I departed a bit from my usual routine to read the much-publicized autobiography of Sarah Palin. She was an interesting character, to say the least, in the 2008 elections, and this book gave her own interesting perspective on those events.I usually enjoy biographies, and this one was no different. She details her own upbringing in Alaska, her experiences as a wife and mother, Todd's job on the North Slope, and her own political development. There were a number of fun stories that give a window on life in the great frontier of Alaska. But the book really hits its step when it gets into her political career, from her somewhat surprise foray into politics as a councilwoman to her election as mayor, and on to the Governor's office, bucking the party the whole way. She certainly paints herself as a maverick, and her record would seem to fit the bill. She stood up to corruption in both parties in Alaska and sought common-sense solutions to problems. Her straight-talking political style and her advocacy of a common-sense convservatism make her an interesting character, and she certainly comes off as something other than your usual politician.
Her account of the 2008 presidential campaing was the centerpoint of the book, and it gave an interesting perspective to her role. The McCain campaign came off, in her characterization, as being poorly managed, as as often mismanaging Palin, especially when it comes to her own responses to her critics. So this book was a chance for her to say what she wanted to say at the time. And in that vain, it seemed to fit some of the pieces of her involvement in that campaign and her characterization in the media together. In all, it seems she might have proved to be a better candidate than she did if she'd been allowed to speak more freely. But that's all in hindsight, of course.
In all, this was an interesting, and well-written book, and Palin certainly comes off as a legitimate political force giving voice to a clear current within American political thinking. Maybe she isn't presidential material (that jury is still out, I'm sure), but there is no doubt that she brings an interesting and worthwhile perspective and voice to the political scene.
