Outside the Wire, Jason Kander
Outside the Wire, Jason Kander
1 Rating(s)
List: $18.99 | Sale: $13.29
Club: $9.49

Outside the Wire
Ten Lessons I've Learned in Everyday Courage

Author: Jason Kander

Narrator: Jason Kander

Unabridged: 4 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Twelve

Published: 08/07/2018

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

A smart and revealing political memoir from a rising star of the Democratic Party.

"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.

About Jason Kander

JASON KANDER is a former army captain who served in Afghanistan. He was elected to the Missouri state legislature in 2008 and as Missouri secretary of state in 2012, making him the first millennial ever elected to statewide office. In 2016, while Donald Trump was winning Missouri by nineteen points, Jason nearly unseated a Republican US Senator. In 2017, he founded Let America Vote, a national campaign against voter suppression. His memoir, Outside the Wire, became a New York Times bestseller the following year. Jason is the president of the Veterans Community Project, a national nonprofit organization, and the host of Majority 54, one of the nation’s most popular political podcasts. He lives in Kansas City with his wife Diana, their son True, and their daughter Bella.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Dinesh on February 03, 2022

Collection of writings from soldiers deployed to Afghanistan. While some stories carry a sense of bravado and courage the underlying tone is that of a person who is scared. Several of these warriors have experienced severe trauma in their lives. Their writing reflects their pain. I can't help but fe......more

Goodreads review by D.A. on August 12, 2013

Christine Leche had the courage to fly into Afghanistan while working as a professor for University of Maryland - University College, armed only with a passion for teaching and writing. These are the stories compiled from the Soldiers, people, she encountered in her time and the insights from them a......more

Goodreads review by Kevin on June 16, 2013

It's a good book. The book is full of stories you won't hear about in the news. I think it's a must read for everyone. However, I couldn't finish it. About 3/4 of the way through the book, a soldier shared the story of a young girl who had forever been marred by an incendiary device. In that moment,......more

Goodreads review by Julia on September 04, 2013

Made up of stories compiled from the warriors Christine Leche met in Afghanistan, these stories are an unfiltered look at life in a combat zone. These vivid stories are told from the heart of those who have faced the best and worst in combat deployment. Those of us who were not there owe it to them......more

Goodreads review by Larry on November 07, 2015

Short but eye opening accounts by soldiers in the Afghanistan war. My heart goes out to them in their searing experiences.......more


Quotes

"Jason Kander is in the vanguard of a new generation of public servants working tirelessly to realize the promise of our country for every American. OUTSIDE THE WIRE vividly captures his experience, energy, ideas, and vision for the future of our democracy."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Senator Cory Booker

"When we asked President Obama who he saw as the future of the Democratic Party, the first name out of his mouth was Jason Kander's. When you read this book, you'll understand why."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Dan Pfeiffer, cohost of Pod Save America

"In the military, in politics, and in life, Jason Kander has always lived 'outside the wire,' and his new book challenges us all to do the same. Whether you're a longtime activist, or joining the work for social justice for the first time, OUTSIDE THE WIRE will inspire you to do more, and take joy in the many others who are, as well. The most important leadership in our country right now is coming not from Washington, DC, but from Americans everywhere who are moving our country forward. As Jason writes, these are the times to grab an oar."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America

"This book pushed me to reflect on how I'm contributing and how I can be better. Jason has perfectly woven gripping stories into life-altering lessons. Amazing!"—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Symone Sanders, CNN political commentator

"After reading this book, I conclude that Jason Kander is too funny and too smart to be in politics. His motives are suspect, and he should be removed from public service immediately."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Jimmy Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

"At a time when our boys and young men are in desperate need of healthy male role models in media and politics, Jason Kander has written the perfect book. His collection of stories shows that a man can be strong without being a bully, tough without being cruel, and a leader without sacrificing vulnerability, compassion, and empathy."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Cleo Wade, bestselling author of Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life

"[A] magic combination of authenticity, principle, and humor. 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."—Kirkus

"The rising Democratic star that everyone is talking about has written the book that everyone will be talking about. Some sixty-three years after Profiles in Courage, Jason Kander, a post-9/11 veteran, shares his observations about the role of what he calls 'everyday courage' in the military, in our daily lives and, yes, in our politics. Written with equal parts humor and humility, Jason and his book are the antidote to the cynicism that pervades our discourse. It's the rare book that will leave readers across the ideological spectrum optimistic about the future of our country."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 15.0px Tahoma; color: #212121; -webkit-text-stroke: #212121}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Josh Earnest, former White House press secretary under President Barack Obama