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Union: A Democrat, a Republican, and a Search for Common Ground
Two friends—a Democrat and a Republican—travel across America "on a deeply personal journey through the heart of a divided nation . . . to find growth, hope and fundamental strength in their own lives" (Bob Woodward) and the country they love, in good times and bad.
In the year before Donald Trump was elected president, Jordan Blashek, a Republican Marine, and Chris Haugh, a Democrat from Berkeley, CA, formed an unlikely friendship. Jordan was fresh off his service in the Marines and feeling a bit out of place at Yale Law School. Chris was yearning for a sense of mission after leaving Washington D.C.
Over the months, Jordan and Chris's friendship blossomed not in spite of, but because of, their political differences. So they decided to hit the road in search of reasons to strengthen their bond in an era of strife and partisanship. What follows is a three-year adventure story, across forty-four states and along 20,000 miles of road to find out exactly where the American experiment stands at the close of the second decade of the twenty-first century.
In their search, Jordan and Chris go from the tear gas-soaked streets of a Trump rally in Phoenix, Arizona to the Mexican highways running between Tijuana and Juarez. They witness the full scope of American life, from lobster trawlers and jazz clubs of Portland and New Orleans to the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma and the prisons of Detroit, where former addicts and inmates painstakingly put their lives back together.
Union is a road narrative, a civics lesson, and an unforgettable window into one epic friendship. We ride along with Jordan and Chris for the whole journey, listening in on front-seat arguments and their conversations with Americans from coast to coast. We also peer outside the car to understand America's hot-button topics, including immigration, mass incarceration, and the military-civilian divide.
And by the time Jordan and Chris kill the engine for the last time, they answer one of the most pressing questions of our How far apart are we really?
In the year before Donald Trump was elected president, Jordan Blashek, a Republican Marine, and Chris Haugh, a Democrat from Berkeley, CA, formed an unlikely friendship. Jordan was fresh off his service in the Marines and feeling a bit out of place at Yale Law School. Chris was yearning for a sense of mission after leaving Washington D.C.
Over the months, Jordan and Chris's friendship blossomed not in spite of, but because of, their political differences. So they decided to hit the road in search of reasons to strengthen their bond in an era of strife and partisanship. What follows is a three-year adventure story, across forty-four states and along 20,000 miles of road to find out exactly where the American experiment stands at the close of the second decade of the twenty-first century.
In their search, Jordan and Chris go from the tear gas-soaked streets of a Trump rally in Phoenix, Arizona to the Mexican highways running between Tijuana and Juarez. They witness the full scope of American life, from lobster trawlers and jazz clubs of Portland and New Orleans to the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma and the prisons of Detroit, where former addicts and inmates painstakingly put their lives back together.
Union is a road narrative, a civics lesson, and an unforgettable window into one epic friendship. We ride along with Jordan and Chris for the whole journey, listening in on front-seat arguments and their conversations with Americans from coast to coast. We also peer outside the car to understand America's hot-button topics, including immigration, mass incarceration, and the military-civilian divide.
And by the time Jordan and Chris kill the engine for the last time, they answer one of the most pressing questions of our How far apart are we really?
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2020
72 people are currently reading
1823 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Blashek
1 book28 followersJordan Blashek is a businessman, attorney, and military veteran from Los Angeles, California. After college, Jordan spent five years in the US Marine Corps as an infantry officer, serving two combat tours overseas. He holds degrees from Yale Law School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Princeton University. Jordan is based in New York, where he invests in entrepreneurial efforts to grow the American middle class as a part of Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 8, 2022
Meh. A pretty shaky three stars, although there were a handful of sections that were within four star territory.
I liked the idea of this: two friends with completely opposite political views and backgrounds take a road trip and discover common ground. Especially appealing now that we are in a time that (in my short life at least) feels like both sides are more polarized than any time in recent history. Unfortunately, the book just didn’t always land.
One of the main things was the writing. The book is obviously written as a collaboration between the two of them which I am sure can be hard to manage. But there are so many more effective ways to write this than how they did (in my opinion). Do a first person “we” throughout the whole book, with maybe a first person I from both perspectives at the end of each chapter for each individual’s take from each of them when needed. Do alternating chapters; one by Jordan and one by Chris. Write it like an interview in parts where it is clear who is talking. I feel like anyone of those would be better than what they did. Here’s an example:
“Chris shot a look over at Jordan, whose eyes were fixed on the slalom road ahead. It was empty except for us and the long-haul trucks on their way up and down the freeway…...Earlier that evening, we had meandered down the sidewalks of NYC toward Jordan’s Volvo S60, which he had inherited from his grandfather. “It’s not much,” Jordan said.”
Maybe on its own this one excerpt doesn’t seem like much. But it was incredibly odd to read one sentence written from an omniscient POV where it refers to Jordan and Chris as if from out of the narrative, then the next sentence is the two of them saying “we." Yes, things need to be clear to the reader as to who is doing what. But I can’t think of any other book I’ve read with two writers that did it so inelegantly. There aren’t many other reviews of this but the ones I have seen don’t mention this, so maybe this doesn’t bother everyone. But it was honesty distracting the whole time.
I also felt like it was a little disorganized and lacking a central focus. Yes, okay, two friends want to understand the political landscape. And sure, by nature it’s a memoir and about a road trip so it’s bound to be a little meandering, but some of their tangents were just not worth it. Like near the end they spent a few pages describing how they went back to Idaho to look for this one cop a few years after he was particularly nice to them at a traffic stop. (Oh, because also this is not about one road trip, it’s about multiple road trips over the years which I think adds to the disconnect). Pages and pages describing calling different police departments and talking to secretaries about tracking down this unknown officer to say….what, exactly? Thanks? Hey, I realized how much harder this would have been if I was black and I wanna acknowledge that? Why are you nice? Who knows. It sounded like they found him but then they didn’t even say what their final conversation entailed. Huh? Why didn’t they ask him any of their burning questions when they first stopped by him? As far as I can tell, they knew they were writing a book then, too. Shouldn’t they have been ready to ask some hard questions?
I did like some of the sections more than the other, which is natural because they are stopping at different places. The parts with the truck driver, Pete who voted for Trump were fascinating. Pete is a character and it was one of the few times I have gotten a clear picture of how regulations affect people instead of just hearing blanket statements about how regulations are good or how they are awful. I also loved the New Orleans section and when they went to a women’s prison.
There were some well-written sections. I really liked this passage after they had a political disagreement and felt it kinda summed up the whole book:
“Healing, by this point on our journeys, was relatively easy for us. But the tenor of this fight, and its lingering wounds, weighed on our minds. What did it mean that we couldn’t extend out civil dialogue beyond the two of us? It felt like through long and excruciating hours of fights, debates, confessions, and reconciliations, we had earned something---the ability to trust each other so that somehow, despite our differences, we had forged a common language. But our friends didn’t seem to share that language, and in their presence we felt incapable of passing it along or abiding by it.”
So much swirling around in that. It's crazy how groupthink kicks in and it's so much harder to find your bearings in a group. Also makes you wonder what relationships are and should be based on. You see a lot of cutesy posts on Facebook that say things like, “We can disagree on politics and still be friends. It’s called being an adult.” But that’s a hell of a lot easier said than done. Politics encompasses every aspect of life--the military, education, what role the government should play, healthcare, etc. It’s the very frame we think the picture of life should fit in. You’re only kidding yourself if you think you aren’t political- that in itself affects politics/is a political choice. It’s incredibly hard to feel like there are things you fundamentally believe about life that someone else (someone you are close to, no less) is vehemently against. Relationships are built on values and similarities. Or are they completely? Are good times/memories, reliability, and other redeeming characteristics "enough"? How much of our personal politics determines if we are/aren't a good person? How much opposition can one take from a friend before it starts to feel like the relationship isn't worth it? How does it work with a stranger, when you are starting with nothing? Those are the interesting questions I walked away with. I wish I knew the answers!
I liked the idea of this: two friends with completely opposite political views and backgrounds take a road trip and discover common ground. Especially appealing now that we are in a time that (in my short life at least) feels like both sides are more polarized than any time in recent history. Unfortunately, the book just didn’t always land.
One of the main things was the writing. The book is obviously written as a collaboration between the two of them which I am sure can be hard to manage. But there are so many more effective ways to write this than how they did (in my opinion). Do a first person “we” throughout the whole book, with maybe a first person I from both perspectives at the end of each chapter for each individual’s take from each of them when needed. Do alternating chapters; one by Jordan and one by Chris. Write it like an interview in parts where it is clear who is talking. I feel like anyone of those would be better than what they did. Here’s an example:
“Chris shot a look over at Jordan, whose eyes were fixed on the slalom road ahead. It was empty except for us and the long-haul trucks on their way up and down the freeway…...Earlier that evening, we had meandered down the sidewalks of NYC toward Jordan’s Volvo S60, which he had inherited from his grandfather. “It’s not much,” Jordan said.”
Maybe on its own this one excerpt doesn’t seem like much. But it was incredibly odd to read one sentence written from an omniscient POV where it refers to Jordan and Chris as if from out of the narrative, then the next sentence is the two of them saying “we." Yes, things need to be clear to the reader as to who is doing what. But I can’t think of any other book I’ve read with two writers that did it so inelegantly. There aren’t many other reviews of this but the ones I have seen don’t mention this, so maybe this doesn’t bother everyone. But it was honesty distracting the whole time.
I also felt like it was a little disorganized and lacking a central focus. Yes, okay, two friends want to understand the political landscape. And sure, by nature it’s a memoir and about a road trip so it’s bound to be a little meandering, but some of their tangents were just not worth it. Like near the end they spent a few pages describing how they went back to Idaho to look for this one cop a few years after he was particularly nice to them at a traffic stop. (Oh, because also this is not about one road trip, it’s about multiple road trips over the years which I think adds to the disconnect). Pages and pages describing calling different police departments and talking to secretaries about tracking down this unknown officer to say….what, exactly? Thanks? Hey, I realized how much harder this would have been if I was black and I wanna acknowledge that? Why are you nice? Who knows. It sounded like they found him but then they didn’t even say what their final conversation entailed. Huh? Why didn’t they ask him any of their burning questions when they first stopped by him? As far as I can tell, they knew they were writing a book then, too. Shouldn’t they have been ready to ask some hard questions?
I did like some of the sections more than the other, which is natural because they are stopping at different places. The parts with the truck driver, Pete who voted for Trump were fascinating. Pete is a character and it was one of the few times I have gotten a clear picture of how regulations affect people instead of just hearing blanket statements about how regulations are good or how they are awful. I also loved the New Orleans section and when they went to a women’s prison.
There were some well-written sections. I really liked this passage after they had a political disagreement and felt it kinda summed up the whole book:
“Healing, by this point on our journeys, was relatively easy for us. But the tenor of this fight, and its lingering wounds, weighed on our minds. What did it mean that we couldn’t extend out civil dialogue beyond the two of us? It felt like through long and excruciating hours of fights, debates, confessions, and reconciliations, we had earned something---the ability to trust each other so that somehow, despite our differences, we had forged a common language. But our friends didn’t seem to share that language, and in their presence we felt incapable of passing it along or abiding by it.”
So much swirling around in that. It's crazy how groupthink kicks in and it's so much harder to find your bearings in a group. Also makes you wonder what relationships are and should be based on. You see a lot of cutesy posts on Facebook that say things like, “We can disagree on politics and still be friends. It’s called being an adult.” But that’s a hell of a lot easier said than done. Politics encompasses every aspect of life--the military, education, what role the government should play, healthcare, etc. It’s the very frame we think the picture of life should fit in. You’re only kidding yourself if you think you aren’t political- that in itself affects politics/is a political choice. It’s incredibly hard to feel like there are things you fundamentally believe about life that someone else (someone you are close to, no less) is vehemently against. Relationships are built on values and similarities. Or are they completely? Are good times/memories, reliability, and other redeeming characteristics "enough"? How much of our personal politics determines if we are/aren't a good person? How much opposition can one take from a friend before it starts to feel like the relationship isn't worth it? How does it work with a stranger, when you are starting with nothing? Those are the interesting questions I walked away with. I wish I knew the answers!
June 1, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
One of those books books where a republican and a democrat co-write a book. I've read several of them. Usually, the democrat thinks the republicans should be more like democrats,and the republican agrees.
At least this time, a book breaks formula.
Unfortunately, there are other flaws. The democrat is a wannabe journalist, but his actions show us that he's about the last guy who should go into that line of work. Not much interested in facts, not much on thinking, and with none of that eternal curiosity that reporters claim they have. He also asks us to pretend that Berkeley is a bastion of normalcy.
The republican at least tries to think, but every time he makes an argument, the democrat has a crying jag.
They're also both Millennials, and as is typical, they rarely seem to know what they are talking about.
Skip it, especially if you're not a democrat.
One of those books books where a republican and a democrat co-write a book. I've read several of them. Usually, the democrat thinks the republicans should be more like democrats,and the republican agrees.
At least this time, a book breaks formula.
Unfortunately, there are other flaws. The democrat is a wannabe journalist, but his actions show us that he's about the last guy who should go into that line of work. Not much interested in facts, not much on thinking, and with none of that eternal curiosity that reporters claim they have. He also asks us to pretend that Berkeley is a bastion of normalcy.
The republican at least tries to think, but every time he makes an argument, the democrat has a crying jag.
They're also both Millennials, and as is typical, they rarely seem to know what they are talking about.
Skip it, especially if you're not a democrat.
May 25, 2020
I received an ARC of Union through a Goodreads giveaway. What a great read this proved to be. Two young men with opposing views of government and politics set out on a road trip. Along the way, they meet so many Americans who have stories these young men could never have imagined. The trip was so fulfilling that they repeated it several times. This opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at my country. Perhaps we all need to talk to people from various walks of life if we are to understand each other.
My copy, being an ARC, is not a hardback, but a paperback. My one regret is that I did not finish the book in time to submit my review before the sale date.
My copy, being an ARC, is not a hardback, but a paperback. My one regret is that I did not finish the book in time to submit my review before the sale date.
July 5, 2020
This was an interesting book and premise. I feel like their travels help you to see what is happening in our nation. It gives me hope that maybe we take individual listening and start to move it up to a larger ability to listen. The rawness of their friendship in times it is pushed shows vulnerability and humanity and we need more of that today.
July 20, 2020
This is an eye-opening tale of road trip adventures, told with humor and compassion. It is full of character study, and, really, a character study of the United States itself. These two guys come from different perspectives, but it is clear early on how much they love this country. They love it even more as they go along. At the same time, they are arguing their way across those miles, and are stuck with each other for days. The result is that they come to see the country through each other’s eyes and learn to talk, with mutual respect, about even the hardest subjects. You will be left wanting to hear more, about them and about the people they meet along the way. And maybe, like me, you will be left with greater hope for our country and our ability to talk across our biases than you started with.
August 30, 2020
Absolutely terrible. Two white men from California go to Yale Law and try to convince us they’re just so amazing. I have Republican and Democrat friends but I don’t write books explaining how amazing it is I have friends from both parties.
Summary - these two elitist condescending pricks go on a bunch of road trips, paid by the publisher, to talk to “real Americans” and explain them and their ways. Treat regular people like they’re zoo animals.
Best part is when these two white guys explain how black people feel about the police. Are you kidding?! No insights or perspective - main takeaway is that if you are privileged and go to Yale Law then Amy Chua can help you get a book deal even if you have nothing to say.
Summary - these two elitist condescending pricks go on a bunch of road trips, paid by the publisher, to talk to “real Americans” and explain them and their ways. Treat regular people like they’re zoo animals.
Best part is when these two white guys explain how black people feel about the police. Are you kidding?! No insights or perspective - main takeaway is that if you are privileged and go to Yale Law then Amy Chua can help you get a book deal even if you have nothing to say.
July 19, 2020
While reading Union, A Democrat, A Republican, And A Search For Common Ground, I laughed, I cried, and for the first time in years, I felt hope: Hope that our national experiment will survive, hope that there is more that binds than divides us, hope that our younger generations can find the good in this country. I fell in love with both authors and every person they met along the way...which really means, I fell in love with Americans across the country. Regardless of background or politics, everyone who reads Union will be uplifted and inspired by their fellow citizens and the great nation which we co-inhabit. Jordan and Chris provide lessons in history, civics and interpersonal relationships, and model strategies to speak and to listen with respect and dignity. This should be required reading for every high school, college and graduate student, as well as co-workers, family members and….well, everyone! Bravo to these two new authors!
December 1, 2020
2.5 stars. I wanted to like this book. It is weird, there is an interesting relationship between the two leads. It is almost more boyfriend/boyfriend then college friends. They have a real snippy, emotional level, that I think isn't typically found. The best part was the truck driver section and the lobster section. Neither really created an epiphany, but both were the most realistic and natural of all the sections.
July 21, 2020
I loved this book. It wasn't only a book about politics. Its a book about discovering who we are, where our values come from, and the untold stories of individuals living lives throughout the country that we often never get to learn the intimacies of. I suggest you read this book, read it again and give it to someone who you'd like to have deeper conversations with when you know you don't agree.
July 16, 2021
I was looking forward to reading this, but it was not what I expected. I thought the majority of the book would be about politics and how they would find a common ground between different political views, but it was more about their travels and the people they met.
July 21, 2020
A compelling, provocative, narrative that takes two men on a cross country journey filled with excitement and adventure, but even more importantly, addresses and answers many of the current problems we are now facing in a politically charged and divided nation.
August 24, 2020
One of the best books I have read in a long time. Very interesting look at what divides us and the hope of the future
January 16, 2025
It is 2020 and this book is a healing measure that is sorely needed in our current times. It sets aside the vitriol of divisive politics while the co-authors, each from different ends of the political spectrum, seek to genuinely understand each other, connecting in a way that is uniquely human. Kudos to the authors for this experiment. The everyday Americans they meet on their journey tell a far more nuanced, full-bodied and empathetic story than the caricatures that a polarised media report typically whips up.
I’m neither Republican nor Democrat - I don’t have voting rights in America. So, as an outside observer, it’s fascinating (though increasingly morbid) to understand why the divisions between ideologies are getting sharper and acerbic to the point of a virtual civil war played out on social media.
The disturbing pattern played out in the conversations between the co-authors is that Jordan (the Republican) seems to get angry when Chris (the Democrat) brings up facts to support his stances. Eg: climate change, racial violence, voter suppression or immigrant crime. They start arguing from opinions but as soon as the conversation reaches a point where objective data can help clarify which of their stances are accurate and based in fact, Jordan gets upset. I understand that the premise of the book is that we can have civil dialogue and friendly relationships no matter which party we are affiliated to, but surely, science and facts should be the underpinning of our conclusions, irrespective of party?
Keeping aside the science and facts argument, let’s delve into values. Jonathan Haidt’s amazing book “The Righteous Mind” has a theory of values framework where he argues that the Republicans place a greater emphasis on “fairness” in addition to the basic values that both parties espouse. However, this book brings up multiple instances where the authors experience how incarceration and systemic racism create unfair multigenerational situations for millions of Americans. Jordan seems to feel this pain, yet repeats in rote, the law-and-order refrain he has learned. Those instances felt like disappointing dark clouds in an otherwise constructive and hopeful look at America’s possible future.
I’m neither Republican nor Democrat - I don’t have voting rights in America. So, as an outside observer, it’s fascinating (though increasingly morbid) to understand why the divisions between ideologies are getting sharper and acerbic to the point of a virtual civil war played out on social media.
The disturbing pattern played out in the conversations between the co-authors is that Jordan (the Republican) seems to get angry when Chris (the Democrat) brings up facts to support his stances. Eg: climate change, racial violence, voter suppression or immigrant crime. They start arguing from opinions but as soon as the conversation reaches a point where objective data can help clarify which of their stances are accurate and based in fact, Jordan gets upset. I understand that the premise of the book is that we can have civil dialogue and friendly relationships no matter which party we are affiliated to, but surely, science and facts should be the underpinning of our conclusions, irrespective of party?
Keeping aside the science and facts argument, let’s delve into values. Jonathan Haidt’s amazing book “The Righteous Mind” has a theory of values framework where he argues that the Republicans place a greater emphasis on “fairness” in addition to the basic values that both parties espouse. However, this book brings up multiple instances where the authors experience how incarceration and systemic racism create unfair multigenerational situations for millions of Americans. Jordan seems to feel this pain, yet repeats in rote, the law-and-order refrain he has learned. Those instances felt like disappointing dark clouds in an otherwise constructive and hopeful look at America’s possible future.
July 22, 2020
Union is a special book. It shows how two people from different worlds can have the hard conversations and come out the other side much stronger. But to limit Union to simply politics or friendship would be doing the book a great disservice. One can take away much more from the stories of road. In fact, the second I finished Union, I found myself researching dream routes across our nation. Choosing destinations that would never have occurred to me, inspired from the locations in the book. The coasts of Maine and Tulsa, specifically.
Chris and Jordan do a spectacular job of showing parts of this country and the people who live there. What they experience, what matters to them, how their lives have grown and halted.
I really enjoyed the look into Chris and Jordan’s lives and friendship. Seeing the love between these men is inspiring and reassuring. This nation is currently so divided and I appreciate a roadmap on how to unite some fractures in my own life.
I very much recommend Union, and will be gifting copies of it to friends and family in both red and blue circles.
Chris and Jordan do a spectacular job of showing parts of this country and the people who live there. What they experience, what matters to them, how their lives have grown and halted.
I really enjoyed the look into Chris and Jordan’s lives and friendship. Seeing the love between these men is inspiring and reassuring. This nation is currently so divided and I appreciate a roadmap on how to unite some fractures in my own life.
I very much recommend Union, and will be gifting copies of it to friends and family in both red and blue circles.
November 15, 2020
I'll start off by saying I went to school with one of the authors, which might impact my thoughts on the book. Overall, it was cool, nothing life altering and I didn't necessarily come out of it with any new insights. Maybe I was expecting more out of it because I new one of the authors, but it's a pretty accurate description about how two regular guys from opposite political POV's see America. Neither of them are the torch-bearers of what the media has painted as the left and the right in America, which I guess if that's how you view the world can make for a refreshing read. I wouldn't suggest every one read this, but I think it is a worthwhile read for white Americans who see themselves as center-left or center-right, or to read in conjunction with somebody you're friends with who is a little more partisan on the opposite end of the left-right binary.
January 7, 2020
This is a book that the world really needs right now. Can’t wait to read!
January 8, 2020
Just preordered!
February 26, 2025
Maybe the worst book I’ve ever finished.
The premise is incredible - two young Yale educated lawyers with opposing political views drive cross country to experience and interrogate the real America.
The book ends up mostly being a vapid bros road trip (actually something like 7 bros trips over 3 years), in which they entirely miss the plot on the book they have written.
The thesis of this book seems to be that across the country you’ll find people (truckers, fishermen, ex-cons, immigrants, etc) experiencing different kinds of intense hardship that has been levied on them by a political system that has forgotten them or actively worked against them. These people at least have hope… that’s it. Not that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, not at least we can agree that they need help, just - seems like everyone’s lives really suck, so there’s not much they can do about it other than hope it’ll get better.
You would think this would lead to great two sided political conversations about topics like regulation, income inequality, immigration reform, systemic racism, but that never happens, not even close.
The nuanced political conversations between two smart young men are nonexistent. The only real mention of politics is two yelling matches in which they just hurl partisan talking points for 1 page only to describe an awkward car ride and bland apologies to each other. The political piece of this book is nonexistent in the final third.
None of that to mention that the bulk of this book is bad descriptions of driving through the country. I’d say 2/3rds of the pages are eaten up by boring nothingness about tumbleweeds in Oklahoma, or passing trees in Georgia. At least they nailed that Leon Bridges puts on a great show and is incredible road trip music, but I bet you already know that.
What this all boils down to is a poorly written book hoping to elicit hope in our nation, but it did nothing but depress me further. The whole time these two white men are writing about finding optimism about the big problems in our country but are too busy trying desperately to be profound that they failing to read between their own lines and realize, call out, and discuss their own privilege.
What a waste. Don’t read this book.
The premise is incredible - two young Yale educated lawyers with opposing political views drive cross country to experience and interrogate the real America.
The book ends up mostly being a vapid bros road trip (actually something like 7 bros trips over 3 years), in which they entirely miss the plot on the book they have written.
The thesis of this book seems to be that across the country you’ll find people (truckers, fishermen, ex-cons, immigrants, etc) experiencing different kinds of intense hardship that has been levied on them by a political system that has forgotten them or actively worked against them. These people at least have hope… that’s it. Not that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, not at least we can agree that they need help, just - seems like everyone’s lives really suck, so there’s not much they can do about it other than hope it’ll get better.
You would think this would lead to great two sided political conversations about topics like regulation, income inequality, immigration reform, systemic racism, but that never happens, not even close.
The nuanced political conversations between two smart young men are nonexistent. The only real mention of politics is two yelling matches in which they just hurl partisan talking points for 1 page only to describe an awkward car ride and bland apologies to each other. The political piece of this book is nonexistent in the final third.
None of that to mention that the bulk of this book is bad descriptions of driving through the country. I’d say 2/3rds of the pages are eaten up by boring nothingness about tumbleweeds in Oklahoma, or passing trees in Georgia. At least they nailed that Leon Bridges puts on a great show and is incredible road trip music, but I bet you already know that.
What this all boils down to is a poorly written book hoping to elicit hope in our nation, but it did nothing but depress me further. The whole time these two white men are writing about finding optimism about the big problems in our country but are too busy trying desperately to be profound that they failing to read between their own lines and realize, call out, and discuss their own privilege.
What a waste. Don’t read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2021
One could argue that finding common ground in these uncertain times is naive, but the authors show that perhaps there is hope. This is an optimistic tale of friendship in a divided nation. It is not only about friendship, but features harsh debates and the constant creep of political tribalism. Nevertheless, both sides are depicted as being intelligent and capable, and the book believes in the possibility of common ground. This is the kind of book the United States needs now.
It should be made clear that this is not a typical journalistic work. The authors intentionally involved themselves in the lives of those they depict, knowing that this was part of the project and not caring if it makes the book less "journalistically credible". This is a personal narrative, written like a third-person novel and filled with backstory. One could make the argument that they are just tourists of Americana, a question they themselves confront, but the book still holds water as a tale of friendship and new experiences.
It takes effort to find common ground. One friend a Republican, the other a Democrat; one friend a veteran, the other a civilian. These are divides that can kill friendships, but which can be overcome. There are certainly awful people depicted in the book, as there are in life, but most of them are good-hearted and want to do the right thing. Through anecdotes collected from lengthy road trips, some more eventful than others, the authors paint a picture of a divided but fundamentally good country. If you're becoming too disaffected by depressing political books, try this one.
It should be made clear that this is not a typical journalistic work. The authors intentionally involved themselves in the lives of those they depict, knowing that this was part of the project and not caring if it makes the book less "journalistically credible". This is a personal narrative, written like a third-person novel and filled with backstory. One could make the argument that they are just tourists of Americana, a question they themselves confront, but the book still holds water as a tale of friendship and new experiences.
It takes effort to find common ground. One friend a Republican, the other a Democrat; one friend a veteran, the other a civilian. These are divides that can kill friendships, but which can be overcome. There are certainly awful people depicted in the book, as there are in life, but most of them are good-hearted and want to do the right thing. Through anecdotes collected from lengthy road trips, some more eventful than others, the authors paint a picture of a divided but fundamentally good country. If you're becoming too disaffected by depressing political books, try this one.
January 11, 2021
Firstly, let me say that I did enjoy this book. I especially appreciated the candid discussions between Chris and Jordan. I read the book the first week of 2021, a historically turbulent time in America. Having witnessed a lack of faith in the fairness of the presidential election, and the subsequent storming of the U.S. Capitol building, the book's message of union, reconciling our differences, and listening to those with different views than ours, was a very tough sell.
Many of the people that Chris and Jordan meet and spend time with on the road are memorable, e.g. Pete, Willis, Brenda, Charlene, Tanya. Hearing their stories in depth provides the reader with their unfiltered thoughts and feelings of their challenges, hopes and dreams. But why do journalistic undertakings such as this book so often focus on downtrodden, "rough and tumble" people? I wish the authors would have spent time with a few people who are not down on their luck, from different social strata. Their ideas, feelings, sources of hope are just as complex and elucidating.
Upon completing Union, I am left with the perspective that we must get past the tribal, mob mentality that is so rife in the political world today. To get back to interacting with each other as individuals, not the out group that is feared and despised, not stereotypes or boogeymen of the left or right. All in all, a worthy and fun read.
Many of the people that Chris and Jordan meet and spend time with on the road are memorable, e.g. Pete, Willis, Brenda, Charlene, Tanya. Hearing their stories in depth provides the reader with their unfiltered thoughts and feelings of their challenges, hopes and dreams. But why do journalistic undertakings such as this book so often focus on downtrodden, "rough and tumble" people? I wish the authors would have spent time with a few people who are not down on their luck, from different social strata. Their ideas, feelings, sources of hope are just as complex and elucidating.
Upon completing Union, I am left with the perspective that we must get past the tribal, mob mentality that is so rife in the political world today. To get back to interacting with each other as individuals, not the out group that is feared and despised, not stereotypes or boogeymen of the left or right. All in all, a worthy and fun read.
July 22, 2020
There’s no shortage of ink (pixels?) spilled lately on the macabre and at times terrifying social dissolution of the United States. Of all those critiques, the most heartbreaking to me is the increasing inability across the political spectrum to see those with whom we disagree as human - flawed (like us), ignorant of many important things (like us), feeling strongly about the direction of the union and frustrated with those who don’t share those views. This totalizing tendency, that boils the complexity of humans down to installed packages of Facebook memes, is a devilish cycle that becomes more accurate the more people who believe it.
What I love about this book is that rather than a political analysis or set of (inevitably ignored) proposals, it is a paean to that rapidly ebbing sense of shared humanity. Through Jordan and Chris’s eyes, America comes alive, its annoying categories scrubbed off to give us the people and places beneath in their raw, individual glory. It is an intensely necessary book, one I recommend for those who want to rekindle that sense of humanness in how they relate to others. I hope everyone will read it before the most beautiful thing about this country is lost.
What I love about this book is that rather than a political analysis or set of (inevitably ignored) proposals, it is a paean to that rapidly ebbing sense of shared humanity. Through Jordan and Chris’s eyes, America comes alive, its annoying categories scrubbed off to give us the people and places beneath in their raw, individual glory. It is an intensely necessary book, one I recommend for those who want to rekindle that sense of humanness in how they relate to others. I hope everyone will read it before the most beautiful thing about this country is lost.
July 23, 2020
In a time where we’ve never been so divided, Union offers a real vision for how we might come together across seemingly impossible political divides. As we see from this story, bridging those divides isn't impossible. It may take a while, but it is journey that can happen one step, one conversation, one mile at a time.
Beyond its two star-crossed protagonists, there is a third character present throughout this story: the American landscape. Warning: this book will make your desire to road-trip go through the roof. The authors love for the American landscape seems to run as deep as the love they develop for its many eclectic characters. It is this landscape and its elemental beauty that provides a constant refrain from the many heated arguments that threaten to derail their journey and partnership.
I loved this book. I loved watching its realistic vision of hope come together piece by piece, conversation by conversation, against the backdrop of this beautiful country and the many incredible characters they encounter.
Buy this book if you want a great and easy read that will give you hope. And if you have a friend you can't see eye-to-eye on politically, buy it for them and watch what happens!
Beyond its two star-crossed protagonists, there is a third character present throughout this story: the American landscape. Warning: this book will make your desire to road-trip go through the roof. The authors love for the American landscape seems to run as deep as the love they develop for its many eclectic characters. It is this landscape and its elemental beauty that provides a constant refrain from the many heated arguments that threaten to derail their journey and partnership.
I loved this book. I loved watching its realistic vision of hope come together piece by piece, conversation by conversation, against the backdrop of this beautiful country and the many incredible characters they encounter.
Buy this book if you want a great and easy read that will give you hope. And if you have a friend you can't see eye-to-eye on politically, buy it for them and watch what happens!
September 17, 2020
Thank you to #NetGalley, Jordan Blashek, Christopher Haugh and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my honest review. Union, a Democrat, a Republican, and a Search for Common Ground by Jordan Blashek and Christopher Haugh is a true story written by two people who met and became friends in law school. Jordan is a former Marine and Chris grew up in Berkeley and they are polar opposites when it comes to politics. At the end of the academic year at Yale, Jordan needs to be in Los Angeles for his sister's wedding and he asks Chris to go along for the ride as an adventure. Chris agrees and this is the start of a three year period of heading out on road trips across 44 states in an effort to talk to people and learn more about this country. This book gave me a greater appreciation for our country and the people in it. I also came away with a feeling of hope that despite the turbulent times we are living in, there are good people in this country who all want the best for their families and their country and we should be able to find common ground. I highly recommend the book.
July 25, 2020
In these times of social alienation and political division, in America and the world, Union speaks directly to our human yearning for a way forward.
Two young men of differing values, political outlook, and life experiences set off, by car and truck, to see their nation. Through hours of thoughtful conversation and flares of anger, they begin to accept the integrity of the other’s life experience. Flickering insights emerge as they explore issues in ways that allow real consideration of the other’s positions. It is the beginning of respectful conversation about what really matters. That step is a crucial foundation for our American efforts to define, achieve and sustain a national union.
Americans are searching, with little coherent national leadership, for ways to start that conversation. Union is a warts-and-all study of difficult and crucial efforts to explore common ground and some of its limits. Steve S.
Two young men of differing values, political outlook, and life experiences set off, by car and truck, to see their nation. Through hours of thoughtful conversation and flares of anger, they begin to accept the integrity of the other’s life experience. Flickering insights emerge as they explore issues in ways that allow real consideration of the other’s positions. It is the beginning of respectful conversation about what really matters. That step is a crucial foundation for our American efforts to define, achieve and sustain a national union.
Americans are searching, with little coherent national leadership, for ways to start that conversation. Union is a warts-and-all study of difficult and crucial efforts to explore common ground and some of its limits. Steve S.
August 16, 2020
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!!!
This should be required reading for American. It is a true story, essentially a memoir, of Chris and Jordan; one, a former Marine, the other raised in Berkeley. They couldn’t be more opposite politically. They meet in law school and ultimately end up spending their spare time, whenever they reasonably could, in a 3 year period, road tripping around the country, meeting people and gaining perspective, appreciating more nuances and the country that we are lucky to be in. It’s a memoir of fights, challenges, misunderstandings, the goodness of people, tolerance, finding common ground, healthy dialogue, and above all hope for the future. It made me want to go sit in a pub somewhere, buy them a pint, and be a fly on the wall listening to their dynamic and hearing more stories of their travels and their ideas.
Highly recommended.
This should be required reading for American. It is a true story, essentially a memoir, of Chris and Jordan; one, a former Marine, the other raised in Berkeley. They couldn’t be more opposite politically. They meet in law school and ultimately end up spending their spare time, whenever they reasonably could, in a 3 year period, road tripping around the country, meeting people and gaining perspective, appreciating more nuances and the country that we are lucky to be in. It’s a memoir of fights, challenges, misunderstandings, the goodness of people, tolerance, finding common ground, healthy dialogue, and above all hope for the future. It made me want to go sit in a pub somewhere, buy them a pint, and be a fly on the wall listening to their dynamic and hearing more stories of their travels and their ideas.
Highly recommended.
February 2, 2021
Worth reading (3 1/2 stars), if only because it highlights the difficulty of needed national conversations, conversations which don’t occur often enough in this book
“ we both had come to believe that art, culture, and music were the best way to convey the complexity of who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we may be headed. Perhaps that was why were turning away from politics. In 2019 it was bereft of what really mattered- honesty, dialogue, nuance.” (P 233)
Hmmm... I have friends with whom I talk about music because the other discussions are a dead end, and threaten our friendship. I had hoped this book would provide deeper insights than our continuing national ability to agree on great bands, despite deep-rooted political differences. Politics DOES matter, even if we agree on Leon Bridges - how do we move forward?
“ we both had come to believe that art, culture, and music were the best way to convey the complexity of who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we may be headed. Perhaps that was why were turning away from politics. In 2019 it was bereft of what really mattered- honesty, dialogue, nuance.” (P 233)
Hmmm... I have friends with whom I talk about music because the other discussions are a dead end, and threaten our friendship. I had hoped this book would provide deeper insights than our continuing national ability to agree on great bands, despite deep-rooted political differences. Politics DOES matter, even if we agree on Leon Bridges - how do we move forward?
August 14, 2020
I enjoyed the book both from the exploring the different areas of the USA, and for the continued adventure of trying to find common ground between people of strong political opinions. The current virus is preventing many of us from normal social interactions with others. Those we do interact with most, are family and close friends. Unfortuneately, we get most of our news from our select sources we choose, social media and very limited one-on-one live interactiins.
There is a lot to be said for live interactions between people. Talking, not writing or texting viewpoints, brings out a much deeper understanding between people. The authors do a good job illustrating these points in their writing. They have delivered an excellent book for all if us to consider.
There is a lot to be said for live interactions between people. Talking, not writing or texting viewpoints, brings out a much deeper understanding between people. The authors do a good job illustrating these points in their writing. They have delivered an excellent book for all if us to consider.
July 29, 2020
Union, A Democrat, A Republican, And A Search For Common Ground is a fascinating and emotional journey through the eyes and minds of two exceptionally thoughtful young men with widely divergent politics and backgrounds. Despite their differences, their friendship is forged through unique experiences with diverse Americans confronting their own personal and social challenges. This book is a beautiful memoir of their road trips, an engaging textbook on civics, history and geography, and an intellectually rigorous, yet respectful, debate stage for today’s current issues. A “Must-Read” for all ages, especially in today’s polarized climate.
October 21, 2020
This is an incredible book that highlights the fact that we have more similarities than differences. It follows a friendship through the bumpy roads of our country and the bumpy roads that come from different political beliefs. Through the perspective of two men who come from completely opposite backgrounds and perspectives, the book reveals the true nature of America from a personal and up close view. The writing style was difficult for me to get used to and the stories and chapters felt a little choppy, but overall the message was clear. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for hope that it is possible to overcome our political divide.
August 31, 2020
If you've felt battered and overwhelmed and weary and hopeless about this year's election, I encourage you to read or listen to this book. It's intelligent, sincere, openly respectful, contemplative, and full of hope. It doesn't shy away from the hard stuff....racial inequality, illegal immigration, drug abuse, prison rehabilitation, or any of that....but introduces the voices of the Americans who are living it in such a generous manner that it's not just a debate or statistic. It gives it precious humanity.
Please read this book. Or listen to it.
It's just what we need.
Please read this book. Or listen to it.
It's just what we need.
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