I Am These Truths audiobook

I enjoyed reading Sunny Hostin’s memoir. I knew very little about Sunny Hostin before reading this book. I had seen her a few times on television.The book is well written. SH describes her life growing up in the tenements of the Bronx as well as difficulties of being mixed race. She goes into great detail about her pregnancies as well as her career as a federal prosecutor and T.V. legal analyst. The book did provide me with a better understand of what it is like to be mixed race (Black/Latina) in the United States. Sunny Hostin’s intelligence, ambition and her parents’ sacrifices allowed her to escape from povertyI read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is eight hours and eight minutes. Sunny Hostin does a good job narrating the book.

I Am These Truths is one of my favorite reads of 2020. It's an impactful and empowering memoir that details how Sunny Hostin became the person that she is today. I have been a fan of hers for some time always appreciating her genuine nature and tenacity to fight for justice and equality. Her memoir will give fans and readers an insight into her past and present in a way that is truly inspiring.As I started reading the first few pages, I was captivated. I am a fan of Sunny's but I admit that I didn't know much about her background. I learned so much about her that I didn't know before which made me feel so many emotions. I felt sad for the young girl that had to witness hard times, I felt proud when her parents believed in the importance of her education and dedication to provide for her, I felt happy when she talked about her marriage and children, and so much more. As a Latinx woman, I appreciate all the work that she has done and continues to do and applaud her even more for never giving up on her dreams. According to some people, a bi-racial woman like Sunny shouldn't be successful. But Sunny proved all her doubters wrong. She brings up the topic of race in this book to celebrate her Puerto Rican and African American roots. When she talked about all the racial prejudice she faced, I felt disheartened because I understand how it feels to be disregarded because of the color of our skin. The sad truth is that because of that prejudice so many give up because they feel like that is the only option. Instead of giving up Sunny reminded herself of the people who believed in her like her teacher, her parents, and friends. And the wonderful thing about her never give up attitude is that she paved the way for so many.Like I mentioned previously, Sunny is bi-racial being both Puerto Rican and African American. Culture is such a huge part of her life and to be proud of her background was sometimes frowned upon. Many people pressured her to pick one or the other. Why couldn't she be both? In some cases, when it came to reporting or jobs she either wasn't too black enough or Latina enough. I love that she embraced her culture. Even when some friends questioned her or asked her if she was really Latina, she handled it with class. Readers will get to see how Sunny became a prosecutor, reporter, TV personality, and journalist, but one of the most beautiful parts of the story was when she talked about her family. At the beginning of the book, we see her relationship with her family and how important it is to her. Even when she left the Bronx, her family could never be too far away. There is a part of the book where she talks about starting a family with her husband. She details the struggles with conceiving. The love she has for children is exponential and to see the lengths she went through to have her two children brought tears to my eyes. Paloma and Gabriel are so lucky to call this strong and fierce woman, mom. I give I Am These Truths 5 stars. This was an absolute page-turner and must-read. I appreciate Sunny's honesty and openness because it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows. By Sunny telling her truth, she's able to inspire so many people of color and remind us that our dreams are possible. We can achieve anything if we fight for our truth and happiness.

..Over and over again, we have seen the weaponization of race against black people in our country. Driving while black, barbecuing while black, shopping while black, bird waching while black: Living while black may lead to confrontation, police intervention, death. Where the innocent are assumed guilty, because of the color of their skin. hope to see a reckoning,. Real introspection combined with real action. Because of what is going on from the street, to the classroom, to housing, to financial credit, to hospitals to the newsoom- it has to stop. Now.I enjoyed what I read for the most part, it was basically about Hostin upbringing and the inequalites that she faced as a mixed race. I don't know much about her other than seeing a few clips from the View and CNN, but I always admired her voice to tackle issues on race and discrimination. I loved how she overcame her obstacles and paid tribute to the people that paved her way. The pictures that accompanied the book was a nice touch, you can tell that she really loves her family and she will do anything to protect them.Amazing novel with themes of race, justice and lberation in america.

Disclaimer: I received an uncorrected proof of I Am These Truths from HarperOne.I watch The View semi-regularly and Sunny has always been my favorite host. I find that she is consistently clear-headed and makes really great arguments. I knew a little about her from anecdotes she tells during segments on the show but was not familiar with her past work prior to reading this book. I came away impressed by her motivation, talent, and commitment while pursuing different career paths.More than halfway through the memoir, Sunny emphasizes this idea that one of the most important days of someone's life is when they find out what their purpose is. She later comes to the realization that advocating for social justice and being a truth teller were her callings. Her passion for social issues really shines throughout the book. I thought two chapters that concern racial, ethnic, and class identities, "I Am What I Am" and "Trayvon", were standouts. In comparison, I did not find Sunny's accounts of her academic experience and legal career as interesting, although I do not know much about the law world.My other critique is that the organization of the chapters was not entirely chronological, and I think reorganizing some parts may benefit the story more. I didn't feel like I was able to keep clear track of Sunny's career path, for example.But overall I really enjoyed this read! I Am These Truths evoked a lot of strong emotions in me and only increased my admiration for Asuncion. The language used throughout is well-crafted (it's almost as if Mrs. Hostin used to write carefully-worded legal documents, lol) and I felt like she gave me excellent insight into unfamiliar worlds. I was able to breeze through the book because it kept me interested. I will recommend it to my friends upon its eventual publication in the fall!

Stayed up TOO LATE reading Sunny Hostin’s memoir “I Am These Truths” Her background, as a gifted child and living between two cultures - Puerto Rican and African American. She's wonderful at writing compelling stories. Throughly enjoyed reading her story.

Loved this book. It was the perfect combination of learning about another person’s life + thoughtful/smart insight into so many important topics/issues + inside baseball on the industries Sunny's worked in. And I listened to it -wonderful hearing the story straight from Sunny herself. Highly recommend.

Sonny Hostin crossed my radar due to her coverage of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman on CNN. Hostin was the only journalist at the time challenging the prevailing narrative about Trayon, which set the blueprint for character assassination of the dead to justify extrajudicial killings of unarmed Black people. Hostin argued with a passion and zeal I found lacking from other journalists that adopted a prosaic approach absent of nuance. Each time I watched her argue a point, she took the words out of my word. Hostin spoke for the voiceless and written off urban communities across the nation. I became a fan.🐓Sunny Hostin I Am These Truths: A Memoir of Identity, Justice, and Living Between Worlds examines Hostin’s place in the world as she comes of age. She details living in the Bronx and being poor. The importance of education in her home resulted in Hostin being skipped from the 2nd grade to the 5th. She entered high school at 12 and graduated at 16. Wow. She expounds upon being African American and Puerto Rican and the erasure of her dual identities. Hostin speaks Spanish, cooks arroz con gradules or pernil or pollo guisado, and her Grandmother was a Bruja. On the other hand, Hostin cooks collard greens, turkey necks, and loves soul music. She wanted to be a journalist, but her watershed moment occurred when she served as a juror on The Butcher of Tompkins Square Park case. It set Hostin on the path to become a lawyer. Eventually, she transitioned to broadcast news and described her rocky rise to prominence. The most challenging chapter to read was Motherhood. Whew. 🐓Sunny’s memoir was highly entertaining and informative. It provided a unique perspective about prosecutors and how crucial it is to be in the room where it happens to affect the system from the inside out.🐓Favorite: "I think there are three defining days in your life. Besides day one, when you are born, and the day when you discover your purpose, I believe there is a day in between. And that is the moment when you find out who you will not be, who you will not become. Your day two."🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓 5 chickens

Loved this. Well written. From the heart and both heartwarming and heart-wrenching at times. I remember Sunny from Court TV and love watching The View. Thank you for sharing your most personal stories with us.

I'm so glad I read Hostin's Memoir. Excellent read.

Four stars for honesty and insight. Minus one star for repeatedly expressing the conviction that her experiences, her dedication to work and her exceptionalism are so rare that she is almost a species sui generis. While I appreciated her commitment to justice and her sensitivity to the unfortunate and undeniable existence of race and colorism, she isn’t on the barricades alone. There are many, many outstanding warriors for justice and equality on the public scene. They speak with the same force and conviction as her. And speak their truth with, perhaps, a great deal more humility. Her journey from the projects to a coveted position on “The View” and her persistence, preparation and determination are laudable. But some of her language betrays dismissiveness towards those who have achieved as much or more. And her use of the word “sidled” in reference to Joy Behar was belittling. Can imagine that others of her co-workers Sunny mentioned in a similar way must have felt a bit put-off by her attitude. Over all, though, even though the author is far from achieving the omniscience of her title, she does have worthy things to say.

Very RelatableEven though the theme throughout the her story began with lack of acceptance because she is biracial, I found other relatable issues dealing with finding the confidence to believe she was not only good enough but exceeded expectations and able to find success on her own terms.

Sunny has led a very interesting life and has a very knowledgeable grasp on the law and the improvements that need to be made in the U.S.A. As far as racial equality. Very enjoyable & entertaining read.

Not only did I enjoy reading this book, but I found myself altering my schedule to watch The View. Many times the banter, in the past, would turn me off. I enjoyed watching it this past week because, even when disagreeing, the ladies seemed a bit more cordial. Maybe, like a major nugget in the book, they are making an effort to extend more grace to one another. I attempted to look at the segment with different eyes (based upon the manner in which she explained their setup, etc). I found the memoir to be freeing, transparent and somewhat of an elixir. Let me explain: For far too long, we have been encouraged to fit in where you get in. That thinking doesn’t do anything for anyone. I loved how Sunny invited the reader into every walk of her life. Every walk wasn’t pretty and she didn’t attempt to dress it up. Ironically, the reading, had me reflecting upon my own life, the one foot in and one foot out of various domains and how, in some areas, it’s just damn difficult to navigate. And, too, regardless of the discomfort she felt from the world, she always knew that she could find comfort at home. Home is truly where everyone should be able to go when the world is unkind! At least that has always been where I could find comfort. I knew, just like Sunny, that a mother, a father, my loving aunt, an extended relative or a much loved teacher or mentor, would always be there to love me up and help give insight and support.I found myself taking copious notes and desiring to have a chance at some past event or battle to respond differently. During some of the encounters I wasn’t as mature as I could have been…and with others…I chose to hurt or admonish others…just as they had me. A do over is sometimes needed. I have since come to realize that I am not always who I am and what I present on my worst days. It was truly eye opening and a great read. I particularly loved the manner in which her parents, though limited with dollars, ensured that there were great experiences. It reminded me of opportunities my parents ensured that I had. They wanted me too see beyond my neighborhood and encouraged me to go beyond where they had traveled. I have always given them credit for my ability to see beyond where I was as well credit for my believing that nothing was impossible. The allowances that were given, telling me that my voice was valuable, taking the stance that education levels the playing field and my early exposure to traveling served to wet my appetite for what was before me. Nothing stands out more for me than their investment in the volumes of Childcraft Books, The How and Why Library, World Book Encyclopedias and always purchasing books at the School’s Book Fair. They definitely nurtured my love of reading from an early age.I loved how the Sister, at the Academy, enjoyed her honesty in accepting responsibility for the misdeed, but clued her parents in as well as reprimanded. I loved how the visits down South and the Boogie Down Bronx were welcomed and desired aspects of her past that she never diluted. Again, I was reminded of code switching and how she handled it. I loved how Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Soledad O’Brien aided her in the doggish politics of the world of work while trying to get her footing. But, above all, I marveled at her fighting spirit, her mettle and the ability to take a punch and to give one. I felt pain when she hurt. I particularly felt for her with the tragedies surrounding the inability to get pregnant, the miscarriages and her not being seen as herself until being overheard speaking Spanish. It took me back to “using proper grammar was considered a sale out/Oreo and then when I one upped another I was cool.” Her ability to shut down various guests on the show with tact was wonderful. And, her ability to empathize with Meek Mills and wonderfully cover Trayvon Martin was a masterclass. I could go on and on about nuggets that resonated with me. But, I would rob you of the benefits you could get from reading it. It was indeed easy like Sunday morning😊😊. My most treasured nuggets were her views on: the lesson taught by Barbara Walters and the direction America is going as it determines policies as it pertains to the “majority.” I so agree with every point that she raised. The world is indeed shifting. We must shift with it…or forever bear the burden for not doing so.

So this is a good book, in terms of messaging and the issues it raises. I, however, expected more from the Sunny I watch on the View. I’m a big fan and was expecting better writing. She’s very straightforward, which is good, but Sunny is a well-read intellectual. I just expected a more elevated writing style, that’s all. She also sometimes sounds self-congratulatory, which I’m ok with (she has to be proud of herself for all her hard work), but I’m not sure I would’ve stomached that from someone else. I know from the View that she’s not arrogant and that she’s probably one of the most thoughtful and empathetic people on TV.Overall, this is worth reading and you can’t help but respect the writer and the subjects raised. Also she gives us an inside glimpse into the TV world (which sounded very cruel). I appreciated her honesty about her experiences at CNN and ABC. Someone else might have chosen to be too diplomatic about how tough working there could be.

Asunción is a brilliant woman who paints a very full picture of the myriad of intersections where her biracial identity, beliefs, mother, career (a federal prosecutor AND a journalist, CÓMO QUE), etc. come together. I’m terrible at watching TV, so I’ve never really watched The View. My wife was pitching her business on a segment of GMA and she mentioned this woman named Sunny Hostin was talking about her book prior to them recording. The author mentioned in her interview that her real name is Asunción, but someone told her Sunny would be better for TV and she always wondered if that was the right choice. I immediately added it to my queue. I knew I had to read this, and I’m so glad I did.