Kamala's Way by Dan Morain Summary
Overview of Kamala's Way
Before she became Vice President, Kamala Harris navigated a remarkable path from prosecutor to political powerhouse. Praised by The Wall Street Journal as "detailed and dutiful," this insider account reveals how Harris's tough, quick-witted approach shaped American politics while breaking unprecedented barriers.
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A Daughter of Two Worlds
What shapes a person who will break through one glass ceiling after another? For Kamala Harris, it began with a five-foot-tall force of nature named Shyamala Gopalan, who arrived in Berkeley from India at nineteen with nothing but ambition and a fierce sense of justice. This brilliant scientist would publish over one hundred papers on breast cancer research and raise nearly $5 million in grants-but her most lasting contribution might be the wisdom she imparted to her daughters: "You may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last." Shyamala met Donald Harris, a Jamaican economics student, at a gathering of Black students in 1962. They married a year later, naming their daughters after Indian mythology-Kamala meaning "lotus flower" and Maya referring to divine power. Baby Kamala reportedly demanded "Fee-dom!" from her stroller during civil rights protests, her parents pushing through Berkeley's politically charged streets where the Black Panthers emerged and anti-war movements flourished. But the marriage couldn't survive. By the time Kamala was five, her parents had separated, divorcing three years later. While Donald became Stanford's first tenured Black economist, Kamala remained closest to her mother, rarely mentioning her father in later years. When Shyamala moved the family to Montreal for a research position, twelve-year-old Kamala adapted by forming a dance troupe and welcoming her abused friend Wanda into their home-an act of compassion that would echo through her future career.
The Berkeley Bus That Launched a Political Career
Learning the Game
The Moment That Defined Her
Standing Up to Power
The Unraveling and the Comeback
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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