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Going Rogue: An American Life Hardcover – November 17, 2009
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length432 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperCollins
- Publication dateNovember 17, 2009
- Reading age18 years and up
- Dimensions6.3 x 1.38 x 9.29 inches
- ISBN-109780061939891
- ISBN-13978-0061939891
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Review
Truly one of the most substantive policy books I’ve ever read — Rush Limbaugh
From the Back Cover
On September 3, 2008 Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gave a speech at the Republican National Convention that electrified the nation and instantly made her one of the most recognizable women in the world.
As chief executive of America′s largest state, she had built a record as a reformer who cast aside politics-as-usual and pushed through changes other politicians only talked about: Energy independence. Ethics reform. And the biggest private sector infrastructure project in U.S. history. While revitalizing public school funding and ensuring the state met its responsibilities to seniors and Alaska Native populations, Palin also beat the political "good ol′ boys club" at their own game and brought Big Oil to heel.
Like her GOP running mate, John McCain, Palin wasn′t a packaged and over-produced "candidate." She was a Main Street American woman: a working mom, wife of a blue collar union man, and mother of five children, the eldest of whom was serving his country in a yearlong deployment in Iraq and the youngest, an infant with special needs. Palin′s hometown story touched a populist nerve, rallying hundreds of thousands of ordinary Americans to the GOP ticket.
But as the campaign unfolded, Palin became a lightning rod for both praise and criticism. Supporters called her "refreshing," "honest," a kitchen-table public servant they felt would fight for their interests. Opponents derided her as a wide-eyed Pollyanna unprepared for national leadership. But none of them knew the real Sarah Palin.
In this eagerly anticipated memoir, Palin paints an intimate portrait of growing up in the wilds of Alaska; meeting her lifelong love; her decision to enter politics; the importance of faith and family; and the unique joys and trials of life as a high-profile working mother. She also opens up for the first time about the 2008 presidential race, providing a rare, mom′s-eye view of high-stakes national politics - from patriots dedicated to "Country First" to slick politicos bent on winning at any cost.
Going Rogue traces one ordinary citizen′s extraordinary journey, and imparts Palin′s vision of a way forward for America and her unfailing hope in the greatest nation on earth.
About the Author
From The Washington Post
Copyright 2009, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved.
Product details
- ASIN : 0061939897
- Publisher : HarperCollins; First Edition (November 17, 2009)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780061939891
- ISBN-13 : 978-0061939891
- Reading age : 18 years and up
- Item Weight : 1.37 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.3 x 1.38 x 9.29 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,421,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #347 in Women in Politics (Books)
- #1,736 in United States National Government
- #7,056 in Political Leader Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Sarah Palin grew up in Alaska towns, from Skagway to Wasilla to Anchorage, while her dad taught science and coached high school sports. She and her future husband, Todd Palin, graduated from Wasilla High School in 1982, and she went on to earn her college degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Idaho. Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council, then two terms as the city's mayor and manager, and was elected by her peers as president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. She then chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Palin was elected Alaska's youngest, and first female, governor, serving from 2006 to 2009. While serving her state she was tapped as Senator John McCain's running mate in 2008, becoming the first female Republican vice presidential candidate in our nation's history.
The Palins reside in Wasilla with their five children, including a son in the U.S. Army, and one grandson. They enjoy an extended family throughout Alaska and the Lower 48.
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Don't believe the reviews that say it is all negative complaining about the campaign. That is a lie and makes me wonder if they read it. She does name a few names toward the end but I would say the score settling takes about ten pages, if that. The rest is a charming and interesting biography. Her parents are very interesting people, willing to move to Skagway, Alaska in 1964, two months after the great earthquake that devastated the state. Her father was a high school teacher and coach and Alaska was paying large bonuses ($6,000 which was real money in 1964) for teachers. Her father is the same age I am so I can relate pretty well. Five years later, they moved to Anchorage and then eventually to Wasilla in the Mat-Su Valley north of Anchorage. She doesn't mention it but Wasilla has been proposed as the state capital for many years because of the inaccessibility of Juneau, which cannot be reached by land. In 1994, there was another ballot initiative to move the capitol to Wasilla but it was defeated by Fairbanks voters who are fierce rivals to Anchorage. Without understanding the bitter rivalries within Alaska residents, it is more difficult to appreciate the wildfires set off by her selection as the VP candidate. As long as she was anonymous on the national stage, she could work with Democrats in the state. Once she became a national figure, the underlying Alaskan jealousies were stirred up.
Her story continues and she met Todd when he moved to town to play basketball. Once again. she does not explain that high school basketball is a passion in Alaska with even small native villages in the far north vigorous participants in the leagues. During the winters, there is very little else to do in much of Alaska but attend high school basketball games. Todd sounds pretty impressive as a 16 year old with his own car and a truck to haul his snow machines. He is a year younger than she is but they have been inseparable (although often separated by thousands of miles for months at a time by school and work) since they met. There is one funny story about how they kept in touch by VHF radio when the telephone was not available until they realized that truckers passing through town, who also had VHF radios, could listen to their conversations.
She registered to vote as a Republican at 18. She does not mention the lies that were spread about her alleged connection with the Alaska Independent Party during the campaign. By the time they were in their early 20s, she was fishing with Todd during the season at Bristol Bay where his family has fished for generations. In the summer of 1988, they eloped, getting married at the courthouse with two residents of the old folks home across the street as witnesses. Track was born on April 20, 1989 so, if she was pregnant as many assume, it was pretty early. Summer in Alaska ends in August and April is eight months away. They lived with her sister, Heather, in a small apartment in Anchorage. There is another funny story about her labor with Track as they rushed her to the hospital and decided the sign "Deliveries" showed them the right entrance. They ended up in the warehouse.
There was a good deal of sneering at her college career but, after reading the book, I don't understand that. She got a scholarship by entering the local beauty contest. She attended the U of Hawaii for a year before deciding that was too exotic and transferring to U of Idaho. Hawaii is the most popular vacation site for Alaskans and Alaska Airlines has had daily flights from Anchorage for many years. It is the closest part of the Lower 48 (or 49 in that case) to Alaska. The U of Idaho is a great place with a wonderful student life, being isolated in rural country yet close to Washington State U which is only about 25 miles away across the state border. It is a sign of the distance between the Harvard "educated" elites and the rest of us.
Her history in Alaska politics and the presidential campaign are pretty well known by now. I won't summarize the book. I will say that there are 268 pages about her life before we get to Senator McCain. I knew about her before she was chosen and my personal preferences for a VP nominee were her and Meg Whitman, who is running for governor of California next year. I thought Ms Whitman might too much a novice at politics so Sarah was my personal favorite. I was a McCain supporter in 2000 against George Bush and still think he might have been a better president given our problems after 2001. I was not a supporter of McCain in the primaries in 2008 as I thought he was too old. His choice of Sarah Palin was inspired. I agree with her criticisms of his staff that are contained in the last 60 pages of the book and total less than 10 pages. I knew about most of them at the time. The Katie Couric interview was a disaster but she should have been allowed to do interviews with friendly venues first and I thought so a year ago. There is no criticism of McCain himself and she obviously still has the highest regard for him.
Her explanation of the resignation has been criticized, even by friendly sources, as "weak." I think it makes sense given that I know more about Alaska than some others. Once she was a national figure, the Democrats were under orders to make her life miserable. There are quite a few nutty Alaskans. When I got my Alaska medical license 15 years ago, I had to have a personal interview in Anchorage with a member of the state medical board. They know that their state is a magnet for nuts and kooks. I thought it a wise policy. She had burned her bridges with the Republicans by taking on Murkowski and the state party when she ran for governor. She has few allies in state politics.
I read the book in a day and a half. After the first 40 pages or so, it reads very well and is well done. The early heavy going seems artificial and I suspect the co-author but could be wrong. As I got into the book, the excessive adjectives and overwriting seemed to go away and I think it wasn't just me getting used to them. I am obviously a friendly reader and knew most of the story. The AP has already assigned 11 "fact checkers" to find flaws and they didn't come up with anything. It rings true, especially the early section about the local politics when she first was elected to the city council of Wasilla. I have been involved in local politics and understand exactly what she is saying. I have also been involved in state politics in California, although not as an office holder, and that section rings true. Michael Crichton once wrote about what he called the "Murray Gell-Mann Amnesia effect." In that concept, a knowledgeable person reads a newspaper article about a subject he knows well and realizes that it is totally erroneous. The reporter doesn't know what he is writing about. That knowledgeable person then turns to another section of the paper, about a subject that he knows little about, and assumes that story is correct. It is much the same with Sarah Palin. Those areas I know something about, confirm her version of events. Therefore, I am more inclined to accept her version of events I don't know much about. Let's call it the reverse Murray Gell-Mann Amnesia effect. Read the book.
Sarah Palin has a great love for Alaska. Part of her books reads like a travel log where she describes the soaring mountains, the quaintness of Juno, the abundant wildlife and the long summer days when no one seems to sleep. She expresses her appreciation for Title IX which gives women an opportunity to compete in sports. The struggle to survive in America's last frontier, her competitive spirit in sports and her strong religious beliefs tempered and forged her to become a successful mayor, governor and vice presidential candidate. At the same time she and her husband Todd are devoted and loving parents. Her final son Trig, has Down syndrome. Sarah turned to her faith to meet the challenge of caring for this special needs child.
Sarah's natural instincts are directed towards a limited government. Such a government should provide a favorable environment for commerce, education, free enterprise and personal development. Governmental leaders should then step aside to unleash the creative energy inherent in all of us. As governor, Sarah avoided the entanglements from special interest groups. She earned the disdain of the Republican Party leadership when she blew the whistle on policies that were not in the best interest of te Alaskan people. Sarah was able to work with democrats too. She forced Exxon to start oil exploration on oil leases that they were sitting on for over thirty years. She demanded that British Petroleum make needed repairs on the Alaskan pipeline before a catastrophic oil spill takes place. She negotiated a highly favorable deal for the people of Alaska in her contracts to construct a natural gas pipe line. Prior to her nomination as vice president, her popularity with Alaskan people was over eighty percent.
Sarah has the greatest respect for our service men and women in her praise of their honorable and selfless duty. She was especially upset with Senator John Kerry's commencement address to students at a California college, "you know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq". Sarah's comment to Senator Kerry in her book, "What a loon what an elitist loon".
Sarah was not aware that the McCain staff was investigating her and her family. The investigation was thorough. To add insult to injury, the Palin family was stuck with a fifty thousand dollar bill for this vetting process after the unsuccessful campaign. The investigators knew about Bristol's pregnancy although it was not common knowledge outside the family. Sarah was secretly flown to Arizona where she was interviewed, met John McCain and his wife Cindy, and accepted the invitation to run for the vice presidency.
Sarah was a team player trying to do her best under some extreme circumstances. Steve Schmidt was in charge of the McCain campaign. He was extremely controlling to the extent that he interfered with her efforts to carry out her duties as governor.
Some may argue that Sarah Palin was a whiner, but in reality her criticism of certain staff members was certainly justified. The one hundred and fifty thousand dollar wardrobe fiasco is an example of an inept campaign staff. It's the opinion of this writer, that these staff members were naive and stupid! stupid! stupid! when it comes to understanding that CBS had degenerated into a mouth piece for candidate Obama. The interview with Katie Couric was a set up and Sarah Palin really botched it and she admits it. Schmidt was too inexperience when it came to helping Sarah prepare for the debate with Joe Biden. Senator Lieberman stepped in and saved the day.
Sarah is too modest to brag about her impact on the campaign. This reviewer will do it for her. McCain's presidential campaign was doomed following the Wall Street meltdown in September with the fall of Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch etc. Sarah's speeches often drew crowds as large as those of McCain and much larger than those of Joe Biden. When it became obvious that the McCain-Palin ticket would not prevail, Schmidt and others tried to shift the blame to Sarah.
This writer will conclude with some comments of Sarah Palin regarding the unconstrained, liberal or left-wing vision versus a common sense conservative vision. "A liberal ideologue believes that societal problems can all be solved if only the poor, ignorant, disorganized public is told what to do and rational plans are enacted. And who is better to make those plans than an elite bureaucracy pulling the strings and organizing society according to their master bluepring? No one can doubt that our current leaders in Washington subscribed to this unconstrained vision".
"Common sense Conservatives deals with human nature as it is--imperfect but filled with beauty. We hope for the best. We believe people can change for the better, but we do not ignore history's lessons and waste time chasing utopian pipe dreams".
Top reviews from other countries
Rather than remaining ignorant I decided to take a punt and purchase her book, and I was so pleased I did. I found her engaging; her writing style was fluid; and her life story fascinating. I truly admire her spirit in wanting to `get things done', her passion for her home state of Alaska (hunt it, shoot it, eat it) and her love for her family. She has strong beliefs (who doesn't?) but that appeared not to affect her ability to pursue political office and support legislation that is right and fair (for example, her authorisation of legislation to provide benefit payment to gay couples).
Her rise in politics was almost meteoric, rising from local councillor, to mayor, to a seat on the energy commission, and finally governor of Alaska. During these periods in office she had many accomplishments of which she has every right to be proud. However, not everything in life is black & white and yes, some of these accomplishments were perhaps tinged with a touch a grey, but its totally unfair that these `grey areas' should distract from what she achieved.
Her selection as VP candidate on the '08 Republican presidential campaign however appears to have been her undoing. It would appear that her selection as McCain's running mate may have been made for the wrong reasons, too early in her career and at such last minute that she was ultimately, perhaps, overwhelmed. Not that she says this in the book however.
Her description and details of life on the campaign trail seem to show that Palin didn't have the confidence early on to challenge the way the campaign organisers were mismanaging her, through restriction of her access to the media; by not allowing her to make her own statements (as in the case of her teenage daughters pregnancy) and answer many of the allegations being made regarding her performance in office in Alaska. It was clear that the senior members of the campaign team tried to force huge amounts of information (on areas such as foreign policy etc.) on to her, and when that didn't work they switched track and started trying to script her responses to possible questions. This didn't work either as it would seem that Palin became muddled on exactly what her stance/ answer should be to policy questions.
At some stage during the campaign a decision was made to `throw her under the bus' as a scapegoat for why the campaign failed. This is unfair and a huge shame. However, she doesn't appear to be hugely negative or hold any particular resentment OF her treatment during the campaign. She continues to speak highly of John McCain. Her return to Alaska however, and the governor's mansion, is a whole other story which leads to her resignations a year later.
Ultimately she has been targeted and treated poorly but her spirit remains positive, and the book shows her true character and that, despite everything, her understanding of the core issues affecting American's today would make her an excellent public figure and leader. Whether she ever comes back from the political wilderness to prove it though will be another story (not yet told).