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Invisible Storm: A Soldier's Memoir of Politics and PTSD
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From political wunderkind and former army intelligence officer Jason Kander comes a haunting, powerful memoir about impossible choices—and how sometimes walking away from the chance of a lifetime can be the greatest decision of all. “A truly special book. This combination of honesty, thoughtfulness, urgency, and vulnerability is not common in leaders, and Jason demonstrates boundless occupancy of all of these traits.” —Wes Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Wes Moore In 2017, President Obama, in his final Oval Office interview, was asked who gave him hope for the future of the country, and Jason Kander was the first name he mentioned. Suddenly, Jason was a national figure. As observers assumed he was preparing a run for the presidency, Jason announced a bid for mayor of Kansas City instead and was headed for a landslide victory. But after eleven years battling PTSD from his service in Afghanistan, Jason was seized by depression and suicidal thoughts. He dropped out of the mayor’s race and out of public life. And finally, he sought help. In this brutally honest second memoir, following his New York Times bestselling debut Outside the Wire , Jason Kander has written the book he himself needed in the most painful moments of his PTSD. In candid, in-the-moment detail, we see him struggle with undiagnosed illness as he considered a presidential bid; witness his family buoy him through challenging treatment; and, giving hope to so many of us, see him heal.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
November 10, 2022
Jason Kander enlisted in the Army ROTC while attending Georgetown Law. Upon graduation, he was deployed to Afghanistan where he served as an intelligence officer. He liked the Army and the Army liked him. The work he did was important. This was, by all accounts, a worthwhile experience. When he returned home he chose to enter politics and was eventually elected to the position of Secretary of State of Missouri. Mr. Kander impressed several people along the way, and it was a surprise to very few in his party to discover Barack Obama on his phone. A meeting was arranged and the tap extended - not for governor or senator, but for the highest position in the land. The Democrats were wondering how he felt about running for president.
It was unfortunate for the party (and perhaps the nation) that the soft and steady drumbeat of his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was becoming too persistent to ignore. It had been years by now, years of abiding the night terrors, the anger, the guilt, the all-consuming fear of someone hurting his family - he hadn't seen any "real" action after all, so it was easy to deflect the diagnostic suspicion. Until it wasn't. In an incredibly candid and self-effacing move, Jason Kander entered treatment for PTSD...and let everybody know.
This book is, quite frankly, astonishing in its honesty and humility. Kander's ability to deal so squarely with the condition serves to normalize it completely. He has laid waste to every ounce of shame in an effort to speak to veterans everywhere, and to coax them into speaking for themselves. Which they have done. His wife steps forward as well in these pages to relay her experience; adding the testimony of the oft-forgotten loved one forced to bear witness. This is a fine and sturdy piece of work that genuinely serves humanity. Should Mr. Kander ever decide to re-enter politics (which he's considering down the road), he'd better be handing this out at his fundraisers. There's no better argument for your vote.
It was unfortunate for the party (and perhaps the nation) that the soft and steady drumbeat of his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was becoming too persistent to ignore. It had been years by now, years of abiding the night terrors, the anger, the guilt, the all-consuming fear of someone hurting his family - he hadn't seen any "real" action after all, so it was easy to deflect the diagnostic suspicion. Until it wasn't. In an incredibly candid and self-effacing move, Jason Kander entered treatment for PTSD...and let everybody know.
This book is, quite frankly, astonishing in its honesty and humility. Kander's ability to deal so squarely with the condition serves to normalize it completely. He has laid waste to every ounce of shame in an effort to speak to veterans everywhere, and to coax them into speaking for themselves. Which they have done. His wife steps forward as well in these pages to relay her experience; adding the testimony of the oft-forgotten loved one forced to bear witness. This is a fine and sturdy piece of work that genuinely serves humanity. Should Mr. Kander ever decide to re-enter politics (which he's considering down the road), he'd better be handing this out at his fundraisers. There's no better argument for your vote.
June 19, 2022
I would like to thank HarperCollins Publishers and the author, Jason Kander, for this galley proof of Invisible Storm. This book is RIVETING. Suffering from PTSD, the author put the brakes on his promising political career and took a step back to find a way to heal himself and his family. Mr. Kander is a very gifted man and I hope we will see him on the national political stage again. Then there's the issue of PTSD in our service people and what we do, or don't do, to help those suffering from its effects. Important in many ways.
July 7, 2022
I’ve known about Jason since before I had even decided to learn about American politics because Missouri was the first state I lived in the US, but I don’t recollect how I actually got introduced to him. So it’s been many years of watching his interviews, following his journey on social media, donating to Let America Vote, cheering him both during a prospective national campaign and the run for Kansas City mayor, and later wishing him all the best in his healing process from ptsd. I had also loved his previous book Outside the Wire, so there was no question that I was gonna read this one. I was very excited when I got the advance copy but waiting till I could buy the audiobook because I definitely wanted to hear it all in his own voice. And I’m glad I waited.
This is not an easy book to get through because the struggles both Jason and Diana go through are brutal but Jason keeps it honest and funny. I can never understand the kind of life he has lived or the kind of drive he has had to do something better for the world, but there are still tiny parts of his issues that resonated with me because I’ve had those days myself and it’s validating to know that I’m not alone in this. And which is why I think this is a very important book because there are too many people these days with mental health issues and while many know that it’s okay to seek help, it’s not easy to do it and there’s always something that’s stopping us, and listening to someone prolific like Jason share his process of healing from his trauma is very eye opening and helpful and I hope it’ll help not just veterans who are suffering from ptsd, but anyone who has issues. I also really appreciated getting Diana’s perspective because I didn’t know anything about secondary ptsd and I think it’s something that everyone should know more about, especially if you have family members who are struggling.
The book also raises rightful concerns about the conditions of service members after they return from combat and how nothing is done to make them get out of the intense survival mode and acclimate to civilian life. I’m deeply appreciative of Jason’s work with VCP and I hope his dream of working towards zero veteran homelessness comes true. And whether he runs for office again or not, I’m excited to follow all the work that he is doing with his nonprofit, podcast and as a party leader at 40. Hopefully he’ll also write more books because he is an inspiring progressive leader and his voice is much needed in an ever depressing world.
This is not an easy book to get through because the struggles both Jason and Diana go through are brutal but Jason keeps it honest and funny. I can never understand the kind of life he has lived or the kind of drive he has had to do something better for the world, but there are still tiny parts of his issues that resonated with me because I’ve had those days myself and it’s validating to know that I’m not alone in this. And which is why I think this is a very important book because there are too many people these days with mental health issues and while many know that it’s okay to seek help, it’s not easy to do it and there’s always something that’s stopping us, and listening to someone prolific like Jason share his process of healing from his trauma is very eye opening and helpful and I hope it’ll help not just veterans who are suffering from ptsd, but anyone who has issues. I also really appreciated getting Diana’s perspective because I didn’t know anything about secondary ptsd and I think it’s something that everyone should know more about, especially if you have family members who are struggling.
The book also raises rightful concerns about the conditions of service members after they return from combat and how nothing is done to make them get out of the intense survival mode and acclimate to civilian life. I’m deeply appreciative of Jason’s work with VCP and I hope his dream of working towards zero veteran homelessness comes true. And whether he runs for office again or not, I’m excited to follow all the work that he is doing with his nonprofit, podcast and as a party leader at 40. Hopefully he’ll also write more books because he is an inspiring progressive leader and his voice is much needed in an ever depressing world.
October 3, 2022
Outstanding. Everyone should read (listen) to it. More details to come.
I’ve been too busy to write detailed reviews, but suffice it to say this is an exceptional audio book read by the author. I highly recommend it and greatly admire Jason Kander for prioritizing his mental health and family life over his political aspirations. I hope eventually he can be in a head space where it’s something he can get back into, as I feel he could make a real difference in the lives of people in this country. Either way, he is making a difference right now working for and with veterans, and writing books like this.
I’ve been too busy to write detailed reviews, but suffice it to say this is an exceptional audio book read by the author. I highly recommend it and greatly admire Jason Kander for prioritizing his mental health and family life over his political aspirations. I hope eventually he can be in a head space where it’s something he can get back into, as I feel he could make a real difference in the lives of people in this country. Either way, he is making a difference right now working for and with veterans, and writing books like this.
March 21, 2022
Several years ago, I became a big fan of Jason Kander, mostly as a result of hearing him interviewed and later by listening to his podcast Majority54. I was not his only fan: in President Obama’s last interview as President, Jason’s was the first name he gave when asked who gave him hope for the future of our country,
His story is incredible and inspirational…also tragic in some ways. In his first book, Outside the Wire: Ten Lessons I’ve Learned In Everyday Courage, he recalled his career as an Army intelligence officer, including some harrowing tales from his time in Afghanistan.
He won a seat in the Missouri Legislature at age twenty-seven. In a famous campaign ad in 2016, when he was running for Senate, he rejected conventional political wisdom and stood up to the NRA campaign ad in which he argued for gun reform while assembling a rifle blindfolded.
Although many people encouraged him to run for national office, he ran for mayor of Kansas City instead. It seemed he was headed for a certain victory, but due to his ongoing battle with PTSD, he became depressed and suicidal and dropped out of the race. . But after eleven years battling PTSD from his service in Afghanistan, Jason was seized by depression and suicidal thoughts. He dropped out and sought much-needed help.
Invisible Storm is the book he needed when he was at his lowest, and I am sure many people will benefit from his brutally honest writing about his undiagnosed illness, his struggle with treatment, and his emergence from despair. It is tragic to read and be reminded of the effects the war continues to have on our veterans, but the way he has bravely healed from the years of struggle is heartening. Four stars.
His story is incredible and inspirational…also tragic in some ways. In his first book, Outside the Wire: Ten Lessons I’ve Learned In Everyday Courage, he recalled his career as an Army intelligence officer, including some harrowing tales from his time in Afghanistan.
He won a seat in the Missouri Legislature at age twenty-seven. In a famous campaign ad in 2016, when he was running for Senate, he rejected conventional political wisdom and stood up to the NRA campaign ad in which he argued for gun reform while assembling a rifle blindfolded.
Although many people encouraged him to run for national office, he ran for mayor of Kansas City instead. It seemed he was headed for a certain victory, but due to his ongoing battle with PTSD, he became depressed and suicidal and dropped out of the race. . But after eleven years battling PTSD from his service in Afghanistan, Jason was seized by depression and suicidal thoughts. He dropped out and sought much-needed help.
Invisible Storm is the book he needed when he was at his lowest, and I am sure many people will benefit from his brutally honest writing about his undiagnosed illness, his struggle with treatment, and his emergence from despair. It is tragic to read and be reminded of the effects the war continues to have on our veterans, but the way he has bravely healed from the years of struggle is heartening. Four stars.
May 30, 2022
Brilliant, brave, and consistently gripping memoir on Jason Kander’s service in Afghanistan, experience with PTSD, and presidential bid. Don’t miss this one!
July 15, 2022
I am probably biased because I’m a big fan of Jason Kander. I’ve been following him since he first launched his podcast in 2016 and I remember vividly when he announced his PTSD. Since the. I’ve followed him and his wife on social media and I have developed total crushes on both of them. They are smart, interesting, people who seem to have similar interests to me and I just find them both charming.
I find Jason’s voice and tone to be very reassuring and he has been the person I have turned to when the political news seems overwhelming so it’s really jarring to read his book and learn that the face he puts forth to the world had been hiding a man suffering from PTSD, guilt, shame, anger, and worthlessness. You really can’t tell what a person’s truth is from what they are projecting to the world.
I think the book’s structure showing both his and his wife’s POV is excellent and gives a pretty complete picture of what was going on for them.
All in all despite the heavy subject matter it is an easy book to read and it’s threaded through with hope. I’m glad Jason is doing better, I’m pleased that he has found a job that he loves and and I’m glad he hasn’t shut the door on a political future because I think he could help lead us all to a better place.
I find Jason’s voice and tone to be very reassuring and he has been the person I have turned to when the political news seems overwhelming so it’s really jarring to read his book and learn that the face he puts forth to the world had been hiding a man suffering from PTSD, guilt, shame, anger, and worthlessness. You really can’t tell what a person’s truth is from what they are projecting to the world.
I think the book’s structure showing both his and his wife’s POV is excellent and gives a pretty complete picture of what was going on for them.
All in all despite the heavy subject matter it is an easy book to read and it’s threaded through with hope. I’m glad Jason is doing better, I’m pleased that he has found a job that he loves and and I’m glad he hasn’t shut the door on a political future because I think he could help lead us all to a better place.
July 5, 2022
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Invisible Storm. Jason Kander has managed to write a book that bridges the military/civilian divide. With skilled storytelling and deep vulnerability, he shares his experience in a way that is both entertaining and informative. Without a doubt, this book will save lives.
June 17, 2022
“Anger never travels alone. It’s like a bouncer, protecting the fears and vulnerabilities we’re afraid to voice.” (Diana Kander)
January 3, 2024
Picked this up because I was lucky enough to see Kander speak at a work event this year and found him very insightful and refreshing to listen to. His book is no different. He lays his story out in a way that is structurally very compelling - you're sort of guided down this spiral he's experiencing over time with flashbacks to things that happened while he was deployed to Afghanistan to add context where it matters. While we can't all relate to being in a war, we can all relate to experiencing our own varieties of trauma. Kander clearly illustrates the idea that getting help for yourself is not an act of selfishness, but rather something that positively impacts everyone around you. (Related - Diana deserves a Nobel prize.)
Selfishly, I'd love for him to run for office again, especially after reading this. But if even he doesn't, I hope he keeps writing about his experiences.
Selfishly, I'd love for him to run for office again, especially after reading this. But if even he doesn't, I hope he keeps writing about his experiences.
July 5, 2022
Jason Kander was the Democratic Party's rising star until he suddenly stopped and fell out of the limelight. This is not a story of failure though, this is a story of how asking for help saved his life.
I first "discovered" Jason Kander like many others through the Majority 54 podcast. His soothing voice and confidence felt very much like a young Obama and he very clearly cared for people in this nation and helping others. I was riveted by every Podcast episode and often prompted family and friends to listen. But then, after season 1, he was gone. This book is the story of his mental health battle and how he dealt with it which included dropping out of the limelight to take time to heal for himself.
As a military spouse, I was already piqued with interest at this book but knowing that the author himself decided to contribute all of his royalties to combat veteran suicide and homelessness, I was 100% onboard and decided to preorder. Through Jason's amazing team, I was able to receive an advanced reader copy and let me tell you. This book. did.not.disappoint. I laughed; I cried ugly tears; I walked away with hope for soldiers and for America. This book is really fascinating to hear the interworking's of a political campaign, war stories from soldiers, and how mental health touches so many and affects so many differently. I especially loved hearing Diana Kander's side (the author's wife) and how PTSD affected her as well. As JK states "Mental health is physical health and physical health is mental health."
10/10 recommend this book!
I first "discovered" Jason Kander like many others through the Majority 54 podcast. His soothing voice and confidence felt very much like a young Obama and he very clearly cared for people in this nation and helping others. I was riveted by every Podcast episode and often prompted family and friends to listen. But then, after season 1, he was gone. This book is the story of his mental health battle and how he dealt with it which included dropping out of the limelight to take time to heal for himself.
As a military spouse, I was already piqued with interest at this book but knowing that the author himself decided to contribute all of his royalties to combat veteran suicide and homelessness, I was 100% onboard and decided to preorder. Through Jason's amazing team, I was able to receive an advanced reader copy and let me tell you. This book. did.not.disappoint. I laughed; I cried ugly tears; I walked away with hope for soldiers and for America. This book is really fascinating to hear the interworking's of a political campaign, war stories from soldiers, and how mental health touches so many and affects so many differently. I especially loved hearing Diana Kander's side (the author's wife) and how PTSD affected her as well. As JK states "Mental health is physical health and physical health is mental health."
10/10 recommend this book!
September 23, 2022
It’ll be hard to effectively put into words what this book meant to me. While he lived a significantly higher profile life, the peeks behind the curtain at his personal life could just as easily been about me.
PTSD is a hell of a monster, and in this book Jason shared many of the darkest parts of living with it that he and many other veterans (myself included) and survivors of other traumas live with. In particular the focus on all the reasons we can’t possibly have PTSD, because someone else had it worse.
Additionally I absolutely loved Diana adding her own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Her story about secondary PTSD has helped my family tremendously, even before the release of this book. Having her views and thoughts about the moments Jason was dealing with, and how they impacted her mental health, is incredibly eye opening.
Thank you both so much for writing this book, and for helping to provide hope for me and my family.
I was provided an advance copy of the book after pre-ordering.
PTSD is a hell of a monster, and in this book Jason shared many of the darkest parts of living with it that he and many other veterans (myself included) and survivors of other traumas live with. In particular the focus on all the reasons we can’t possibly have PTSD, because someone else had it worse.
Additionally I absolutely loved Diana adding her own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Her story about secondary PTSD has helped my family tremendously, even before the release of this book. Having her views and thoughts about the moments Jason was dealing with, and how they impacted her mental health, is incredibly eye opening.
Thank you both so much for writing this book, and for helping to provide hope for me and my family.
I was provided an advance copy of the book after pre-ordering.
July 19, 2022
A good look at a gifted, talented man whose insane drive, ambition, and work ethic were not enough to outrun his PTSD. There was a lot to think about in the book for those of us who have come back from deployments overseas, whether we have PTSD or not. (Two things in particular: first, his suppression of negative emotions to the point of losing the ability to feel positive ones as well, and secondly, his natural inclination towards intensity and the role that played in both his successes and failures in his life so far.)
I think I'd probably have been a bit more of a fan of this book were I coming to it from a civilian's perspective. As it is, all the gushing descriptions of Army life and descriptions of things that could have happened in Afghanistan read a bit flat, as my own history in both the Army and deployed to Iraq have jaded my perspective some. From the perspective of someone who doesn't have as much personal history in America's early 21st Century wars and time in the Army, this book would probably gain another star or two.
I think I'd probably have been a bit more of a fan of this book were I coming to it from a civilian's perspective. As it is, all the gushing descriptions of Army life and descriptions of things that could have happened in Afghanistan read a bit flat, as my own history in both the Army and deployed to Iraq have jaded my perspective some. From the perspective of someone who doesn't have as much personal history in America's early 21st Century wars and time in the Army, this book would probably gain another star or two.
September 14, 2022
Imagine a life going from facing potential death in Afghanistan to relative obscurity in Missouri politics to National acclaim and stardom- and then to losing everything with a PTSD diagnosis and crash heard around the world. Jason Kander is probably the most famous veteran spokesperson for mental health, and he tells his journey in a moving and difficult book- Invisible Storm. Kander pulls no punches describing his symptoms, treatment, and recovery from an illness that made him feel suicidal and worthless, even while he was climbing the political ranks and becoming a serious contender for president of the United States. He has been forthright that his admission of PTSD may have eclipsed any future hope of holding office, but he had no choice, and thank goodness he found help when he did.
My first impression of Mr. Kander was when he ran for Secretary of State in my home state of Missouri in 2012 as a Democrat. (This was the last year that any Democrat was able to win statewide for over a decade) He took the job seriously and began a campaign to protect voting rights, eventually founding Let America Vote, a nonprofit that champions voting rights nationwide. In 2016 Kander ran against Senator Roy Blunt and nearly won in a year that Donald Trump carried Missouri by a landslide. This near-miss made him a rock star in political circles and he started hearing from celebrities like Jason Sudeikis, Lin Manuel-Miranda, and Jimmy Kimmel. He appeared on network talk shows and was deemed the best hope to reclaim Trump voters, having come from a red state and being a young, charismatic speaker.
Little did any of us know back then that Kander was a paranoid, angry man who was still suffering from symptoms of being in danger in Afghanistan. He hid it well in public. It makes me wonder what other public figures are like behind the veil of stardom. Kander even met with President Obama after both had left office, and the president chatted with him for over and hour, encouraging him to consider running against Trump in 2020. "You have what I had, you're the natural," Obama told him. Kander went to New Hampshire in early 2018 to test out his campaign organization and it looked very much like he was going to announce his candidacy.
But then considering his growing mental difficulties, Kander had second thoughts about such a pursuit and decided to run for mayor of Kansas City, his home town, instead. That run only lasted a few months and by the fall he announced to the world that he had PTSD and was removing himself from politics entirely. This must have been difficult for Kander and his family, but he writes in the book that it was entirely necessary given where he was mentally. Going from being a presidential candidate to mental patient is about as far as one can fall, but Kander writes positively about the therapy that he got at the VA, and his wife Diana chimes in at several points in the book to describe her journey as well.
Politics seems to be the preferred way to get things done, but Kander took the long way and accomplished possibly more than had he ever gotten elected to office again.
- His nonprofit, Let America Vote is still in existence and is fighting against voter suppression measures in multiples states.
- He has a new nonprofit that he now heads, the Veterans Community Project, VCP, that builds neighborhoods of tiny homes in cities around the country that cater specifically to the needs of veterans and those suffering from PTSD.
- Calls to the VA crisis hotline tripled in the weeks after his 2018 announcement, and this book will only add to the awareness of mental health among veterans, many of whom still commit suicide to this day. During his book tour, Kander reported that many more approached him with their own stories. The stigma around mental illness is still strong, and only the courage of people like Kander is able to break it.
- He has a podcast, Majority 54, that is highly regarded and could provide a springboard to future political endeavors, which he hasn't ruled out entirely but don't seem imminent.
I can't possibly imagine what it was like to be in Afghanistan. Kander only covers his time there briefly. He wasn't in any big gun battles, but the psychological damage was severe due to his being place alone repeatedly in dangerous situations with people of unknown allegiance. He felt he couldn't trust anybody or any environment, and it's hard to live like that. I was absolutely shocked to read that even now the armed forces do little to prepare troops mentally for what they are about to experience, nor do they do any type of follow-up on returning troops when they return home. Only if the veterans report symptoms do they get help, and that help appears to be lacking in many cases.
I don't think we've heard the last from Mr. Kander just yet. He has already started popping up in interviews and his charisma is even stronger than ever with his improved mental and physical state. Attitudes about mental illness are evolving, and his political career could still be revived once he decides he's ready. Kander speaks lovingly about his wife and two children, and they are clearly his priority right now and that's great.
PTSD victims try to control everything around them, fearing danger around every corner, and panic when they can't be in control. Kander's therapist told him that most of us only control maybe 3% of our daily lives, which gave me pause. You can't overstress about the many things you can't control, but you can focus on and appreciate the many things that you can.
My first impression of Mr. Kander was when he ran for Secretary of State in my home state of Missouri in 2012 as a Democrat. (This was the last year that any Democrat was able to win statewide for over a decade) He took the job seriously and began a campaign to protect voting rights, eventually founding Let America Vote, a nonprofit that champions voting rights nationwide. In 2016 Kander ran against Senator Roy Blunt and nearly won in a year that Donald Trump carried Missouri by a landslide. This near-miss made him a rock star in political circles and he started hearing from celebrities like Jason Sudeikis, Lin Manuel-Miranda, and Jimmy Kimmel. He appeared on network talk shows and was deemed the best hope to reclaim Trump voters, having come from a red state and being a young, charismatic speaker.
Little did any of us know back then that Kander was a paranoid, angry man who was still suffering from symptoms of being in danger in Afghanistan. He hid it well in public. It makes me wonder what other public figures are like behind the veil of stardom. Kander even met with President Obama after both had left office, and the president chatted with him for over and hour, encouraging him to consider running against Trump in 2020. "You have what I had, you're the natural," Obama told him. Kander went to New Hampshire in early 2018 to test out his campaign organization and it looked very much like he was going to announce his candidacy.
But then considering his growing mental difficulties, Kander had second thoughts about such a pursuit and decided to run for mayor of Kansas City, his home town, instead. That run only lasted a few months and by the fall he announced to the world that he had PTSD and was removing himself from politics entirely. This must have been difficult for Kander and his family, but he writes in the book that it was entirely necessary given where he was mentally. Going from being a presidential candidate to mental patient is about as far as one can fall, but Kander writes positively about the therapy that he got at the VA, and his wife Diana chimes in at several points in the book to describe her journey as well.
Politics seems to be the preferred way to get things done, but Kander took the long way and accomplished possibly more than had he ever gotten elected to office again.
- His nonprofit, Let America Vote is still in existence and is fighting against voter suppression measures in multiples states.
- He has a new nonprofit that he now heads, the Veterans Community Project, VCP, that builds neighborhoods of tiny homes in cities around the country that cater specifically to the needs of veterans and those suffering from PTSD.
- Calls to the VA crisis hotline tripled in the weeks after his 2018 announcement, and this book will only add to the awareness of mental health among veterans, many of whom still commit suicide to this day. During his book tour, Kander reported that many more approached him with their own stories. The stigma around mental illness is still strong, and only the courage of people like Kander is able to break it.
- He has a podcast, Majority 54, that is highly regarded and could provide a springboard to future political endeavors, which he hasn't ruled out entirely but don't seem imminent.
I can't possibly imagine what it was like to be in Afghanistan. Kander only covers his time there briefly. He wasn't in any big gun battles, but the psychological damage was severe due to his being place alone repeatedly in dangerous situations with people of unknown allegiance. He felt he couldn't trust anybody or any environment, and it's hard to live like that. I was absolutely shocked to read that even now the armed forces do little to prepare troops mentally for what they are about to experience, nor do they do any type of follow-up on returning troops when they return home. Only if the veterans report symptoms do they get help, and that help appears to be lacking in many cases.
I don't think we've heard the last from Mr. Kander just yet. He has already started popping up in interviews and his charisma is even stronger than ever with his improved mental and physical state. Attitudes about mental illness are evolving, and his political career could still be revived once he decides he's ready. Kander speaks lovingly about his wife and two children, and they are clearly his priority right now and that's great.
PTSD victims try to control everything around them, fearing danger around every corner, and panic when they can't be in control. Kander's therapist told him that most of us only control maybe 3% of our daily lives, which gave me pause. You can't overstress about the many things you can't control, but you can focus on and appreciate the many things that you can.
September 14, 2022
The real story behind the public figure
The three lives, no four lives, of Jason Kander. The driven college student married to his high school sweetheart, the gung-ho army intelligence officer in Afghanistan after 9/11, the frenetic rising-star politician hiding a deep secret, and at the end, the man rebuilding his life dealing with PTSD. He calls it post traumatic growth. Every part of this story is engaging, no matter how different his life is from the average joe. It’s a stirring call to work for acceptance and access to mental health help, especially for PTSD. But it is delivered in a gripping story. Highly recommended.
The three lives, no four lives, of Jason Kander. The driven college student married to his high school sweetheart, the gung-ho army intelligence officer in Afghanistan after 9/11, the frenetic rising-star politician hiding a deep secret, and at the end, the man rebuilding his life dealing with PTSD. He calls it post traumatic growth. Every part of this story is engaging, no matter how different his life is from the average joe. It’s a stirring call to work for acceptance and access to mental health help, especially for PTSD. But it is delivered in a gripping story. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2022
I don't have time at the moment for a more detailed rundown of my thoughts on this terrific memoir - but it's pretty terrific. ;)
Through reading it, I learned quite a bit about PTSD. Specifically, I learned of its much wider meaning - which is something that Kander himself learned and which resulted in this book. I'm sure many people associate PTSD primarily (maybe only) with those who have had the most brutal experiences in war.
But PTSD can take many forms. While reading, I was reminded of an experience I had with a dear friend. On 9/11, he and I were together on the NYU campus. I could tell his thoughts were largely on 'survival mode' so he wasn't emotional at all (par for the course for him, anyway). ... Fast forward about 6 months; I get a phone call from him and he's a wreck, absolutely sobbing and saying things like, "David... all of those people in those towers...". All I did was encourage him to "let it out". But there's no telling how deeply that PTSD ran through him.
Kander was successful (I guess for the most part) in working through PTSD. I just wonder if he would now re-consider entering politics. (He suggests that he might.) It's apparent that he has the proper temperament for it. I think of someone like John Fetterman, who has had a stroke... and has kept on going with his campaign. Granted, a stroke and PTSD are not the same thing. Still... both men seem to me like they're very much 'the man for the job'.
[I also very much appreciated the periodic observations made throughout the book by Kander's wife, Diana. Good stuff.]
Through reading it, I learned quite a bit about PTSD. Specifically, I learned of its much wider meaning - which is something that Kander himself learned and which resulted in this book. I'm sure many people associate PTSD primarily (maybe only) with those who have had the most brutal experiences in war.
But PTSD can take many forms. While reading, I was reminded of an experience I had with a dear friend. On 9/11, he and I were together on the NYU campus. I could tell his thoughts were largely on 'survival mode' so he wasn't emotional at all (par for the course for him, anyway). ... Fast forward about 6 months; I get a phone call from him and he's a wreck, absolutely sobbing and saying things like, "David... all of those people in those towers...". All I did was encourage him to "let it out". But there's no telling how deeply that PTSD ran through him.
Kander was successful (I guess for the most part) in working through PTSD. I just wonder if he would now re-consider entering politics. (He suggests that he might.) It's apparent that he has the proper temperament for it. I think of someone like John Fetterman, who has had a stroke... and has kept on going with his campaign. Granted, a stroke and PTSD are not the same thing. Still... both men seem to me like they're very much 'the man for the job'.
[I also very much appreciated the periodic observations made throughout the book by Kander's wife, Diana. Good stuff.]
June 21, 2022
Thank you for the advanced readers copy!
When I approach NetGalley, I simply skim through my typical genres and, if something stands out to me, I will request it. I often don’t go in there intentionally looking for a specific ARC. I used this same approach when I requested Invisible Storm. The title grabbed my attention because I’m a military spouse (not something I often talk about on this platform), and I thought “wow, I’m super curious about his perspective/experiences.” To be honest, I had no idea who Jason Kander was/is. Staying up-to-date on politics has not always been something I’ve done, although I’ve gotten better over the past years thanks to my husband and @sharonsaysso.
I finished this memoir in three days. That’s pretty good for me right now while living with a toddler and being pregnant. I felt Jason was honest with his experiences, and transparent when it came to the “ monster” that is PTSD. My favorite sections were probably his interactions with his therapist (who sounds like an amazing guy). I also loved the snippets that his wife brought in. People often forget how impactful another person’s trauma can be on those close to them.
We have had four, possibly five if I’m miscounting, suicides in our brigade this past year alone. One specifically that was very shaking to me, and was a clear indicator of how we have continued to fail taking care of those who experience a high level of stress on a day-to-day basis.
Jason was very honest about how he played the comparison game with his trauma. Saying how since he didn’t do XYZ like so-and-so, he has no reason to feel the way that he’s feeling. Your feelings are valid. Your experiences are valid. It’s time we treat instead of comparing.
This is a longer review than I have typically been doing lately, but for some reason this memoir just hit me a little harder than others. Probably because I just spent the beginning of the week at a division change of command ceremony where I was sitting amongst 50+ soldiers, and the only thing I could think about was who here is experiencing this “monster” and no one knows about it.
4.5 rounded up to 5
When I approach NetGalley, I simply skim through my typical genres and, if something stands out to me, I will request it. I often don’t go in there intentionally looking for a specific ARC. I used this same approach when I requested Invisible Storm. The title grabbed my attention because I’m a military spouse (not something I often talk about on this platform), and I thought “wow, I’m super curious about his perspective/experiences.” To be honest, I had no idea who Jason Kander was/is. Staying up-to-date on politics has not always been something I’ve done, although I’ve gotten better over the past years thanks to my husband and @sharonsaysso.
I finished this memoir in three days. That’s pretty good for me right now while living with a toddler and being pregnant. I felt Jason was honest with his experiences, and transparent when it came to the “ monster” that is PTSD. My favorite sections were probably his interactions with his therapist (who sounds like an amazing guy). I also loved the snippets that his wife brought in. People often forget how impactful another person’s trauma can be on those close to them.
We have had four, possibly five if I’m miscounting, suicides in our brigade this past year alone. One specifically that was very shaking to me, and was a clear indicator of how we have continued to fail taking care of those who experience a high level of stress on a day-to-day basis.
Jason was very honest about how he played the comparison game with his trauma. Saying how since he didn’t do XYZ like so-and-so, he has no reason to feel the way that he’s feeling. Your feelings are valid. Your experiences are valid. It’s time we treat instead of comparing.
This is a longer review than I have typically been doing lately, but for some reason this memoir just hit me a little harder than others. Probably because I just spent the beginning of the week at a division change of command ceremony where I was sitting amongst 50+ soldiers, and the only thing I could think about was who here is experiencing this “monster” and no one knows about it.
4.5 rounded up to 5
August 7, 2022
This book feels like Jason Kander is your friend and he’s just chatting with you. I savored this book and didn’t want it to end. It’s the most highlighted book I have on Kindle. As a person who has been in therapy for many years with PTSD, I’ve read a million books on PTSD but none of them resonated so much as this one despite my not being a soldier. I loved the way he talks about going to therapy is getting a masters in yourself. I love the way he talks about how PTSD leads you to drive yourself to do more and more and it never being enough. And I love the way he talks about all the shame and guilt and then the process of healing. It’s been a while since I’ve finished reading a book and then wanting to immediately start reading it again. Very thankful my therapist thought of me and recommended this book.
July 5, 2022
I highly recommend Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD. Jason Kander’s book resonated with me and told a story of a recovery and love. Kander describes his experience in Afghanistan and its lasting effects. Unbeknownst to Kander, he spent the next decade suffering from PTSD. Fortunately, Kander sought help and transformed his life, relationships, and marriage. Kander details these experiences with honesty and transparency. After reading this book, I have a better understanding of PTSD, and I know there’s no reason to try and compare or qualify trauma. Invisible Storm changed the way I think about service, sacrifice, recovery and love. I hope it changes the way you see the world too.
May 2, 2022
This book illustrates the toll combat can take on service members and their families. Jason Kander writes about his process of recovery and learning to live with PTSD. I appreciated him detailing his experience in trauma therapy and hope it can help reduce stigma around mental health. This book is brutally honest, and I think it can inspire hope in others who are struggling. I couldn't put it down, read it in less than a day.
July 12, 2022
Excellent.
December 17, 2022
I 'discovered' Jason Kander through a very silly sports podcast called The Poscast with baseball writer Joe Posnanski and TV creator Mike Schur. Kander would join and talk about his old man baseball team and they'd make fun of him and it was great. Kander was instantly likeable and it was clear the 3 guys were friends. Over his random appearances, I started to pick up little facts about him - he was in politics, he was in the military - but never knew the true extent of his 'fame' if you will.
When he came on the podcast to promote this book and started sharing stories from it, I was floored. I actually don't know many people who were in the military, and to hear his stories first hand surprised me. I bought the book immediately.
I really enjoyed reading his story. He wrote about his experiences in a way that it felt like someone I knew was telling me the story of their life, and being very vulnerable about it. I really loved the paragraphs from his wife telling her side or what she was going through during that time. It made the story feel complete, as it wasn't one-sider or Kander wasn't assuming what his wife was going through. She was telling us directly. And I think Diana sharing her secondary PTSD is equally important to mental health narratives as that is something you never hear about.
I learned a lot from this book about the military, a soldier's life and readjusting to civilian life, and behind the scenes of politics. It made me cry, it made me grateful for those who to chose to serve our country, it made me mad about the red tape and political BS. Highly recommend.
When he came on the podcast to promote this book and started sharing stories from it, I was floored. I actually don't know many people who were in the military, and to hear his stories first hand surprised me. I bought the book immediately.
I really enjoyed reading his story. He wrote about his experiences in a way that it felt like someone I knew was telling me the story of their life, and being very vulnerable about it. I really loved the paragraphs from his wife telling her side or what she was going through during that time. It made the story feel complete, as it wasn't one-sider or Kander wasn't assuming what his wife was going through. She was telling us directly. And I think Diana sharing her secondary PTSD is equally important to mental health narratives as that is something you never hear about.
I learned a lot from this book about the military, a soldier's life and readjusting to civilian life, and behind the scenes of politics. It made me cry, it made me grateful for those who to chose to serve our country, it made me mad about the red tape and political BS. Highly recommend.
September 1, 2023
It absolutely should not have taken me this long to read this book. It’s phenomenal and I could have devoured it in a day, not over a year. But I only let myself listen to the audiobook while I was walking/exercising as a scheme to get myself in shape, and then I went and got pregnant. So I didn’t feel like doing any of those things. 😂
But the baby and I finished this on a beautiful morning walk today, and now I sincerely recommend it to you. Everyone who has ever struggled or known someone who struggles with their mental health - not just PTSD - should read this book. So, that’s everyone.
I genuinely hope Jason does return to politics someday when he’s ready. He’s exactly the smart and thoughtful public servant we need. But I also genuinely want what’s best for him because he deserves it.
But the baby and I finished this on a beautiful morning walk today, and now I sincerely recommend it to you. Everyone who has ever struggled or known someone who struggles with their mental health - not just PTSD - should read this book. So, that’s everyone.
I genuinely hope Jason does return to politics someday when he’s ready. He’s exactly the smart and thoughtful public servant we need. But I also genuinely want what’s best for him because he deserves it.
June 18, 2022
I read Jason Kander’s first book, Outside the Wire, and thought, “Those situations in Afghanistan were traumatic stress.” When I read Invisible Storm, I was not shocked to see Kander writing about his plethora of symptoms. Ironically, as he writes in this book, he wasn’t able to recognize what was happening. I am grateful he is sharing the mindset, the mental and physical symptoms, and the supports necessary for recovery from posttraumatic stress (to achieve posttraumatic growth).
Kander does a fantastic job of conveying the trauma mindset and the negative, intrusive thinking patterns. The ideas of not being “deserving” and the “should” statements combine to leave survivors feeling inadequate and searching for external validation, meaning, value, and self-worth. As an author, Jason Kander captured this with his narratives on political aspirations and his drive for success. “Emotions can’t hit a moving target.” Jason Kander was definitely on the move (in an upward political trajectory).
With incredible detail, Jason Kander described his mental and physical symptoms of PTSD. Just like so many other survivors, he did not associate current pain with past stress. The mind and body are not separate, which led to chronic back pain for him.
Kander was able to treat his PTSD symptoms with cognitive therapy at the VA. (He also added nutrition and exercise.) Something to really emphasize is Kander’s support network of family, friends, colleagues, etc. As he mentions in the book, traumatic events lead veterans to believe they are isolated. In discussing his fellow vets’ struggles, Kander proves isolation can be a death sentence for veterans. Changes to mental health access within the VA system, since Kander’s first attempts at seeking treatment, are encouraging.
I particularly appreciated the input of Jason’s wife, Diana Kander, throughout the book. This provides even more depth to the discussion on trauma. Survivors need not experience the traumatic stress first-hand. Secondary trauma is real and debilitating. The Kanders expressed the difficulty so many others face in acknowledging the sensations, feelings, and experiences are indeed PTSD. Both wrote about believing they had not earned such a diagnosis. Invisible Storm helps to rip the bandage off our expectations of how people develop PTSD, who it affects, and what it looks like.
I am a trauma therapist. I would recommend Invisible Storm to anyone and everyone. I believe it has special relevance and value for healthcare workers, veterans, emergency services personnel, and their spouses. It’s an excellent depiction of high-functioning trauma with very real, vivid articulation of the mental and physical responses to traumatic stress.
Kander does a fantastic job of conveying the trauma mindset and the negative, intrusive thinking patterns. The ideas of not being “deserving” and the “should” statements combine to leave survivors feeling inadequate and searching for external validation, meaning, value, and self-worth. As an author, Jason Kander captured this with his narratives on political aspirations and his drive for success. “Emotions can’t hit a moving target.” Jason Kander was definitely on the move (in an upward political trajectory).
With incredible detail, Jason Kander described his mental and physical symptoms of PTSD. Just like so many other survivors, he did not associate current pain with past stress. The mind and body are not separate, which led to chronic back pain for him.
Kander was able to treat his PTSD symptoms with cognitive therapy at the VA. (He also added nutrition and exercise.) Something to really emphasize is Kander’s support network of family, friends, colleagues, etc. As he mentions in the book, traumatic events lead veterans to believe they are isolated. In discussing his fellow vets’ struggles, Kander proves isolation can be a death sentence for veterans. Changes to mental health access within the VA system, since Kander’s first attempts at seeking treatment, are encouraging.
I particularly appreciated the input of Jason’s wife, Diana Kander, throughout the book. This provides even more depth to the discussion on trauma. Survivors need not experience the traumatic stress first-hand. Secondary trauma is real and debilitating. The Kanders expressed the difficulty so many others face in acknowledging the sensations, feelings, and experiences are indeed PTSD. Both wrote about believing they had not earned such a diagnosis. Invisible Storm helps to rip the bandage off our expectations of how people develop PTSD, who it affects, and what it looks like.
I am a trauma therapist. I would recommend Invisible Storm to anyone and everyone. I believe it has special relevance and value for healthcare workers, veterans, emergency services personnel, and their spouses. It’s an excellent depiction of high-functioning trauma with very real, vivid articulation of the mental and physical responses to traumatic stress.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2022
Like most people, I first learned of Jason Kander when he ran for the U.S. Senate and made headlines as “the guy in the gun ad.” I have been following him ever since. I remember being so baffled when he decided to run for mayor of Kansas City after so narrowly losing the senate race. His star power just seemed so much greater. And then not long into the race, he shocked the political world and announced he was dropping out of that race to take care of his mental health as he had PTSD from his time serving in Afghanistan. This book explains how he got there, how he healed, and how he is doing now. I found this book to be eye opening, stressful, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. Jason tells his story with such candor (see what I did there?) that you feel like you are in the room with him, from his dangerous intelligence gathering meetings to his therapy sessions to his patrolling his house at night because his PTSD has him believing that he and his family are in danger. Often you hear the term PTSD thrown around casually, and Jason does an excellent job illustrating what it really means. And his wife, Diana, gives him a lift in each chapter by telling her own experience as his wife and mother of their children. It’s clear that we need to do more as a country to support our vets with re-entry when they come home from serving their country. We spend a lot of money on weapons and vehicles, but where is the money for mental health? Jason does a tremendous job shining light on an important topic.
August 10, 2022
Jason Kander’s story is so compelling and will no-doubt be (or has been) life-saving for many veterans struggling with PTSD. The opening scene where he has to tell the VA psychiatrist who had no idea who he was that he’s been having suicidal thoughts but that he’s also been considering a run for president was the perfect way to grab the reader.
I especially love that his wife Diana narrates part of the story because it illustrates not just what he went through but what it was like to watch your partner struggle and then go through your own secondary trauama as a result.
But most importantly, he starts a conversation as to what’s on the other side of PTSD for those who get help: post-traumatic growth.
I especially love that his wife Diana narrates part of the story because it illustrates not just what he went through but what it was like to watch your partner struggle and then go through your own secondary trauama as a result.
But most importantly, he starts a conversation as to what’s on the other side of PTSD for those who get help: post-traumatic growth.
December 21, 2022
PTSD is always a worthy topic. This was cringy at times… very evident that the author is (a former?) politician in that he really loves his accomplishments and talking about them. I listened to the audiobook so perhaps that’s why I had such a cringy reaction to the things the author read.
June 26, 2022
“The doctor sat back in his chair. ‘Barack Obama told you that you could run for President?’ He tapped his notebook a couple of times with his pen, then pursed his lips, ‘So how often would you say you hear voices?’”
So begins Jason Kander’s “Invisible Storm A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD”.
Jason Kander is a bit of an enigma. He attended and did well in both a prestigious college and law school but felt more at home training with his cohorts in the National Guard on his time off. He is a progressive Democrat and a combat veteran who served a tour in Afghanistan. These attributes, combined with his earnest “desire to serve” catapulted him into the Democratic party’s stratosphere. After his tour, he became a Missouri Congressman. He then became the Missouri’s Secretary of State and just narrowly lost a Senate race in 2016. He was the future of the Democratic party, so it was a bit surprising when, in 2018, he announced that he was running for the mayoral race in Kansas City. It was downright sobering when he announced, weeks before the election, that he was dropping out of the race to focus on healing from PTSD.
This memoir candidly details the havoc PTSD wrought on Kander and his family, even as it looked from the outside that everything was perfect. Kander’s wife, Diana, shares her perspective throughout the book too. It is eye opening. I appreciate Kander’s honesty as he describes the anger, shame, guilt, and comparison he dealt with. It also shines a light on how difficult it is for our veterans to get the mental health help they need. He sought and received help from the VA but it was a difficult process.
This book is riveting. I was so intrigued as I read about his ascension in both the military and then the political world. The stories Kander includes about his tour overseas or his campaign across America are well written and captivating. Most enjoyable, though, were the snippets of his time healing with his family and friends. It’s beautiful and I wish every PTSD sufferer can have that too.
Even if you’re not a combat veteran or into politics, you can glean so much from Kander’s story. We’ve all been through a collective trauma these past two plus years with the pandemic and it’s important to deal with that. Kander was able to get the help he needed and is doing well now. It’s incredibly hopeful to think that if he was able to get better, then we can too.
I’m grateful to Net Galley for the early copy of the book.
So begins Jason Kander’s “Invisible Storm A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD”.
Jason Kander is a bit of an enigma. He attended and did well in both a prestigious college and law school but felt more at home training with his cohorts in the National Guard on his time off. He is a progressive Democrat and a combat veteran who served a tour in Afghanistan. These attributes, combined with his earnest “desire to serve” catapulted him into the Democratic party’s stratosphere. After his tour, he became a Missouri Congressman. He then became the Missouri’s Secretary of State and just narrowly lost a Senate race in 2016. He was the future of the Democratic party, so it was a bit surprising when, in 2018, he announced that he was running for the mayoral race in Kansas City. It was downright sobering when he announced, weeks before the election, that he was dropping out of the race to focus on healing from PTSD.
This memoir candidly details the havoc PTSD wrought on Kander and his family, even as it looked from the outside that everything was perfect. Kander’s wife, Diana, shares her perspective throughout the book too. It is eye opening. I appreciate Kander’s honesty as he describes the anger, shame, guilt, and comparison he dealt with. It also shines a light on how difficult it is for our veterans to get the mental health help they need. He sought and received help from the VA but it was a difficult process.
This book is riveting. I was so intrigued as I read about his ascension in both the military and then the political world. The stories Kander includes about his tour overseas or his campaign across America are well written and captivating. Most enjoyable, though, were the snippets of his time healing with his family and friends. It’s beautiful and I wish every PTSD sufferer can have that too.
Even if you’re not a combat veteran or into politics, you can glean so much from Kander’s story. We’ve all been through a collective trauma these past two plus years with the pandemic and it’s important to deal with that. Kander was able to get the help he needed and is doing well now. It’s incredibly hopeful to think that if he was able to get better, then we can too.
I’m grateful to Net Galley for the early copy of the book.
December 13, 2022
Jason Kander was a rising star in the Democratic Party, not just locally, but also nationally. Barack Obama listed him as one of the party's rising stars, and many were surprised when Kander chose to run for mayor of Kansas City instead of pursuing even grander offices--including a possible Presidential run. He surprised even more when he dropped out of the mayoral race abruptly and spotlighted his struggles with mental health as his reasons. Kander very candidly examines how he got to a place where he went from the campaign trail to a hospital receiving a psychiatric evaluation, in large part due to his denial of the PTSD symptoms he had been experiencing. Because Kander wasn't on the front lines and only served a short time in Afghanistan, he felt he didn't "earn" the PTSD he had been experiencing, despite recalling the very dangerous situations he was placed in his time in the military. What was refreshing about Kander's memoir was not only his own personal experiences, but the inclusion of his wife Diana's perspectives at the end of each chapter, sharing what she saw in Jason but also how it affected her and their marriage. I also really appreciated Kander's awareness of how the mental tools you need to survive while serving are not the same tools and strategies that you need to reenter civilian life, and how the military needs to do more to prepare veterans for life afterward.
June 14, 2022
Invisible Storm
I have been listening to Jason Kander on his podcast Majority54 for a while now and I even voted for him during his run for Senate here in Missouri. It’s interesting to me that someone can seem so normal and on the very cusp of a huge undertaking like running for US president but be in such turmoil on the inside. Truly, some of us can hide what is really going on inside our heads so well; but as Jason said in the book you can’t outrun the Monster. I think that so many people, especially men, find it difficult to admit they have a problem. Reading the stories of what he did during his deployment and how that bled into his actions once he was home and how it deeply affected his wife really makes you stop and evaluate your own actions and how what you do has such a ripple effect. I enjoyed the parts that Diana offered from her perspective, it also had me evaluating how I’ve reacted to similar situations in my past. I think it took a lot of courage to write about something so personal and from reading I feel that Jason will have a hard time accepting the praise that will surely come from those that read this book (that’s just the Monster Jason, don’t let it trick you!). I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone, we all know someone that is suffering (whether they’ve displayed it outwardly or keep it all inside) and I think that reading this may help plant the seeds for them to seek help or give their loved ones a way to reach out and suggest they seek help. My favorite line in the book was “Nobody builds avocado cellars”; and I think that whole paragraph really sums up how we should be treating trauma and mental health. On the podcast they always end with “Everyone has a platform, remember to use yours today” and I feel like this book is an excellent example of just that. Way to use your platform Jason, and thank you.
I have been listening to Jason Kander on his podcast Majority54 for a while now and I even voted for him during his run for Senate here in Missouri. It’s interesting to me that someone can seem so normal and on the very cusp of a huge undertaking like running for US president but be in such turmoil on the inside. Truly, some of us can hide what is really going on inside our heads so well; but as Jason said in the book you can’t outrun the Monster. I think that so many people, especially men, find it difficult to admit they have a problem. Reading the stories of what he did during his deployment and how that bled into his actions once he was home and how it deeply affected his wife really makes you stop and evaluate your own actions and how what you do has such a ripple effect. I enjoyed the parts that Diana offered from her perspective, it also had me evaluating how I’ve reacted to similar situations in my past. I think it took a lot of courage to write about something so personal and from reading I feel that Jason will have a hard time accepting the praise that will surely come from those that read this book (that’s just the Monster Jason, don’t let it trick you!). I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone, we all know someone that is suffering (whether they’ve displayed it outwardly or keep it all inside) and I think that reading this may help plant the seeds for them to seek help or give their loved ones a way to reach out and suggest they seek help. My favorite line in the book was “Nobody builds avocado cellars”; and I think that whole paragraph really sums up how we should be treating trauma and mental health. On the podcast they always end with “Everyone has a platform, remember to use yours today” and I feel like this book is an excellent example of just that. Way to use your platform Jason, and thank you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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