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Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice, one of most powerful and controversial women in the world, has until now remained a mystery behind an elegant, cool veneer. In this stunning new biography, New York Times reporter Elisabeth Bumiller peels back the layers and presents a revelatory portrait of the first black female secretary of state and President George W. Bush’s national security adviser...more
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published
December 11th 2007
by Random House
(first published 2007)
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I was fascinated to read that Condoleezza Rice was taught by Madeline Albright's father, Josef Korbel - and I would like to read more about him now!
The Elisabeth Bumiller book provided me with some knowledge about Condoleezza Rice. I was particularly interested in reading about her family background and early life. This material was handled well.
The book did not however, deliver the same level of understanding to Condoleezza's career in National Security and as Secretary...more
The Elisabeth Bumiller book provided me with some knowledge about Condoleezza Rice. I was particularly interested in reading about her family background and early life. This material was handled well.
The book did not however, deliver the same level of understanding to Condoleezza's career in National Security and as Secretary...more
I chose this book for several reasons, one being that I had wanted to read a biography, another that I spotted this book at the library in February (and thought I could do something in honor of Black History Month), and most of all because Condoleeza Rice has been a person who has fascinated me and in some ways has reminded me of my mother with her apparent class and grace.
I was a bit disappointed with this book, however. The accounts of Rice's childhood and family background and ed...more
I was a bit disappointed with this book, however. The accounts of Rice's childhood and family background and ed...more
I picked this book up because I wanted to know what makes Condoleezza Rice tick. Unfortunately, this biography doesn't provide a lot of revealing information beyond what we all know. The early chapters describing Rice's childhood as a minister's daughter in segregated Birmingham are interesting. But the book soon devolves into an analysis of all the missteps leading up to 9/11 and the Iraq war. I'm glad I read it, but still feel like something is missing.
As if I don't say it enough, I really enjoy biographies. And I prefer a biography over an autobiography if I have mixed feelings about the subject. So I enjoyed Bumiller's story of Rice's life. She had sufficient access and cooperation of Rice as well as many of those who worked and lived closely with her, those who have been supportive and those who have been critical.
Susan
is currently reading it
Having read Rice's two well written memoirs, which were honest and direct, I can already see that this book is digging for dirt and some level of discrediting her. Book club selection by someone who felt this would be a better look at her than her own writings.
This is probably the best biography on her to date. She actually conducted some interviews with her and her colleagues. If you want to learn more about her and the Bush administration, it is worth a look.
Condoleezza Rice is a historical figure in her own right as well as a formidable fixture on the current political scene. Her accomplishments are so significant, numerous and far reaching that they are difficult to completely assemble into recognizable categories. Unfortunately, this author could not appreciably fathom the stature of the individual before her and this book, lacking much original thought, falls far short of any recommendation to read it. Condoleezza Rice is an intriguing individu...more
A comprehensive and somewhat unbiased chronicling of Condi's life and career, but in the end I felt myself asking, "To what end was this book written?"
Not completely a tell-all, but I found it an interesting look at a very accomplished woman. Her family's history is fascinating.
Now to read a book written by someone who respected Ms. Rice.
A 50-50 split of info about her and developments in US history. A very topical view.
Very interesting, though biased (I thought) at times. I enjoyed learning about what Rice did before she became NSA and Secretary of State. I wasn't aware of how close she was to the bombing victims in Birmingham, AL.
I enjoyed learning about Condoleezza but I didn't think the book was very well written.
This month's ward book group read. Still waiting for it to get to the library.
I know little about her other than she's accomplished a heck of a lot.
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