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Why Bernie Sanders Matters
Missionary. Radical. Hippy. Revolutionary. Red Mayor. Pragmatist. Socialist. Hot from the campaign trail, a vivid new biography that goes inside Bernie Sanders’s contradictions, his unusual life, and his electrifying quest to make the American dream a reality for all.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders may be the least political person in politics—a brusque, unpolished, Jewish Socialist from Brooklyn with deep-seated convictions and distaste for small talk. He is also, at seventy-four, the rising star of the Democratic party, whose underdog bid for the presidential nomination has hit the marks of a serious He’s competitive with, and in some cases leading, Hillary Clinton in early state polls. He’s closed the fundraising gap, and is drawing crowds of thousands to campaign rallies. Why? Because where most candidates are calculating and rehearsed, Sanders is frank, authentic, and impassioned. For thirty years, he has spoken out against income inequality, environmental injustice, and privatized healthcare. Now—amid an ever-widening chasm between the rich and the rest, and growing voter disenchantment—the country is listening.
With reporting from inside the campaign, personal relationships with Sanders’s friends and colleagues, and meticulous research, noted reporter Harry Jaffe offers an engaging, insightful portrait of the ultimate outsider candidate, charting Sanders’s course from Brooklyn to Burlington, and now to Des Moines and beyond. Within the untold narrative of Sanders’s origins and political development, he also examines the growth of the progressive movement, and the recent developments—including the Occupy movement, the Great Recession, and the rise of the millennial generation—that have shifted Sanders’s views from fringe to focal point. At once a captivating biography, and a thought-provoking window into the contemporary political landscape, this will become the defining account of a pivotal moment in American history.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders may be the least political person in politics—a brusque, unpolished, Jewish Socialist from Brooklyn with deep-seated convictions and distaste for small talk. He is also, at seventy-four, the rising star of the Democratic party, whose underdog bid for the presidential nomination has hit the marks of a serious He’s competitive with, and in some cases leading, Hillary Clinton in early state polls. He’s closed the fundraising gap, and is drawing crowds of thousands to campaign rallies. Why? Because where most candidates are calculating and rehearsed, Sanders is frank, authentic, and impassioned. For thirty years, he has spoken out against income inequality, environmental injustice, and privatized healthcare. Now—amid an ever-widening chasm between the rich and the rest, and growing voter disenchantment—the country is listening.
With reporting from inside the campaign, personal relationships with Sanders’s friends and colleagues, and meticulous research, noted reporter Harry Jaffe offers an engaging, insightful portrait of the ultimate outsider candidate, charting Sanders’s course from Brooklyn to Burlington, and now to Des Moines and beyond. Within the untold narrative of Sanders’s origins and political development, he also examines the growth of the progressive movement, and the recent developments—including the Occupy movement, the Great Recession, and the rise of the millennial generation—that have shifted Sanders’s views from fringe to focal point. At once a captivating biography, and a thought-provoking window into the contemporary political landscape, this will become the defining account of a pivotal moment in American history.
240 pages, Paperback
Published December 22, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 11, 2016
“We should be embarrassed that we are not investing in our infrastructure, that we are not breaking up these large financial institutions, that we’re not putting a cap on interest rates... that we are the only country in the world that does not have health care for all of their people in major countries. We should be embarassed.” ---Bernie Sanders, during his now-famous Dec. 10, 2010 filibuster (p.148)
“I don’t believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a decent standard of living and that their incomes should go up, not down.” ---Sanders, during a speech at Georgetown University, Nov. 19, 2015 (p.173)
I was sold on Bernie Sanders long before I read Harry Jaffe’s “Why Bernie Sanders Matters”, and I doubt reading the book would have been the tipping point either way for me if I wasn’t. Jaffe’s slim biographical sketch of the potential Democratic nominee for President isn’t that revealing or enlightening. It reads more like an extended piece that Jaffe wrote for Harper’s or Esquire. Still, it’s entertaining and informative enough.
Sanders wanted no part in the book’s publication. Jaffe mentions several times throughout the book how Sanders refused to be interviewed, that the potential nominee thinks the idea of candidates writing books before being elected is pretty stupid.
There is something endearing and, perhaps, even calculating about that viewpoint. Not that I think that Sanders’ disinterest in being interviewed for a book was intentionally calculating on his part, although it certainly unintentionally helps in further illustrating Sanders as the iconoclastic outcast.
The book is, if anything, a decent attempt at articulating who Sanders is, what his brand of politics is (hint: he is not, by definition, a socialist), and why a candidate like him is so incredibly important in this current political climate.
Jaffe also points out how not only does mainstream media seriously downplay and, oftentimes, blatantly mock Sanders but, in some cases, the media completely ignores important points that Sanders makes. For example, Sanders’ well-articulated plan to deal with ISIS: it is so vastly different in its boldness and straightforward logic, which is perhaps why the other candidates ridiculed it and the media buried it.
In this era of big-money bullies like Donald Trump, whose fascist vision should scare any rational-minded person, we need an underdog like Sanders; someone who is willing and able to be the voice for the millions who have had their voices stifled.
That’s Why Bernie Sanders matters.
“I don’t believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a decent standard of living and that their incomes should go up, not down.” ---Sanders, during a speech at Georgetown University, Nov. 19, 2015 (p.173)
I was sold on Bernie Sanders long before I read Harry Jaffe’s “Why Bernie Sanders Matters”, and I doubt reading the book would have been the tipping point either way for me if I wasn’t. Jaffe’s slim biographical sketch of the potential Democratic nominee for President isn’t that revealing or enlightening. It reads more like an extended piece that Jaffe wrote for Harper’s or Esquire. Still, it’s entertaining and informative enough.
Sanders wanted no part in the book’s publication. Jaffe mentions several times throughout the book how Sanders refused to be interviewed, that the potential nominee thinks the idea of candidates writing books before being elected is pretty stupid.
There is something endearing and, perhaps, even calculating about that viewpoint. Not that I think that Sanders’ disinterest in being interviewed for a book was intentionally calculating on his part, although it certainly unintentionally helps in further illustrating Sanders as the iconoclastic outcast.
The book is, if anything, a decent attempt at articulating who Sanders is, what his brand of politics is (hint: he is not, by definition, a socialist), and why a candidate like him is so incredibly important in this current political climate.
Jaffe also points out how not only does mainstream media seriously downplay and, oftentimes, blatantly mock Sanders but, in some cases, the media completely ignores important points that Sanders makes. For example, Sanders’ well-articulated plan to deal with ISIS: it is so vastly different in its boldness and straightforward logic, which is perhaps why the other candidates ridiculed it and the media buried it.
In this era of big-money bullies like Donald Trump, whose fascist vision should scare any rational-minded person, we need an underdog like Sanders; someone who is willing and able to be the voice for the millions who have had their voices stifled.
That’s Why Bernie Sanders matters.
February 11, 2016
I've been having a hard time deciding who I want to support between Clinton and Sanders. I've liked Sanders's no-nonsense way of thinking and speaking but I'm also under the impression that even though his ideas are the ideal, he would have a hard time getting anything accomplished because the rest of the government would not work with him. Clinton is more predictable, she seems more likely to be able to compromise and get the job done, and she seems more electable (until the primary in New Hampshire, that is). I was hoping this book would provide some insight that would help me make a decision between the two. It goes into Sanders's early days in politics and explains where he came from and the root of some of his ideas. It talks about his other offices and what he accomplished and, to an extent, how he got the job done. Unfortunately Sanders did not consent to an interview with the author so there is much that would have been helpful to learn that is not included in this book. After finishing this book, I find I am still undecided but still remain convinced that Sanders is very logical and I would love to see his ideas in action. I also still believe that if he were elected, very few people would work with him to get his ideas off the ground. Where Al Gore wrote An Inconvenient Truth after his run for office, perhaps Sanders will write a tome titled An Unfortunate Truth.
This review is in exchange for a free e-galley from netgalley.com.
This review is in exchange for a free e-galley from netgalley.com.
March 30, 2025
Okay, c'mon, let's get to the issues.
It's complicated, of course, but Sanders is delivering what a great many Americans consider to be the truth, painful though it might be, and he's giving them hope and an opportunity to change the country's course: from exclusion to inclusion, from hoarding to sharing, from oligarchy back to democracy. That's why he matters.
It's complicated, of course, but Sanders is delivering what a great many Americans consider to be the truth, painful though it might be, and he's giving them hope and an opportunity to change the country's course: from exclusion to inclusion, from hoarding to sharing, from oligarchy back to democracy. That's why he matters.
February 2, 2016
Why Bernie Sanders Matters by Harry Jaffee... was on my mind so I read this unauthorized biography and learned a few things... about how Bernie got into politics in Vermont rising from mayor of Burlington to Congressman to Senator. I learned little about him personally except that he is true to his lifelong core beliefs, primarily about being for the working man (early supporters were the police union of Burlington). I also learned that he was a single father, having had a son in a freestyle '60s relationship and choosing to raise his son largely by himself. As a product of a single parent, a father, who raised four children by himself after my mother had a stroke, I admire this greatly. Overall, I admire him and his story, though I wish this book had more depth, more first hand insights from friends or colleagues (though there are some interesting quotes from Senator John McCain about how well he worked with Bernie on recent VA issues). I'm not sure who has my vote yet, but I'm following this race carefully, and if you are too, this is a good, fast read.
September 11, 2016
This was a good pro-Sanders primer on the man. Certainly not anything in depth. It did nothing to effect my opinion higher or lower, but it was informative. I realize he's not getting elected, but still worthy of note and contemplation. I'm definitely interested in seeing where Sanders goes next.
February 15, 2020
five stars to bernie sanders, but something more like three to this little primer. i appreciated it as a breezy, lightweight guidebook, but its breezy lightness is also why i could see it disappointing a reader looking for something more.
October 21, 2016
138. Why Bernie Sanders Matters by Harry Jaffe
This shows how Bernie was able to enlist the community to become Mayor of Burlington and what was accomplished. This included preserving a lot of Lake Champlain shoreline that developers were eyeing for condos. One of the things that impresses me the most about Bernie is his relationship with his son Levi, who was taken along on campaigns, to meetings, and seems to be with him the whole way. I hate how people say Bernie never had a job until he went into politics. This does not mean that he was doing nothing. From carpentry to making educational films, he worked. From Mayor to Congressman to Senator, he was true to his socialist beliefs. I would have liked to see more personal information in this book but it was an unauthorized biography. I read this book before Bernie conceded to Hillary. I wish things had gone differently. While the Americans in my family will be voting for Clinton, their hearts still belong to Bernie.
This shows how Bernie was able to enlist the community to become Mayor of Burlington and what was accomplished. This included preserving a lot of Lake Champlain shoreline that developers were eyeing for condos. One of the things that impresses me the most about Bernie is his relationship with his son Levi, who was taken along on campaigns, to meetings, and seems to be with him the whole way. I hate how people say Bernie never had a job until he went into politics. This does not mean that he was doing nothing. From carpentry to making educational films, he worked. From Mayor to Congressman to Senator, he was true to his socialist beliefs. I would have liked to see more personal information in this book but it was an unauthorized biography. I read this book before Bernie conceded to Hillary. I wish things had gone differently. While the Americans in my family will be voting for Clinton, their hearts still belong to Bernie.
January 4, 2016
Very Informative! I read this book because I knew very little about Bernie Sanders, and why he has become such a phenomenon. Even though this is an unauthorized biography, the author has put forth a very good effort to explain the man. A very quick read, this book would be a great one for anyone who wants to be able to discuss the current presidential race intelligently. Whatever your politics. And it is current, covering Sanders up through November of 2015. I can't say that I will vote for him or not. That is not the purpose of a review. What I can say is that, with the help of this book, I think that I understand Sanders, his beliefs, and his plans. You cannot read it and not become better advised. Highly recommend it!I received this book as an advance copy from NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.
January 15, 2016
XXX I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway from Harry Jaffe. Thank you so much for sharing your work with me. I look forward to an informative read!
And this is a very detailed review of the life and times of Bernie Sanders. Although not an authorized biography, I found the coverage very well documented and though it was preaching to the choir - I am firmly in the ranks of Bernie backers - I enjoyed filling in the blanks of his history. I would recommend it to anyone still sitting on the fence as far as the 2016 election goes. This is a man who has always seen the light.
And this is a very detailed review of the life and times of Bernie Sanders. Although not an authorized biography, I found the coverage very well documented and though it was preaching to the choir - I am firmly in the ranks of Bernie backers - I enjoyed filling in the blanks of his history. I would recommend it to anyone still sitting on the fence as far as the 2016 election goes. This is a man who has always seen the light.
May 23, 2016
Unauthorized biography of Bernie Sanders meaning Bernie did not get to approve or disapprove of the contents. Reads as a fair commentary, major characters were interviewed & contributed. Warts are shown: out of wedlock child, intransigence, inability to compromise, lack of humor, gruffness. Still, Sanders is shown for what we believe him to be consistent, honest, straightforward, dedicated, fair, & committed to the downtrodden, working people, veterans, the environment & minorities. I'd vote for this guy!
February 6, 2016
Entertaining and informative but I'm a bit confused as to whether the author is pro or anti Bernie and it's not because he was being neutral. It actually seemed like the author simultaneously loves and despises Bernie. Regardless, I came away with some new information and I still love Bernie as much as ever.
October 18, 2019
Why Bernie Sanders Matters
is a biography of the popular presidential candidate, written by Harry Jaffe and published in 2015. It covers Bernie's life from his childhood to the middle of this decade, and in the
Introduction
the author claims it "is the first unauthorized biography of the senator who wants to be president" [p. xi].
This book is one of the nearly twenty books about politicians I read in the summer of 2019 while researching a book I have written about incumbents, candidates, and other politicians. I am giving Why Bernie Sanders Matters 4 of 5 stars because it is thorough and well-written, but lacks the first-person narrative and authenticity of some of the other biographies and autobiographies I read for this project.
The most remarkable thing I learned about Bernie from this book is the consistency of his message throughout his career. Author Harry Jaffe quotes some of Bernie's opening remarks during the Democratic Party's presidential debate on November 14, 2015, during which he rants about America's "rigged economy."
The author states Bernie "needed no notes or teleprompter" because it was "a speech he has been giving in one form or another since 1981" [p. 186]. How many other candidates have maintained a consistent stance - for close to four decades - on the issues?
After reading Harry Jaffe's book, and another short book written by Bernie entitled Guide to Political Revolution , I created a profile for him. Bernie's spiritual portrait now appears in my new ebook Visualizing Politicians' Personalities, 2019 Incumbents and Candidates . Because I based the abstract image of Bernie's personality in the ebook on Harry Jaffe's book, it contains more about Why Bernie Sanders Matters - in case you are interested.
This book is one of the nearly twenty books about politicians I read in the summer of 2019 while researching a book I have written about incumbents, candidates, and other politicians. I am giving Why Bernie Sanders Matters 4 of 5 stars because it is thorough and well-written, but lacks the first-person narrative and authenticity of some of the other biographies and autobiographies I read for this project.
The most remarkable thing I learned about Bernie from this book is the consistency of his message throughout his career. Author Harry Jaffe quotes some of Bernie's opening remarks during the Democratic Party's presidential debate on November 14, 2015, during which he rants about America's "rigged economy."
People are working longer hours for lower wages, and almost all of the new income and wealth goes to the top one percent.
- Bernie Sanders, quoted in Why Bernie Sanders Matters [p. 186].
The author states Bernie "needed no notes or teleprompter" because it was "a speech he has been giving in one form or another since 1981" [p. 186]. How many other candidates have maintained a consistent stance - for close to four decades - on the issues?
After reading Harry Jaffe's book, and another short book written by Bernie entitled Guide to Political Revolution , I created a profile for him. Bernie's spiritual portrait now appears in my new ebook Visualizing Politicians' Personalities, 2019 Incumbents and Candidates . Because I based the abstract image of Bernie's personality in the ebook on Harry Jaffe's book, it contains more about Why Bernie Sanders Matters - in case you are interested.
December 22, 2016
I must be very clear that I don't typically read book biographies of politicians. But most of us know there's something that separates Bernie Sanders from the normal politician. I enjoyed this book for the most part. My only qualm was that it obviously was spat out to quickly be bought by those who were Bernie supporters in the primaries. Because of that there were many errors in the book that a reasonably good editor would have caught, especially those concerning his Jewish heritage with the spelling of bat mitzvah and others.
April 16, 2019
My friend who couldn't make it through this book gave it to me. That should have been a warning sign to me. Reading this was a chore. It is boring, plain and simple. There is nothing in it you won't find somewhere else or written in a better way. As laborious as it was to read "Dreams From My Father," at least that book had some insightful passages. This book has nothing like that. It is merely a glorified Tiger Beat article.
June 21, 2025
The book starts with a power of power in a book---from the first pages. Adn there are some themes in the book: "Redical Roots" and then "Redical Roots." And there's "The Socialist Senator" and tnen the "Populist". There's a lot of themes about the book. Good to see the book in a group with differ kinds of people.
Want to read
April 17, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 4, 2025
Jaffe did a decent job with what he was given, but it still felt like without any real commentary from Sanders himself, there was nothing really new here.
October 1, 2016
This book was informative as a timeline for Sanders political career. As an unauthorized biography it adds little to " what makes Bernie, Bern ! Glad I read it.
January 17, 2016
I received this book as part of Goodread's First Reads giveaway. I don't believe I'm the only one who's having serious misgivings about the two top runners for President from the major parties. I'm intrigued by Bernie Sanders, who is probably giving Hillary Clinton some sleepness nights. I hoped this book would give me some insight as to where Sanders came from and what he stands for.
This is a very readable book on politics. Although Sanders continues to be a private person and shies away from the barrage of interviews requested, Jaffe has done a thorough job of combining research on Sander's past and interviews with family, friends, and his staunch supporters. I came away with a better understanding of the issues Sanders is passionate about and the factors that contributed to his growth and development as a politician.
This is a fast read. I would advise anyone who plans to vote in November 2016 to pick up Jaffe's book and familiarize themselves with Sanders as he will play an important role in shaping the future policy of the U.S., even if he isn't elected President.
This is a very readable book on politics. Although Sanders continues to be a private person and shies away from the barrage of interviews requested, Jaffe has done a thorough job of combining research on Sander's past and interviews with family, friends, and his staunch supporters. I came away with a better understanding of the issues Sanders is passionate about and the factors that contributed to his growth and development as a politician.
This is a fast read. I would advise anyone who plans to vote in November 2016 to pick up Jaffe's book and familiarize themselves with Sanders as he will play an important role in shaping the future policy of the U.S., even if he isn't elected President.
December 29, 2015
I won this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I don't normally read autobiographies or political books but I entered anyway as I was intrigued by Bernie Sanders but admittedly didn't know much about him. I was surprised that it drew me in so quickly and I finished it in a day, finding it hard to put down. It was well written and had a nice story like flow to it making it interesting as well as easy to follow if you are not politically savvy. I would recommend this book whether you are a big Bernie fan or just mildly curious about who he is, where he came from, and what he stands for.
February 18, 2016
"Why Bernie Sanders Matters" by Harry Jaffe is a telling unauthorized biography of man, a democratic socialist, whose principles for a just society have been set in stone since a very young age. The author paints a very vivid picture of Sanders' life, beginning with his youth to his present campaign. Personally, I like who Bernie Sanders is and what he stands for and, after reading this book, I like him even more. I'd recommend this book to anyone, especially to those who want to get to know Sanders better.
Won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
Won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
June 8, 2016
I wouldn't have liked the book nearly as much (the style was just really irritating and I don't enjoy poking fun at people's physical appearance) if the California primary results weren't in tonight. Despite thinking I still had a chapter left, I finished the book literally two minutes before 11 pm EST when the California polls closed. Bernie Sanders does matter and I enjoyed reading his history, but the book itself is not particularly interesting and I didn't learn a whole lot that was surprising or new to me.
January 2, 2016
This unauthorized biography gives a lot of information about Bernie Sanders, his political views and history and current information on his campaign. I think that it is an excellent resource for anyone who wishes to know more about Bernie Sanders and his views. I found the book to be easy to read and very informative. I now know quite a bit more about Bernie Sanders and his views and I still am a strong supporter of him. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.
June 16, 2017
Excellent writing style and a very good pace within the story but in the end the book shows quite clearly why Sanders has appeal -- he was first in with news of the growing Have/Have Not issues -- but also why he's really a failure as a change argent. Long term Sanders has raised issues which Clinton will face when she governs and perhaps his efforts have allowed more Americans to understand what's at risk.
January 11, 2016
For those already feeling the Bern, just starting to Feel the Bern, or if you merely want to scratch that 2016 anti-Establishment itch, you could do a lot worse than reading Jaffe's 200-page quickie biography of Bernie Sanders, the democratic socialist grassroots "radical" who's giving Hillary a run for her super-PAC money.
January 22, 2016
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. I already liked Bernie, but this book had a lot of helpful info to learn more about him. An easy, quick read.
January 21, 2016
A very interesting and detailed account of where Bernie Sanders comes from and how his ideals formed. I'm glad to know there is still at least one politician out there that won't abandon their beliefs for money or public opinion.
April 8, 2016
Putting politics aside, this was a good read on Bernie's past and how he got to where he is today. It's also interesting to see how many people he has rubbed the wrong way - a similar complaint that Lyin' Ted Cruz often receives.
May 5, 2016
Sometimes I cry when a book is over. I didnt want to finish this one! I <3 him even more than I did before.
Anyone who wants to know what Bernie is about NEEDS to read this. People who THINK they know and THINK they disagree with him should read it too!
#FeelTheBern2016
Anyone who wants to know what Bernie is about NEEDS to read this. People who THINK they know and THINK they disagree with him should read it too!
#FeelTheBern2016
September 30, 2016
This book was interesting and informative. Although Bernie did not weigh in on the contents, it offers valuable insight into his life and makes good points why he endorsed Hillary. Maybe Jaffe will do an updated version sometime in the future?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews