Book Reviews by Linda Killian
Mazie Hirono’s journey from poor immigrant to U.S. senator A review of “Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter’s Story” (M. Hirono, 2021) “Heart of Fire” traces Mazie Hirono’s journey from poor immigrant to U.S. senator. When Hirono writes about her childhood, her mother and family, their arrival in Hawaii from Japan, and the poverty, hardship, fear and struggle they faced, “Heart of Fire” is a revelatory, evocative, deeply moving book. |
Measuring the authoritarian mind-set of Trump’s followers A review of “Authoritarian Nightmare: Trump and His Followers” (J. Dean and B. Altemeyer, 2020) Some of the biggest questions about President Trump involve his followers. Who are they, what do they want, and why do they support him no matter what? “Authoritarian Nightmare: Trump and His Followers,” co-authored by John W. Dean and Bob Altemeyer, is an effort to answer those questions. Without his supporters, “Donald Trump would be nothing but a Twitter troll,” they assert. |
A White House correspondent confronts Trump’s tantrums and untruths A review of “Front Row at the Trump Show” (J.Karl, Dutton, 2020) Jonathan Karl is one of President Trump’s least favorite reporters, or so it would seem from recent White House briefings. In the past few weeks Trump has told Karl not to be a “cutie pie” or a “wise guy,” and called him “a third-rate reporter” who would “never make it” because Karl was asking about the availability of coronavirus testing and ventilators for hospitals. Trump’s mini-tantrums and name calling are not restricted to Karl. They have become common in the briefing room since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the advent of the president’s daily marathon briefings. Many people have argued that the television networks and cable news channels should stop carrying the briefings live because they are short on useful information and extremely long on Trump promotion. Since lockdowns have prevented the president from holding rallies, the briefings have become “The Trump Show” — which is also the title of Karl’s new book: “Front Row at the Trump Show.” |
An Obama adviser summons a volunteer army to defeat President Trump A review of “A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump” (D. Plouffe, Viking, 2020) By any measure, Barack Obama and his team ran one of the best political campaigns in modern history in 2008…. David Plouffe, the campaign’s manager in both the primary and the general elections, whom Obama has largely credited for the win, has already written the detailed story of that campaign. “The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory,” published in 2009, revealed campaign anecdotes and tactics and provided behind-the-scenes color. “A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump” is a very different book. The title pretty much says it all. This is a guidebook with step-by-step instructions for people who want to get involved in the Democratic campaign. |
Ambitious, flawed Ben Franklin on a path to greatness A review of “Young Benjamin Franklin: The Birth of Ingenuity” (N. Bunker, Knopf, 2018) Ingenuity is the central theme of Nick Bunker’s book about the first half of Franklin’s life. “Ingenuity” was Franklin’s favorite word, and in the 18th century it meant a combination of intellect, imagination, practical skills, wit and sociability — all traits Franklin possessed in abundance. In “Young Benjamin Franklin: The Birth of Ingenuity,” Bunker offers ample evidence to illustrate how Franklin developed ingenuity and how it influenced the rest of his life. Franklin’s origins, character and background, Bunker writes, serve to explain the man he would become. |
