The Rejected Stone: Al Sharpton and the Path to American Leadership

by Al Sharpton

Lord knows, Rev Al has had his personal and very public ups and downs - but he's come out bigger and better than ever. Though the host of MSNBC's PoliticsNation is as fiery and outspoken as ever about the events and issues that matter most, he's learned that the only way we can get right as a nation is by getting right from within.

In this, his first book in over a decade, Rev Al will take you behind the scenes of some unexpected places – from officiating Michael Jackson's funeral, hanging out with Jay-Z and President Barack Obama at the White House, to taking charge of the Trayvon Martin case. And he will discuss how he came to his unexpected conclusions in such areas as Immigration, Gay Rights, Religion and the Family.
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But the heart of the book is an intimate discussion of his own personal evolution from street activist, pulpit provocateur and civil rights leader to the man he is today - one hundred pounds slimmer, and according to the New York Observer “the most thoughtful voice on cable.”
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No, the Rev. Al you met ten years ago isn’t the same man you’ll meet today. And he has a simple promise: We can transform this nation and we can all lead better lives if we're willing to transform our hearts and transform our minds.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, African American, Biography

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton Jr. is an American Baptist minister, political and civil rights/social justice activist, and radio talk show host. In 2004, Sharpton was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election.

Sharpton hosts his own radio talk show, Keepin It Real and and his own TV show, Politics Nation on MSNBC.

Sharpton's supporters praise "his ability and willingness to defy the power structure that is seen as the cause of their suffering" and consider him "a man who is willing to tell it like it is". Donna Wilson, host of a talk radio program on WWRL in New York City, said of him that "Al Sharpton was born to lead".

Sharpton's critics describe him as "a political radical who is to blame, in part, for the deterioration of race relations". Conservative writer and activist David Horowitz has called Sharpton an "anti-Semitic racist", sociologist Orlando Patterson has referred to him as a racial arsonist, and liberal newspaper columnist Derrick Z. Jackson has called him the black equivalent of Richard Nixon and Pat Robertson.

Sharpton sees much of the criticism as a sign of his effectiveness. "In many ways, what they consider criticism is complimenting my job," said Sharpton. "An activist’s job is to make public civil rights issues until there can be a climate for change. So when people get angry at me for raising these issues and making them public, well, that’s my job! That’s what I’m supposed to do. If I could not get the public’s attention on an issue, then I’m not a good activist."

Reviews

[Patrice Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won Through a Goodreads Giveaway

Honestly, I've never really known much about Rev. Al Sharpton besides the fact that he seemed to be a pretty popular caricature. From the moments where Kennan Thompson parodies him on SNL to the scene with Adam Sandler in the movie Mr. Deeds, I never was inclined to take the man seriously. I dropped my name in the hat of giveaway hopefuls in an effort to circumvent having to pay for something I wasn't too sure I wanted to invest my money in although I had a newfound interest in Al Sharpton.

The reason I wanted to findout more about this man is because I watch a lot of MSNBC. I wake up with joe(Scarborough that is), play hardball with Chris Matthews, and usually hear what the last word is with Lawrence O'Donnell. Basically, I wanted to know who this guy hosting Politics Nation was, bringing to light the injustice of Voter ID laws. Up until then I was convinced he wasn't someone I should take seriously.

The Rejected Stone by Al Sharpton opened my eyes to the person he is, was, and wants to be remembered as. Long past are the days of his ill-fitting tracksuits and frumpy figure. He has a more refined look now but his views are still the same. He's simply a man who came from humble beginnings hoping for all the world to see the value in EVERY human life. Yes he has accumulated a rolodex full of some of the most successful people to ever walk the planet, he's still more interested in making a difference.

Sharpton has gotten a reputation of being only interested in the "black" agenda. Touted as being a person who only comes running when there seems to be some sort of racial injustice, seems to not be the only cause he fights for. The Rejected Stone chronicles his life as an activist, preacher, and celebrity. Many times this memoir seems more or less a self-help book which is pretty enjoyable seeing as he has lots of relevant ideas towards growth and changing.

One of the most interesting endorsements Al Sharpton has made is his support of LGBT rights. Most mainstream religious figures find this to be taboo and an abomination to the very basic Christian fundamentals. Initially he was against the idea of these rights but started to see how the world is changing. To keep up with the change, he had to focus on the argument from a different perspective. Sharpton deduced that he can't have a lifetime of leading rallies for civil rights then choose to discriminate at will.

The Rejected Stone provides a chapter heading that works as either a motivational message or guiding light for life. Define Yourself-Before Others Do it For You, Every Life Has Value, and a few others are snippets of his advice. This helps the book remain focused and easy to follow. The structure of this book helps it not be repetitive.

Because every person has "haters" the fact that this book is published by Cash Money Content has been a source of claiming Al Sharpton to be one of the many, greatest liars. How can someone who has fought against the use of defamating language do a book deal with a music label that is its top exploiter? I only mention this because he even addresses in the book his constant fight for people to see themselves as something greater. He doesn't change his message to appease Cash Money Content. I'm sorry that I don't have an opinion on this. I figure if a convicted felon is in jail, then is turned preacher, does it sully his message of inspiration? If he were to come out with a rap album about civil rights on Death Row Records should it make the message any less important? He does have a chapter aptly named Be Open to Unlikely Allies.

Surprisingly, The Rejected Stone was great insight to a man's life that I really had no knowledge of and I appreciate finally knowing more about this man than what a Wikipedia page can say. Sure, I saw him at Trayvon Martin rallies, heard the words he spoke at Michael Jackson's funeral, and remembered the cartoonish ways he used to dress, but I never really followed his career. He speaks of his highs, his lows, and why he's the most unlikely of the rejected stones to be where he is today.

[Arva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very inspirational and insightful. This was an easy read with some very powerful lessons that I and many others can apply to our lives. I enjoyed the fact that Mr. Sharpton has learned from his journey and now helping others by stating the lessons he has learned. He gave some great tips in character, leadership, being authentic, staying true to yourself, knowing when to hit it and quit it, finding your calling/passion, goals, knowing your audience, etc. I also can see his maturity from when he started. Many people can learn a thing or two by reading this book. There are some real gems and nuggets in each chapter in this book. It also shows how we can change and evolve if we remain focus on our purpose. Mr Sharpton is a real testament of how we can learn from our mistakes.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some quotes I loved from this book:
"Don't let other people talk you into what seems to be a more appealing or lucrative career if it doesn't match your purpose in life."
"If you're not responsible for being down, you are responsible for getting up."
"Standing up there and failing to talk about economic justice, just telling people to shoot for prosperity...That's not preaching...Standing up there and ignoring the wars in the Middle East? Not preaching."

I read this on Thanksgiving Day. He's one of our great Americans.

One of his NAN board members is the son of one of my friends in Chicago! I'm calling her to tell her I saw her son's name in the credits!

[DeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won the book... now the hard part -- waiting 4 to 6 weeks for its arrival!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait!

Well worth every week I waited on this insightful jewel. Sharpton wrote this book with a spirit so compelling and heated that it was difficult putting this book down. This man has taken paths most would not venture but it has made him a man of stronger conviction and heart.

I highly recommend this book for people who love reading about leadership in a world where true leaders are few and in between.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. It is well written and very informative, particularly for those like me, who did not know much about the Rev. Now that I am more informed, I have developed a high opinion of the man.....Michael

[Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT ANA AMAZING LIFE!!, October 20, 2013
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Edwina "I Love books" "Edwina "I ... (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rejected Stone: Al Sharpton and the Path to American Leadership (Kindle Edition)
This was are very good historical story of events in Rev Al's life. The people he has meet an how they helped his own person growth. He tells how people and life changing experiences has formed his opinion of today. I Highly recommend The Rejected Stone.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A satisfying, though fairly straightforward biography-cum-motivational book.

I do remember, as a child & younger adult, the more broad, ridiculous, over-the-top portrayals of Sharpton, and I enjoyed reading his side of the story and how he has evolved in some of his beliefs while staying true - or trying to stay true - to his own life's mission.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this book! rev. al is very good at teaching through example. i was surprised that he was younger than i thought he was (under 60 instead of over 70). he has great words of wisdom and shows the evolution of his life

[Jim Blessing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a decent book that I had trouble getting through.

[Brenda Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography of a fascinating man. I've learned a lot about leadership and have a deep respect for Al Sharpton.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "The Rejected Stone" Al Sharpton has written an engaging series of essays in the celebrity / biographical / self-help vein.

Each of the 23 chapters offers up a specific piece of advice, fleshed out with autobiographical illustrations. Often the advice comes from a long-held principles, sometimes from lessons learned the hard way.

I have to admit that I have never been a fan of Al Sharpton, though I also have to admit that I don't really know a lot about him.

Did reading the book turn me into a fan of Sharpton? No. Did I get a clear picture of his life and career? Again, no.

But this book was an interesting read. A book I would consider picking up again at a future date. It also makes me want to find a more conventional (auto)biography. [I see Rev. Al on tv every once in a while, but I don't have any idea what he does on a regular basis. From my limited view, he just seems to 'show up' and it's not always clear why he's bothered to do so.]

The book possesses the strengths and weakness of other books in the genre. We get inspirational advice that is well worth considering. We also get to see some of the highlights of Sharpton's busy life.

As pure biography, the book leaves much to be desired. We don't get a clear, uninterrupted view of life's trajectory. We get bits and pieces. It's all interesting, but it's sometimes difficult to see how he could have gotten from point C to point R.

Tying the advice to his biography perhaps limited the subjects he could cover, but that's the nature of the book. The advice given is decent enough, even if I don't agree with all of it.

I haven't read anything else by Sharpton, so I don't know if the stories included are fresh or redundant. His fans may have heard it all before. Still, they might want to consider giving the book to someone who doesn't know Sharpton's story as well. Those who hold views that diametrically opposed to those held by Sharpton won't be won over, but those who are open to his ideas should find it to be an enjoyable enough read. It might be a good graduation gift.

* I received this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program. *

[bruinbutterfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the slick hair and big mouth fool; Rev. Al is sharp and on point with his social commentary. My mom faithfully watches Rev. Al every day. So I borrowed the book from the library for her. But I started to read it and to my surprise Rev. Al was actually saying some provocative and stimulating ideas. He provided usefully tips of being an active leader in the community and the importance of creating your beliefs and sticking with those beliefs. I recommend this book for anyone looking to develop a leader mentality and find encouragement to be the best you can be.

[Tawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I respect Al Sharpton, he puts his life on the line fighting for what is right. We came a long way, but still have a long way to go.

Sharpton wrote said a lot of interesting things but this one was my favorite.."Let the lesson be that greatness is not determined by what we are challenged with; greatness is that you can be great no matter what your challenges are. It's not what you go through; it's what you get through. And you should never be disloyal to a great person who was loyal to you."

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an autobiography and in a straightforward way, like Sharpton, talks about his life from childhood, his mistakes and how he grew into a rational and reliable person. His male mentors greatly impacted and he addresses the pros and cons of those relationships. He doesn't promote himself, just tells us about himself and his philosophy of how to life a good life with integrity.

[Rochelle Culbreath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listen to Mr. Sharpton on WURD a lot. I am glad I read this book. The timing was interesting. The detail needed. But most of all. I feel so much better about a man who I was not sure I really liked or even understood. I now understand him and his purpose/Devine purpose for being on this earth.

[Doris Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Is. A. Sharp. Rev. I. Love. His. Show. Keeping. It. Real. I. Miss. Him. On. 209. Everyday. He. Still. Come. Sundays. I. Tune. In. On. That. Day. What. Ever. Day. I. Hear. Him. He. Brings. The. Word. Always. Thanks. Rev. For. Keeping. It. Real. Doris.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not like this individual. Yet I wanted to see what other views are stated about this individual. I learned a lot of information which I had never known. So thank you.

[Nandi Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it.

[Linda Heyward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. I have a new found respect for him.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very inspiring story. I enjoyed it so much that I've passed it on to my 22 year old son, who is enjoying it as well. Highly recommend.

[Mt. Lebanon Public Library]

Elizabeth K.'s Pick
Call #: CD 973.92092 Sha

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best from Sharpton himself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nichelle Sifontes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for those looking to follow a new path in life :)