Two Paths: America Divided or United

As someone who followed John Kasich's campaign from the very start and voted for him in The North Carolina GOP Primary, I was anxious to pick up this book. Trust me when I say that it doesn't disappoint. Kasich's optimism and hope for America shine through each page, at a time when America's path looks full of doom and gloom, Kasich provides ample reason for Americans to remain optimistic.

Personally I felt it was a great concept to write about how dived we've become and how we need to come together. Offers some insight that we often overlook and I think Kasich has a different point of view than most politicians. I feel that a lot of the trump supporters need to get over themselves and accept where we're at as well

A vivid, reflective and insightful account of what transpired during the 2016 presidential campaign from the viewpoint of the last standing GOP contender to Donald Trump. In Two Paths, John Kasich chronicles the path that prompted others to recommend to him a presidential candidacy, and his own personal, spiritual and journey through a career that led Ohio voters to elect him 12 times (without a loss) to high office and Ohio Republicans to give him a clear victory over Mr. Trump in their March 2016 primary. Any of those of us who supported Governor Kasich in 2016 will appreciate additional color he attaches to events where we were present, as well as a reairing of the uplifting conservative vision he brought to his campaign. Political junkies will appreciate the mine of material about the race which they will find nowhere else. Those concerned with the coarsening of our democracy will appreciate Mr. Kasich's description of forces which have poisoned our political culture to a point where necessary and commonsense compromises seem impossible, regardless of who lives in the White House. Written candidly and sympathetically about the kinds of events which affect all presidential campaigns, not just his own, Kasich also explains without bile his inability to find enough merit in the candidacy of either nominee to make an endorsement. Especially touching are a letter his daughter Reece allowed him to include and his own letter to his twins about how they should approach the next presidential election, regardless of who runs. As a historian, I hope future presidential candidates will provide citizens their own memoirs equal to the high quality John Kasich displays in Two Paths.

Just received my book two days ago and have already read through 50% of it. The words of John Kasich are much needed & inspiring! He gives me hope for my country. We need less partisanship & more problem solving. I'm following Kasich & his #TwoPaths ideology. I hope I get another chance at sending him to the White House! Buy this book. Read his words. Be the change in your community. That's what America is all about.

My grandparent's roots are French & my parents were 1st generation Americans. They love this country more than anything. The reason I figured to start with immigration is because it's so important in the makeup of our country. The USA is great because the greatness does truly lie in us, & that's how I've raised my children. To honor & love their country & their fellow Americans. There should be no divisions. We are Americans first & foremost. Together. However, I feel this fabric of love between people is degrading & Gov Kasich nails this. Out of all the politicians who sought The Presidency of The United States, John Kasich, alone was not just qualified but he could have really strengthened the fabric of our great nation. His new book Two Paths is wonderfully written & it really allows readers to catch a glimpse into what this man felt & what he experienced as he sought the highest office in the land. This man is for real...he wears his heart on his sleeve. Maybe he's not flashy, but if you look at The Governor's eyes, you can see pain but you can also see hope, you can see the fire that burns in his belly, but you can also feel empathy & compassion. The eyes are a window into the soul & John Kasich was able to draw people to him during those town halls, because he truly cares. The ill, the sick, the cancer-stricken, parents who have lost children, the disabled, & the cured. They all wanted to share their story, to let out what they have bottled in. This man has a kind & gentle soul that is sorely needed. Hence, maybe why this particular cover was chosen. What is sad are the trolls who have not read the book, but feel the need to attack this wonderful American & human being. I'm not social media savvy but have a daughter who is & who loves this Ohio Governor, as I have grown to as well. What is also a tragedy is not electing this gentleman as Our President. You will enjoy this book because it's written from the heart. Parents, please inspire your children to live a life bigger than themselves. It is up to us to teach our children & show them that reaching out & being civil will pay dividends that cannot be measured in dollars, but in priceless gifts that are immeasurable. Happy Reading!

A rational, reasonable Republican voice amid all the negativity. Republicans used to be the party of progressives. Not today's shameful party whose only driving motivation is "triggering snowflakes." Lincoln. FDR. Taft. Reagan (to some degree). With John Kasich, it still can be.

So what is a Progressive? Is it a liberal? Not really.
Is it a Democrat? Much of the time, no.
What the heck is it then?

A progressive is one who adheres to a political ideology which advocates for or favors social, political, and economic reform or changes through the state. A progressive champions peace, social and economic justice, civil rights, civil liberties, human rights, a preserved and empowered environment, and a reinvigorated democracy. Its bedrock values are nonviolence and freedom of speech. They promote human rights, the democratic process, direct voter control, and consumer rights.

Simply put, a progressive is someone who sides with “regular people” over Wall Street.

I came to this book with positive intrigue after watching Kasich during the 2016 campaign trail. I enjoyed his folksiness and Midwestern charm as much as I did his explanation of most of his stances on the issues. All seemingly honest and earnest. What is most unfortunate is that by page 100 I found everything Mr. Kasich professing to be thrown to the wind the moment he invokes the Clinton name— whether it be his experience with Bill's tax policy in the 90s, or his assumption of Hillary's character and motive during the Obama era, Mr. Kasich uses sharp, biting words in aggressive diction without ever explaining his disdain. Sad.

I came to this book with positive intrigue after watching Kasich during the 2016 campaign trail. I enjoyed his folksiness and Midwestern charm as much as I did his explanation of most of his stances on the issues. All seemingly honest and earnest. What is most unfortunate is that by page 100 I found everything Mr. Kasich professing to be thrown to the wind the moment he invokes the Clinton name— whether it be his experience with Bill's tax policy in the 90s, or his assumption of Hillary's character and motive during the Obama era, Mr. Kasich uses sharp, biting words in aggressive diction without ever explaining his disdain. Sad.

I really enjoyed this book. Of important note in case this would deter you: the book is not focused on politics or policy positions. It’s an accounting of the 2016 election (especially the primary) from Gov. Kasich’s perspective. It also gets more interesting as it goes along. As a literary object, it’s not too special (and he as much as says this up front; he wrote it for a few specific purposes), but there are several reasons I enjoyed it:
- I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes detail on Presidential campaigning (some humorous as well)
- However much you do or don’t agree with him, Gov. Kasich’s messages of working together, staying out of the echo chamber, and not settling I think are needed right now
- I found myself remembering some of the same highlights and concerns that Gov Kasich did which reaffirmed some of my feelings about the whole situation
- I enjoy Gov. Kasich’s respectful candor and find it genuine

For any open person, I think this is a worthwhile read regardless of one’s position on the political spectrum. I find so much value in listening to different perspectives, especially if they are generally focused in some sort of positive way.

It’s interesting, as I saw Gov. Kasich speak when I got my copy signed. I was truly impressed by how sharp of a person he is. He was interesting to listen to and seemed as genuine as he portrays himself to be. I also remember the event well, as Gov Kasich had a conversation with my daughter and offered her a famous Kasich hug, which was featured in his online “Two Paths” promotion video. Anyway, he signed my copy “Keep the Faith,” which I assumed to be a reference to his strong religious beliefs. And while that’s also true, I learned by the end of the book what other meanings that phrase has and why he would offer it more broadly. I found that uplifting.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

I enjoyed reading John Kasich's account of the 2016 election and all that led up to his decision to run. I did feel he was one of the few grownups in the room at the Republican debates. You didn't even have to be of that party to see that. While his positions affecting women may be too strict and conservative for me, I honestly think he has the integrity and knowledge to be a better president than what his party has in the Oval. In other words, he's in politics for the right reasons. His book exemplifies that. It was an easy, satisfying read though at times his love of his childhood hometown became repetitive. He is proud of his roots, and understandably, given the tragedy that befell his family and had such a profound effect upon Kasich.

The Governor's campaign was very special to me. I was involved in practically every aspect of it. The trip down memory lane was enjoyable - not only to recall so many events and people, but the ideals we were fighting for.

Finished the book with a feeling of thankfulness for having been along for the journey, and pride for having stood up for John Kasich.

Read this book and learn why Ohio Governor John Kasich should have been our President. He puts country above party and fights for "the little guy." A great look behind the scenes of the 2016 campaign; he reflects on the coarseness of political discourse in our country now and how it harms us all. He speculates that it will take a long time to turn around the divisiveness, but he will be out there pushing for it, whether holding office or not. An excellent read.

Terrible book! Kasich sounds uneducated and not worldly. He lives in a fantasy world. Thank God he didn’t win the Presidency because he would have accomplished nothing. He wants to make nicey nice so much according to this book that he would have gotten nothing done

Kasich fails to take advantage of this opportunity to state his positions. If it's an attempt to analyze the failings of American politics it falls far short. I got bored with it long before there was anything substantial. Do his other books state his outlook better than this one? Maybe he has nothing left to say. Browsing to page 235 showed a list of political and economic recommendations from the forlorn hope of balancing the federal budget to the equally futile fixing Social Security. I suppose one page out of 300 is about par for a politician.
Consideration of only two paths seems simplistic and disappointing. The 2016 election showed a desperate need for a third or fourth party if America is going to stop its rapid decline and poor leadership. A more centrist and nuanced path than either of our two choices is required.
His theme of not calling each other liars is well and good, but far better would be to stop telling lies. His self assumed role of faith based mediator is not credible. We can't trust candidates of either stripe.
Read this if your vote is based on a candidate's family life. Otherwise skip it and stick to campaign literature and TV debates.

I was interested in John Kasich during the election as the only one of the leading Republican candidates that I could have voted for. He seems like a good man who intends the best, appears to work for the people vs special interests and while his politics are pretty different than mine I find myself wanting to like the man. When I saw an interview on one of the late night shows I reserved this book at my library.

My overall opinion: Major disappointment. More or less just a blow-by-blow of the campaign and his life getting there. Generally speaking not worth the time to read.

That said, I do think the 'Two Paths' speech, presented in Chapter 9, is well worth the time to read and think about. He makes some good points. No need to buy the book to read that though. I'm sure it's online or in a YouTube video somewhere.

The bottom line (for me) is this is not a book for a permanent bookshelf position. This is not a book you'll come back to over the years to delve into his ideas. There's only 20 pages of real stuff here. If you do want to read it then check it out from a library but don't waste your money as you can always buy it later if you decide I'm wrong.

Imagine if the sixth place finisher from the Rio Olympics wrote a book about his views on racing and how he thinks the winners should train.
Would you care?

I'm a John Kasich fan. I voted for him in the primaries and really thought he was best suited to be President. He was the only candidate that seemed willing to treat the electorate like adults and talk about hard issues with hard solutions.

I wanted to like this book, I really did.

But here's the thing: This book was all about himself and his policies. He says so right up front. But no one wants to hear about the policy of the guy that finished a crowd pleasing fourth place.

Don't tell us what your policies were. Tell us about how the campaign molded and changed you. Give us some inside stories. Dish the dirt. Have an opinion. Be interesting.

The book posed no real ideas or proposals for bridging the divide (disclaimer: I could only stomach about three hours, so maybe there is substance later in the book).

I really like John Kasich and wanted to hear more about his ideas, how to start healing the divides in this country, etc. Given the book title, that's what I expected to get out of it. But it was mostly biographical, a fair amount about the 2016, and the transcript of his "Two Paths" speech; I was definitely left unfulfilled. It's not a bad book, I had just hoped for more of his vision.

Note that out of the reviews left by "Verified Purchasers", 18 are positive (4-5 stars), and only one negative. I think that pretty much says it all. Shame on all of you closed-minded people who panned this book without so much as cracking the cover -- I hope none of you voted, because you don't deserve it; and I challenge you to show up at one of author's appearances, and actually attempt to have an intelligent discussion.

No, I have also not read the book, but I am going to the author event in SF to hear what he has to say, at which point I may or may not purchase the book. I just thought it was important to point out what's going on here, which, btw, is also the reason why we wound up with having to choose between two absolutely awful candidates for president -- it's the extremists making all the noise and getting the attention. Kasich may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he would have made a vastly better POTUS than either Trump or Clinton.

If you can finish this book, YOU should be President! Just like the author, each chapter bumbles forward at the speed of an afternoon nap. Pacing is an issue here.

But I think the matters Kasich brings up are really what draws readers in. Everybody is curious what this presidential contender thinks.
Unfortunately, he fails "big time" in this way too. I don't want to spoil anything for those of you eager to read this future bargain book, BUT it seems to me that he is blaming Trump, belittling Trump, and reiterating that old primary saying that Trump voters are uneducated or immoral. In fact, he hints at America being in a spiritual decline collectively. Yeah ... ok. That's why he lost.

I am surprised that his final chapter does not accuse Trump of being Satan and Hillary of being Baphomet. Kasich really is a lost soul. He seems to have taken the election hard.

This is a sad attempt by a sad man to explain his sad campaign for President while explaining the sad state of affairs of the sad America in which he lives. Oh yeah, and his dad is a mailman.

I borrowed this book from a friend who bought it. One of the "worst purchases" of her life. I agree. Nobody should buy this book. Go to the library or wait for it to plummet in price once the truth gets out.

No room for a differing opinion with this guy...He himself and the voices in his head are all he hears. I tried to get into this book but decided to yawn and put it away for another time or donate it. Not an impressive gift.

This fake republican has Trump Derangement Syndrome just like his former colleagues Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, and John McCain. He just blabbers about on how he thinks he can still become President.

Interesting how the book reads quite different from how he actually governs & interacts with constituents & legislators. Like two different people. Jekyl & Hyde. He leaves out his Ohio scandals & his campaign shenanigans. It would seem a misclassification to call yourself a nice guy when many know him as arrogant, prickly & vindictive.

John Kasich claiming that Trump's victory is evidence of America's spiritual decline is like Robert Byrd (D) thinking that the white robes being worn by his friends were a result of using too much bleach to wash their clothes. John Boy...before you toss others into your 'spiritual decline' bucket, you might want to look at yourself and ponder what making (and breaking) an oath (to support the nominee of your party) says about you.

When selecting a book I consider the character of the author. I would never buy a book written by someone who lacked honesty. Mr. Kasich broke his pledge to his political party. I have no interest in politics but I am against anyone who lacks the character to keep their word. If he will lie in public then he will lie in his book. I don't read fiction being sold as non-fiction.

The moralizing of a confused mind. The man ignored and abused his state while using it as a stepping stone for a bizarre vanity run for the presidency. He should donate all the funds from this book to the voters of Ohio.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING, PROVOCATIVE, PHENOMONAL, sorry NOT! Sad to say, the truth is not in this man. He took big payoff money from George Soros, he is sold out. He is not free to speak his own mind if he wanted, the same as many others that Soros has control over. I am not going into this, but he is not a friend to Ohioans, the state in which he pretends to reside, nor is he a friend of this nation. Wise up time.

Terrible book! Kasich sounds uneducated and not worldly. He lives in a fantasy world. Thank God he didn’t win the Presidency because he would have accomplished nothing. He wants to make nicey nice so much according to this book that he would have gotten nothing done