Customer Reviews

Basic Brown: My Life and Our Times

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You will not find many people with political views more opposite from Willie Brown's than me.

However, regardless of your political views, this is an excellent book for anyone interested in politics at all levels - city, state and national. I sure have enjoyed it.

Willie Brown has clearly mastered the art of power. If you have read books like Robert Greene's "48 Laws of Power," then as you read Willie's book, you will recognize that Willie has mastered probably all 48 of those laws and then some that didn't make it into either book. As a master of the game of obtaining and exercising power, it would be very wise to listen to and learn from this man.

Willie also offers many fascinating stories about all sorts of incidents from recounting his experience the day George Moscone was shot to how he got Reagan to sign legislation legalizing abortion in CA. You get a really cool glimpse into some of what goes on behind the scenes.

Like him or not, he is a big part of California (and even national) history, and he has some great stories and advice. This book is particularly valuable for anyone looking to get into politics as he offers advice specifically for such folks.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but coming from an extremely politically conservative guy, I heartily recommend this book written by a pretty far-left man.

Maybe you have to be a Californian to truly appreciate the book and Willie Brown, but I hope not, because there is something so refreshing about a politician who walks his talk, owns his words and doesn't pretend to be something or someone he is not.

Yes, Da Mayor and former speaker of the California state government is flamboyant and classy and fun. Be he also never forgets where he came from and just how fortunate he is. And if I do say so he has some great advise or wisdom for those young people who are in public office or want to be, about being authentic, focused and not wishy washy.

San Francisco during his reign as Mayor were some of the best years the city ever had. He brought a vibrancy to the city and he brought much needed altruism and humanity to the city which is spelled out in the book.

Something the city and the state of California both dearly need again. And an example of why term limits aren't always good.

Willie Brown, the unshakable Speaker of the House in California and then Mayor of San Francisco is one wild and crazy guy. I'm sure his off the cuff remarks and detailed recounting of political shenanigans will anger about as many as they amuse, but for the casual reader this is a very interesting glimpse into the world of politics. I'll never read coverage about the simple passage of a bill again without wondering what went on behind the scenes. Willie Brown was a gift to San Francisco who only expects everyone else to be as proud of the City as he is. PJ Corkerey has done a fine job of capturing Brown's energy and wit.

Basic Brown is, without question, the most entertaining and engaging political autobiography I've ever read. Willie Brown is a political animal extraordinaire, and on every page he revels in the intrigue and dealmaking, the pomp and circumatance, and the sheer fun of big time politics. The book is loaded with many memorable antecdotes that not only place Willie Brown front and center in California politics of the last 40 years, but teach pithy lessons about the nature of modern politics. Throughout the narrative, Willie Brown is always right. He's always the most skilled, best dressed, most adroit politician in the room, whether it's in the backrooms and august chambers of the Capitol in Sacramento, or in San Francisco City Hall.

Willie Brown often refers to himself in the third person, and wears his massive political ego on his sleeve. But his prose never gets long winded or boring. And, through it all, the reader gets a behind the scenes glimpse into how a master of modern politics plays The Game. Willie Brown came to San Franscico as a poor, undereducated teenager from the segregated south. Through the sheer force of this personality, and his shrewd intelligence he made his way to Speaker of the California Assembly and, later, Mayor of San Francisco. Luckily for us, he has no qualms about sharing his insights, unfettered and unvarnished, so that the rest of us can learn from the Master. What a terrific book.

I am only marginally interested in his politics, but this book is really a great read for anyone. Willie Brown has had such a fascinating life that anyone could appreciate this candid biography of one of the great "movers and shakers" of our time. Willie is so incredibly witty, classy and intelligent. He is truely a great man!! This book is so fun and amazingly difficult to put down.

I always thought that Willie Brown was amazing, but Basic Brown shows that he is far more amazing than I could have imagined.
I love the book!
I originally borrowed it from the public library, but now I must have my own copy. My close friends share my views on the book. We love discussing, laughing about and learning so much from Basic Brown. May Willie Brown stay on the job for a long, long time to come!

A great read. Whether you agree or disagree with his view points he is never boring. He is the master. Fashion, flare, smart and witty, he is as much a symbol of SF as Fisherman's Wharf except he smells better.

An admiring journalist takes whatever dictation Brown wants to give. Expect the range of Brown's life and insight into his tactics and campaigns, just don't expect any difficult questions answered or information Brown doesn't want you to have. Ultimately I would have wished for a deeper book, but the anecdotes and insights were worth the read.

This is the autobiography of Willie Brown, who spent 14 years as a powerful Speaker of the California House of Representatives. The implementation of legislative term limits would force him to leave office for the lesser important office of Mayor of San Francisco. While the last sentence was mostly facetious, it is interesting to note that many would rather have a long term career being a legislative leader over being a big city Mayor. As Willie Brown puts it, "I would still be Speaker today were it not for term limits, a destructive idea introduced by the mean-spirited wretches from Southern California who sought to deprive the people of San Francisco the right to reelect me as their Assemblyman." In a further irony, the "Gang of Five" state legislators who successfully fought to implement term limits included Gary Condit, who would be elected to Congress only to lose reelection over the scandal involving the an affair with his intern and Jerry Eaves who would later be convicted for taking bribes.

A chance meeting made the difference in Brown's political life. By standing in alphabetical order at Air Force ROTC brought Brown standing next to, and befriending, John Burton. Burton, himself later a U.S. Representative, was the brother of Phil Burton, a powerful San Francisco politician. Phil helped Willie Brown run for office. Brown lost his first state legislative election in 1962 by 900 votes out of 31,000 votes cast. Brown kept campaigning and was elected in 1964. Ironically, he would vote against Jess Unruh, his future ally, for Speaker.

Willie Brown admittedly is a colorful politician. One of his political adages was "old age and treachery will always outdo youth and skill." He claims he still speaks with Governor Schwarzenegger once a week, even though they are of different political parties. Brown has a strong knowledge of politics. He even got Governor Ronald Reagan to sign some of the country's most liberal legislation, including one that decriminalized abortion.

Brown's advice to people interested in politics is to get as inside the system as possible to be effective. To be effective, one also needs to be reliable. People who can't be trusted won't go far. He further advises to never put up with corruption and to uphold the image of your institution.

Speakers Unruh and Bob Moretti became impressed with Brown's knowledge and use of parliamentary procedure and of legislation. Brown studied and learned the details of every bill facing the Assembly. In 1974, when Speaker Moretti ran for Governor, Brown ran for Speaker and was the presumptive heir apparent to the Speakership only to lose by one vote to Leo McCarthy. McCarthy gave the Rules Committee Chairmanship to a key Brown ally, who was also Brown's roommate, who switched sides to assist McCarthy's race. McCarthy took all power away from Brown and assigned him a small office which could not fit chairs for visitors, requiring them to sit in the hall.

Brown believes McCarthy surrounded himself with dishonest and unskilled people and was a poor Speaker. Brown continued serving his San Francisco constituents despite his reduced powers. He earned a footnote in history by being the last person to meet with Mayor George Moscone before Moscone's murder by Dan White.

Brown dealt with Republican members by giving Republicans five committee chairmanships in return for votes in returning as Speaker. Brown eliminated another political opponent, Howard Berman, by redistricting a Congressional district that successfully enticed him to leave for Congress.

Willie Brown notes he raised $100 million in political contributions which he believes is the most any person ever raised in state politics. He notes he has never been accused of doing anything dishonest in his fundraising. Further, he often voted and worked against the interests of contributors. Brown writes he learned from Jess Unruh that a contribution buys nothing and there should never be a situation where a contributor should expect a quid pro quo for the donation. He recommends acting in professional life as if the other person is wearing a wire

Brown continued Unruh's system where political contributions went to the lead person in a caucus, which then was him when he was Speaker. That way no other member could be criticized for possible conflicts of interests due to contributions. He would then decide which where funds should be spent on which key races. He allocated according to helping Democrats keep the majority and not according to political favoritism. It should also be noted that, back then, legislative campaigns were far less costly than today and often relied more upon individual campaigning within districts.

Brown had to leave the legislature due to the enactment of term limits. Brown believes term limits are a mistake as members don't have the time to learn the duties of serving in leadership. Brown left the legislature and was elected Mayor of San Francisco. As Mayor, he is proud of the work he accomplished for homeless and for extending mass transit. He jokes that the 1989 earthquake literally shook up City Hall, as $500,000 of damage occurred to the building.

Brown advises to be respectful in victory and to allow the defeated their dignities. In politics, one may need to work in the future those defeated now. They will better appreciate you then if you appreciate them now.

I bought this book with great anticipation: I read the chapter about Willie's political dates with women who accompany him to political functions. I read that excerpt on NPR. In that excerpt. Willie was honest, straightforward, and scintillating in how he described his working a room while a date waits for his attention.

So I expected the rest of the book to deliver on the promise of that excerpt: to be scintillating, honest, and straight-forward. Except the all other parts of the book are cautious. I had the feeling the Willie is still playing to his friends and because of that, he held back. I was disappointed. It seemed like Willie's caution was tempered by his not wanting to piss-off his friends in case he needs them in the future for some political task. I think the chapter about his relationship with women was much more bold because Willie did not perceive that boldness potentially harming in at some point in the future.

The rest of the book is somewhat standard political fare: master the rules, work hard, be scrupously honest, work for justice, have fun, etc. But that sort of mundane advice is obvious. What I wanted from Willie was his take on how and why and what the system really is to him. How we can make it work for us rather than for Republican lobbyists. I love ya Willie, but the second part of your book is too timid. The book should be read but only after in comes out in paper.