Humphrey and Me

Stuart H. Brody is the author of The Law of Small Things: Creating a Habit of Integrity in a Culture of Mistrust (Berrett-Koehler 2019), teaches ethics at the University of Arizona, and is Senior Scholar at the Institute for Ethics in Public Life at the State University of New York. He speaks nationally on issues of public integrity.

“In this heartfelt account of a crucial period in American history, an idealism that can sometimes seem lost today comes alive again.”—Andrea Barrett, National Book Award-winning author of Ship Fever “Humphrey and Me is a smart and thought-provoking story—made even better by knowing it's based on the author's own experiences.”—Steve Sheinkin, three-time National Book Award finalist“Democracies are strongest when they produce leaders who can inspire the young. Stuart Brody's engaging and entertaining novel Humphrey and Me explores this crucial and timely dynamic between a young man and an idealistic politician. It reminds us that Hubert Humphrey, despite his flaws, was a virtuous and important 20th century figure, one deserving of our admiration and respect.”—Thurston Clarke, author of the New York Times bestseller The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America"Brody, who was inspired by his own relationship with Humphrey, packs the novel with significant historic details . . . . An important chapter in American history told with clarity and honesty.”—Kirkus Reviews“In this thoughtful and moving novel, Brody illuminates in fiction what he explored in his wonderful treatise The Law of Small Things—how we learn to be good. He demonstrates why choices matter in the formation of character, and in so doing, he helps us understand the basis of human freedom.”—Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College“By paralleling first person accounts of a young man’s political awakening with that of his indefatigable mentor, Stuart Brody has rendered a timely affirmation of how enduring societies depend upon an apprenticeship of values. Most importantly, he has resuscitated for our cynical age a uniquely American notion of leadership and service.”—Aaron Woolf, Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker“Politics may be a dirty business, but there are still people who get in the game for the right reasons: to do what’s right! In Humphrey and Me, Stuart Brody highlights one of the good guys—not because he was perfect, but because he genuinely believed in doing good. It’s a great reminder of the complexities needed to understand people on a deeper level, and while it can be complicated, it can also be rewarding. It’s a journey about finding consensus and alignment as opposed to agreement. Get started!”—Jeffrey Hayzlett, Host of C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett“The story could round out a school history unit on the mid-1960s political scene, giving insight to student activism.”—Historical Novel Society“The issues Ray confronts in Humphrey and Me are not unlike those Americans wrestle with today: Social injustice, racism, labor disputes, nuclear proliferation . . . decades have passed since Hubert Humphrey, called by many ‘the last great true liberal,’ took a stand on these issues. And that is why the book is so poignant; we still struggle with them. . . . While Ray and the author’s life experiences are a braid of fact and fiction, there are scenes in Humphrey and Me relating to the human condition in 1960’s America that occur today.”—Patagonia Regional Times“The writing is strong and the plot moves quickly. The era feels authentic, from what the characters eat to mention of TV tables and junk mail. The dialogue is crisp and realistic, and the characters have satisfying arcs. For a first young-adult novel, Humphrey and Me is impressive; the author has definitely written in a way that appeals to teens, on a topic sure to inspire.”—YA Dude Books“This historical fiction takes readers through the turbulent, violent 1960s in the alternating stories, told in the first person by young Jewish Ray Elias from Long Island and Minnesota Sen. Hubert Humphrey.”—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities Pioneer Press