. Perhaps most importantly to the reader, he's often laugh-out-loud funny (particularly in his liberal use of footnotes). There's nothing groundbreaking about the book except that it affirms that Kander has what so many politicians spend a lifetime searching for--and he makes it look easy.Kander seems like the rare politician you might actually want to have a beer with; if you can't, this book is the next best thing.COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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August 1, 2018
Attorney and politician Kandor served as the 39th secretary of state of Missouri from 2013 to 2017, and narrowly lost a race for senator in 2016. He now runs Let America Vote, an organization fighting voter suppression, participates in grassroots organizing and campaigning, and hosts the Crooked Media-backed podcast Majority 54. After law school he did a tour in Afghanistan as a U.S. Army intelligence officer. His debut book presents a collection of lessons that apply to life, the military, and politics, starting with the day of 9/11. The ten chapters are a rumination on keeping your balance and values in a world that seems increasingly complex. As an unapologetic progressive, Kandor discusses how to improve the American political system by resisting the many opportunities to stay in one's comfort zone and ignore or erode the freedoms and values that make America what it is. VERDICT Kandor's prominence in Democratic politics means this worthwhile memoir will be a solid resource for readers seeking political resources and background on national and regional figures, and for fans of his podcast.--Edwin Burgess, Kansas City, KS
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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