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Love & Courage: My Story of Family, Resilience, and Overcoming the Unexpected
From the leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party—Jagmeet Singh—comes a personal and heartfelt story about family and overcoming adversity.
In October 2017, Jagmeet Singh was elected as the first visible minority to lead a major federal political party in Canada. The historic milestone was celebrated across the nation.
About a month earlier, in the lead up to his election, Jagmeet held community meet-and-greets across Canada. At one such event, a disruptive heckler in the crowd hurled accusations at him. Jagmeet responded by calmly calling for all Canadians to act with “love and courage” in the face of hate. That response immediately went viral, and people across the country began asking, “Who is Jagmeet Singh? And why ‘love and courage’?”
This personal and heartfelt memoir is Jagmeet’s answer to that question. In it, we are invited to walk with him through childhood to adulthood as he learns powerful, moving, and sometimes traumatic lessons about hardship, addiction, and the impact of not belonging. We meet his strong family, including his mother, who teaches him that “we are all one; we are all connected,” a valuable lesson that has shaped who he is today.
This story is not a political memoir. This is a story of family, love, and courage, and how strengthening the connection between us all is the way to building a better world.
In October 2017, Jagmeet Singh was elected as the first visible minority to lead a major federal political party in Canada. The historic milestone was celebrated across the nation.
About a month earlier, in the lead up to his election, Jagmeet held community meet-and-greets across Canada. At one such event, a disruptive heckler in the crowd hurled accusations at him. Jagmeet responded by calmly calling for all Canadians to act with “love and courage” in the face of hate. That response immediately went viral, and people across the country began asking, “Who is Jagmeet Singh? And why ‘love and courage’?”
This personal and heartfelt memoir is Jagmeet’s answer to that question. In it, we are invited to walk with him through childhood to adulthood as he learns powerful, moving, and sometimes traumatic lessons about hardship, addiction, and the impact of not belonging. We meet his strong family, including his mother, who teaches him that “we are all one; we are all connected,” a valuable lesson that has shaped who he is today.
This story is not a political memoir. This is a story of family, love, and courage, and how strengthening the connection between us all is the way to building a better world.
309 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2019
38 people are currently reading
960 people want to read
About the author
Jagmeet Singh
5 books18 followersJagmeet Singh is the leader of the New Democratic Party and Member of Parliament for the riding of Burnaby South. Born in Scarborough, Ontario, he moved to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and later to Windsor, Ontario. He studied law at Osgoode Hall in Toronto, Ontario, and practiced as a criminal defence lawyer in Brampton, Ontario. He was elected to the Ontario legislature as an MPP in 2011 and became the Ontario NDP deputy leader in 2015. He was elected leader of the federal NDP in 2017. Singh divides his time between Burnaby, British Columbia and Ottawa, Ontario.
(source: Simon & Schuster)
(source: Simon & Schuster)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
April 24, 2019
There are political points raised here and there, and releasing this book in the run-up to the federal election is unavoidably political, but that really is not the focus here. It’s an incredibly personal story of immigrant parents and alcoholism and brotherhood and abuse, and how one person can overcome incredible odds to achieve the seemingly impossible. Mr. Singh writes touchingly about the sacrifices and challenges of his parents, and the casual and systemic racism that his family has faced, and that alone makes it a worthwhile read. But there’s also a brilliant thread running through this book of an older brother looking out for a younger sibling in a way that made me reflect on my own relationship with my brother and made me think about A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS (and those of you who know me know I don’t use that comp lightly). Mr. Singh’s grappling with his sexual assault is also commendable and a true act of courage that can only help fellow survivors. I have to admit I was surprised how much I enjoyed this - this is far from the standard politician book.
May 16, 2019
Peeling back the onion layers reveals that deep down to the core; Jagmeet Singh is a man rooted in family and responsibility, and I fucks with that.
I’ve always respected how he dealt with the racism he experienced from white nationalists when it came to his political events. He coated them bitches in love and moved them on their way. I fucks with that.
I also understand and respect that when people are ready to share their story of sexual abuse, that’s when they share it and it’s for them and them alone at their comfort level to share. HOWEVER, I swear it — the more men that could come forward and earlier, the better we’d be as a country at punishing the predators that exist. Jagmeet is in a unique position where as the leader of the NDP and a lawyer and a man of colour, he has the ability to start working towards strengthening the systems that don’t get enough justice for people who are going through traumatic events such as sexual assault / childhood sexual assault. That’s my critique: I see you’re writing about it and it sells and piques the interest of curious minds — but what are you doing to push the country forward in this respect? I’m sure he’s doing something.. so we’ll wait and see.
I also respect his sharing of how he grappled with what millions of Canadians are dealing with — parental and familial addiction. That’s something that you could bury but he brought it to the forefront and stood beside it and provided support to his loved ones. I loved learning about his youth and his elementary friends and university experiences. You can tell he came from a life of money and he tries to downplay the money situation out lowkey, on some: I'm just like you, and “we struggled financially” — in your own owned homes and additional condos and apartments??? Come on man! The major cities in Canada are in a housing crisis, where many can't even afford market rent much less, multiple homes and apartments, so needless to say, the "just like us" shenanigans... I’ll take your word for it.
All in all, it was a hopeful read and I guess every politician has gotta get a memoir off. His was actually, multilayered, insightful, not quite profound, but solid at the end of the day. A commendable effort.
I’ve always respected how he dealt with the racism he experienced from white nationalists when it came to his political events. He coated them bitches in love and moved them on their way. I fucks with that.
I also understand and respect that when people are ready to share their story of sexual abuse, that’s when they share it and it’s for them and them alone at their comfort level to share. HOWEVER, I swear it — the more men that could come forward and earlier, the better we’d be as a country at punishing the predators that exist. Jagmeet is in a unique position where as the leader of the NDP and a lawyer and a man of colour, he has the ability to start working towards strengthening the systems that don’t get enough justice for people who are going through traumatic events such as sexual assault / childhood sexual assault. That’s my critique: I see you’re writing about it and it sells and piques the interest of curious minds — but what are you doing to push the country forward in this respect? I’m sure he’s doing something.. so we’ll wait and see.
I also respect his sharing of how he grappled with what millions of Canadians are dealing with — parental and familial addiction. That’s something that you could bury but he brought it to the forefront and stood beside it and provided support to his loved ones. I loved learning about his youth and his elementary friends and university experiences. You can tell he came from a life of money and he tries to downplay the money situation out lowkey, on some: I'm just like you, and “we struggled financially” — in your own owned homes and additional condos and apartments??? Come on man! The major cities in Canada are in a housing crisis, where many can't even afford market rent much less, multiple homes and apartments, so needless to say, the "just like us" shenanigans... I’ll take your word for it.
All in all, it was a hopeful read and I guess every politician has gotta get a memoir off. His was actually, multilayered, insightful, not quite profound, but solid at the end of the day. A commendable effort.
May 15, 2019
I got this book the day it came out, called in sick, and didn't get up until I finished it. When I first picked up the book I didn't actually expect it to be written by Jagmeet Singh but by a ghost writer. I expected it to be a great story but a dry narrative and I was so wrong.
Love and Courage is a beautiful memoir written in the most raw and dynamic voice I have ever read. There were quips and satire and a very real story under it all. Not only did I personally relate to the struggles he felt but I also understood those that were foreign to me.
By the end of the book I felt like I had truly gotten to know the man behind it all.
Love and Courage is a beautiful memoir written in the most raw and dynamic voice I have ever read. There were quips and satire and a very real story under it all. Not only did I personally relate to the struggles he felt but I also understood those that were foreign to me.
By the end of the book I felt like I had truly gotten to know the man behind it all.
April 13, 2023
ok ok I know I just said we all need to start being harsher with our reviews but this memoir was actually v good and the quote, “That’s why I believe in reincarnation; I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” in response to his dad recovering from addiction made me cry ugly tears
October 17, 2020
Jagmeet Singh is the leader of the New Democractic Party in Canada and one of the few visible Sikh faces in Western politics and ‘Love and Courage’ documents his journey to becoming one of the most recognisable political faces in Canada. It is clear that his deep humanism is rooted both in his faith and Sikh principles around social justice, equality and supporting minorities and his upbringing, where he often struggled with his sense of identity in a country which frequently demonised him for his appearance. What stands out most, however, in Singh’s willingness to tackle what are often taboo subjects in the South Asian community, such as being sexually abused his youth and his father’s battles with alcoholism. Singh is deeply reflective of how both these situations scarred him, demonstrating an honesty and vulnerability which is also apparent in his politics, where he constantly champions the causes of this disenfranchised and fights for the things he believes in. The book also acts as an exploration of the social dynamics of being both first and second generation immigrant as well as depicting the intricacies of life in the Punjabi community.
The main thing the reader gleans from the book is Jagmeet’s integrity which has been shaped by his journey in finding his own identity in a world which constantly sought to categorise him and how this has shaped his politics.
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The main thing the reader gleans from the book is Jagmeet’s integrity which has been shaped by his journey in finding his own identity in a world which constantly sought to categorise him and how this has shaped his politics.
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November 17, 2020
A biography by a politician. The point of such a book is to state why one should vote for the person. This book achieves that goal by highlighting experiences in the life of Jagmeet Singh that have developed his leadership skills.
Yet the book has very little to do with politics. I expected to read about his involvement in politics and his experiences as an elected official. This book focuses on the experiences of his personal life growing up in Canada.
A large focus of the book is on how alcoholism affected his family. His father achieved professional and financial success and was able to provide his family with whatever they needed. Then his father became addicted to alcohol and their Canadian Dream life fell apart. Anyone who has a family member who has suffered from alcoholism will recognize the many ways the family suffered. Jagmeet had to take on the role of provider and caretaker of his family.
The book presents Jagmeet as something different than a typical politician. He is shown as a real person facing issues (racism, financial insecurity, family illness) of life in the real world that politicians like to pretend exist in some other world that is beneath the one that politicians make for themselves.
The book left me with the feeling that Jagmeet would be someone I would be comfortable having a conversation with. A person, not a politician.
Yet the book has very little to do with politics. I expected to read about his involvement in politics and his experiences as an elected official. This book focuses on the experiences of his personal life growing up in Canada.
A large focus of the book is on how alcoholism affected his family. His father achieved professional and financial success and was able to provide his family with whatever they needed. Then his father became addicted to alcohol and their Canadian Dream life fell apart. Anyone who has a family member who has suffered from alcoholism will recognize the many ways the family suffered. Jagmeet had to take on the role of provider and caretaker of his family.
The book presents Jagmeet as something different than a typical politician. He is shown as a real person facing issues (racism, financial insecurity, family illness) of life in the real world that politicians like to pretend exist in some other world that is beneath the one that politicians make for themselves.
The book left me with the feeling that Jagmeet would be someone I would be comfortable having a conversation with. A person, not a politician.
August 10, 2020
"Love and Courage" was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Jagmeet's life story is truly inspiring. It gives a window into some of the heartbreaking adversity he and his family have overcome/continue to battle. Jagmeet understands what it feels like to struggle. "Love and Courage" is not a book about political policy. Still, it gives insight into his values and why he prioritizes policies that benefit all Canadians. I would recommend this book to anyone.
July 19, 2020
J'ai bien aimé découvrir cet homme. Son histoire est inspirante. Et ça m'a donné l'envie d'en avoir davantage sur les Sikhs. Vraiment intéressant.
October 10, 2019
I can’t say enough good things about this book. Whether you love him, especially if you hate him, this book is incredibly insightful. Beautifully written in a very straight forward, easy to understand way, I could not put it down. It’s a quick read, but I wouldn’t say an emotionally easy one. There are many moments where my heart absolutely broke for Mr. Jagmeet Singh and his family. This isn’t a heavily political read, it’s definitely focused more on his early life and all of the challenges he faced - an alcoholic father, racism, sexual assault, growing up too fast, financial troubles - this book made me see the HUMAN behind the picture/video. I find politics to be a pretty intimidating subject - it causes arguments, drama and a total divide in people and now with social media that is all tenfold. I seriously recommend this book to everyone. As if I wasn’t already impressed with the way this man has held himself throughout this election, this book made me respect him even more so!
September 30, 2019
I definitely wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. I rarely read any books related to politics, so I wasn't totally sure what this book would be like. While there are political points in it, it's mainly the story of his life, his immigrant parents, growing up in Canada and his experiences living in this country of ours. While the main reason I gave this a try is because of the election coming up (but let's face it if Andrew Sheer came out with his memoir, the chances of me reading it would be non-existent because I can't stand the guy), I found it to be the kind of book that I could thoroughly enjoy and not put down. It's definitely given me a reason to want to vote for the NDP after reading it (because I REALLY don't want to vote for the CONs at this point). I'd like to see Mr. Singh at least get elected as the official opposition.
May 15, 2019
This was an enjoyable book, interesting, touching and I don't think I've seen a politician be this bare and honest. It was a pleasure to read if only for how refreshing it is to get a deeper sense of the character of a person who is asking us to trust them with our country. Politicos looking for politics will be disappointed - there is very little mention of partisan politics.
May 10, 2019
This was such an amazing read! It was well written, informative, inspirational and I had to read it in one sitting because it was so good. This is definitely a book I would reach for again.
May 11, 2019
4 stars! I was really interested in reading this book when I saw it had come out. As a resident of Brampton having heard of Jagmeet Singh, and with the knowledge of his leadership in the NDP party, I wanted to learn more about him. Honestly, I was worried this would be a political book - where the author would take the opportunity to talk about their political views and what they believe in, which was possible given the federal election is coming up this year. Aside from the last part of the book, I'm really glad it wasn't that at all. Jagmeet Singh's story is very raw, open, and beautiful. I applaud his courage to be so open about his life and the challenges he faced growing up, especially because an election is coming up as well. He gives us an opportunity to see his story and get to know him as a person, not just a political leader. His experiences of racism and discrimination hit close to home. His experiences of sexual abuse were hard to read, but I think share an important message about the trauma and self-blame victims endure that can last a lifetime. It also sheds light on how sexual abuse is not just a problem for girls and women, but boys and men as well. Even though this book is written by a politician, I hope people pick up this book because it is not about politics - it helps us learn about Sikh culture, give us deeper insight into racism in our communities, mental illnesses and addictions, sexual abuse, and many other topics that many of us have a lot of learn about.
November 5, 2019
THIS BOOK WAS UNEXPECTEDLY AMAZING.
I thought it might take me a while to get through Jagmeet Singh's book, which I picked up out of curiosity to learn more about him politically (through his life story of course). I don't read political autobiographies very often, and I expected the book to be mediocre-ly written at best; I thought it might be social justice-y, potentially a bit preachy and not as personal as it was. Those, of course, were all misconceptions.
Jagmeet Singh (with the help of his editor), writes insanely well. His story was quickly captivating and the way it was written was narrative-like and super easy to get into. I connected with his story. I was not expecting it to be so engaging.
He also teaches about Sikhism throughout, but in a very respectful way without the goal of converting anyone. I learned a lot throughout the story.
Singh shares his childhood, teenagerhood and adulthood - from his parents immigrating to Canada, to his childhood life with many good moments but also bullying; to dealing with a parent's addiction and taking the parental role as a child; to supporting financially (and emotionally too) his family; to his university and career choices, and finally his foray into politics.
I also appreciated his raw, honest and thoughtful account of his experience with sexual assault. It takes a lot of courage and bravery to share your story. The way he dealt with his experience was inspiring and hopefully empowering to victims out there.
I was really impressed overall with his positive, optimistic view, his persistence and tenaciousness, his supportiveness and caring, his passion for justice, equality and to save his family, and lastly, his wisdom and love. Rarely have I ever heard of a politician sharing so much of their personal story; it really feels like I know Jagmeet Singh better after reading this book.
While I may not agree with every policy, or even like his leadership, I deeply respect him and find many good things about him. He has made positive change and I know he will continue to do so.
I would recommend to all. (15+ due to some more adult/serious themes). This book definitely deserves 5 full stars.
I thought it might take me a while to get through Jagmeet Singh's book, which I picked up out of curiosity to learn more about him politically (through his life story of course). I don't read political autobiographies very often, and I expected the book to be mediocre-ly written at best; I thought it might be social justice-y, potentially a bit preachy and not as personal as it was. Those, of course, were all misconceptions.
Jagmeet Singh (with the help of his editor), writes insanely well. His story was quickly captivating and the way it was written was narrative-like and super easy to get into. I connected with his story. I was not expecting it to be so engaging.
He also teaches about Sikhism throughout, but in a very respectful way without the goal of converting anyone. I learned a lot throughout the story.
Singh shares his childhood, teenagerhood and adulthood - from his parents immigrating to Canada, to his childhood life with many good moments but also bullying; to dealing with a parent's addiction and taking the parental role as a child; to supporting financially (and emotionally too) his family; to his university and career choices, and finally his foray into politics.
I also appreciated his raw, honest and thoughtful account of his experience with sexual assault. It takes a lot of courage and bravery to share your story. The way he dealt with his experience was inspiring and hopefully empowering to victims out there.
I was really impressed overall with his positive, optimistic view, his persistence and tenaciousness, his supportiveness and caring, his passion for justice, equality and to save his family, and lastly, his wisdom and love. Rarely have I ever heard of a politician sharing so much of their personal story; it really feels like I know Jagmeet Singh better after reading this book.
While I may not agree with every policy, or even like his leadership, I deeply respect him and find many good things about him. He has made positive change and I know he will continue to do so.
I would recommend to all. (15+ due to some more adult/serious themes). This book definitely deserves 5 full stars.
June 3, 2019
This book is really amazing and uplifting.
Its not sthing too grandeur like a superhero book but too realistic yet profound.
Its a balanced take on struggles and just overcoming them for your family. Its your everyday story and how his decisions have taken him to the most coveted chairs of the country. A rarely righteous man in the world filled with not so righteous people.
Anpther interesting aspect of the book is it’s not filled with self-boasting but mostly details about struggles of the person. You dont share success and victories with people but what I feel we all share our struggles; struggles for a better life struggles during our growing up , struggles of exams and education! struggles for love! And all this makes it such a relatable story
How using every ounce of energy he had to improve him and lives of others around him is the message to be taken away from the book. If he has taken care of his family so well he can take care of his countrymen too, he really deserves a chance. Well thats a personal opinion but coming back
Its one of the quickest books i have read in a while. Easy interesting and un-putdownable book, this one’s for the keeps! Pick this up next for a light read
Its not sthing too grandeur like a superhero book but too realistic yet profound.
Its a balanced take on struggles and just overcoming them for your family. Its your everyday story and how his decisions have taken him to the most coveted chairs of the country. A rarely righteous man in the world filled with not so righteous people.
Anpther interesting aspect of the book is it’s not filled with self-boasting but mostly details about struggles of the person. You dont share success and victories with people but what I feel we all share our struggles; struggles for a better life struggles during our growing up , struggles of exams and education! struggles for love! And all this makes it such a relatable story
How using every ounce of energy he had to improve him and lives of others around him is the message to be taken away from the book. If he has taken care of his family so well he can take care of his countrymen too, he really deserves a chance. Well thats a personal opinion but coming back
Its one of the quickest books i have read in a while. Easy interesting and un-putdownable book, this one’s for the keeps! Pick this up next for a light read
October 17, 2019
At the base of it all, Jagmeet Singh is a man who believes we are all one - he says it a number of times, it's one of the basic tenets of his religion and he lives it wholeheartedly.
I am not so naive to think that any politician's book isn't a bit self-serving but even if you allow for that, Singh still impresses me. He grew up close enough to middle class that he gets it, his life experiences with his family allowed him to see and understand hardship ( I know, his hardship may have been someone else's comfortable lifestyle but let's not nitpick okay) and he is the first visible minority to head up a major political party in Canada (I mean, if we don't include women, I guess).
The book isn't great literature but it is one man's story about his love of family, humanity and his country
I'd vote for him.
I am not so naive to think that any politician's book isn't a bit self-serving but even if you allow for that, Singh still impresses me. He grew up close enough to middle class that he gets it, his life experiences with his family allowed him to see and understand hardship ( I know, his hardship may have been someone else's comfortable lifestyle but let's not nitpick okay) and he is the first visible minority to head up a major political party in Canada (I mean, if we don't include women, I guess).
The book isn't great literature but it is one man's story about his love of family, humanity and his country
I'd vote for him.
October 13, 2019
A very thoughtful man with a story that will touch many hearts. I wasn't planning to vote for him but I was curious about his story. He kinda just appeared out of nowhere. I also wanted to read something positive. Life's tough, but he is just so positive and finds the silver lining in any situation.
The book wasn't that political, either. Obviously at the end he talks about how and why he decided to become a MP, but the messages throughout the book were not pushy at all.
I think anyone that wants to read something uplifting, they should choose this. You don't have to be Canadian or know anything about politics because the book does not focus on that. It's a coming of age story with many ups and downs, but a good lesson always.
The book wasn't that political, either. Obviously at the end he talks about how and why he decided to become a MP, but the messages throughout the book were not pushy at all.
I think anyone that wants to read something uplifting, they should choose this. You don't have to be Canadian or know anything about politics because the book does not focus on that. It's a coming of age story with many ups and downs, but a good lesson always.
September 22, 2019
I learned a lot about racism and Sikhi from this book. It was appalling to learn that Singh was harassed on an almost daily basis growing up in Windsor; that he had to take up martial arts and at times rely on the family’s German Shepherd dog to keep him safe. Complete strangers would accost him in the street for wearing a turban and accuse him of terrorism. That he was able to overcome that and child sexual abuse by a coach and his father’s alcoholism, which bankrupted the family, is truly inspirational.
I also enjoyed learning about Sikhi, which is based on the belief that we are all one, and how that affects how adherents interact with the world. The premise is beautiful.
I also enjoyed learning about Sikhi, which is based on the belief that we are all one, and how that affects how adherents interact with the world. The premise is beautiful.
February 8, 2020
This book was recommended to me by a friend who doesn’t follow politics at all. I was intrigued, a life long NDP voter, Jagmeet’s story was alone enough to grab my attention. But the journey his book takes us on is so much more. I found myself gasping aloud, and looking forward to times when I could continue reading. I enthusiastically tweeted #BringtheSingh during the most recent federal election, but now I have such a deeper respect and admiration for our party leader.
April 25, 2019
Jagmeet Singh bares his soul in this tell all memoir. The book - his life story - is relatable for the masses on multiple counts. The genuine, common struggles Jagmeet outlines are compelling. Reading this book earned him a lot of respect in my eyes. The barriers he has broken down will elevate generations to come.
May 19, 2019
Quite the book. Every Canadian should read this book, whether you are an NDP supporter or not. This is a story that includes all kinds of adversity ranging from schoolyard bullying to sexual abuse to alcoholism, as well as the story of Sikh genocide in India and the Canadian government's reaction. There is much here to learn from.
May 16, 2019
Agree with his politics or not, this is a great autobiography of a young man who has achieved a lot despite the many structural issues he had to overcome growing up. I want him to continue succeeding in the manner that he has.
March 30, 2023
Realistically I’d give this 3.5 but I love Jagmeet lol so I’m split. It took me so long to read but I enjoyed it. So much about how he grew up and many sad stories. I kinda like how it didn’t really focus on his political journey but ended with it in the last chapter.
April 27, 2019
I am probably the least political person I know. I don't follow politics, I don't care about politics, and I don't align myself with one political party. When I vote, it is for how I feel about my local representatives and whether I think they are a good person, rather than the party they are affiliated with.
I've only been aware of Jagmeet Singh the last couple of years ... probably since he was in the race to become the leader of the NDP party. He seems like a nice fella and I thought his bio would be interesting.
Jagmeet was born 40 years ago in Scarborough, ON. His parents were struggling immigrants so he was sent to India to live with his grandparents for a year or so. Jagmeet's father was a doctor in India and had to go through many hoops to be able to practice in Canada. Once that happened, he accepted a position in Newfoundland and the family (his parents had two more children there) spent some years there until finally settling in Windsor, ON.
Jagmeet's father became an alcoholic and the family spent many stressful years living with his father's drunken rages. Despite being in and out of rehab over the years, his father eventually wasn't allowed to practice medicine, which didn't help his mental state, and his family distanced themselves from him. As the oldest, Jagmeet felt it was his duty to take care of his family, emotionally and financially, despite still being a university student. The family went from being well-to-do to losing everything.
Jagmeet became a lawyer and offered free legal rights seminars across Ontario and provided pro bono legal counsel for people and community organizations in need. His younger brother convinced him to enter politics so he could help more people in his riding, the province and eventually the country.
I enjoyed this book and though I obviously don't know him personally, I like Jagmeet as a person from what I read. It confirmed what I thought ... that he seems like a nice fella. As an Indian, he has experienced racism and doesn't want what happened to him (being called names, getting into fights, etc.) to happen to others.
I liked the writing style and appreciated his honesty. I like that it wasn't about politics ... it was about him personally and his family, all he went through and how it has affected who he is today. I like too that I learned about what being Sikh is but he wasn't preachy about it.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2019/04...
I've only been aware of Jagmeet Singh the last couple of years ... probably since he was in the race to become the leader of the NDP party. He seems like a nice fella and I thought his bio would be interesting.
Jagmeet was born 40 years ago in Scarborough, ON. His parents were struggling immigrants so he was sent to India to live with his grandparents for a year or so. Jagmeet's father was a doctor in India and had to go through many hoops to be able to practice in Canada. Once that happened, he accepted a position in Newfoundland and the family (his parents had two more children there) spent some years there until finally settling in Windsor, ON.
Jagmeet's father became an alcoholic and the family spent many stressful years living with his father's drunken rages. Despite being in and out of rehab over the years, his father eventually wasn't allowed to practice medicine, which didn't help his mental state, and his family distanced themselves from him. As the oldest, Jagmeet felt it was his duty to take care of his family, emotionally and financially, despite still being a university student. The family went from being well-to-do to losing everything.
Jagmeet became a lawyer and offered free legal rights seminars across Ontario and provided pro bono legal counsel for people and community organizations in need. His younger brother convinced him to enter politics so he could help more people in his riding, the province and eventually the country.
I enjoyed this book and though I obviously don't know him personally, I like Jagmeet as a person from what I read. It confirmed what I thought ... that he seems like a nice fella. As an Indian, he has experienced racism and doesn't want what happened to him (being called names, getting into fights, etc.) to happen to others.
I liked the writing style and appreciated his honesty. I like that it wasn't about politics ... it was about him personally and his family, all he went through and how it has affected who he is today. I like too that I learned about what being Sikh is but he wasn't preachy about it.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2019/04...
May 1, 2021
Wow. Content warning: sexual assault, child abuse, and alcoholism/addiction. I am not familiar with Canadian politics so I really didn’t know much about Jagmeet Singh or his politics when picking up this book so while many Canadians might know a bit about the contents of this book, I really think it should come with content warnings. This book definitely shares a lot of vulnerabilities. A lot of what Singh and his family have gone through are things the South Asian community tries to keep quiet or under wraps. But I think many of us will connect with some if not all of Singh’s struggles. I appreciate so much in this book but one thing I wish Singh acknowledged more was how financial privilege played a role in his life. I find that memoirs tend to skim over the that bit in an attempt to sound like the author is ‘just like us.’
July 1, 2020
This was a captivating read, which gave me an appreciation for who Jagmeet Singh is as an individual, not just a leader. Although his story does not flow as naturally as it could, it really captures the challenges he faced growing up. It brings to light how, although he appeared on the surface to have everything a child could want, life is not always as it seems.
May 7, 2019
A page turner
A very moving autobiography that reads like a novel. I was all wrapped up in the problems his family was experiencing and cheered every success! This is a page turner.
A very moving autobiography that reads like a novel. I was all wrapped up in the problems his family was experiencing and cheered every success! This is a page turner.
June 20, 2019
Honestly blew me away and really helped flush out my understanding of the NDP's new leader. A story of addiction, abuse, family, love, and courage. Whole heartedly recommend.
August 19, 2020
The book made me laugh, cry, feel anger, anxiety, inspiration, and optimism.
Jagmeet is someone that I would trust to represent me in Parliament, someone I would be proud to call my Prime Minister.
Jagmeet is someone that I would trust to represent me in Parliament, someone I would be proud to call my Prime Minister.
May 31, 2019
I don't know a tonne about Jagmeet's career before the NDP leadership race. He didn't have my vote as I tend to favour policy wonks over flashy charismatic types. That said, I am proud that Canada finally has a racialized leader of a party with official status in the House of Commons. Although this story is book-ended with reflections on the leadership race - the infamous heckling about sharia law that went viral and the night he won the leadership race respectively - it largely tells the story of his childhood and early career.
There were mentions during the leadership race of illness within Jagmeet's family and how he took on a parental role with his youngest sibling, but never the raw and honest details of addiction and bankruptcy given in this book. Much has been said about his "me too" moment, but he also describes his parent's immigration experience, what is was like to grow up as a racialized, visibly minority religious man in suburban Canada both before and after 9/11, and the experiences of social and institutionalized racism that led him to focus his legal practice on criminal defense, particularly carding.
His father's phrase "social armour," which I'm sure needs less explanation to BIPOC folks, stuck with me. This book was likely published when it was because he's running for office in a new part of the country and needs to increase him name recognition. I still highly recommend non-racialized settler Canadians, regardless of political affiliation, to read this in order to get some insight on the kinds of mental load that other demographics have to maintain daily to avoid violence in our country.
There were mentions during the leadership race of illness within Jagmeet's family and how he took on a parental role with his youngest sibling, but never the raw and honest details of addiction and bankruptcy given in this book. Much has been said about his "me too" moment, but he also describes his parent's immigration experience, what is was like to grow up as a racialized, visibly minority religious man in suburban Canada both before and after 9/11, and the experiences of social and institutionalized racism that led him to focus his legal practice on criminal defense, particularly carding.
His father's phrase "social armour," which I'm sure needs less explanation to BIPOC folks, stuck with me. This book was likely published when it was because he's running for office in a new part of the country and needs to increase him name recognition. I still highly recommend non-racialized settler Canadians, regardless of political affiliation, to read this in order to get some insight on the kinds of mental load that other demographics have to maintain daily to avoid violence in our country.
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