John Lewis: A Life by David Greenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Writing a 600-page bio of John Lewis presents the challenge of maintaining a dramatic narrative about a man most characterized as good. For six decades, he was a public servant known as calm, sincere, sweet, and kind. The drama was all around him, of course.

Greenberg does a remarkable job of telling those stories---featuring MLK, George Wallace, two Clintons, more than half dozen presidents, assassinations, and Lewis's own bloody face, broken bones, and "criminal record" of more than 40 arrests---always and only in direct connection with John Lewis. This is not a book that strays into drama, rumors or controversies featuring other big names except in details where Lewis himself participated personally and-or professionally.

There is tension centered on John Lewis, of course, but only minor controversies given Lewis's longevity and surrounding political and personal life. Two Greenberg treats with subtlety are the unusual role of John Lewis's wife Lillian and the occasional unreliability of his memory and narration of a few well-documented events (generally insignificant inconsistencies in retelling who, where, and when).

In a chapter telling the story of President Obama's election in relation to Congressman Lewis, it is clear that Greenberg is more sympathetic to Hilary Clinton and her campaign than I am. But, events and communications are all documented fairly and thoroughly. Amazingly, Lewis stated that dealing with behind-the-scenes tension in this election, and his ultimate switch from endorsing Clinton (a longtime and admired friend) to endorsing Obama was "harder, tougher" than crossing the bridge in Selma (where Lewis was beaten nearly to death).

In one of the book's final chapters, "Rock Star," Lewis acknowledges and recognizes the performative nature of his status in American history. Greenberg quotes the Congressman's longtime, closest aide, Michael Collins, discussing the fiftieth anniversary of Selma: "He believed in drama, and he wanted to dramatize this." That meant he was always present to re-walk, re-speak, and re- or newly-ignite the emotions of as many people as possible through tangibly re-presenting the history of what it cost to achieve rights and opportunities for all Americans---Black, poor, gay, and every other excluded part of the hoped for "beloved community."

As an engaging biography and political history of mid-20th through early-21st century America, I would recommend this recent book. Bringing the story up-to-date in conclusion, Greenberg quotes longtime Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on the unique character of a lifelong nonviolent protestor: "He [John Lewis] became the anti-Trump, a symbol of charity over spite, gentleness over anger, compassion over discord, hope over fear."



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