To all fellow and future canaries in the name of progressivism, Sherrod Brown's "Desk 88: Eight Progressive Senators Who Changed America" is the book for you. If you too have never steered from protecting the rights of those around you, even when the hills you must climb seem never ending, then you will find a kindred spirit in Brown and his allies whether you are from the Buckeye State or not.

Although Brown's chronicles of the eight progressives that sat at Desk 88 before him, and his reactions and sections on comparing and contrasting his own experiences to theirs are the bulk of the book, it will hardly cause the reader to grow bored. Each progressive (like Brown himself) shows that although no one is perfect (we all make sensational and regrettable choices in our lives) you should never let them hinder you from moving forward for yourself and those around you. It is the only direction we should strive to grow together.

While I am a rookie to the depths of politics and their history, I did not retreat from the material since it only reinforced my own views of being an ally and advocate for my fellow man/woman kind. I enjoyed and felt my morale bubble over when introduced to new views, and when given a new perspective on topics already dear to my heart. Whether it was savoring the words from parts of Robert F. Kennedy's speech that took place at the University of Capetown (241), Brown's example of Gallaudet University as an act of progressivism (187), or his view of how great victories grow from the collection of small victories (277) the book never felt dull and dry.

I am grateful to Beth, my boyfriend's mother, who gave me this book as a Christmas gift last year. It was truly thoughtful, and beyond that has caused me to further my own thoughtfulness in my present and in my future. I look forward to passing this book along to others, and to reading more by Brown and his wife, Connie Shultz, who is a profound wordsmith and ally too.