Congratulations Anand! V proud of you, inspired by your energy and commitment. Always, but especially now, we need rigorous and fearless thinking and communication. These are times that try our souls, and we need to hang together lest we hang alone. Literally. 💙💪
Thank you, Anand. I love the way you tie things together, which reveals the truth about how we function. We are deeply interconnected, and the devaluing of one life connects to a much broader ethos of disconnection and devaluation of all humans. This is driving our politics and policies now. I worked in CA State Prisons for ten years with a healing program called LandTogether. When you work in prisons, you can so easily see the abandonment of people who are viewed as less than and the ways that all institutions make this happen in the United States. I love your work and we are using a bunch of your work from the Persuaders in our work at Seed the Vote and deep canvassing in 5 districts.
Congrats on this book. I preordered and am looking forward to reading it when it arrives.
Thank you so much for giving voice to Jordan Neely; his story is heartbreaking.
Although I haven't read the entire book, I did listen to you read the first three chapters. Maybe you demonstrate "more" empathy for Neely than Penny, as Turow argues. Maybe. I suspect, though, for my taste, you do not. Neely should not have lost his life at Penny's hand. No question.
"Ferociously talented," for sure. Beautiful demonstration of narrative nonfiction. So good; a model of the genre.
I haven't read the book yet but plan to. And I hope to see you at Town Hall next month. Most of my energy is currently devoted to GOTV and anti-ICE work.
I may be off base but I anticipate that the book's messages/reminders around empathy, dehumanization, and examination of our societal "systems" align with my immediate priorities. My understanding is that rejection of empathy is a feature and an overarching lens of the policies currently pushed by those currently in power.
I promise to dig into this soon but before that I want to express how happy I am for you, especially because you’ve brought us along with your journey! Congrats for all of it, but mostly what a wonderful & passionate person you are about the important things in life! 🙌🙌🙌💗
Will there be a book club guide? My community went through a process this summer when it was proposed that our local county run Acute mental health hospital be closed. Our city police chief was the biggest advocate against the proposal as he understands how mental health access problems become law enforcement problems. I learn so very much in this process about involuntary commitments. It's complicated, rough on everyone, and yet, sometimes, necessary.
At the same time, our county is contemplating increasing it's jail size and a consultant hired to evaluate our "justice system" flat out said the jail is over used because of a lack of mental health services.
I am hopeful your book can help us open up some conversations and learn.
I am sorry, why was he still choking him for 5 mins after everyone had exited the train, he was no longer a threat. Remove your hand from his neck and restrain him another way until the cops got there! This tells me that this man did not value the life of the man he was choking. He simply didn’t see him as a human being. Unfortunately this man will have to live with the fact that he killed someone and that’s not a fun life.
Congrats, Anand … can’t wait to read the book. Feels like I will get educated about a lot of stuff I know nothing about e.g. the reality of homelessness and the lack of real meaningful solutions and the amazing people trying to help! You expended a lot of emotional juice to write this book, please take care of yourself. With deep respect, admiration and appreciation. I will be there 9/30.
Random unprovoked violence like this episode on the subway is a real thing. Our family’s journey is told on our web site, justiceforfrank.org
52 years later we are headed for our 18th parole hearing for an unredeemable sociopath who beat my brother to death, raped and tortured his wife and set their San Francisco home on fire as he departed.
It’s easy to look at this tragic event from a distance and pontificate. But once you’ve been forced to participate in an event like this you realize that as flawed as they may be, the Pennys of this world are sometimes your only defense when confronted by a Neely.
I wish we had a Penny to intervene that horrible night.
I'm deeply sorry for your loss. And I think you will find in the book a deep engagement with that viewpoint, characters who espouse that view whom I portray with warmth and care, and the best possible arguments for that view. I can't control what others distill in a review, but I can assure you that that perspective is core to the book, and people who share your view and have read the book have written to me thanking me for airing it.
After many, many, years on earth, I no longer use the word," Empathy '. It took me many years to learn that I had no reason to think I knew what anyone else is thinking or feeling. I had been so wrong for so long.
Keep writing---my husband is going to see you next week - Cambridge--and get the book. Joan Luzier.
I’m reminded that everyone brings their richly tapestried “frame” to the reading of this book. I have not yet read the book. Yet reading this review, I am wondering - either Anand has royally fucked up his intention to be even handed and inclusive of many points of view. Or Scott Turow has missed the foundational point Anand is living and writing from. That no matter who you are, we here you’re from, what you look like. where you’ve been, or what you’ve done - that every one of us deserves to be seen as equally human in the first place. And then perhaps not violently acted upon based on a “frame” of fear, subtle hidden hierarchies, assumptions and judgment. Have we abandoned each other? Indeed have we abandoned ourselves? These are the questions caring, compassion and love would ask. Bless us all. With love, Christina 🌺
Related to being accused of showing too much empathy for one person or group over another, I am reminded of the incredible tv series, The Wire. We absolutely loved it because of how well it humanized everyone involved whereas people who didn't like it seemed to NOT approve of the way the "criminals" were portrayed. If you watch that series, I challenge you to not feel empathy for ALL sides of the equation. This is too uncomfortable for many people because they need clear signals as to who is supposed to be the "good" and "bad" guys. We loved it precisely because it showed the complexity of the real world.
I have a question about your BOOK club. I have been searching unsuccessfully to see where it went. What’s the status? Did I miss something or an update on the abrupt end? Disappointing. 🤷🏼♀️
Thank you Anand. You have a wonderful way of shedding light on the deep, winding paths of human thinking - where identity and belonging both provide direction and, at the same time, pose a challenge. Love it!
My book was waiting for me on the front porch last night after arriving home from LA. Can’t wait to jump in, but holding off reading critiques for obvious reasons. Big Congrats Anand
Congratulations Anand! V proud of you, inspired by your energy and commitment. Always, but especially now, we need rigorous and fearless thinking and communication. These are times that try our souls, and we need to hang together lest we hang alone. Literally. 💙💪
Thank you, Anand. I love the way you tie things together, which reveals the truth about how we function. We are deeply interconnected, and the devaluing of one life connects to a much broader ethos of disconnection and devaluation of all humans. This is driving our politics and policies now. I worked in CA State Prisons for ten years with a healing program called LandTogether. When you work in prisons, you can so easily see the abandonment of people who are viewed as less than and the ways that all institutions make this happen in the United States. I love your work and we are using a bunch of your work from the Persuaders in our work at Seed the Vote and deep canvassing in 5 districts.
Congrats on this book. I preordered and am looking forward to reading it when it arrives.
Thank you so much for giving voice to Jordan Neely; his story is heartbreaking.
Although I haven't read the entire book, I did listen to you read the first three chapters. Maybe you demonstrate "more" empathy for Neely than Penny, as Turow argues. Maybe. I suspect, though, for my taste, you do not. Neely should not have lost his life at Penny's hand. No question.
"Ferociously talented," for sure. Beautiful demonstration of narrative nonfiction. So good; a model of the genre.
Bravo.
I haven't read the book yet but plan to. And I hope to see you at Town Hall next month. Most of my energy is currently devoted to GOTV and anti-ICE work.
I may be off base but I anticipate that the book's messages/reminders around empathy, dehumanization, and examination of our societal "systems" align with my immediate priorities. My understanding is that rejection of empathy is a feature and an overarching lens of the policies currently pushed by those currently in power.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself...
I promise to dig into this soon but before that I want to express how happy I am for you, especially because you’ve brought us along with your journey! Congrats for all of it, but mostly what a wonderful & passionate person you are about the important things in life! 🙌🙌🙌💗
Wow and wow, well deserved and over the moon
CONGRATULATIONS, Anand! 🎊
You deserve every word of praise! I feel privileged and grateful to be a loyal supporter. You awaken the unconscious in me and I love it.
Thank you for your dedication to the truth and nuances of life.
Will there be a book club guide? My community went through a process this summer when it was proposed that our local county run Acute mental health hospital be closed. Our city police chief was the biggest advocate against the proposal as he understands how mental health access problems become law enforcement problems. I learn so very much in this process about involuntary commitments. It's complicated, rough on everyone, and yet, sometimes, necessary.
At the same time, our county is contemplating increasing it's jail size and a consultant hired to evaluate our "justice system" flat out said the jail is over used because of a lack of mental health services.
I am hopeful your book can help us open up some conversations and learn.
I am sorry, why was he still choking him for 5 mins after everyone had exited the train, he was no longer a threat. Remove your hand from his neck and restrain him another way until the cops got there! This tells me that this man did not value the life of the man he was choking. He simply didn’t see him as a human being. Unfortunately this man will have to live with the fact that he killed someone and that’s not a fun life.
Congrats, Anand … can’t wait to read the book. Feels like I will get educated about a lot of stuff I know nothing about e.g. the reality of homelessness and the lack of real meaningful solutions and the amazing people trying to help! You expended a lot of emotional juice to write this book, please take care of yourself. With deep respect, admiration and appreciation. I will be there 9/30.
Random unprovoked violence like this episode on the subway is a real thing. Our family’s journey is told on our web site, justiceforfrank.org
52 years later we are headed for our 18th parole hearing for an unredeemable sociopath who beat my brother to death, raped and tortured his wife and set their San Francisco home on fire as he departed.
It’s easy to look at this tragic event from a distance and pontificate. But once you’ve been forced to participate in an event like this you realize that as flawed as they may be, the Pennys of this world are sometimes your only defense when confronted by a Neely.
I wish we had a Penny to intervene that horrible night.
I'm deeply sorry for your loss. And I think you will find in the book a deep engagement with that viewpoint, characters who espouse that view whom I portray with warmth and care, and the best possible arguments for that view. I can't control what others distill in a review, but I can assure you that that perspective is core to the book, and people who share your view and have read the book have written to me thanking me for airing it.
After many, many, years on earth, I no longer use the word," Empathy '. It took me many years to learn that I had no reason to think I knew what anyone else is thinking or feeling. I had been so wrong for so long.
Keep writing---my husband is going to see you next week - Cambridge--and get the book. Joan Luzier.
I’m reminded that everyone brings their richly tapestried “frame” to the reading of this book. I have not yet read the book. Yet reading this review, I am wondering - either Anand has royally fucked up his intention to be even handed and inclusive of many points of view. Or Scott Turow has missed the foundational point Anand is living and writing from. That no matter who you are, we here you’re from, what you look like. where you’ve been, or what you’ve done - that every one of us deserves to be seen as equally human in the first place. And then perhaps not violently acted upon based on a “frame” of fear, subtle hidden hierarchies, assumptions and judgment. Have we abandoned each other? Indeed have we abandoned ourselves? These are the questions caring, compassion and love would ask. Bless us all. With love, Christina 🌺
Related to being accused of showing too much empathy for one person or group over another, I am reminded of the incredible tv series, The Wire. We absolutely loved it because of how well it humanized everyone involved whereas people who didn't like it seemed to NOT approve of the way the "criminals" were portrayed. If you watch that series, I challenge you to not feel empathy for ALL sides of the equation. This is too uncomfortable for many people because they need clear signals as to who is supposed to be the "good" and "bad" guys. We loved it precisely because it showed the complexity of the real world.
Congrats once again Anand!
I have a question about your BOOK club. I have been searching unsuccessfully to see where it went. What’s the status? Did I miss something or an update on the abrupt end? Disappointing. 🤷🏼♀️
We're going to be reading my book together this fall. And then figuring out the best form that will be most useful to the most folks...
Thank you Anand. You have a wonderful way of shedding light on the deep, winding paths of human thinking - where identity and belonging both provide direction and, at the same time, pose a challenge. Love it!
My book was waiting for me on the front porch last night after arriving home from LA. Can’t wait to jump in, but holding off reading critiques for obvious reasons. Big Congrats Anand