The Rejected Stone: Al Sharpton and the Path to American Leadership

Written by Al Sharpton

Narrated by Al Sharpton

Lord knows, Reverend Al has had his personal and very public ups and downs, but he's come out bigger and better than ever—though the host of MSNBC's PoliticsNation is as fiery and outspoken as ever about the events and issues that matter most, he's learned that the only way we can get right as a nation is by getting right from within.

In his instant New York Times bestselling book, Rev. Al will take you behind the scenes of some unexpected places—from officiating Michael Jackson's funeral, hanging out with Jay-Z and President Barack Obama at the White House, to taking charge of the Trayvon Martin case. And he will discuss how he came to his unexpected conclusions in such areas as immigration, gay rights, religion, and family. But the heart of the book is an intimate discussion of his own personal evolution from street activist, pulpit provocateur, and civil rights leader to the man he is today—one hundred pounds slimmer, and according to The New York Observer “the most thoughtful voice on cable.” The Rev. Al you met ten years ago isn’t the same man you’ll meet today. And he has a simple promise: We can transform this nation and we can all lead better lives if we're willing to transform our hearts and transform our minds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781442368835

Al Sharpton

Reverend Al Sharpton is a political and social activist and one of the nation’s most-renowned civil rights leaders in the fight against injustice. He is the founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN), a not-for-profit civil rights organization headquartered in Harlem, New York, with over sixty chapters nationwide including a Washington, DC Bureau and regional offices from coast to coast. Reverend Al is currently the host of PoliticsNation, a daily television show on MSNBC, as well as Keepin’ It Real, a nationally syndicated radio show.

Reviews for The Rejected Stone

[tea58 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Al Sharpton is a man with purpose, passion and a legacy. Very early he made the decision to follow the example of Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson. In other words, he chose to make Civil Rights his main goal in life. Just recently we saw him walking or standing beside the Trayvon Martin family. Always he kept their needs and desires in the forefront of the news. So that the injustice done to Trayvon Martin would hopefully not happen again.Throughout the memoir, The Rejected Stone, there are examples of a man who always concerns himself with injustice. Also, he is a man who is a thinker. He seems to examine his life constantly. As far back as Bensonhurst, he has been a fighter for human rights. During the Bensonhurst incident, a man stabbed him in the chest. The knife landed inches from his heart. However, this did not change Al Sharpton's goal of being a man who fights injustice no matter what he must face. He also had the spiritual character to forgive the man who stabbed him. While fighting for human rights in Puerto Rico, he was arrested. He spent three months in prison. The conditions were horrible. Hillary Clinton spoke up and the wheels began to turn for Al Sharpton to spend the rest of his prison days in New York, his home town instead of in Puerto Rico.I only cringed when I read the words, I want to be a great man. My question is if he couldn't be listed among the "great men," would he continue to work hard for the people? I know there are people who will never be known as great, but they continue to give and sacrifice for other people in need every day. Anyway, this is a perfect book for any one who would like to strive at becoming a better person. He writes about the importance of a legacy. He writes about the legacy of James Brown and Michael Jackson. He raises a big and personal question. When you leave this earth, what will the people have to say about you? Will you have lived a life which left your family, your community, your country or the world a better place? What is your legacy? I know the legacy of Al Sharpton. He lives it daily. In the wee hours of the morning he rises to pray and read Psalm 37. Then, he begins a new day. He puts his legacy in practice. How can I give myself to someone else today? No one is beneath him. He is only here to help other people rise again and again no matter their plight.nationalactionnetwork

[Cheryl White · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’m astonished at the wisdom of this man—the number of subjects covered, the self-reflection, the depth of consideration, the compassion. He urges us all to activism, to be the change we want to see in the world. He understands that no one is free until we’re all free. Al Sharpton is a deep thinker with an amazing depth of experience, generously shared. I recommend listening to him read his own words. Don’t miss this one.