Customer Reviews

Madam Secretary: A Biography of Madeleine Albright

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Very disapointing. I picked up this book to find out about how Secretary Albright became what she is now. I was looking forward to reading about her upbringing, college years, and her climb up the diplomatic ranks. Instead, I read pages upon pages of flattering, completely subjective, congratulatory material that to me, seemed to serve only one purpose -- to show why Albright is the best Secretary of State American people have ever had and will ever have. The author is entitled to his own opinion, of course, but I would expect a more academic, probing, and interesting analysis of a great stateswoman's career in a definitive biography. Every sentence in this book is permeated with utter love and enthusiasm for the Clinton Administration and Secretary Albright, with a very little layer of objective examination of the subject at hand. I think I'll pick up a different biography of Madelaine Albright next time.

I agree with the other reviewers. I, too, was looking forward to a critical and well-argued review of Albright's career. Instead, this book is page upon page of thin fawning and simplistic worship. Just for fun, I tried to find one single paragraph critical of Albright in the chapter on her relationship with Powell. I couldn't find one.

Where was the editor when this book was being written? Why was this author chosen to write this biography? Surely there must be credible authors able to recount a far more analytical and balanced story than Thomas Blood.

I bought this book by mistake. Its title was the same and the cover is almost the same as the real thing ie Madeleine Albright's autobiography. The author is clearly a fan, so much so that it is full of saccharine platitudes and name dropping. I'll be looking more closely next time - particularly at anything published by St Martin's Griffin or authored by an uncritical Mr Blood.

Kate Owen

I work "inside the beltway" and Mr. Blood's book should be praised for its attempt to put Secretary Albright on a pedastal. The media today takes great pleasure in tearing down the character of politicians, atheletes, etc. But this book cannot be taken seriously; it is too one-sided in its portrayal of Ms. Albright and the issues Mr. Blood writes about are too "cut and dried" by his account. Shame on him - with his experiences in Washington he should know such issues are imbued with plots, subplots, and unknown factors. Mr. Blood's experience as a lobbyist comes through in his writing, as he could no doubt convince Americans that Washington DC has cool, dry summers. I wish Mr. Blood better luck in his future attempts.

I was really dissapointed by this book. Maybe if the author could have been able to get past his admiration for Albright, the book would have been a little bit more focused and not so gushy. Albright could do no wrong in this book. She was made to look flawless; to me, she was not credible. I really respect Madeline Albright, but this book was just so jaded with flattery and soft liberal overtones. I would recommend Ann Blackman's Season of Her Life; it is a little bit better.

The Kirkus Review was right on. This book disappointed me. I had hoped to read how Albright overcame some of her personal as well as professional challenges. Instead, very little of Albright was presented. The author (or is he Albright's publicist and spin doctor) spends his time gloating and bragging about how great she is. After reading the book, I didn't feel as if I knew any more about her than when I started.

The fact that this book even got published makes my head smart with incredulity; there is no political objectivity or critical analysis to be found anywhere on the printed pages nor is there any scholarly, in-depth research on the life of our country's first woman Secretary of State. In the author's eyes, if one can call him that, Madeline Albright is the goddess of the State Department, and that's that. This book is astounding in that it is so terrible; it is nothing but shoddy work -- a meandering diatribe that resembles a poorly written fifth grade book report. To say more would be a waste of space and time...

Political biographies have more than there share of critics .Everyone thinks they could do a better job than that of the person holding office. Blood did a good job of showing the history of Madeline Albright and what she was bringing to the table. It was refreshing to 'not see' the usual bashing of a Washington Woman who Blood himself called "tough-as-nails." The only biographies most people think are "balanced' are those that tear apart the subjects accomplishments. After reading this book I felt positive and hopeful for other women in politics and passed it along to my daughter, a political science major at Harvard.(she also enjoyed it.)

Madam Secretary shows us the life story of one of the most intresting woman there is. Madeleine Albrights political life has influenced foreign policy in the U.S. to a powerful, fair, understanding, yet stern system.