Review of "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey" by Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris' memoir, "The Truths We Hold," is more than an autobiography; it is a narrative of a woman who has navigated the intricacies of American politics with grace and determination.

The experience of listening to the audiobook, narrated by Harris, is enriched by her authentic voice and the intimacy of her shared journey.

"The Truths We Hold" serves as a core principles portrait of the first female vice president – and possibly the next president of the USA - and her life from childhood in Oakland, California, to her historic election.

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With her memoir, Harris asks for a not-uncommon foray into the world of politics and the reader's understanding of her core principles. To that end, the memoir explores her family and personal life, especially her formation as a byproduct of both her Indian and Jamaican heritages, and the profound influence both her parents had on her life.

Unflinching and Thorough

Harris' narrative is painstakingly comprehensive, laying bare every detail from her storied education at Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law to her eventual ascendance as a United States Senator.

Harris takes us through her early career as a prosecutor, her turn as a San Francisco District Attorney, her role as California Attorney General, and her appearances on the national stage during her time in the U.S. Senate.

Each chapter is like a mini-memoir, testing the reader's emotional muscle memory, which builds in impact cumulatively across this not-quite-300-page book.

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Surprisingly Candid

Harris’ candor is breathtaking, even for a memoir. She boldly tackles what it means to be a woman of color in the U.S. political system and takes us into the dizzying ups and downs, the relentless pace, and the in-your-face public nature of this oddly private endeavor. She takes us with her, step for step, to the threshold of the U.S. Capitol in January 2017.

The Audiobook is Superior

The audiobook version of Kamala Harris' memoir provides an experience unlike any other. The reason? Harris herself reads the book aloud.

From the very beginning, it’s clear that VP Kamala Harris—the first woman and the first person from South Asia to hold that office—exudes warmth, confidence, and authority, the three qualities that make her an effective storyteller.

Effective Narration Infused with Emotion

Not for a moment does one think that someone else could have narrated this book with the same outcome. Though Harris is not a trained actor, her reading is imbued with enough emotional depth and resonance to make the listening experience one that is pleasurable if not always riveting.

The book covers a range of topics. Harris discusses her early life and rise to the office of Vice President.

Harris's pacing is slow and steady; she wants to make sure you understand what she's saying and, more importantly, the "gravitational pull" of what she's saying. It's not just that she takes her time, but it's also the way that she modulates her voice, which is almost soothing at times.

One might even say her narrative style is a bit maternal, handling big life (and political) moments with just enough firmness and clarity to reassure you that everything is going to be okay by the end of the story.

Sure, there's a lot of heavy stuff, and it pulls earnestly on the supposed "heartstrings" of your (possibly) authoritarian liberal upbringing, but the articulation almost makes you forget that sometimes attraction is also a factor in the storytelling of more efficiently used motor neurons.

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Getting Personal with the 'Reader'

The way Vice President Harris tells her tale makes it easy for the listener to connect with her on a personal level, to see her in a moment of sheer vulnerability - when she ain't puttin' on no front! For those who've never heard her give a speech, get ready—she's a damn good speaker.

Whether you're in the ‘wowee moment’ where she's throwing down the last half of the first theorem proving why she's right and you're wrong (her dawg is right here on my side), or you're in the part of the speech where she's giving a light-over-belly laugh no one else in the audience knows how to respond to, you're safe with her.

Again, Her Effective Narration

Harris is in firm command of this audiobook. You never feel like she's unsure of herself, even if in moments of the story she might be, because she said "the hell with it!" and wrote the book anyway—this one's for you, or so she claims.

Moreover, although Harris’ emotional resonance is one of the strengths of her narration, there are times when a more diverse vocal expression could elevate the telling. Some passages—those that recount Harris’ early life and personal anecdotes, for instance—would benefit from a more vigorous delivery.

Yet, despite these minor critiques, I consider Harris to be an excellent narrator. She possesses a clear and confident voice, with the kind of intimacy to the material that marks an excellent listening experience.

"The Truths We Hold" is such a powerful book that it probably would have been excellent on the page, but in the audiobook format, it makes a compelling case for anyone to pay attention to Harris’ story.

The audiobook is spirited and inspiring. It's a worthy addition to the existing collection of works that chronicle Kamala Harris' life and career.

Conclusion: Excellence

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Harris' narration covers the elements of her path from growing up in Oakland to becoming America's first female, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President. She shares much in this relatively brief (compared to others in the genre) offering. Even as she is vying to become the President of this country, one can appreciate the moment to return to the unique and particular experiences that have made Harris who she is.

"The Truths We Hold" recounts Kamala Harris' vision of America—one based on principles of justice, equality, and opportunity. Her memoir, Harris's first book, is a testament to the ideas of resilience and rightness that she holds dear.

If any of you ever doubted that a college syllabus could get a leg up on worthiness and a reason to be in your hands, here is a good reason to be reading something. And reading alongside this, frankly, is a good reason to listen to something.

"The Truths We Hold," Vice-President Harris' memoir is an excellent read, indeed.

But the audiobook, narrated by Harris, is even better.