by Judy Shepard
First published 2016
Joe Solmonese led the Human Rights Campaign through impossible odds to achieve historic wins. The organization helped pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and secured marriage equality in eight states. Solmonese's secret weapon was anger itself. He learned to channel rage as pure energy, driving him forward without letting it destroy his mission. Drawing from his time at HRC and as CEO of EMILY's List, Solmonese shares counterintuitive strategies that worked. He empathized with opponents rather than shaming them. He found unexpected allies and asked for achievable goals while keeping impossible dreams alive. His most remarkable skill was extracting small victories from hostile adversaries. Throughout every battle, he managed anger's contradictory nature. When facing bigotry and hatred, the urge to explode with righteous fury never disappeared. Solmonese felt that anger but stayed strategic with his outrage. His approach turned a destructive emotion into the foundation for lasting social change.
Genres: history, non-fiction, biography-memoir, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspirational, overcoming-adversity
Setting: United States
Period: 21st Century
318 pages · Paperback · ReadHowYouWant