P.S.: The Autobiography of Paul Simon [Hardcover]

Paul Simon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1994

In this candid and sometimes controversial autobiography, the late former SEnator Paul Simon sheares his insights into the activities of President Clinton and other politicians as well as his views on international affairs.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Unless you're actually from Illinois, chances are you remember "the other Paul Simon" as the 1988 Democratic presidential candidate who achieved more recognition for his bow ties than for his political platform. But the former senator has always been a prolific author--in fact, before he was ever elected to office, he was a rather successful muckraking journalist. In P.S., he reflects upon a career in public service that has included stints in the Illinois state legislature, a turn as lieutenant governor, and positions in both houses of Congress. The insider's view he presents is never quite candid (Simon demonstrates a general reluctance to speak ill of peers and colleagues that readers will find either admirable or frustrating), but it is highly informative. Simon continues to write about various policy matters; P.S. will help you understand where he's coming from.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1st edition (October 31, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566251125
• ISBN-13: 978-1566251129
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #866,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great autobiography by one of our greatest public servants, May 15, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: P.S.: The Autobiography of Paul Simon (Hardcover)

With all of this messy and ugly trouble going around with the Clinton Administration(Chinagate, Monica, Paula, Kathy Willey, Travelgate, Whitewater, Filegate, Hairgate, etc.), I think we all know, despite what we may say, that Clinton should not have been nominated by the Democrats in 1992. When I look over the Democratic field, 3 names of potential great persons pop up: Mario Cuomo, Bill Bradley and Paul Simon(with nods to the late, great Paul Tsongas, Senator Bob Graham, VP Gore, NC Gov. James Hunt and the late, great Governor of Florida, Lawton Chiles).

Paul Simon is an outstanding American, a proud progressive in the FDR/Truman mold(can you believe those two were once on a ticket - what a vote that must have been!), a decent man and a committed humanitarian. He shows himself to be a fine man of Christian faith and ethics. He has great integrity, as he has shown in his stands on the need for a balanced budget, entitlement reform and health care reform, despite what the press and polls say.

In this book, Simon shows just how great he is. I may not necessarily agree 100% with the Senator, but as both a proud American and a proud Democrat, as well as a person who is sick and tired of the lack of integrity in the White House and politics in general, I think that Simon is great. Two thumbs up for Simon!

By the way, if Senator Simon is reading this, I loved 'Let's Put America Back to Work.' It's a great read on an idea nobody talks about anymore - get the word out on the WPA!

Well, anyway, we should've put America back on the road to integiry in public office and put Simon in the White House in 1992. The least we can do is read his book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating insights into the American political process, February 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: P.S.: The Autobiography of Paul Simon (Hardcover)

This book is excellent reading for anyone who has an interest in the American political system. Paul Simon spent more than four decades in politics, retiring from the U.S. Senate with a well-deserved reputation for integrity, candor and genuine concern for the public interest. His lifetime of public service is thoroughly documented in this interesting and provocative autobiography.

Simon offers fascinating insights into the American political process at every level as he describes his years as a corruption-fighting state legislator and lieutenant governor in Illinois, his five terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the U.S. Senate and his experiences during an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination. (One cannot help but wonder how different things might have been had that campaign been successful!)

Sen. Simon's relationships with political figures such as the late Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago, U.S. Presidents from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton and an array of international leaders reveal much about the decision-makers of our time. His level of international experience is impressive, and gives weight to his views on the world today and the U.S. role in international affairs.

I personally found his detailed accounts of various campaigns engrossing reading. Others no doubt will be more interested in his insights into the legislative process or his views on hot-button issues like abortion and gun control or vital questions like campaign finance reform and the proposed balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. No matter. There's something here for everyone.

"P.S." left me glad that we had Paul Simon--I'm an Illinois resident so he was my Senator--and happy that he's still involved. Few political figures in our time measure up to his standard. I already knew that, but this book reaffirms it--and then some.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As sincere in reality as he is in his book, May 6, 2000

By 

"tonym-siuc" - See all my reviews

This review is from: P.S.: The Autobiography of Paul Simon (Hardcover)

I have had the opportunity to deal with Paul Simon in a student/teacher relationship. Let me assure anyone who has read or is interested in reading this book that Paul Simon is as sincere as he sounds. Readers who carry the standard stereotypes of politicians should be made aware of the fact the former senator is indeed as high moraled as anyone could be as a leader of our country. He has battle for what he believed to be right instead of what would get him re-elected. It is absolutely refreshing to see a political figure who genuinely wants to make a difference and improve the nation and the world. When the founding fathers set up the framework for this country they had men like Paul Simon in mind to run the "great experiment." Paul Simon is not just a great politician, but an amazing man.