5 Weird Bernie Sanders Facts You’re Dying To Know

Bernie Sanders is a well-known figure in American politics, having served as a senator for the state of Vermont and having run for president twice. But despite his much-publicized campaigns and political positions, there are still some things that many people don’t know about him. Here are five Bernie Sanders facts that are sure to surprise and intrigue you.

Fact #1: His favorite book is about a socialist who becomes a dictator

Bernie Sanders is known for his left-leaning political views and his advocacy for socialist policies. So it may come as a surprise to learn that his favorite book is “The Gulag Archipelago” by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. The book is a scathing critique of the Soviet Union’s system of forced labor camps, which Solzhenitsyn himself experienced firsthand.

What’s particularly interesting about Sanders’ admiration for this book is that it’s not exactly a glowing endorsement of socialism. In fact, Solzhenitsyn himself was critical of Marxist ideology and believed that socialism could easily lead to totalitarianism. But according to Sanders, he appreciates the book for its insights into the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of standing up for human rights.

Fact #2: He once recorded an album of folk songs

In the 1980s, Bernie Sanders decided to try his hand at music. He released an album called “We Shall Overcome,” featuring recordings of him belting out classic protest songs like “This Land Is Your Land” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” The album is a unique artifact of Sanders’ pre-political career, and it showcases his passion for social justice and activism.

Interestingly, the album also features Sanders delivering some spoken-word interludes in which he discusses his political beliefs and shares his vision for a better world. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a young Bernie Sanders before he became the iconic political figure we know today.

Fact #3: He used to work as a carpenter and filmmaker

Before he got into politics, Bernie Sanders had a varied career path. He worked as a carpenter and a filmmaker, among other things, and he even produced a few low-budget films in the 1970s. Sanders has said that his experience working with his hands and creating things helped shape his worldview and his belief in the power of collective action.

One particularly memorable moment from Sanders’ time as a carpenter came when he built a wooden stage for a local music festival. The stage collapsed during the concert, but nobody was hurt. Sanders later joked that it was “the most successful collapse in the history of Vermont.”

Fact #4: He has a strange obsession with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream

Bernie Sanders is a longtime fan of Ben & Jerry’s, the Vermont-based ice cream company known for its progressive politics and offbeat flavors. In fact, he’s such a big fan that he once wrote an essay about his favorite Ben & Jerry’s flavors for an alternative newspaper.

Sanders has been known to visit Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops around the country, and he even invited co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield to appear with him at a campaign rally during his 2016 presidential bid. Some of his favorite flavors reportedly include Cherry Garcia, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, and Half Baked. But perhaps his most unusual ice cream preference is for a flavor called “Bernie’s Yearning,” which features mint chocolate chip ice cream with a chocolate disc on top that represents the 1% of the population that controls most of the wealth.

Fact #5: He once debated a Republican in a hot tub

In the 1980s, Bernie Sanders was the mayor of Burlington, Vermont. During his time in office, he developed a reputation for being a bit of an eccentric. One of his more unusual moments came when he agreed to participate in a political debate with a Republican opponent…in a hot tub.

The debate, which took place on a public-access TV show, featured Sanders and his opponent sitting in a hot tub while they discussed the issues of the day. The segment ended up becoming a viral sensation, and it’s still talked about today as an example of Sanders’ willingness to engage in unorthodox tactics in pursuit of his political goals.