NEVERTHELESS, WE PERSISTED

This compelling collection from 48 activists, including athletes, actors, authors, politicians, entrepreneurs, and musicians, is a powerful journalistic tour de force.

It is extremely rare to come across a book that is both timely and timeless, but this insightful compilation, whose title derives from the misogynistic treatment of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, more than rises to the occasion. Each essay is a story of struggle to find identity and self-love while confronting the racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism that remain embedded in American culture. The narrative accounts—generally three to five pages in length—are highly accessible, and their formats, which range from essays to interviews and comic strips, highlight the authors’ diversity of experiences and celebrate the potency of all forms of storytelling. One particular standout essay is that of former NFL player Wade Davis, whose gut-wrenching account of his struggle with homosexuality demonstrates how sports culture and religion shape American ideals of masculinity. Each tale is a soulful testament to the endurance of the human spirit and reminds readers that they are not alone in their search for self. The biography section shows the diversity of the contributors in terms of ethnicity, nationality, age, physical and mental health status, sexual orientation, and religion.

An unflinchingly honest book that should be required reading for every young person in America.