Unified: How Our Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope for a Divided Country

by Tim Scott, Trey Gowdy

New York Times BestsellerIn a divided country desperate for unity, two sons of South Carolina show how different races, life experiences, and pathways can lead to a deep friendship—even in a state that was rocked to its core by the 2015 Charleston church shooting.Tim Scott, an African-American US senator, and Trey Gowdy, a white US congressman, won’t allow racial lines to divide them. They work together, eat meals together, campaign together, and make decisions together. Yet in the fall of 2010—as two brand-new members of the US House of Representatives—they did not even know each other. Their story as politicians and friends began the moment they met and is a model for others seeking true reconciliation.In Unified, Senator Scott and Congressman Gowdy, through honesty and vulnerability, inspire others to evaluate their own stories, clean the slate, and extend a hand of friendship that can change your churches, communities, and the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Memoir, Cultural, Leadership, Biography, Biography Memoir

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 3, 2018

About the author

Tim Scott is a successful small businessman and US Senator from South Carolina. Having grown up in a poor single-parent household, he has made it his mission to positively affect the lives of a billion people through a message of hope and opportunity. He is the first African American to be elected to both the US House and US Senate since Reconstruction, and he currently serves on the Senate Committee on Finance; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Connect with Senator Tim Scott on:
Scott.Senate.gov
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rating that is rounded up from 2.5 stars. There was, for me, just not enough there, there in this book.

The writing is all "side by side". Tim and then Trey. Trey and then Tim.

It's about friendship. But it is 75% chock filled with name dropping, associations of 1000 tangents and tons of House and Senate building placed connective tissue of every other sort you can imagine.

You got to know Tim and Trey pretty well. And a few of their other compatriots. And of a time which occurred around the terrible massacre during that Bible study (Charleston) in particular.

But I wanted to hear far more about what can bridge true "eyes" of values and laws for those values and far less about the elites themselves in the politico of "us". I didn't get that here, this is only about 1 to 1 relationship, IMHO. Elites they are- despite their not being elitist in self-perceptions.

This book made my feelings (suspicious) about the laxity levels of the legislators' processes toward a meaningful product increase and not decrease as I thought it might by reading it. Like their jobs themselves- I have an inkling that the posturing (higher priority too) always takes more time than the resultant outputs.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so remarkably hopeful and inspiring, that I would consider it a must-read for those burdened by the racial tensions recently highlighted in our country.

It's common in our society to classify people by perceived categories - liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, believer or nonbeliever, Northerner or Southerner - and to categorize those groups according to a short list of presumed characteristics that make it easy for us to minimize, attack, or altogether dismiss the group as a whole. But a group is never monolithic; it is always an amalgam of individuals and individual relationships. People don't listen, speak, or respond as a group, they respond as individuals. Likewise, we don't have relationships with groups; we have relationships with individuals. (Tim Scott)

Tim Scott, the only black Republican Senator (SC) and Congressman Trey Gowdy (SC) have built a strong and admirable friendship over the past 10 years, in spite of - or, perhaps they would say, because of - their differences. And in this book, they share they keys to their friendship, and to bringing understanding and healing across any divide - political, racial, religious, economic, etc.

We believe the firmest foundation for positive change is found with individuals in relationship to one another. Laws are external. Relationships are internal. Policies make you "have" to. Relationships make you "want" to. Relationships contain the power necessary to change the course of history, and the delicate, personal touch needed to change the trajectory of a single life. (Trey Gowdy)

They clearly have a friendship that will stand the test of time, even in the midst of the necessary conflict that comes in politics - but it's also clear that they are employing their approach to friendship in ways that are reducing conflict and growing understanding in South Carolina. Their Pastor/Police Roundtables are one example.

A nation that respects the law must also respect those who dedicate their lives to the education and enforcement of the law. What makes us great people is the compassion that fills in the gaps left by the cool impartiality of the law. The law enforcements officers I worked with the most knew when to combine the law with humanity to produce justice. (Gowdy)

This book emphasizes, repeatedly, that being willing to approach people as individuals, to seek to understand their view (even if you won't ever share it), is absolutely essential to reconciliation, and more powerful than we could ever imagine in reaching across what may seem to be impenetrable divides.

Cleaning the slate does not mean minimizing, excusing, or forgetting the past. Our history matters - both how we got here collectively as a nation, and how we move forward into the future - but when we clean the slate, we make a conscious decision to allow the past to remain in the past. I make a deliberate and conscious decision not to charge you with the responsibility of repairing the past. You weren't there, it wasn't your fault, and you can't change what has happened. I can't make you responsible for the words or actions of others who crossed my path before you. What I can do is have a conversation with you about the friendship we're building together her and now. Later, after we have established a foundation of trust and understanding, we can give each other permission to dig deeper and delve into challenging areas. (Scott)

Tim Scott's own experience of racism (Driving While Black, and other instances), as well as his inner response to it, are illuminating and helpful for me to read.

We live in a world that prioritizes diversity over unity, but let's stop for a moment to recognize that those terms are not mutually exclusive. We can be unified within our diversity. We can allow our diversity to bring wisdom, texture, and depth to our unity. ... If you will seek to establish an unlikely friendship with someone who differs from you, I promise you one of two things will happen. Either you will see things from a new perspective that you've never considered before, and you will be changed; or you will become even more convinced, after careful reflection, that your approach to life is right and proper. Either way, you win. If we're surrounded solely by people who think exactly as we think, then our friendships become merely a series of ratifications of our own viewpoint. We're never challenged or stretched. (Gowdy)

If you despise the increasing polarization in our country, where people try to tell everyone through social media what their views are, instead of sitting down face to face to listen to another's views, then this book will be uplifting and instructive for you. I know it was for me.

I'm very optimistic about our future, but if we're going to change the world, it's going to happen one relationship at a time. It's going to happen by all of us enlarging our comfort zones to make room for unlikely friendships - with people who, at first glance, it may appear we have little in common with. (Scott)

[PHS1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

United States Senator Tim Scott and United States Representative Trey Gowdy, both of whom represent the state of South Carolina in Congress, have written a marvelous book that not only tells a warm story of a great, if not unlikely, friendship between them and their families, but also offers an inspirational anecdotal theory of how we can unite our communities and nation by actively reaching out to those whose backgrounds are different from our own for understanding of others’ perspectives on the goals we all share as citizens and humans.

Senator Scott and Chairman Gowdy take turns each chapter in providing their alternating perspectives on a variety of issues – sometimes agreeing and other times diverging, while always building their mutual bond of friendship through respect and empathy: navigating the halls of Congress as freshmen United States Representatives in 2011; being thrown into competition for the open United States Senate seat in South Carolina vacated by Jim DeMint in 2012; confronting the pain of the fatal shooting at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston in 2015; supporting each other through the decision of Congressman Gowdy to run one final time in 2016 and take on chairmanship of the House Select Committee on Benghazi; supporting each other as Senator Scott manages the pressure of a national Republican spokesperson as a black conservative; confronting the further pain of the Officer Michael Slager fatal shooting of Walter Scott in Charleston that resulted in a hung jury trial for murder against the officer in 2016; juxtaposing the views of the authors as in the one case a black businessman-politician and in the other case as a white prosecutor-politician on the issue of local law enforcement; recounting key mentors in each of their young lives; and the importance of friendship, dialogue, and understanding in creating reconciliation and transformation.

The lessons Senator Scott and Chairman Gowdy teach in this book move quickly in a well written narrative that is infused with their passion and heartfelt verve at every step as they forge a friendship that undoubtedly will last forever. Their fascinating travails are at once congressional, spiritual, and human – and are relevant to students of history, politics, sociology, and citizenship.

As a former executive congressional aide, I can promise you the country will desperately miss the skills of Chairman Gowdy in public service as much as Senator Scott will certainly miss his friend’s nightly companionship at dinner in Washington, D.C. But we owe our thanks to the Chairman for a job well done and congratulations on returning home to his family. It will be up to the Senator to carry-on the estimable blueprint they have offered in this book for moving the country forward in the halls of Capitol Hill. And it is a blueprint well worth hearing and replicating by all of us back in our own American hamlets.

“Unified: How Our Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope For A Divided Country” tells great stories and provides great lessons that can hopefully be applied to our political arena as well as our everyday lives.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Note:  This book was provided free of charge by Tyndale Blog Tours.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

This is among the rarest of books, and the sort of book I would like to read a lot more often, and that is a collaborative memoir about political friendship.  Although the authors of this book are both successful contemporary American politicians, one of them a black Republican Senator from South Carolina and the other a white Republican Representative from South Carolina who entered Congress together as freshmen in 2010, this is not a book about politics per se but rather about the way in which people from different backgrounds can find genuine friendship even in the cutthroat world of politics in our divided country.  There is no shortage of books about the racial and political divide in our country [1], but this book offers something striking, an attempt to see people as people and get to know them as people as a way of feeling less beleaguered and less isolated.  While I have mixed feelings about that, this book is undoubtedly sincere, and that is not something one says lightly about books written by politicians these days.

The book proceeds in a generally chronological fashion although it begins in media res with a prologue about a racially motivated act of violence in Charleston, South Carolina that killed a friend of Sen. Scott.  The authors begin with their initial friendship upon meeting each other in Congress (1) and then look at how that friendship was tested when the two were being pitted together in the press for an open Senate seat (2).  Dealing with the threat of race war (3) and the tough assignment of leading an investigation on Bengazi (4) follow before the authors reflect on what they have in common (5).  A discussion by the two on how one can create an environment where trust can grow (6) leads into a discussion by both authors on law enforcement and how the language of law and order appears to different people (7,8) before the authors reflect on the positive influences in their life (9) and the solutions to so much of what divides and isolates people here and now (10) before closing with an epilogue that refers to the hope the authors share.  All told, this takes about 200 pages before an intriguing preview of the authors' related workbook is taken into account.

In looking at this book it is pretty clear that a big reason the two authors are genuine friends is that they both seem like genuinely decent people.  Both of them are humble and reflective, both of them have intriguing life stories of their upbringing, and both of them appear to be quick studies with genuine appreciation for each other.  All of that matters a lot in making this a striking collaborative work where the friendship and its context is put center stage.  To be sure, it is not an unmixed blessing for the American people to find out that their elected leaders are becoming friends with each other in a recognition of their common humanity, not least because we vote for political leaders in large part who will enact an agenda, not become friends with people on the other side of the aisle whose worldviews are destructive to our country's well-being.  Be that as it may, these two authors are friends and they are not wrong to believe that if someone can form a genuine friendship across racial lines in a place as hypercompetitive as Washington DC, then genuine friendship is possible in all kinds of situations.  How to create a context where people can see each other as friends and not enemies is a difficult task, though.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Scott is a US senator from South Carolina. Trey Gowdy is a US congressman from South Carolina. Tim Scott is black. Trey Gowdy is white. They were both elected to Congress in 2010 (Tim Scott subsequently became the first African American elected to both the US House and US Senate since reconstruction). Their grandmothers would not have been able to be friends, in the racially divided south where they lived. When Tim Scott got news of the fatal shooting of nine blacks at a prayer meeting at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, the first person he called was his white friend, Trey Gowdy.

It is sad that a friendship between a white man and a black man is rare enough that it seems unlikely, but there is still a marked racial divide in the United States. I believe it has widened, rather than narrowed, since the election of our first African American President, Barak Obama.

Sen. Scott and Rep. Gowdy assert that when meeting someone who has obvious racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, political, or religious differences, looking for something we have in common is the first step. There are certain commonalities that cross many barriers: love for family, hope for a better tomorrow, desire for our communities to be safe, etc. In the aftermath of a disaster (9-11, hurricanes, wildfires, and the like) people tend to forget their differences and go into a mode that allows our better selves to come out. We pray together, we mourn together, we rally. On 9-12-2001 there were no “us and them” — we were all Americans. Our fear, outrage, pain, and grief united us. Trey Gowdy asks, “Why must we face a calamity before we will join hands, pray, and seek healing?”

I’ve not lived life as a person of color. I haven’t experienced the prejudices that come from having brown or black skin. I’ve never been viewed suspiciously for “driving while black” (getting pulled over because you’re a black person in a predominately white area). I don’t experience fear when I’m glanced at by a person in law enforcement. Still, prejudices are widespread and they aren’t exclusively against people of color. Prejudice can be about whites from people of color. It can be about religion, sexual orientation, perceived education (or lack thereof), or socioeconomic status. Tim Scott says, “Our perception of people is too often colored by preconceived notions and expectations, whether those are based on past experience or shaped by cultural norms and attitudes.” Trey is quoted as saying, “…the only two divisions there ought to be in the nation are “people of good conscience and people who are not of good conscience — not racial, not gender, not ideological.””

Tim and Trey have forged a solid, valuable friendship by capitalizing on their similarities, rather than their differences. Trey says, “We can build real trust with others by stepping into their story, by committing our time and attention to what matters to them…As you seek to build rapport and trust with someone, you must be willing to see the world from a perspective that is not your own…The 24/7 news cycle we have today so often seems to focus on differences and divisions within our nation…But as I talk to people one-on-one, I find a universal hope and desire for unity.” (emphasis mine).

Trey states, “People look to Washington for solutions to our nation’s problems, but Congress is often where anger and frustration come home to roost. Although Tim and I are both currently in politics — or perhaps because we’re in politics — we see the limitations and shortcomings of legislative remedies. We believe the firmest foundation for positive change is found with individuals in relationship with one another. Laws are external. Relationships are internal. Policies make you have to. Relationships make you want to. Relationships contain the power necessary to change the course of history, and the delicate, personal touch needed to change the trajectory of a single life.” Isn’t that beautiful, and oh, so true?!

One of the most powerful stories in Unified is a story of a blog post that slammed Senator Tim Scott. Trey read it first and rushed to Tim’s office to see if he had seen it. Indignant, Trey says, “I’m sick of this…something must be done.” Tim’s answer was a simple “You’re right. Please close the door and have a seat.” Trey thinks they’re finally getting somewhere…he’s finally gotten his friend fired up enough to respond (Tim was evidently notoriously calm). Instead, Senator Scott says, “We’re going to pray for [the author].” Tim Scott proceeds to pray for someone who was intentionally hurtful to him. Trey says, “Tim simply modeled what Jesus teaches: ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you.’…I was not the victim, but I was angry. Tim was the victim, but he forgave and prayed for the person who wronged him.”

I was simply amazed by the wisdom and truth in this book! If you want a different world, one where people love and respect one another in spite of their differences, this book is a great source of advice on how to start down that road. Christians, especially, need the words written here. Some of the most judgemental and hateful people I’ve ever encountered were Christians who, mistakenly, thought that by pointing out the speck in their brother’s eye they were doing him/her a big favor, all the while ignoring the beam in their own (Matthew 7:1-5).

Read this book, then go find someone “different” than you and try to make a friend. We can change the world, one heart at a time.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

[Pat Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

These men give me hope for our government leaders. I’m just afraid there are too few of them to make a big enough difference at this time in our nation. But it doesn’t just fall to them. We all need to work hard to have relationships with those who may look or even think differently from us. It’s especially hard with COVID right now and can be challenging anytime to find those opportunities, but it really is the only way forward for us. These authors show that it’s worth the effort.

[Gayle Slagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I share being a native of South Carolina with Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy, I do not share the political views of either, so I was not sure what my reaction would be to Unified, How Our Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope for a Divided Country. However, although Scott is a member of the Senate and Gowdy is a member of the House of Representative, this is not a political book in any way; as a matter of fact, if the reader is not already familiar with their viewpoints, it would be difficult to give a summary of those viewpoints after reading the book. What the book does address is the importance of human contact, acceptance, and friendship; it does indeed give hope to our country, which is divided on so many issues. The book points out that it is not our differences that are important but our human commonality; it encourages us to reach out to those who are "different" from us because when we do, we will most likely discover that we have much more in common that we expected. It encourages us to accept the differences in others and to embrace those differences. Scott and Gowdy tell in alternating segments the story of how the two became steadfast friends even though they come from two very different backgrounds. They offer advice on how we, too, can benefit from reaching out to others and changing things through love and friendship. The book is not sugar coated; it points out many flaws in our society, but offers hope that through understanding and accepting others, we can become a stronger and a better nation. Tim Scott says it well in the epilogue: " This is our vision for the future of America, We believe that our nation can be unified and transformed by conversations and friendships that lead to reconciliation and understanding. As Americans, we must uphold the ideals of freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity, even as we continue to work together to make those ideals a reality for all. We must come together, find solutions, and get to a point where we can see that our strength as a nation is rooted in all that is good in our world." It is my fervent hope that we as Americans can somehow put aside our differences and remember those things that are great about our country; it is my fervant hope that we can use the power of friendship, love, and acceptance to overcome all obstacles. This book offers hope that we can actually do this.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

We may live in one of the most divided times in American history. The cultural climate is rising without any hope of resolution in sight. Senator Tim Scott and Congressman, Trey Goudy recognize the problems in our land. Yet, they both have a realistic outlook, which is laced with optimism. Their book, Unified invites readers to pursue racial reconciliation and restoration, which will strengthen the fabric of our fractured nation.

Unified is a very basic book that reads like a conversation between two lawmakers. These conservative thinkers, who have become the best of friends, bring their unique conservative perspectives to the table. Their mutual love and respect for one another are apparent from the outset. These two men, who are both committed Christ-followers model what friendship can and should look like.

Senator Scott and Congressman Goudy steer clear of politics, however. Their aim is to promote an optimistic vision of hope for the future of our nation:

"We believe that our nation can be united and transformed by conversations and friendships that lead to reconciliation and understanding. As Americans, we must uphold the ideals of freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity, even as we continue to work together to make those ideals a reality for all. We must come together, find solutions, and get to a point where we can see that our strength as a nation is rooted in all that is good in our world."

Unified is a worthy read by two men of integrity; men who are striving to make America a better place. This is the first of many steps but it is a step in the right direction.

[Tim Owens · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one stupid book where two politicians claim to have a unified friendship even though they are of two different parties from the South Carolina. Revealing their background and the fact that one is black and the other isn't is all that has any conflict as to why they can't be friends. Since these two factors have been overcome by many friendships in the country I didn't see why this is significant. The two men have the same cultural values and why shouldn't a friendship develop. This is a book where both Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy want us to believe how understanding of each other, even though they are so similar.Don't waste your money on such bullshit.

[Bobbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disappointment mostly due to my not realizing the point of the book before buying it. This book was more about relationships than political problems and solutions

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this on audio, with the authors trading off reading. Tim wrote (and read) a chapter, then Trey. I really like both of these politicians (they are two of the few honest politicians!) and appreciated hearing their insights and experiences and their encouragement to get along with others who may seem very different than we are.

Quotes:
“Trey and I are both in politics, but politics is not going to change the nation. We will change the nation only by changing the condition of the human heart. And that can only happen through love. True friendship is born out of acceptance and unconditional love—a love that is consistent and intentional.” -Tim Scott

“It's common in our society to classify people by perceived categories - liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, believer or nonbeliever, Northerner or Southerner - and to categorize those groups according to a short list of presumed characteristics that make it easy for us to minimize, attack, or altogether dismiss the group as a whole. But a group is never monolithic; it is always an amalgam of individuals and individual relationships. People don't listen, speak, or respond as a group, they respond as individuals. Likewise, we don't have relationships with groups; we have relationships with individuals.” -Tim Scott

“We believe the firmest foundation for positive change is found with individuals in relationship to one another. Laws are external. Relationships are internal. Policies make you "have" to. Relationships make you "want" to. Relationships contain the power necessary to change the course of history, and the delicate, personal touch needed to change the trajectory of a single life.” -Trey

“We live in a world that prioritizes diversity over unity, but let's stop for a moment to recognize that those terms are not mutually exclusive. We can be unified within our diversity. We can allow our diversity to bring wisdom, texture, and depth to our unity. ... If you will seek to establish an unlikely friendship with someone who differs from you, I promise you one of two things will happen. Either you will see things from a new perspective that you've never considered before, and you will be changed; or you will become even more convinced, after careful reflection, that your approach to life is right and proper. Either way, you win. If we're surrounded solely by people who think exactly as we think, then our friendships become merely a series of ratifications of our own viewpoint. We're never challenged or stretched.” -Trey

“I'm very optimistic about our future, but if we're going to change the world, it's going to happen one relationship at a time. It's going to happen by all of us enlarging our comfort zones to make room for unlikely friendships - with people who, at first glance, it may appear we have little in common with.” -Tim Scott

“Cleaning the slate does not mean minimizing, excusing, or forgetting the past. Our history matters - both how we got here collectively as a nation, and how we move forward into the future - but when we clean the slate, we make a conscious decision to allow the past to remain in the past. I make a deliberate and conscious decision not to charge you with the responsibility of repairing the past. You weren't there, it wasn't your fault, and you can't change what has happened. I can't make you responsible for the words or actions of others who crossed my path before you. What I can do is have a conversation with you about the friendship we're building together here and now. Later, after we have established a foundation of trust and understanding, we can give each other permission to dig deeper and delve into challenging areas.” -Tim Scott

“A nation that respects the law must also respect those who dedicate their lives to the education and enforcement of the law. What makes us great people is the compassion that fills in the gaps left by the cool impartiality of the law. The law enforcement officers I worked with the most knew when to combine the law with humanity to produce justice.” -Trey

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every American ought to read this book. Period. This volume has a permanent home on my bookshelf.

Disturbing trends exist in modern society AND in Christian circles:
1. We refuse to acknowledge, much less try to understand, the other side's point of view.
2. We convince ourselves that feelings of division don't exist. OR we willfully choose to ignore them.
3. We retreat into our personal circles and surround ourselves with people who don't challenge our philosophy, and we purposefully shut out opposition. We may even fear opposition.
4. Or we ultimately don't care.

These assumptions are as fixable as they are misguided. Feelings of division in our country are real. Our issues cannot be resolved through politics, but they certainly won't be resolved through ignorance. Senator Scott and Mr. Gowdy present a countercultural message: our healing as a nation starts with individual citizens purposing in their hearts to establish redemptive relationships built on trust and what we have in common--even and especially with those with whom we disagree. What unites us is more powerful than what divides us.

I assumed that Senator Scott and Mr. Gowdy would have the same views on most issues. I was wrong. While both men serve(d) as Republicans, the two differ tremendously in background, experiences, and ethnicity. Their views often differ significantly. Rather than let their views divide them, both authors have used their opposing positions to strengthen their friendship and create a platform where crafting mutually beneficial solutions is possible. They propose the following:
1. There ARE issues I’m not fully informed about.
2. The opposition CAN have equally valid positions.
3. It is GOOD to view life through a different set of eyes.
4. Two people of good conscience can still reach different conclusions.

There is plenty of room to move forward with grace, dignity, and respect--to build, as Mr. Gowdy says, "bridges of cooperation and understanding as you pursue mutually beneficial outcomes" (176).

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first saw this book on the shelf at the Lifeway Christian Store I was working at when it was first released. I made a mental note to read add it to by TBR but it wasn't until now that I finally picked it up from the local library and gave it a read. I wish I would have read it sooner.

Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy are very strong, eloquent, and graceful speakers. I can understand why they became friends despite their differences.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about how their friendship came to be and how they have worked to overcome the many obstacles that would have caused many other friendships to dissolve. They both give practical solutions for unity and coming together not just as a country, but as individuals who thrive on connection.

Unlike other books about racial reconciliation, they focus on relationships and how learning to listen and understand is what will help us in the pursuit for reconciliation.

If you are reading this thinking that a book written by a former Congressman and a Senator is going to be political, I promise you it is not. This book is about friendship, overcoming adversities together, and learning how to have meaningful conversations even when you disagree.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of friendship between two members of Congress who come from different environment become good friends. "Unusual friendships are born of many differences: class, religion, background, education or any number of other things." "I need to take responsibility for my on actions and attitudes before I start looking at anyone else." On of these men is white, the son of a doctor and educated at two prominent universities. The other is black the son of a domestic who used football to help him get an education. This is their story there was much for me to think about.

[Herbert Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this jointly written book by Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy. They challenge us to not avoid friendships with those who on the surface appear different. Rather than furthering division, such friendships can change each of us towards finding our common ground. These Christian gentleman posit that this can lead to world changing benefits - like even advancing racial reconciliation?

[Kevin Starbuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read... refreshing for two politicians to openly discuss relationships and the formation of their friendship. Serves as a powerful reminder that good people working together can make a difference in this world.

[Sherrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ewww… I hated this book. Trey lust after Tim Scott. Get a room and slap a warning label on this book as ”Gay vibe”! No man says, “ I love his BEAUTIFUL bald head” and go on describing him as if you want to go to bed with him.😳

[Manda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an encouraging read! I'm so thankful for the example set by these two public servants, and I'm proud to call Tim Scott my senator.

[PD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the title says, it's about unity and friendship. I was much more encouraged and uplifted by this book than I was expecting to be. A recommended read.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read that gives me hope for our divided country, as well as personal resolve to seek out the acquaintance of people outside of my 'normal' circles.

[Margaret Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a worthy book and a perfect follow-up to I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, which I had finished re-reading only a week earlier. These two gentlemen do not write about mental illness as such, but about an unhealthy discord between American citizens, whose anger can also lead to emotional blindness to the perspectives of each other.

Upon reflection, I want to believe that the discord related by the Senator and Representative are actually more in the political arena in which they must labor than it is out here in the everyday work and play world. Protest marches of crowds become increasingly silly as the "causes" diminish in importance. Grandstanding politicians and hysterical journalists on television are increasingly boring. But the premise is correct that political anger encourages more anger elsewhere and more potential dangerous behavior by individuals against innocent others. I definitely commend and recommend this little book as a starting point for stepping back, taking a careful look from a wider angle, and pondering how each one of us who cares for the continuation of our remarkable government "of, for, and by the people" might contribute to mending the rather extraordinary political discord around us.

The book is interesting beyond the wise advice offered about accepting each other's differences. I have a new respect for how much work is asked of—and in at least some cases probably done by!—our Congressional Representatives and Senators. It is perhaps the case that at least some of them really do constantly study history and governments and past policy results in order to correct mistakes and make better laws for the future fairness for all of us. And the brief autobiographies of these two fine Americans, as well as the story of their friendship, is inspiration all by itself.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great look at two political rivals who became great friends. The story was very refreshing and uplifting to see people working together and supporting each other as true friends do.

[Caroline David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrary to popular belief, this isn't a book about politics; its a book about friendships within politics. It talks about two different people from very different backgrounds coming together to form a lasting bond based on mutual respect and a genuine love for the other. These are two of my favorite people in politics and I follow both closely. I highly recommend this book even if you aren't political.

[Rebecca Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

SC current history

I found the book well written and of great interest. The dialogue between Tim and Trey kept the pace moving quickly. Chapter 9 was particularly good. I feel challenged to make a friendship outside of my comfort zone.
I recommend reading this book. Our country needs to heal. This offers the hope to do so.

[Nathan Casebolt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t read this because South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is running for president. I put it on my list when it was published; I just have a long list. That said, I enjoyed peeking inside the head of a man who’s betting that, down deep, Americans want hope and optimism more than they want bloodsport.

In all honesty, I question Scott’s relevance in a zeitgeist shaped by division, discord, disruption, and chaos. A man who wants to be blessed as a peacemaker is out of step with a society addicted to grabbing dogs by the ears — two allusions he would appreciate as a committed evangelical Christian.

Time will tell which of us is right. For now, this book is a worthy labor of love as the brainchild of both Scott and his close friend Trey Gowdy, former South Carolina representative to the U.S. House. This is the source of the “unlikely” in the title. Not many would naturally pair a Lowcountry Black insurance salesman from Charleston with an Upcountry white prosecutor from Spartanburg.

Still, I quibble with the framing of the title. Their different life experiences certainly come through most strongly in the two chapters on law enforcement. Both are respectful and supportive of men and women in uniform; but as a Black American, Scott’s experience is fundamentally different from Gowdy’s.

However, their friendship is less “unlikely” when you consider how closely aligned they are in terms of their spiritual backgrounds, policy convictions, and beliefs in the best ideals of the American dream. This is less a charter for bridging unbridgeable divisions, and more a pleasant reminiscence of how two people from different backgrounds built a friendship out of compatible belief structures.

Still, I did like the book. It’s a brief read, and a pertinent reminder that politicians are still human. After reading this, the best analogy I can come up with is that Congress is a cross between high school and a shark pit; but that doesn’t mean everyone in Congress is necessarily a cliquey shark.

Since this book’s core message is that we should center on our common humanity rather than our kaleidoscope of differences, I think both Scott and Gowdy would count it a win that I came away with a hair less cynicism and a pinch more hope for the state of our nation.

[Christopher Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"True Friendship Is Born Out Of Unconditional Love And Acceptance"

UNIFIED is a story of friendship between two conservative. politicians from very different backgrounds. The book is well-written, and told in a casual, conversational manner. The frienship between these two men really shines through in every chapter.

Keep in mind, however, that UNIFIED is not really a political book. If you are more interested in partisan politics, or getting the inside scoop on those wily Democrats, this is probably not the book for you. There are no partisan swipes in this book; in fact, Tim talks admirably about some key Democrat leaders.

Each chapter has sections from each other, alternating, so as to give different perspectives. The main theme is not politics, but rather an overview of how their own friendship started, and has strengthened over the years.

One chapter discusses the power of role models. Each author discusses someone who had a major impact on their life. This was my favorite chapter. The congressman tells the story of "Mr Littlejohn," his Sunday School teacher, and a liberal Democrat who taught Trey the message of compassion and love for others. Tim tells the story of the kind manager from Chick-fil-A, who saw the potential in Tim and mentored him.

Perhaps the most powerful chapter is the discussion on different perspectives on the police interaction with the black community. I found the senator's accounts of being profiled very convincing. Senator Scott relates how police have followed him without cause on numerous occasions--even to the point of denying him entrace to Congress!

The book concludes with a plea for "Reconciliation. This section includes ideas on how to reach out to folks who are different than us.

I found most of UNIFIED quite interesting; however, I didn't find the sections about the inner workings of Congress that interesting. Other readers might disagree with me.

[Mariejkt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Unified" by Senators Tim Scott & Trey Gowdy is about how two senators from different backgrounds and races have come together to not create division but to friends in diversity. This was such a powerful book on their friendship also on how yes we may not experience the things the same way as others but we can still be friends. My favorite quote from the book really points that out which "No matter what differences we may have with another person - social, racial, political, spiritual, ideological - if we will look for something we have in common, or something we can admire or emulate in the other person, we can always build on that." These two senators attitudes and love of the lord Jesus is just so powerful on how they show Christian love no matter what has or is happening to them. They don't dismiss the racism that still happens to African-American's today but the don't focus on it and try to show love to others. They also talk about how people are still treated differently due to skin. One area that can be considered controversial that they talk about is how people selling small amounts of cocaine are usually slapped on the wrist while someone selling small amount of crack the book is thrown at them. This is just a very good book on race and working together as Christians, I highly recommend it.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Tyrone Harbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of obtaining a copy of this book during a signing at Fiction Addiction in Greenville. I couldn't I figured as fast as I can read i would have it read before meeting them both. However it didn't work out that way, instead a nice older gentleman behind me engaged me a a very rich conversation. He spoke of his recent move to South Carolina and we talked about his shift in politics from being a democrat to republican. Ironically, now that I have finished this book, I can appreciate the experience a lot more. This book is actually not a book about politics, its about building friendships and breaking down walls of divisions..its more about communication and coming together than any other dynamic of politico-social strata. this book is a character developer with real practical sharing and reflection. Even though I expected it to be a political work and get to understand the views of these two great men, both of whom are part of only a handful I can truly say I have the upmost respect and admiration for, It was a great breath of fresh air to see deeper into the hearts and minds of these men, unfettered by political badges and coats. Change begins with individuals, something this book makes very clear, It is a great personal growth book that I hope many more will take the time to read and digest.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up for my Seattle Library Bingo Card not realizing that most of the books I read are written by white authors, which just made me wonder if I am at fault for choosing the books I read, but I rarely ever look at the author or who they are so I would imagine that my own choice is rather unbiased, so is it my library or just the fact that our society popularizes the writings of white authors?

Either way, this book was a great read. I appreciated the comments on the law and that both of the authors were so honest about their own prejudices and beliefs. I come from a very conservative background but I am more liberal. Family dinners used to be so tense, but I have learned that it is only when you close your mind off from others’ opinions that aggression seems to arise. I also think that is so unfair to the black community that people of color cannot be conservative – I understand the history of the party might be far from fair to everyone but that forces them into one party (the whole American two party system is so messed up to me anyway).

Anyway, good read with good morals.

[Pam Ecrement · Rating 5 out of 5]

At a time when every aspect of our lives on every day highlights differences and division, Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy have written a powerful book, Unified, which I think is a “must read” for all of us. These two South Carolinians provide an intimate glimpse into their unlikely friendship that transcends differences and points a better framework upon which to build as individuals and a nation. Their good sense, wisdom, and discernment look at the fundamentals of relationship as the source of hope and strength for understanding and reconciliation.

Forged out of that relational building come many powerful truths expressed in their book from which everyone can grow and benefit.

The passion of the two authors became a common purpose of reconciliation that requires relationship, fairness, and self-awareness. Their passion and purpose extend beyond words into various forums and programs to invite others into what they have discovered.