A very well written autobiography - meaningful beyond most political reviews
922300
I finished this ebook with a renewed respect for Pres. Johnson.  The text and thoughts were very well composed and fluent.  This book is a good read for anyone interested in the past, present and future direction of Liberia and Africa in general.  Ms. Johnson spends valuable time and effort describing her unique and courageous views on Liberian policy and historical mistakes.

On a trip to Liberia not too long ago, she was on my same flight and walked around the plane to greet me and the other passengers - I appreciated her down to earth attitude then, and even moreso now after reading this book.  Her visceral account of the absolute horrors that have pillaged Liberia was gripping.  She wrote it like she claims to live - without fear.  I appreciated her blunt accounts of the attitudes of her countrymen - enemies and firiends.  There were a very few passages that seemed self promoting and maybe a little grandiose, but Ms. Johnson is a politician, after all.
3870549
One of the best autobiographis I've read. I like Sowell's discussion of politics, history, economics, and culture and now I admire his personal journey. What a remarkable man. It makes sense that such intelligent concepts and principles would come from such a distinguished character.
3137127
**This book was received as a Goodreads Giveaway**

More of a political book than a memoir, Radical was written by Nawaz to show how he was brought into the world of Islamist extremism, and why he decided to leave it and advocate for a more balanced view. It shares a good deal of knowledge on Islamism and Muslims and does have a little bit of memoir that is used to explain Nawaz's own path.

As a teenager, Nawaz experienced a lot of racism. Between that and other factors, it was no surprise when the Islamist group Hizb ut'Tahrir was a draw. Having an answer for everyone, Nawaz found somewhere to put his energy. And in joining the group he made a decision that would later see him in an Egyptian prison. But it was there that he began to question his views, and after being released, he kept discovering more views that meshed with his previous thinking. Because of this, he wen ton to start Quilliam, a foundation that wants to reverse extremism and shed light on misconceptions of both the West and Muslims.

Nawaz's journey is fascinating. He does a great job explaining his thoughts and actions and you can see why he made the choices he did. And he admits his faults and why he feels guilty, taking blame for things instead of trying to blame someone else. It's that aspect that makes this book read as authentic. I also like that he shared how the organizations worked and how they targeted people to join. It definitely helped me understand why extremists may think like they do, although it certainly doesn't explain the motivations for 100% of the people like that out there. Regardless, it's easy to see why Nawaz's current role is that of a speaker on the subject.

Because this was in a memoir form we go from Nawaz's childhood to the present day and it covers his years as a teenager in a gang of sorts, to his time in prison, to creating his foundation. I actually found the book to be a bit choppy and jumpy; so much time was spent on the first half and then it seemed like once he got out of the prison the book flew by too fast without as much detail. But really, that's my only complaint on the book. I don't normally go for political books as they operate in a realm that is not my expertise, but Nawaz made his subject matter presentable for anybody in this book. I learned that Muslim and Islamist don't mean the same thing necessarily. I learned how the Jihad is different from Hizb ut-Tahrir, and I think that that understanding is very important. Too often everything is painted with a broad brush and people, regardless of individual feelings, get swept into it just because they fit a certain characteristic. And that's part of the message Nawaz was trying to give.

I think this is a very valuable book for understanding extremism and feelings against the United States. As I said, it doesn't encompass everyone, but it does explain the motivations for a lot of people, and it has a great lesson in trying to prevent extremism and violence.

Radical
Copyright 2013
270 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2013
4018539
"You campaign in poetry, you govern in prose" - Mario Cuomo...

This was, for me, a surprisingly engaging book. I picked it up out of idle curiosity and ended up in admiration of Tony Blair's writing and particular perspective. To be sure, his use of buzz words and hipspeak in describing situations and people sometimes borders on the tabloid but these are offset by his almost-brutal candor in speaking about himself, his insecurities, and his shortcomings. And, although he had a prime minister's access to the powerful and famous, this is not a gossipy book. Thankfully.

One of the book's assets is the 32 pages of pictures, most of which look like they came from personal albums. And he ensures that we are able to picture many of the people who figure largely in his book and his life, but would be thought of as being "behind the scenes".

The requisite chapter on Princess Diana is as much a jeweler's eye on the monarchy and their unceremonious launch into a new era with the death of their exiled princess as it is a fond memorial to her. While Peter Morgan wrote a brilliant, Oscar-winning screenplay for "The Queen", Tony Blair's account of those times diverges from it and seems more trustworthy (albeit, not as dramatic, natch).

There is so much in this book that has already fallen to history and out of our awareness. The Good Friday Agreement, which was instrumental in easing the tensions with the Republic of Ireland, will probably go down as an important cornerstone of his legacy.  But his defense of his support of the Iraq War is too long and labyrinthine and seems to strain his easy writing style.

There are very few nettlesome moments in this book and I think it is wrong to put more emphasis on this biography than it merits. It is the personal account of someone who was where very few people of the world have been. History will be the ultimate judge, but this is a good read whilst we wait.
771411
It is rare that I choose a book written by a politician, but Im very glad that this one caught my eye. I had seen Alan Johnson being interviewed about this memoir of his early years in London and wondered how he eventually became a cabinet minister in the Labour Governments of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He described his home in Southam Street in North Kensington; it is hard to believe that slums like this still existed in the mid 20th century. However, what really piqued my curiosity was the fact that Alan Johnson began, in his interview, to mention places that I had known as a child. I had to read this book!

I was enthralled by this memoir. Johnsons writing flows and he has the ability to paint pictures with his choice of vocabulary. It was easy to imagine him, as a young boy, battling with the poverty that surrounded him. His father abandoned his wife, daughter and son for another woman, leaving Lily Johnson to wear herself out, trying to provide for her young family. Linda, Alans older sister, offered real strength and support to their mother and one has to admire her, especially after the death of their mother. Lindas fight to maintain a home with her brother, Alan, is quite amazing.

There are no real indications in this memoir that Alan Johnson will go on to be a prominent politician, but it is such an interesting book. As I said earlier, I have a personal interest and there were many times that I exclaimed at the mention of another occurrence or place that I knew so well. There is also much to interest anyone studying the social history of London life in the 1950s and 1960s.

All in all, I thoroughly recommend this absorbing memoir.
675045
This story chronicles a period of political change in the context of the personal story of the writer. Her recollection of struggles in early life are poignant and lend themselves to a better understanding of the focus of the book. This is not a read for someone who seeks a salacious take on life. This is a story about life. I highly recommend it.
1928943
Yes, this was probably written as a campaign platform-biography, for a Presidential campaign that Daniels opted out of last May. In addition to a very low-hype account of his own impressive record in Indiana - worth reading by itself - Daniels does take some pot shots at what he views as Barack Obama's errors. Fair enough, but that's not the merit of the book. The merit is Daniels' sincere conviction - rare among governors - that citizens must be trusted with their own destinies, instead of being powerless subjects of their "Benevolent Betters" who believe that they know what is better for the people. Daniels deeply believes this, and I'm sure it accounts for a lot of the trust Hoosiers have placed in his leadership.
 One would think that an Indiana Governor with that record of success, a commitment to open and civil discourse, and a philosophy of trust in the people, limited government, fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and liberty as the highest value, would by now be a commanding presence in the Republican Presidential sweepstakes. And he surely would have been, had he (and his family) not decided to stay out of the race. I regret that Americans won't get to see Daniels in action, but I hope the eventual winner reads this book.

John McClaughry, Kirby VT
4190264
I had heard a lot about this book from news media but was so impressed to see it was so much more than the past 2 years. It was an autobiography of one of the most honest and ethical people i have ever read about. I recommend this book to all Americans.
3469431
As are all other memoirs, McCain's are necessarily both subjective and selective but, unlike so many others,  his do not seem to me to be sense self-serving.  In this remarkably candid and compelling account, he shares his thoughts and feelings about a distinguished family heritage. His grandfather and father were the first father and son to be promoted to the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy. He was nearly expelled from the U.S. Naval Academy and never achieved the rank of admiral. In 1967, his carrier-based jet fighter was shot down and he was imprisoned as a POW in North Viet Nam. For the next several years he was subjected to vicious physical as well as mental abuse by his captors. Somehow, probably with sheer willpower, he survived while so many others did not. He kept the faith of his fathers. (I think the title of this volume also refers to a new nation's Founding Fathers.) This volume does not include discussion of his subsequent political career which McCain covers in the recently published second volume of his memoirs, Worth the Fighting For. He seems to have been a battler most of his life; along the way, he developed a profound faith in the values of a country he has served so vigorously. Many of his fellow citizens really don't know what to make of him. Perhaps this volume will help at least some of us to understand his motives and the basis for them. Whatever a reader may think of McCain's politics and of his methods for advancing them, no one can deny his patriotism. With this volume, he reveals his humanity in ways and to an extent no one else could.
4103446
Michael Palin writes as he speaks, without pretension, and with a great deal of humor.  These are his diaries, not initially meant for publication and thus full of honest, blunt observations regarding films, books, his own performances and the foibles of his fellow Pythons.  Nobody escapes unscathed here, though I doubt anyone that Mr. Palin wrote about would dispute his conclusions.

The years 1969-1979 are some of the most amazing in Python history; they begin as the Monty Python starts filming its first television series, and concludes as Life of Brian is released and there is backlash from the religious folks who don't understand the premise (and many of whom proudly state that they haven't even bothered to see the film they're condemning).  Between these two seminal events are discussions of filming on other projects, the need and the attempt to write, and a man's deep and abiding love for his wife, children and parents.  Reading the passages about Palin's father weakening was moving in the extreme, and his pain was palpable as the roles between father and son slowly reverse themselves.

This is a hernia farm of a book at over 600 pages hardcover, exclusive of introductions and index, but you soon forget your aching arms as the pages fly.  The life that Michael Palin has built for himself and his family is so layered, rich and interesting (while still being fairly "normal") that you only want the best for him and can't wait to read what happens next.  I understand that the next segment of diaries will be released in September 2009, and I'm very excited to read about that next decade in my favorite Python's life.

Despite copious footnotes explaining the backgrounds of the people mentioned, those who are not familiar with British comedy and culture may find the narrative a little hard to follow, at least initially.  Because I've been living in London for a year or so, the people that Palin encounters (and then writes about) have become more familiar to me.  Even more interesting were his mentions of favorite bookshops, restaurants and London haunts which he enjoyed with his children (and, in some cases, continues to enjoy to this day).  In that respect, the Diaries became a bit of a travelogue for my future travels around my new hometown.
3051025
A great read with lots of pertinent experiences of the writer - A MOST INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE PERSONAL STORY !
1413722
Being a left-leaning Californian, I always liked and respected Dennis Kucinich for having the nerve to speak out and say things that, to me, seemed patently obvious but otherwise spelled political suicide. Having read his book, I admire him all the more. He's actually a talented writer (I assume he wrote this himself), and his utterly humble beginnings truly qualify him as a champion for the people. Many politicians claim to be, but haven't a clue what ordinary folks go through in order to squeak by and barely survive. Kucinich has grit and guts in abundant supply. Whether or not he wrote this book to bolster his presidential campaign, I found it an enjoyable, moving and worthwhile read.
3897094
This is an honest and hard hitting autobiography that should help readers understand what motivates some of the difficult characters they may come across in life. The author himself has been one such. His bravery in exposing himself so thoroughly, without any attempt to shield his identity, must be acknowledged. Hopefully, readers will properly take in all he shares and consequently understand why he led the life he has and not condemn or censure him for it. It is also to be hoped the book will help overcome some of societies prejudices.

His mother having put him out, at the age of two years, with the rubbish, Paul Connelly goes on to have a terrible childhood in care. In this account he effectively shows how social services and care systems failed him as well as many other children and young people. Numerous difficult and horrible situations and circumstances are detailed but with a sensitivity that avoids depressing or horrifying the reader too much. These include:

Sexual Abuse: Without being licentious or over graphic, sufficient detail is given to enable readers to understand what had been going on.

Psychological Abuse: The author suffered much from this and effectively shows the reader how such abuse has a long-term, life-long, impact. A good part of this autobiography explains how he dealt, or did not deal, with his own undermined personality.

Violence: The author bravely acknowledges his own violent nature that he obviously regrets. Nevertheless, he unashamedly shares what are really the consequences of abuse. The motivations driving his behaviour and where those motivations originate are plainly explained. The reader will be saddened to see how someone who should have cared for the child author almost destroyed him and were responsible for the destruction of other lives.

The author also talks about his feelings of guilt and self-recrimination with regard to a boyhood friend. Readers will undoubtedly consider these feelings unfounded: he had his own problems to deal with and probably could not have helped his friend. The psychological and physical damage to his friend had already occurred and was most likely irreversible. Nevertheless, it is easy for the reader to understand the authors feelings even if they are unjustified.

It is to the authors credit that he managed to retain a sensible and pragmatic outlook upon life. This enabled him, not only to seek appropriate tuition, even if it was late in life, but to also have a successful career. The reader will see he has achieved far more than many who have had comparatively easier lives. The fact he has to endure a life long struggle with the violence that lurks just below the surface is regrettable. The reader will comprehend the serious failure of family, so called carers and inadequate systems are responsible for this condition. Paul Connolly must be admired for his endeavours to control the violence and for his success in doing so.

Though upsetting, this is an interesting and informative read. The brutal encounters are effectively described but are kept at a reasonable level so as not to traumatise the reader too much. This account also provides a window onto some of the social behaviours of the time.

The book has evidently been edited but in such a way that unmistakably retains the authors own voice. It is a personal tale, personally told. It would have been a shame to have lost the personal style. It reads easily and would make a good addition to any collection of English social history. It may not be the most gratifying historical record but it is a true account that is supported and confirmed by public-domain legal records.
819170
Although I seldom watch the Sunday political talk shows and have rarely seen David Axelrod perform, if that is the right word, I have always liked him from afar. His candid and often humorous autobiography BELIEVER certainly did not make me change my opinion about him but rather reaffirmed it. While so many people who leave the halls of powerand to a person these days they usually write about their experiences--  write a tell-all expose with a lot of interior gossip about their former colleagues and ex-bosses, Mr. Axelrod does remarkably little of that to his everlasting credit although he certainly had a lot of opportunities.  He is kind to the Clintons, and is grateful for all that Hillary Clinton has done in support of epilepsy research. (His daughter as a very young child began having severe epileptic seizures.) He even thanks George Bush for working to make such a smooth transition between his and the Obama administration. And he could be a lot harder on John Edwards than he is although he does say Edwards has Ken-doll looks but he does; doesnt he? He does say that he turned down an offer to work for the Edwards presidential campaign on the advice of his wife Susan whom he credits with having good intuition.

While Mr. Axelrod writes of his childhood and early life as a journalist in Chicago, he devotes most of this never-dull and honest book to his friendship with Barack Obama, Obamas road to the White House, his time there as the Presidents senior advisor, President Obamas reelection and his role in it and his then leaving with a bit of sadness to return to Chicago to begin a new life for himself and his family who made tremendous sacrifices for the many years that he was away from them in Washington.

It takes Mr. Axelrod many pages before he says (p. 484) what I and the people whose opinions I most value have said for a long time now: the biggest reason that President Obama, who was elected with such an enormous mandate, has not accomplished more than he wanted to as president and why he has gotten so often bogged down with congress is that he is the wrong color. As the author so ably writes: Still, the truth is undeniable. No other president has seen his citizenship openly and persistently questioned. Never before has a president been interrupted in the middle of a national address by a congressman screaming, You lie! Some folks simply refuse to accept the legitimacy of the first black president and are seriously discomforted by the growing diversity of our country. And some craven politicians and right-wing provocateurs have been more than willing to exploit that fear, confusion, and anger. And Mr. Axelrod states further: Obama feels this, Im sure, though its not in his nature or interest to dwell on it. He remains calm, deliberative, and ultimately rational, which are virtues in a president and commander in chief and were welcome qualities after the bombast and bluster of the Bush-Cheney era.

BELIEVER is one of  the best of these sorts of books I can remember reading.
1317304
One of the most memorable speeches I've seen was Khizr Khan's at the 2016 Democratic convention. As the soft spoken Pakistani-born, Harvard educated lawyer began to speak,  his wife stood beside him, grief etched on her face. Projected on the screen behind them was a photo of their son. Captain Humayan Khan was a 27 year old Muslim-American soldier who had enlisted after 9/11. He was killed in Iraq, while saving his fellow soldiers from a suicide bomber in Iraq.

The Clinton campaign had invited Khzir Khan to speak, given him complete control over the content, and scheduled him on the final night, in a prime time spot right before Chelsea Clinton. It was a significant decision for Clinton to make, choosing to not only honor a Gold Star Muslim-American family but using a moment when many Americans were watching to remind the entire nation that Muslims also have great patriotism for the United States.

In less than 300 words, Khan made an eloquent embrace of the ideas of the Constitution--and a forceful challenge to Donald Trump to read and understand those ideals that define America. When he pulled a dog-eared copy of his own Constitution from his breast pocket, offering to let the Republican nominee borrow it, it galvanized the crowd (and infuriated Trump who would spend the weekend lashing out at the Khans on Twitter and on Sunday news shows).

(Spoiler: yes, Khan really has carried a breast-pocket Constitution for years and often gives them as gifts. The memoir ends with that speech, too, including how he wrote it with  his wife's help (as we learn in the memoir, she was not only descended from Afghani royalty, but was an intellectual woman in her own right, a former literature professor, fluent in several languages)

Many people wanted to know more about Khan after this. They will in this well-written memoir. He describes some interesting members of his self-educated, but poor, farm family in Pakistan and shows village life in the 1950s and 1960s. We see his years at university in the 1970s and his -very traditional- courtship of Ghazala. He shows, even in 1970s, a traditional lifestyle and culture that will be unfamiliar to many readers. He describes his early philosophical inspirations including Persian literature, as well as the meaning he derives from Islam and the Qur'an/Koran. I particularly enjoyed this part--wish there was much more--as I know so little about Islam.

It gave me a feeling of pride to read how he felt when, as a university student, he first discovered the U.S. Constitution and how it affected him.  He describes their early life in Dubai before Dubai was what it is today, and Houston (which was different, too), and how he eventually wound up at Harvard, then not only "in" America but having become "an American", together with his wife and children.

It's a beautiful told story, particularly meaningful against the backdrop of the 2016 election,  At the same time, reading about their son--a caring young man who taught disabled children to swim and admired Thomas Jefferson and John McCain--awas almost too painful to read. He was a real hero.

Something I really enjoyed was that there are so many kind, intelligent people who have apparently populated Khzir Khan's life. The writing is restrained, eloquent, and surprisingly uplifting in that the Khans' own intellect, idealism and kindness come through on every page.

I hope there will be teachers who find a way to bring "An American Family" into their classrooms. It is a book that should be widely read and discussed.
30822
Senator Gary Hart has written a new memoir of his years of public service.  The book makes a radical departure from the tone and style of his previous 1993 memoir, The Good Fight, which was mostly told in the third person and was heavily issue-driven.  This memoir focuses much more on personal experiences throughout his years as a campaign manager, US senator, presidential candidate, author, and statesman, and reveals that Senator Hart is not quite the "cool and aloof" person the media described him to be in the 1980s.
There are anecdotes related in this book that had me laughing out loud, including one involving an Italian prison and another involving Soviet Premier Brezhnev's prescription medications.  Senator Hart owns up to somewhat of a mischievous streak in the telling of both.  There are also episodes involving missed opportunities (by the Reagan Administration) to make historic inroads to peace in troubled global hot spots at a time when pro-active US involvement could have been a game-changer.
Senator Hart's viewpoint has always been thought-provoking and unique; he continues to demonstrate those qualities here, but in a way that shows a much greater willingness to discuss personal thoughts and feelings and to display his own wry sense of humor than he has shown in past writings.
I devoured this book in a few days, enjoyed it tremendously, and recommend it absolutely.
891297
I've never been a politics junkie, but I did grow up during the Nixon years, and I wanted a book that would bring my view of the times to an adult level. I'm glad I chose this one, because Perlstein has created a really good read. It's obvious he did a lot of research, but, equally important, he brings it to life in a book that's so fascinating you can't wait to turn the page and see what happens next.

A lot of political writing can be dry, but Perlstein avoids this and focuses both on Nixon as a person and a politician, and on the times around him, in a way that engages so much you almost feel like you're there. It was astonishing to see how adeptly Nixon was able to manipulate pretty much everyone and everything the way he did. He comes across as a guy with a lot of demons that rendered him somewhat unbalanced, but still, I have to hand it to him, he was like the Yoda of 20th-century Machiavellian politics. Just two of his slogans are enough to show this:

(1968) NIXON NOW
(1972) NIXON. NOW MORE THAN EVER.

How can you beat that for saying everything and nothing at the same time? No one has ever topped it. It's genius!

Anyway, Perlstein portrays Nixon as a guy who knew how to play down and dirty, but who also had an astounding level of endurance to pursue long-term goals nobody thought he was capable of achieving. In fact, I think Perlstein's view of Nixon is pretty well rounded. He discusses Nixon's bad side, but he doesn't villify him, and sometimes even shows a bit of a soft spot for him but without lionizing him either. Plus, he shows how Nixon's campaigns and presidencies shaped the path of politics long afterward, and indeed still do.

So I rate this one very high both for those who lived through the Nixon years and those who didn't. It's a great introduction to Nixon and his times. It even inspired me to keep a close eye on the Primary campaigns this year (2012). Without Perlstein, I'd have missed the Gingrich-Romney battle in all its wacky and divisive glory. I would love for Mr. Perlstein to write his next book about this election year!