Twice As Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power

by Marcus Mabry

Perhaps no American leader is better known and less understood than Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Beyond the dramatic story of her past--her ascent from segregated Alabama to the halls of power--and the controversy of her present, little is known about her as a woman, and while she has broken barriers and achieved extraordinary success, she is also one of the most polarizing figures of our time. As an African American girl growing up in the South when the civil rights movement was at its most tumultuous and inspiring, her own views on race are complex. While she has benefited from advances in civil rights legislation and evolving acceptance of blacks, hers has been a singularly individualistic rise, the product of her parents' determination to make her "special." TWICE AS GOOD: CONDOLEEZZA RICE AND HER PATH TO POWER, is the first biography of Rice to reveal the private woman behind the public image that has become so familiar to people around the world. Bringing his superlative skills as a journalist to bear on this most intriguing of subjects, Newsweek Chief of Correspondents Marcus Mabry chronicles the fascinating story of Rice's life so far, from her childhood in Alabama and Colorado--where she loved ice skating and playing the piano---to her discovery of international affairs at the knee of Madeleine Albright's father Josef Korbel to her role in taking America to war in Iraq. What drove her to the fateful decisions that the United States and the world are now living with? How will history judge her and what awaits her after her service to George W. Bush? Mabry answers these questions in a deeply nuanced portrait of a driven woman of many contradictions whose power is vast-and still growing...

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Politics

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is awesome! I want to meet her and be her friend, what an amazing, intelligent woman!

[John (Hey Y'all Listen Up) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well researched and well written book. It is neither too positive or negative about its subject. It highlights Rice's accomplishments, while criticizing her weaknesses. Anyone who is interested in leadership and the pursuit of power should read this book. The book effectively charts how Rice accomplished her achievements. The book earns its five star rating because it should be a model for how biographies are written.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If she didn't dream then she couldn't be denied. Hope-whether for a political office, a changed world, or a relationship-usually depended on external forces. Discipline, on the other hand, depends solely on the will of the self."

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow me to preface and say that I'm not a fan of biographies for several reasons: boring, innacurate, bias, incomplete, etc....but Marcus Mabry has done his homework and then some. Should you read this, you won't regret it and you'll walk away informed and armed with enough resources to keep any poli sci buff occupied for months (of which I AM NOT) . I'm a Republican that voted for Obama, so don't box me in and try to refrain from assumptions. I felt Mr. Mabry was unbiased, factual, and one heck of a writer ....looking forward to his next book. And BTW, this is a biography about Condoleeza Rice, not George W. Bush, not politics, and not a college course on political science - so to the reviewers that rated the book based on something for which this was book NOT intended, please think about the title of Mabry's book and the definition of biography. :)

[Peter Testori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Condoleeza Rice has had a phenomenally noteworthy life thus far. This I knew before picking up "Twice as Good.." however there are many different aspects of her life that are amazing. The first 3/4 of the book was very engrossing; detaling Dr. Rice's life from near birth. The last 1/4 delved into her role in W.'s administration and her role with 9/11, Iraq, Katrina. Mabry does a good job trying to remain objective and in fact does tactfully point out some of Dr. Rice's not so stellar moments.

I'd reccomend this biography to anyone. It certainly opens one's eyes to who our Secretary of State really is. Her life is quite an inspiration.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Everyone I know will tell you how much I admire Condoleezza Rice. This particular biography really gives her a fair shake, highlighting both her accomplishments and "mistakes" while in the Bush administration.

The book also concludes that there is a real possibility that Dr. Rice will be the vice presidential nominee in 2008. Overall, a great read from anyone interested in government and current events. I also recommend this book to left-leaning readers who tend to hold a negative opinion of Rice without having any real reason to dislike her.

[Barron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gratingly sycophantic... obsessed with her wardrobe... doesn't contain any details about policy, if that's what you're looking for.

Read it if you're looking for stories about her childhood and her fatalistic world-view, which stems from an early failure to become a full-fledged concert pianist. Read it if you want to know which foreign heads of state have crushes on her.

I'd recommend the Kessler book as an alternative and this as a supplemental.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started as a sympathic book to Condi Rice but ended as a victious assult on Rice, her honesty and integrity. The author is a black homosexual. I think that someone who is living in sin can not be an objective oberver. His major complaint is Rice's associations and defense of the Bushes's and their policies. I did not think this book add to my knowledge or pleasure.

[Terry Earley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important contribution to our political life. Rice is a brilliant mind, probably misused by the Bush administration.

[Michael Hinsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading.

[Maria Busoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

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