Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Spiritual principles inform political ideas. Warnock, pastor of the Atlanta church once led by Martin Luther King Jr. and Georgia’s first Black senator, evocatively compares the U.S. to an unfinished cathedral under attack by demagogues. Ahead of the country’s 250th birthday, he aims to rally support for tackling major “crises” such as poverty, mass incarceration, voter suppression, gun violence, and climate damage. The title alludes to the biblical prophet Isaiah, who defended the poor and “transmit[s] hope” in “harsh and chaotic times.” Warnock touts his role in passing laws that capped insulin prices for seniors as well as boosted domestic solar panel production and aviation job programs. But his most memorable writing prizes inspiration over legislation. Noting that the Old and New Testaments contain 2,000 verses about poor people “and how to treat them,” he decries Trump administration cuts to food stamps, public housing, and other programs that Warnock benefited from as a child. His political career demonstrates “what is possible when the government lifts up hardworking Americans.” He calls for expanded opportunities to vote and reduced waiting times at polling places; more affordable housing; rules to rein in limitless campaign spending; and a less punitive judicial system. He reframes issues in galvanizing language: “Infrastructure is spiritual; it honors every child’s right to occupy space.” On guns, Warnock reiterates his support for the Second Amendment but backs what many readers will consider commonsense regulations: “Do you really need an AR-15?” He occasionally oversimplifies issues but excels at isolating a divisive matter’s essential points, especially when discussing the decades he’s spent considering climate change’s “Christian ethical implications.” This concise, effective book will do nothing to dissuade Democrats pining for a Warnock presidential run in 2028. A pastor-lawmaker’s rousing call to strengthen democracy, repair the planet, and reduce inequality and gun violence. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.