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ashleysbooknook's review against another edition
3.0
The first half about her time as a prosecutor was pretty boring, but I enjoyed the second half about her politics and time as a senator. At first I was kind of bothered about the way she talked about herself. She seemed proud. But then toward the end she says how she doesn’t like talking negatively about others and I realized that that was true in the book. She didn’t talk negatively about her opponents! She did spend a lot of time talking about random people that I didn’t really care to hear that much about. But, again, I enjoyed her talk of politics. She talks about how negotiation has died and being moderate is political suicide. She believes in compromise and working together. I love this! We need more politician who do this! Overall the book was ok .
squirrelfish's review against another edition
3.0
This book was one of the most personal of the presidential candidate books, describing Senator Klobuchar's life in amazing detail. I've noticed that women autobiographers tend to describe more of their home lives and relationships and this is an example of that to an extreme. She gives names and details of people she hung out with from middle school through those she works with in the Senate now. The details on incidents from the 70s and 80s is amazing - I can't remember those details from my high school and college days and they were 20 years more recent. There's also a through line of an unapologetic love for all things Minnesota - which makes sense for a Senator.
Her personal life takes up the majority of the book, but she does discuss what she was doing professionally, first as an attorney, then Hennepin County Attorney(something like a DA), and then as Senator. In those discussions political positions do reveal themselves, but there's much more discussion of bipartisanship and being a moderate than any specific platform. She was active among Minnesota Democratic circles from a young age, and seems to have had something of a mentorship by Walter Mondale, first as an intern, then associate and later one of her partners at a Minneapolis law firm. From becoming one of the youngest partners at a Democratic law firm she moved to a Republican one, emphasizing that the people at both law firms treated her with respect and remained supportive even as she ran for political office.
She remains proud of her first major political issue - making a health insurance requirement that new mothers be discharged the same day they gave birth illegal. It was inspired by her experiences as a new mother of an ill child, and having to leave the hospital while she was recovering and her daughter was in Neonatal ICU. In early chapters she discussed her fathers' fight with alcoholism, her parents divorce and other personal issues as well. She goes into some of the main issues she worked on in her role for Hennepin County, including a tough-on-crime record, collecting conviction data and campaigning to make 3+ DUIs a felony. Office furniture politics gets almost as much of a mention as her pride in Minnesota having the largest Somali population in the country and her work to make sure the refugee community knew they got equal protecting under the law. Klobuchar emphasizes a responsibility to victims not just to prosecute the cases they can win, but to make sure the victims knew why cases did or did not go to court.
I initially thought some of her choices were impressively loyal regarding claiming disgraced people as friends, but then I saw this came out in 2015. I'm not saying she wouldn't have still spoken up for law-school classmate James Comey, or fellow Minnesota Senator Al Franken, but it's not quite the loyalty in face of adversity I initially saw. The bit about bi-partisan coalitions was also something I hadn't seen in the other candidate books, but as with the lack of discussion of Trump, it's something that has a different context when seen in the rearview mirror. I do like the way she describes being a moderate - not as a halfway position between two parties, but as an acknowledgment that there is a complex and varied set of issues and they don't all naturally fall to one party position or the other. Regarding her political positions as a Senator she discusses the need to end endless war, help Veterans, carefully choose trade agreements, mentioning that she supports some and rejects others, and reaffirms her commitment to refugees and immigrants. Oh, and she brings up and credits her local tribes with the indigenous concept of responsibilities out to the 7th Generation and her belief that this ethic, and a general longer-term thinking, belong in Washington.
In a very nice closing chapter she brings up that definition of being a moderate, the Republicans she has worked with in the past, and a Slovenian quote "The obstacles in your path are not obstacles, they are the path". She uses this obstacles analogy to discuss how American democracy will overcome incalcitrant Republicans and how we'll vote them out if they keep misbehaving. It's a nice and hopeful way to think of things.
Overall, I'd say this had the simplest reading level, greatest detail of personal life, least politics, and most love of her state of any of the books for this project so far. Perhaps aimed more at a Senatorial candidacy than a Presidential one? She doesn't particularly impress me as a candidate, but as I said regarding the [a:Bernie Sanders|102824|Bernie Sanders|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1300822269p2/102824.jpg] review - the political positions are why I read this kind of thing, and this was light on political platform.
Read as an audiobook through Libby and the San Francisco Public Library. Book 6 of my readings of Presidential Candidates.
Her personal life takes up the majority of the book, but she does discuss what she was doing professionally, first as an attorney, then Hennepin County Attorney(something like a DA), and then as Senator. In those discussions political positions do reveal themselves, but there's much more discussion of bipartisanship and being a moderate than any specific platform. She was active among Minnesota Democratic circles from a young age, and seems to have had something of a mentorship by Walter Mondale, first as an intern, then associate and later one of her partners at a Minneapolis law firm. From becoming one of the youngest partners at a Democratic law firm she moved to a Republican one, emphasizing that the people at both law firms treated her with respect and remained supportive even as she ran for political office.
She remains proud of her first major political issue - making a health insurance requirement that new mothers be discharged the same day they gave birth illegal. It was inspired by her experiences as a new mother of an ill child, and having to leave the hospital while she was recovering and her daughter was in Neonatal ICU. In early chapters she discussed her fathers' fight with alcoholism, her parents divorce and other personal issues as well. She goes into some of the main issues she worked on in her role for Hennepin County, including a tough-on-crime record, collecting conviction data and campaigning to make 3+ DUIs a felony. Office furniture politics gets almost as much of a mention as her pride in Minnesota having the largest Somali population in the country and her work to make sure the refugee community knew they got equal protecting under the law. Klobuchar emphasizes a responsibility to victims not just to prosecute the cases they can win, but to make sure the victims knew why cases did or did not go to court.
I initially thought some of her choices were impressively loyal regarding claiming disgraced people as friends, but then I saw this came out in 2015. I'm not saying she wouldn't have still spoken up for law-school classmate James Comey, or fellow Minnesota Senator Al Franken, but it's not quite the loyalty in face of adversity I initially saw. The bit about bi-partisan coalitions was also something I hadn't seen in the other candidate books, but as with the lack of discussion of Trump, it's something that has a different context when seen in the rearview mirror. I do like the way she describes being a moderate - not as a halfway position between two parties, but as an acknowledgment that there is a complex and varied set of issues and they don't all naturally fall to one party position or the other. Regarding her political positions as a Senator she discusses the need to end endless war, help Veterans, carefully choose trade agreements, mentioning that she supports some and rejects others, and reaffirms her commitment to refugees and immigrants. Oh, and she brings up and credits her local tribes with the indigenous concept of responsibilities out to the 7th Generation and her belief that this ethic, and a general longer-term thinking, belong in Washington.
In a very nice closing chapter she brings up that definition of being a moderate, the Republicans she has worked with in the past, and a Slovenian quote "The obstacles in your path are not obstacles, they are the path". She uses this obstacles analogy to discuss how American democracy will overcome incalcitrant Republicans and how we'll vote them out if they keep misbehaving. It's a nice and hopeful way to think of things.
Overall, I'd say this had the simplest reading level, greatest detail of personal life, least politics, and most love of her state of any of the books for this project so far. Perhaps aimed more at a Senatorial candidacy than a Presidential one? She doesn't particularly impress me as a candidate, but as I said regarding the [a:Bernie Sanders|102824|Bernie Sanders|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1300822269p2/102824.jpg] review - the political positions are why I read this kind of thing, and this was light on political platform.
Read as an audiobook through Libby and the San Francisco Public Library. Book 6 of my readings of Presidential Candidates.
binx906's review against another edition
4.0
I only picked up the book when my fiancé had decided to support her in her bid for President. As a Conservative I had no interest initially to pick it up. However I’m happy that I did! I felt like I got to know Amy as a person and not solely a US Senator. She truly invites you into her life throughout the pages of this book. I was happy to get this approach from her given she’s a politician. She doesn’t ram her beliefs down your throat and as a member of the other party I could appreciate that. I would recommend given this book a read!
queencolleen's review against another edition
3.0
Amy shares the main points of her life and career and gives little insights into what makes her who she is. There were times that I wish she dug a little deeper, some of the points made felt surface level. I enjoyed her stories of her family and connecting with others. If her politics of reaching across party lines, when possible, and bringing everyone together is something that inspires you then her book is worth a read. It’s a quick read!
shoshin's review against another edition
funny
informative
slow-paced
3.5
I wanted to love this book because I'm so familiar with the places and people, but I didn't. I enjoyed the story of Senator Klobuchar's life, and appreciated all she's fought for, but wasn't wild about the book.
panda8882's review against another edition
5.0
I knew next to nothing about Amy Klobuchar when I started this book, and now I'm a huge fan and she is one of my top picks for the Democratic nomination. Her story is equal parts ordinary and extraordinary. It is striking to me as I'm reading all these candidates' books how much more 'qualified' and 'experienced' the women running are than the men. But the men apparently get extra credit for 'charisma' and 'momentum'.
jchant's review against another edition
4.0
My friend Bonnie, who lives in Minneapolis, always gives me a Minnesota-themed book for Christmas. For Christmas 2015, this was the Minnesota book, and not only was it hardcover (we usually give each other paperbacks), but it was signed and inscribed to me by Senator Klobuchar herself! Bonnie included a note telling me all about how she came to get the book for me, and needless to say, I was blown away.
I immediately started reading this on Christmas Day, and found Senator Klobuchar's stories from her life and political career fascinating and inspiring. I was especially interested to learn about her childhood. Her father was a long-time columnist for the Minneapolis StarTribune, and I remember reading his columns about the biking and backpacking trips that he took with Amy over the years. It was interesting to read her take on her father and her experiences growing up.
Senator Klobuchar also spent a good portion of the book on her involvement in Democratic party politics in Minnesota and her experiences as Hennepin County Attorney (I remember my dad telling me what a fantastic job she did in this position) and as the senior senator from Minnesota. I am particularly impressed with how she has reached out to Republican colleagues in the Senate and House to work toward legislation that benefits both parties and the American people, as well.
I won't get into much of the politics here, but if you are interested in a well-written and thoroughly interesting memoir, I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
I immediately started reading this on Christmas Day, and found Senator Klobuchar's stories from her life and political career fascinating and inspiring. I was especially interested to learn about her childhood. Her father was a long-time columnist for the Minneapolis StarTribune, and I remember reading his columns about the biking and backpacking trips that he took with Amy over the years. It was interesting to read her take on her father and her experiences growing up.
Senator Klobuchar also spent a good portion of the book on her involvement in Democratic party politics in Minnesota and her experiences as Hennepin County Attorney (I remember my dad telling me what a fantastic job she did in this position) and as the senior senator from Minnesota. I am particularly impressed with how she has reached out to Republican colleagues in the Senate and House to work toward legislation that benefits both parties and the American people, as well.
I won't get into much of the politics here, but if you are interested in a well-written and thoroughly interesting memoir, I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
eralon's review against another edition
3.0
Klobuchar is clearly a good person, but wow, I was deeply unimpressed by this book. Nearly 3/4th is just memoir, which speaks of the excessive self-importance shared by candidates like Hickenlooper.
Additionally, I don’t think Klobuchar is part of the modern Democratic Party. There are too many urgent issues in this era, many of them caused by the far right, and it’s my opinion that centrists such as Klobuchar or Biden properly belong in a third party. The Republicans won’t have them, and neither should Democrats.
She seems to lack large vision and is mired in accomplishing little fixes. It wasn’t even clear if she failed to cover her policy in this book or if she’s completely lacking policy. I know she’s “tough on crime” and that she thinks we can’t be isolationists. Other than that, I don’t know too much about her policies after one of the lengthiest candidate’s books. Well, maybe it just felt like the lengthiest.
Additionally, I don’t think Klobuchar is part of the modern Democratic Party. There are too many urgent issues in this era, many of them caused by the far right, and it’s my opinion that centrists such as Klobuchar or Biden properly belong in a third party. The Republicans won’t have them, and neither should Democrats.
She seems to lack large vision and is mired in accomplishing little fixes. It wasn’t even clear if she failed to cover her policy in this book or if she’s completely lacking policy. I know she’s “tough on crime” and that she thinks we can’t be isolationists. Other than that, I don’t know too much about her policies after one of the lengthiest candidate’s books. Well, maybe it just felt like the lengthiest.
rsteve388's review against another edition
3.0
This book was disappointing, when I started this project of reading all the books for the democratic nominations, i expected to learn what life choices have influenced their policy positions. This book fell flat and really focused on Amy Klobuchar and her family. Isadly didnt come away with a strong understanding of why she should be president and what she will focus on.
I think if you wanted just a basic understanding of senator Klobuchar this would be a decent book.
I think if you wanted just a basic understanding of senator Klobuchar this would be a decent book.