Synopsis
The book The Fighting Soul: On the Road with Bernie Sanders by Ari Rabin-Havt, not Bernie Sanders, offers an intimate and vivid account of Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, written by one of his closest aides and deputy campaign manager. Rabin-Havt, who spent more time with Sanders between 2017 and 2020 than anyone else, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Vermont senator’s life on the campaign trail, capturing both the intensity of the political movement he inspired and the personal quirks that define Sanders as a uniquely principled figure in American politics. The narrative weaves together a portrait of Sanders as a fiercely independent, often gruff, yet deeply committed politician who shuns the norms of traditional campaigning, focusing relentlessly on issues like inequality, injustice, and progressive policies such as Medicare for All. Through their travels across thirty-six states, countless miles driven, and meals shared at chain restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, Rabin-Havt reveals a Sanders who is both a towering political figure and a down-to-earth man, uncomfortable with fame and driven by a lifelong dedication to the working class.
The book delves into Sanders’ personal history, offering glimpses of his childhood in Brooklyn and his early political efforts in Burlington, Vermont, which shaped his ideological commitments. Rabin-Havt highlights Sanders’ astonishment at his own political ascent, quoting him as saying, “Ari, my parents would tell me I was crazy if I told them I would become a senator, much less could become president of the United States.” This humility underscores the narrative’s depiction of Sanders as a politician motivated by principle rather than power, a rarity in the world of national politics. The book vividly recounts key moments of the 2020 campaign, including Sanders’ heart attack in Las Vegas, his heated debate with Elizabeth Warren, the pivotal endorsement from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and a significant private conversation with Barack Obama. These events are interspersed with lighter anecdotes, such as Sanders’ love for Motown music, his disdain for cable news pundits, and his bemused reaction to not recognizing Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, illustrating his disconnect from celebrity culture and political schmoozing.
Rabin-Havt also explores the broader impact of Sanders’ campaign, arguing that despite its abrupt end amid the COVID-19 pandemic and an unexpected defeat, Sanders profoundly influenced the Democratic Party by pushing it to the left on critical issues. The book portrays Sanders as a transformative figure, likened by Rabin-Havt to historical figures like William Jennings Bryan or Theodore Roosevelt for his role in reshaping American political discourse without ever reaching the White House. However, the narrative is not without critique, noting that the book sometimes sidesteps the question of whether Sanders’ progressive policies were too far left for mainstream voters, instead attributing his loss to resistance from the Democratic establishment. The storytelling, while engaging and filled with witty anecdotes, occasionally suffers from a disjointed chronology and digressions into broader political commentary, which can detract from the focus on Sanders himself. Nevertheless, The Fighting Soul emerges as a heartfelt and revealing tribute to Sanders’ enduring legacy, capturing his dry humor, his reliance on his wife Jane in decision-making, and his unyielding commitment to his principles, making it a compelling read for those interested in Sanders’ personal story and the dynamics of his historic campaign.