Book Review - Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia by Mary Beth Brown
Category Book Review Mary Beth Brown Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia
I was recently given the opportunity to read and review the book Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia by Mary Beth Brown. There are a number of things that will factor into whether you end up liking this book or not. All things considered, I ended up thinking this was around an "average" book...
Contents:
Transforming America; Entering a New World; A Strong Family Heritage; Childhood Matters; Becoming a Steel Magnolia; Not Your Average Teenager; Education Is the Way to Success; Professor Rice; Dealing with the Soviet Union; Tackling a Monstrous Deficit; Condi the Campaigner; Advising a President; The Most Powerful Woman in the World; Epilogue; Bibliography; Notes; Index; Acknowledgments; About the Author
On the positive side... This book goes into a fair amount of detail about how she grew up in the segregated South, an only child who was taught that nothing should stand in her way to achieve whatever she could dream. Her ancestors placed great importance on education, and that emphasis carried down to her. As a result, she was way ahead of the curve when it came to academic achievement, regardless of color and gender. She was also well-versed in the arts, and is an accomplished pianist who still plays regularly for herself and the occasional public performance. Her Christian faith is also integral to her attitude and philosophy in life, and that's something that can't be sectioned off and dealt with as a compartment. Based on the way the author presents the material, you realize that Rice places critical importance on her relationship with God. When you're done with the book, you know that she has accomplished more in her life than any number of people combined. She truly is an example of overcoming obstacles and hurdles in life to become a success.
On the negative side... You'd think that Rice has never made a mistake in her life based on the author's often gushing portrayal of her. Little if any time is spent analyzing her decisions made as "the most powerful woman in the world" in terms of foreign policy, terrorism, and other issues facing the American people both here and abroad. I almost got the impression that Rice may not necessarily be setting policy as she would have it, but rather serving the president and promoting the Administration views as a good soldier. This lack of impartial or even critical analysis taints what otherwise could be a decent biography of Rice. Without that analysis, it's hard not to view this as a rather one-sided pro-Condi book put out by people who would like to see her run for President or something.
From my perspective, I learned much about Rice, and she's someone who I admire. I *do* have a hard time reconciling that view of her with the current administration she works for. If you approach the book from a purely political viewpoint, there's not much here that would satisfy you. If you're more interested in a human interest portrayal of someone who has succeeded in life, then you'll get more out of it. I would have preferred a portrayal that was more realistic, complete with flaws and mistakes. Instead, it's more of a rah-rah read that may leave you still wondering who the real Condi is...
I was recently given the opportunity to read and review the book Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia by Mary Beth Brown. There are a number of things that will factor into whether you end up liking this book or not. All things considered, I ended up thinking this was around an "average" book...
Contents:
Transforming America; Entering a New World; A Strong Family Heritage; Childhood Matters; Becoming a Steel Magnolia; Not Your Average Teenager; Education Is the Way to Success; Professor Rice; Dealing with the Soviet Union; Tackling a Monstrous Deficit; Condi the Campaigner; Advising a President; The Most Powerful Woman in the World; Epilogue; Bibliography; Notes; Index; Acknowledgments; About the Author
On the positive side... This book goes into a fair amount of detail about how she grew up in the segregated South, an only child who was taught that nothing should stand in her way to achieve whatever she could dream. Her ancestors placed great importance on education, and that emphasis carried down to her. As a result, she was way ahead of the curve when it came to academic achievement, regardless of color and gender. She was also well-versed in the arts, and is an accomplished pianist who still plays regularly for herself and the occasional public performance. Her Christian faith is also integral to her attitude and philosophy in life, and that's something that can't be sectioned off and dealt with as a compartment. Based on the way the author presents the material, you realize that Rice places critical importance on her relationship with God. When you're done with the book, you know that she has accomplished more in her life than any number of people combined. She truly is an example of overcoming obstacles and hurdles in life to become a success.
On the negative side... You'd think that Rice has never made a mistake in her life based on the author's often gushing portrayal of her. Little if any time is spent analyzing her decisions made as "the most powerful woman in the world" in terms of foreign policy, terrorism, and other issues facing the American people both here and abroad. I almost got the impression that Rice may not necessarily be setting policy as she would have it, but rather serving the president and promoting the Administration views as a good soldier. This lack of impartial or even critical analysis taints what otherwise could be a decent biography of Rice. Without that analysis, it's hard not to view this as a rather one-sided pro-Condi book put out by people who would like to see her run for President or something.
From my perspective, I learned much about Rice, and she's someone who I admire. I *do* have a hard time reconciling that view of her with the current administration she works for. If you approach the book from a purely political viewpoint, there's not much here that would satisfy you. If you're more interested in a human interest portrayal of someone who has succeeded in life, then you'll get more out of it. I would have preferred a portrayal that was more realistic, complete with flaws and mistakes. Instead, it's more of a rah-rah read that may leave you still wondering who the real Condi is...