Ady Barkan (1983–2023)

I rate this book high for a number of reasons.
1) As a memoir, the writer is clear and provides an interesting progressing story of triumphs and disappointments.
2) There is a lot of advice on how to deal emotionally with a disease that will soon kill you.
3) There is a lot of wisdom given about what to do with your life, what matters, and what you will likely be most proud of in later years.

The author describes how he chose his career and then through the book, progresses to direct and focus his career to better fit with his passion of liberal activism.

He describes how and why some individuals were his mentor and heroes.
He describes meeting his future wife and starting a family and eventually how the two of them handled dual careers and raising a son, later how they handled his rapidly deteriorating health.
From about page 229 through the epilogue, Ady occasionally interjects timeless wisdom he has picked up that focuses his life to what matters most and what can help others most.(family, friends, community and country). He goes into what type goals he has found to be most satisfying in his life's work.

There are numerous high points of drama and high impact events which affect our entire country whch he was directly involved in and a few dissapointments where his gest efforts failed.

Ady mentions many of his own heroes, his dad, his wife, some of his co-workers, Senator Warren, Senator Sanders, and Ocasio-Cortez. He lets us know why these people are heroes and what encounters he has had with them.

Towards the end of the book he is very circumspect and still focusing on how best to use his remaining time. From the readers perspective, Ady seems to be up there with his heroes in positive results.

From his conversations with his heroes, he provides us with revealing insights about them and that puts them in a very favorable light, more than you can get from news articles.

So I recommend to any young person who isn't sure yet what their main goal in life should be, to read this book and you will then have some general positive opinions to start with.

For older people I think the book is excellent in showing why ADY leans liberal and not conservative, and Ady explains that as well. There is something to learn from the book for us older readers too.

Ady mentions multiple times when he and his fellow activists meet with other groups or politicians there are usually various points of view. As long as everyone is truthful they can listen to all sides of an issue and later, even if they cannot come to a consensus, still remain functioning in a democratic way. Only when lies, fear, and hate enter the discourse does democracy break down.

There are many other lessons Ady mentions besides politics and life goals. This makes the book worthwhile for everyone. Besides, it is well written and interesting.

The title came from a poem Ady likes and that poem is printed just before the table of contents.… (més)