Persist

U.S. senator and former presidential candidate Warren (This Fight Is Our Fight) details her policy agenda in this clear-sighted account. She admits to feeling “a little numb” after dropping out of the 2020 Democratic primary, and recalls how chalk messages written by supporters on the sidewalk in front of her house inspired her to “suck it up and get back to work.” Drawing on personal anecdotes and stories shared by voters on the campaign trail, Warren effectively humanizes her policy prescriptions. For example, she buttresses her call for universal childcare with a discussion of how, after being fired from a teaching job in 1971 “for getting pregnant,” her pursuit of a law degree hinged on potty training her toddler daughter in five days so a day care center would take her. Warren calls for a wealth tax (“two cents for every dollar above $50 million, and three cents for every dollar above $1 billion”) to fund universal childcare and improvements in public education, and lays out plans for campaign finance reform, affordable housing, and banking regulations. Though Warren’s admirers won’t find much new, the book’s affable tone and levelheaded discussions of social issues are refreshing. This is an accessible introduction to the politician and the policies she stands for. (May)