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.