Customer Reviews

Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book because Barney Frank is such an interesting person and politician. I thought that his biography above most other politicians' biographies would be likewise an interesting read. However, the writing in the book is constructed in such a mundane way (e.g., "he did this, then he did that, then he did his") that there is no storytelling element in it besides a monotonous recalling of facts. The painfully bland narrative voice does a disservice to Barney Frank's fascinating life. Ultimately, I could not finish the book because of its poor writing. The research is probably very good, but it needs another voice/writing style. I hope that one day a biography that is as interesting and fascinating as Barney Frank's life makes it to the shelves. I do not recommend this book, but I do recommend doing your own research and reading on this amazing politician.

First, a disclaimer. I was a source for this book. That said, the book is an extraordinary political biography that describes the life of an amazing politician, but also of an era. While the term, "the spirit of the sixties" has been trivialized over time, this book highlights the best of that decade by showing the genuine idealism at its heart. Moreover, this "spirit" is transcended to the degree that Barney Frank combined - and combines - the idealism of that era with a practical approach to politics. His goal was to have a measurable effect on the lives of poor people, who were then and are today, neglected by the political elites at all levels of government. This book shows how he did this and is a very valuable primer for those driven by results in public policy rather than scoring political points. Even to this day, in his very powerful position as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Frank remains true both to those ideals and to the practical approach to politics. Of course, the book is also peppered with endless examples of Rep. Franks wicked wit, which provides chuckles throughout.

Having proudly worked for Barney Frank, I can't claim to be objective about the book. But I can report on its accuracy, which is scrupulous. I was deeply involved with a particularly period in Rep. Frank's career and I could not find a single error of fact or even interpretation on things on which I had personal knowledge. I have to say, I was surprised by the candor I found in this authorized biography. This is a "warts and all" account that is very honest about some of Rep. Frank's personal struggles and, shall we say, challenging personality traits.

In the end, however, this is a story of a political leader who remains uncorrupted by the power he currently wields. He entered politics to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Unlike many, he has stayed true to his original ideals and I believe the country is fortunate to have him at the center of our current economic travails.

The missing star is for the somewhat slanted coverage in this biography, written by a personal friend of the congressman. As a Republican, I noticed some inaccuracies and demonization of Republicans. Some statements were hard to believe, for instance, that Barney Frank hated Newt Gingrich but not because Newt voted to censure him...oh no, that had nothing to do with it. Are we supposed to believe this? I also noticed an element of paranoia where conservatives are concerned, for instance, when a Catholic bishop denounced pro-abortion candidates on one of the Jewish holy days and Frank assumed that this was deliberately plotted to catch him flat-footed. Speaking as a Christian, I'm pretty sure that most non-Jews wouldn't even know it was a Jewish holiday unless someone told them. Throughout the book, the worst possible motives are ascribed to Republicans/conservatives.
The book was obviously written as a hagiography by a personal friend of Mr. Frank. However, Stuart Weisberg does make some effort to include both sides of every story from people who opposed Barney Frank. He also shows Frank's dark side (the temper tantrums, the conceit) while making every possible excuse for his friend. As hagiographies go, this is probably one of the most honest I have seen.
This book will be a great read for those who like to read about legislation/public policy but not for those who don't, because that is the main topic of the book. Also, some parts toward the middle of the book are very sad and depressing. It can be very difficult to read about a fellow human suffering and being humiliated, no matter how much he deserved it. Weisberg pulls out all the stops to make you feel sorry for Frank. If he gets tired of writing biographies, Weisberg could easily have a future writing Hollywood tearjerkers. The end of the book after Mr. Frank got his personal life straightened out has a much more cheerful tone. In fact, you could say this book would be a great promoter of gay marriage since it shows what bad things can happen to people who lack the option of getting married.
After the depressing experience of reading this book at the library, I just had to buy it so I could get depressed all over again. (Also to write snide comments in the margin, of course.) ;)
Some readers may be able to identify the source of the title of this review. Democrat readers probalby will not.;)

Stuart Weisberg has written a strong, clear, readable and straight biography of one of the most interesting people in American life today. Weisberg tells the story chronologically, identifying the players, clarifying the issues, and not rendering his own judgment. He quotes many of Frank's greatest lines, but provides enough details on Frank's ideology, personality and psychology so the reader can see the warts. Weisberg admires Frank but this book is not an example of hero worship. We see Frank the rude, the impatient, the gloomy, the slob as well as Frank the brilliant, the funny, the passionate, and the competent.

This is a very interesting biography of a captivating figure. Very well written and actually quite quick and easy to read. Would recommend to anyone.

Grounded in interviews with over 150 people, Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman is a comprehensive biography of the unusual American legislator whose recent landmarks include helping to craft a compromise bill to halt the increasing wave of home mortgage foreclosures, and the $700 billion "rescue plan" that followed. An evenhanded portrait, Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman reveals both Frank's strengths and talents in communication and alliance-building, and his more negative side - such as his impatience, which is has all but become the stuff of White House legend. Of especial interest is the particular pressures Frank has come under as arguably the most prominent and widely known openly gay politician in America (his career was almost ended by a publicized sex scandal with a male prostitute). An excellent portrait of a career pragmatist and a skilled legislator, Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman is an enthusiastically recommended addition to American biography collections.

It was only about two years ago when I first came across the name Barney Frank. It must have been on Bill Maher's "Real Time," but ever since then I have been fascinated with the Congressman from the 4th District of Massachusetts. He is an engaging legislator with a quick wit and true grasp of the issues. I had the fortune of meeting him over the summer in Washington, DC.

Stuart Weiserg has crafted a book that is just as engaging as its subject matter. Weisberg's chapters are rich with detail and anecdotes that humanize a figure that most of us only see on television. From his early life in New Jersey, through Harvard, to Washington and beyond, the author writes in prose that is easily discerned and digested while not sacrificing the character of his subject. This is is not an easy task, especially for a figure who is still alive, but Weisberg accomplishes his task with aplomb.
For me, the only shortcoming of the book is that there is no notes section. This would have come in handy for providing links to obscure resources that could be possibly be found online. It is only a minor quibble, however, as the book itself is a triumph in political biography.