First published 2023
Amy Klobuchar opens her political memoir by reflecting on the extraordinary years that tested both her personal strength and American democracy. The Minnesota senator takes readers inside pivotal moments where she witnessed history unfold. She describes standing on the Senate floor during critical pandemic legislation, participating in the intense 2020 presidential primary race, and experiencing the chaos of January 6 when rioters invaded the Capitol building. Klobuchar built unexpected momentum as a presidential candidate before choosing to withdraw and endorse Joe Biden. Personal crises intersected with political upheaval when COVID struck her husband, landing him in the hospital for a week on oxygen. She faced her own cancer diagnosis while watching her father's decline from Alzheimer's disease. Through these trials, Klobuchar maintains her characteristic wit and pragmatic outlook. She shares candid observations about working alongside difficult Senate colleagues and the surreal experience of certifying Biden's electoral victory past midnight alongside Vice President Pence. At its heart, this memoir celebrates the persistence that carried both Klobuchar and the nation through unprecedented challenges.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, political-upheaval
Setting: Capitol Building, Minnesota, Senate
Period: 2020, Pandemic
366 pages · Kindle Edition · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: anxiety, depression