12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An insightful and well-composed biography, November 3, 2005
Buss weaves together Dobson's life in an appealing manner, drawing upon the intimiate details that only an official biographer could obtain. He frames the narrative with a discussion of Dobson's recent political role, opening with a series of sketches from the most recent election and closing with the same influence in the present day. The tale carries itself with the theme that Dobson's storied history has prepared him for the new role he'll play the rest of his days.
Buss begins with a series of chronological chapters detailing Dobson's early years - his childhood, his parents, his time at USC, his plunge into ministry. The book then sets the pace with a stunning chapter on Dobson's interview with Ted Bundy - Dobson describes the spiritual implications of this encounter, how he dealt with media ridicule, and the lessons learned from that experience. The book then cooks, with each chapter devoted to a particular aspect of Dobson's life - his wife, his children, his health, elements of Focus on the Family, and so on.
Buss keeps a healthy mix of the profound and the lighthearted. We learn about Dobson's heart attack, stroke, and cancer; his difficulty micromanaging; and the details of friends who turned on him, and his enemies who listen to him. At the same time, we learn how Dobson likes to play basketball (usually tossing his tall frame against his opponents) and what his favorite snack foods are (in short, fattening, to the chagrin of his family).
Dobson and his staff don't seem to be afraid of admitting to their weaknesses, and Buss doesn't pull punches when quoting some of the critics of Dobson and his ministry. The quotations get downright nasty for some of his most vitriolic critics, yet the underlying premise that Focus has achieved great respect is an omnipresent theme, even in the face of harsh criticism.
The book doesn't feel heavy, particularly since the discrete chapters make the book an easy read, and an easy one to set down and resume at a later time - a reader won't feel lost trying to regain the chronology once resuming the tale. Simultaneously, the book is filled with influential and powerful tales. A couple of my favorite political vignettes (apart from the Bundy chapter) included the occasion where Dobson stood down DeLay on a particular financial bill, and the time where Dobson had a spat with Newt Gingrich that led to the Republican Party conceding some ground to the pro-life movement.
My only disappointment is the surprisingly lackluster sales pace for a biography of this caliber and relevance. Dobson found himself in the face of a threat from the Senate just weeks ago, further embedding the relevance of his role in American society. For anyone interested in the fascinating and influential life of Dr. Dobson, I highly recommend this thorough and accesible biography.
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11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting look at the life of an influential figure, December 1, 2005
In the late 1980s I read DR. DOBSON: Turning Hearts Toward Home, by Rolf Zettersten, who at the time was the Executive Vice President for Focus on the Family. While that biography presented Dr. Dobson's life chronologically, Dale Buss, a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal, takes a more creative approach when writing about the life of one of the major evangelical leaders.
The opening chapter of FAMILY MAN begins with the 2004 election season and Dr. Dobson's impact on the outcome. From the initial pages, Buss establishes James Dobson as a person who is impacting the culture and his world each and every day. "Clearly he [Dr. Dobson] played a major role in this election," close friend Chuck Colson says. "More than anyone else, he mobilized the evangelical base." Buss then examines his family background and history, along with his relationship with his cousin, Dr. H.B. London, and his marriage to Shirley Deere. The early influences of his family, his faith and his education continue to play into how Dr. Dobson operates today, predominately through the multifaceted ministry of Focus on the Family.
The remainder of the book touches on different themes in Dr. Dobson's life, such as his roles as an author, broadcaster, advocate for the family, and even his influence in politics. Throughout, Buss mixes personal interviews with careful research and seemingly has wide access to interview Dr. Dobson, his wife and their two children, along with various other family members, friends, and staffers (current and former) at Focus on the Family.
The emerging picture from these pages is a human yet remarkable life. We learn about two health scares that Dr. Dobson had not disclosed before this book. It was interesting to learn how President Ronald Reagan wooed Dr. Dobson for a major role in his administration (which he turned down). After the birth of the Dobsons' first child, Danae, we learn how the couple decided to adopt Ryan. Later in the book, when Ryan struggles in college, a psychologist tells him he has ADHD. Ryan changes his behavior by taking Ritalin. Also, the book reveals the counselor role that Dr. Dobson assumed with John and Patsy Ramsey after the death of their daughter JonBenet.
When a biographer tackles a figure like Dr. Dobson with such massive accomplishments, the tendency is not to reveal the person's warts. But Buss doesn't hesitate to reveal some of Dobson's flaws such as his micromanagement tendencies. "Dobson believed that there was an absolutely sublime purpose for his unapologetic perfectionism: Focus' mission was too important for him to allow someone else to louse it up."
While these stories provide the reader with a realistic picture, the overall effect of this biography is captured toward the end. "Regardless of what direction the institution of the family takes, there is little debate that Dobson has played a monumental role --- perhaps even the greatest individual part --- in whatever vitality the family has retained in the cultural and political realms at the beginning of the twenty-first century."
If you are fascinated with the details of a life well-lived, as I am, then I heartily recommend you read FAMILY MAN. The current events and thematic approach, combined with the author's careful research and mixture of quotations, make it a page-turner.
--- Reviewed by Terry Whalin, writer and editor in Scottsdale, Arizona. His latest book is BOOK PROPOSALS THAT $ELL, 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS (Write Now Publications). http://www.bookproposals.ws.
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