Customer Reviews

Inventing Al Gore: A Biography

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

 

 

Bill Turque's biography of Al Gore is fair, informative, and well-written. In terms of comprehensiveness and analysis, it compares favorably with David Maraniss's biography of Gore's boss. Having read Turque's book, I'm struck by how contradictory Al Gore is as a person and as a politician. In many ways, Gore is even more complex and interesting than Bill Clinton. The title of the book, "Inventing Al Gore" accurately portrays Gore as a work in process; a man who continuously changes himself and his image even as he's redirected by political and societal forces. Turque portrays Gore and Clinton as ideological allies ("New Democrats") but it is striking how different their backgrounds are and the contrast in their personalities. Clinton was a product of a middle-class meritocracy whereas Gore enjoyed all the privildges of a political aristocracy. Clinton's father died three months before he was born. Gore's father was a large and powerful influence on his life and career. Clinton's ambition never deserted him whereas Gore - like many young men burdened by others' expectations - experienced an existential crisis early in life. Clinton's political career has been punctuated by character problems even as he dodges the gravest threats; Gore is the "Eagle Scout" whose slightest indiscretions stick to him like velcro (see Buddhist temple). On a personal level, Clinton is a people person who seems more comfortable on the campaign trail than as an executive behind a desk. Gore is the opposite. Indeed, Gore gives the image of a man completely uncomfortable in his own skin. Perhaps it is because he has reason to feel uncomfortable. From Turque's book you get the impression that Gore came into politics with serious moral grounding - along with high ambition. You see through the book that during his career, this morality has been thwarted by the "realities" of political life. You get the sense that the author is disappointed in Gore; that the VP has bought into a sleazy way of life to satisfy his father's unrealized ambitions. Gore at times has reasserted this Doubting Thomas persona. His environmental treatise is a catharsis, a release from the show and games that politics often is. His abandonment of the environment as vice-president, along with episodes such as the fundraising calls of 1996, show how far he has slidden during the Clinton years. The question for our purposes is what kind of president would Gore be should he be elected? Turque is skeptical of any impact Gore could make because of his record for caution. Moreover, there is no consensus for a redirection in domestic policy in America today. Any potential for getting Gore's mug on Mount Rushmore seems to be snuffed out long before Inaugeration Day. Nevertheless, on the most important issues of the Clinton era - the budget deficit, welfare reform, Bosnia - Gore was on the right side of history and pushed his boss toward these policies. Indeed, Clinton should have listened to Gore late in 1993 when the VP urged him to be completely open on Whitewater. He didn't listen. The result was Kenneth Starr, then Monica, then an electoral backlash that could keep Gore out of the White House in 2001. The record is mixed but the likeliest scenario is that a President Gore would be much like his Republican opponent's father, President Bush. Bush was basically a guy who prisided over the tiring of the Reagan Revolution; a managerial president who worked over the hard edges of his predecessor's accomplishments. Of course, we all know Bush's fate for not mastering the "vision thing." To avoid that fate as president, Gore must become something he has rarely been in the past - a leader.

Al Gore recently emerged from "mending fences" in Tennessee to launch a media-driven national charm offensive that he hopes will land him in the White House in 2004. Even though the former vice president seems more at ease these days as he exchanges barbs with the likes of David Letterman, Gore still comes across as uncomfortable and at times coached (did handlers teach him to laugh?) largely because he is the enigma Bill Turque describes in Inventing Al Gore: A Biography. For those who love and despise the former vice president, and for the vast majority in whom he inspires absolutely no emotion one way or the other, Turque's biography, written before the 2000 election debacle, remains relevant today. After you finish Turque's fair and balanced account of Gore, you will be pumped full of the substantive and trivial and won't be any closer to knowing who the former vice president is than you were in 2000, 1996, 1992, 1988, or last week on Larry King. This in no way detracts from Turque's biography, and if anything proves the author knew his subject is a mystery. Neither David Maraniss nor anyone else has been able to unravel this complex politician, and unlike Turque they didn't have the insight to know it is impossible.

I think that this is a biography worth reading whether you are a Gore supporter or not. The author has done extensive research and writes an evenhanded account of Gore's life. Gore comes out as a man like any other with his own share of conflicts. He does not come out badly. This is not a puff biography or a book intended to villify. It is well worth your time.

This biography does just give lip service to the politician's childhood. The author explains the world in which Al Gore grew up. It describes pieces of his father's life in a way which shows you where Al picked up many of his mannerisms. You will see where the candidate came from.

After reading through this, I know that Al Gore is not as Green as his book would lead you to believe. He does listen to businesses and has accepted money. This is no different than any other candidate. This book brings all of this to your attention so that you can make your own informed decision.

The tone and flow are good. I had no trouble following the narrative or understanding what point the author was trying to make. Too often, an author has his own axe to grind and steps away from informing the reader so that the reader can make his or her own decision. Turque's style makes this a good read.

seems evident in this book. I feel the author made an honest attempt to write an unbiased account of Al Gore. His strengths are demonstrated as well as his faults. The only weak spot in the book is that the 2000 election wasn't covered.

Is there such a thing as desiring the presidency a little toomuch? The Al Gore depicted by Bill Turque is an ambitious man who will do just about anything to achieve his objectives. The choice of the title for this book, "Inventing Al Gore," is right on target. Gore indeed does come across as a political candidate who reinvents his identity as it is perceived necessary to climb up the political ladder.

The author digs deep in Al Gore's family background. Turque found parents who demanded that their children work hard and excel. I concede that such noble values are to be congratulated and encouraged. In Gore's situation, however, the man seems to go just a bit too far. I kept thinking while reading Turque's analysis that it's unfortunate that Gore did not tone down his ambitious zeal by about 10%. Bill Turque made it easier for me to understand an Al Gore who is considered even by many of his supporters as stiff, calculating, and overly cautious. The Vice President reminds me of a man forced to walk across a mine field who fears the next step might be his last. Turque also questions Gore's ability to be a leader. I am admittedly a Republican and justifiably can be described as somewhat biased. Nevertheless, I am uneasy that Gore really has little background of being the person in charge. Gore seems more suited to be the valuable second in command. I don't picture Gore as a man who really grasps the concept: "The buck stops here!"

Turque's book is now dated. It was published before Gore won the Democrat nomination. I still, though, strongly believe that there is sufficient material on Al Gore to be still very relevant for those still deciding how they will vote on election day. This book is unlikely to change the minds of those adamantly for or against Al Gore. It is the independent moderate voter who will get the most out of reading "Inventing Al Gore."

This is probably the best book on the market about the real Al Gore whoever you may want him to be.There is plenty of good stuff in this book whether you like him or not.You will come away after reading this book scratching your head and asking Who is he? which was probably the author's goal in the first place.My question to this is How can someone who has to constantly reinvent himself and prove to everyone that he is his own man,be good enough to run for office? Doesn't authenticity mean anything anymore?

Loved the pictures on cover and in the photo section; it's hard to imagine he was ever that young. As a mother of three boys, I can safely say that he was a cute little boy, and was trained to become president of the United States from the age of four. He was too cautious about being called a liberal that he bent over a bit too far the other way. I was called a 'liberal' recently because of my version of the MARCH OF THE PENGUINS movie. I said, "I am not conservative, either; I am not a Democrat (though I do tend in that direction); I am not a Republican -- I am not political.

In 1989, Al Gore traveled to Antarctica to prove his environmental study of global warming and damage to the ozone layer. To not be an astronomer, he still was very believable. I'm just wondering if he noticed that seventy-mile march those male penguins made to 'mate,' and the seventy-mile march the females made to get food for the young. I hope so. He looked good in that parka, with his hair all wind blown. As the young Nashville reporter, he looked like son, Zach.

The 'flower child' Tipper with her first baby was beautiful in 1971. The family photos were just marvelous. I remember when his dad, Al, Sr. was our Senator from Tennessee. It's hilarious that Clinton had the gall to criticize Al Gore after his loyalty to a corrupt politician (that's why he had the impartial 'stare'!) and erroneously made the statement about his co-pilot & friend's "lack of political instinct." Pauline Gore was the real politician in that family even though it was the dad who was elected. Gore has good political genes and training.

Clinton never was the real president; his wife Hilary was, and held the apron strings. He wasn't very smart anyway, but not appreciating Gore's refusal to say nasty things about him is inhuman. Al Gore would have accummulated more votes and there would have been no question at all about his winning the election if he had just turned his back on Clinton after he lied about Monica ("I did not have sexual relations with that woman!") and campaigned on his own integrity.

He and Tipper became much bigger as they aged; I am getting smaller (lost another 1/2 inch due to osteoporosis), but they are still good looking and dignified people. Al Gore does not need "inventing" as he was a wholesome, mannerly candidate, just not Southern enough to carry his home state. He was well-educated in the East (like our mayor and former mayor) but he did turn his back on us here in Tennessee. If it had been the other way, and he had deserted Clinton's sinking ship, he would have been (maybe still could be) the best President of the United States ever.

I'll be brief. I have not read the book, I'm not a big Gore fan. I'm commenting on the mention of Gore "claiming (falsely) to have invented the Internet" in the main review. Check the Daily Howler on that. Search for Gore Internet.

Point: Gore never spoke this famous quote. It was made up. Gore said, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." This caught no one's attention because ... IT WAS TRUE. Even Gingrich gave him credit for that.

After the RNC laundered Gore's statement, and spun it dry, the spun-quote was repeated by pundits for 20 months.

That Turque supports this LIE in his book completely disqualifies him from any suspicion of veracity, or pretense to veracity.

Not that I don't believe Gore has spun things, especially his supposed environmental stance. But it would be bad to point that out, because that would make him out to be LESS liberal, and wouldn't serve the attack machine.

Well, Gore's over, but the pundits lying is not.

If your an Al Gore fan, you probably won't be able to finish this book. While its historic component is detailed and its research seems thorough (hence, two stars), its written in a completely biased style. The title itself suggests that Al Gore is merely a man that's calculated to the point of having no sincerity; he's invented his persona, he hasn't 'earned' it, according to the author. This book is not non-fiction in its writing style. It makes presumptions that lead the reader to believe that the author knows what Al Gore was actually thinking at the time. Do not read, certainly, don't buy it.