jonathan_mangiapane's review
3.0
With a signature style of prose, concise storytelling, and chalk full of Washington details. This candid approach to biography is a success in some, not all, regards.
The opening builds an anticipation and fear that the United States of America will simply implode on itself and then breaks into the story of his grandfather's migration to the USA. Of course, now we know the USA did not implode, however this read-bait is very effective.
Some of the structure seems disjointed. Jutting from one tale to another and then back to the first with seemingly little cohesion. Though they sometimes add a fullness to the greater chapter.
My largest complaint is that there is a lot of self-hypocrisy. He will say Nixon was a man that could not be President, he lacked the personal requirements, then blames the failings on Nixon's insiders. Goldwater claims that if he had won the 1964 election, his term would ultimately be ineffective due to the Democrats control of the Congresses. Then he will state that "Empirical data shows" had he won, his administration would have changed America forever. Such ideas are assumed by the general public to be mustered any politician. Perhaps, these hypocrisies are simply an extension and affirmation that the book truly is candid.
From reading other books and articles from political memoirs, Goldwater's isolation on stance and from his party is clear. His insight on the larger workings of White House Government, at least at the time of writing, was not as deep as he thought, or as he wanted. Ultimately, it shows.
Overall the book is a decent insight to the mind and machinations of Barry Goldwater, and the roots of the new conservative movement. I would recommend to those interested in either political autobiographies, or the history of the Vietnam-Watergate era in USA politics.
The opening builds an anticipation and fear that the United States of America will simply implode on itself and then breaks into the story of his grandfather's migration to the USA. Of course, now we know the USA did not implode, however this read-bait is very effective.
Some of the structure seems disjointed. Jutting from one tale to another and then back to the first with seemingly little cohesion. Though they sometimes add a fullness to the greater chapter.
My largest complaint is that there is a lot of self-hypocrisy. He will say Nixon was a man that could not be President, he lacked the personal requirements, then blames the failings on Nixon's insiders. Goldwater claims that if he had won the 1964 election, his term would ultimately be ineffective due to the Democrats control of the Congresses. Then he will state that "Empirical data shows" had he won, his administration would have changed America forever. Such ideas are assumed by the general public to be mustered any politician. Perhaps, these hypocrisies are simply an extension and affirmation that the book truly is candid.
From reading other books and articles from political memoirs, Goldwater's isolation on stance and from his party is clear. His insight on the larger workings of White House Government, at least at the time of writing, was not as deep as he thought, or as he wanted. Ultimately, it shows.
Overall the book is a decent insight to the mind and machinations of Barry Goldwater, and the roots of the new conservative movement. I would recommend to those interested in either political autobiographies, or the history of the Vietnam-Watergate era in USA politics.
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