Customer Reviews

In Praise of Public Life

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In the context of the corrosive, angry political environment, with the "gotchya" media, which has bred disaffection in the body politic, Senator Joseph Lieberman's short volume is a refreshing antidote to the prevailing cynicism. "In Praise of Public Life" is an insightful, enjoyable, and at times inspiring book.

What a terrific book written by a terrific human being, public servant and man of honor by practicing deeds not just words of worship. The book is a reflection of this authors life and vision for all politicians. He simply writes about what he himself embodies within his simple humanity. Joe Lieberman is ethical, self-reliant, accomplished, decent, intellectual and well-spoken. In Praise of Public Life is a clamor for all people to undertake a good cause, an appeal to end the distrust of a perceptive fear of government, not just in America but in the world. This son of a liquor store owner embraces the belief that people who want to lead must do so by being a servant to the people, not being served by people. In the book, Lieberman asserts that government can equalize individual independence against the popular easy route of irresponsibility. As an example, although he did not abandon the Democratic Party, he was not afraid to publicly scold a president who had erred in moral turpitude by perverting justice under oath. He developed such moral principles as pointed out in the Orthodox Pentateuch under Exodus XX, 7 Commentaries Page 296, edited by Dr. J. H. Hertz, C.H., "Perjury Is An Unpardonable Offense, Which Unless Repressed By Severest Of Penalties, Would Destroy Human Society." This takes great fearlessness in any man to step up and tell his friend he was wrong. This is the gentle, compassionate and forgiving man Joseph Lieberman has matured into showing America and Judaism is a blessed combination of goodwill. This is the kind of book that will inspire everyone and anyone. I not only highly recommend this superb book, but I commend the man, author and senator who took the time, gallantry and public service to write it.

In 1996, only 49% of the eligible voters cast a vote in the Federal contests. Is it because of cynism and disinterest? In 1998, the Congressional elections garnered a 36.1% voter turnout. Lieberman would like to see that number increase, and supports election-day registrations at polling sites. Few desire to go into public service anymore when you can make gobs of dollars on the internet. Lieberman would like to see the best and brightest enter public service. He would also like to see a curb in violence and sexism in the products of the entertainment industry. This book is a quick read and the Senator's clarion call to public service. Lieberman is a man that the New Republic says has an independent mind and observes tradition. The Weekly Standard said he would be a good VP candidate. Senator Lieberman got the public service bug like many others, after hearing John F Kennedy's inaugural speech. (Of course, had the media been as intrusive in JFK's life as it has been in current office holders, JFK would be no hero to Lieberman). Lieberman wants cynicism banished from American politics. Lieberman begins by complaining that today's public servant "must face questions not only about how he is doing his job but how he is living his life--and how he has lived his life." "This poisonous atmosphere of attack-dog journalism has created an environment in which young people don't want to enter public life," writes Lieberman. He asks his Capitol Hill interns if they want to run for public office, and they respond that they do not want to live through the media's intrusive spotlight or raise the millions of dollars needed to mount a campaign. They don't want to give the time commitment to public office at the expense of having a family life. Lieberman offers his own career as a tonic, describing the challenges and joys of working his way through the party ranks and achieving his dream of becoming a U.S. Senator. Three years after graduating from Yale Law, he became a State Senator. Later he was an Attorney General; and then he defeated Senator Lowell Weicker by less than 1% of the Connecticut vote in 1988. In 1994, he received 67% of the vote. Lieberman became well known to the US on September 3, 1998, when he stood in the Senate chamber and described President Clinton's behavior in the Lewinsky scandal as immoral and disgraceful. Lieberman explains his actions in the book. (Friends for over 30 years, Clinton had worked on Lieberman's campaign for Connecticut state Senate back in 1970.) I recommend that the reader just skim the first six chapters (including a mention of his 1981 divorce), and delve into the meatier back chapters, in which Lieberman discusses what the life of a Senator entails - two residences, travel, the power of special interests and constituents, the legislative process (patience and persistence), and the power of personal connections (the political junket is a time to get to know your Congressional colleagues and transact the true business of committees).

Picked this up months ago and reread upon hearing of Lieberman/Gore ticket! This is a man of substance, character and strong conviction.

Thinking of public service? You might find some inspiration here.

I am a registered Republican and yet there is no denying the strength and direction of this man. You also learn that he truly enjoys and respects his own role in the political arena.

This is an enjoyable book to read. The candid conversation on politics by an experienced politician makes IN PRAISE OF PUBLIC LIFE an excellent reference book for anyone desiring to enter the field. The book also reflects the esteem that the author wants returned to the occupation of being a politician. Will we ever be able to find another politician to live up to the high regard we hold Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln? We must always continue to hope.

Joe Lieberman is a unique politician who sets out his vision in this well-written text. The tone of the book is easy to read blending his personal story with the background to the direction and policies that he is promoting.

The integrity of Joe Lieberman is unique and this book demonstrates why he is held in such high regard on both sides of the political debate.

Reading this book makes me know why Joe runs and inspires me to reach for higher public service. The highest praise for "In Praise"!

In the opening prologue of Senator Lieberman and co-author Michael D'Orso's book "In Praise of Public Life," Lieberman tells about a lunch that he had with his interns and how his interns described how disenchanted many of their classmates and cohorts are with public officials and public life. Lieberman further describes how this conversation motivated him to write this book, in defense of politics and public life. From this opening prologue I expected to read about the "success" stories of Lieberman and others in passing legislation, helping a constituent, or making sweeping changes that would motivate people into running for office.

Yet, this book is much more realistic, it provides the `real' spin on public life. Lieberman's style of writing draws upon many of his own experiences to aid in the understanding of what it takes to be a public official. From these examples Lieberman hopes that the reader will understand the sacrifices, long hours, partisanship, sacrifices of family and personal freedom required to live a life in public office. Lieberman further hopes that this book will motivate people to take a part in public life in varying degrees- from voting, contacting elected officers, or perhaps running for office. In all, this slim book is a decent read and very interesting in understanding a different side of politics.

This book was written before Senator Lieberman's nomination for Vice President, and it remains a valuable read now that Election 2000 is over. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, third party member, independent or undecided, this book has a great deal to recommend it. It should be required reading for anyone considering a career in politics, and for citizens who want an accessible account of what the life of a modern politican is like.

Senator Lieberman begins by explaining that "career politician" -- a term so often seen as negative -- does not have to mean someone who is entrenched in graft and dishonesty. Just as professionals in other fields have a responsibility to uphold the very best standards of their professions, so do politicians. Lieberman considers politics to be his chosen career, the same as a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or other professional. He strives to do his job with a strong sense of moral responsibility, fully aware that public life is, well, public. He writes: "I assume that everything I do in my life -- EVERYTHING -- could possibly become public and therefore I should not do anything privately that I could not justify publicly." (p. 51)

The Senator's arguments in favor of politics as a bona fide career also changed my own stance on term limits. Before reading this book, I thought term limits were a good idea, as a way to prevent bad politicians from becoming entrenched. But, as Senator Lieberman eloquently points out, running a country is a big responsibility that takes years of experience. Having a large portion of the Senate turn over every few years would be inefficent, because everybody would be relatively new to the job. Besides, Lieberman points out, we already have ways to remove bad politicians. They're called elections.

As a religious Jew, I also appreciated the Senator's openness about the role that religion plays in his life. There have been other Jewish politicians in high offices, but none, so far as I know, have been as open as Lieberman about their beliefs. All too often, American Jews are reluctant to discuss religion in public, giving the false impression that we don't believe in anything. Senator Lieberman brings some balance to this issue, while educating the public about Judaism in the process. When, for example, he was asked by the press, "How do you relax?" his answer was, "The Sabbath." This book he gives a good picture of how he balances Sabbath observance with carrying out his public duties. During national emergencies such as the Persian Gulf War, he votes on the Sabbath, under the principle of temporarily setting aside the Sabbath prohibitions in order to save lives. (For the benefit of Lieberman critics who ask "How can he be revere life and support abortion rights," let me point out that Jewish law permits and even requires abortion under certain circumstances, and these differ from the Roman Catholic stance. Those who are interested in further details should read David M. Feldman's book, "Marital Relations, Birth Control, and Abortion in Jewish Law," which I have reviewed here on Amazon.)

In conclusion: I heard Senator Lieberman speak at a rally in Duluth during the Presidential campaign, and was very impressed with him, both as an eloquent speaker and a mentsch -- that wonderful Yiddish word that his campaign added to our national vocabulary, meaning "a fine human being". Our government could use a lot more politicians like him -- whatever their party affiliations. This book really deserves ten stars!

I am a young student of politics, and I am thinking about a career in public life. But at times I have wondered did that include the possibility of elected office, and if so did I really want to do it. Especially, since our public officials are viewed with a great deal of skepticism. But as I read this book, I found out that public life is still an honorable profession. Senator Lieberman, in many ways reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in politics. In the book, Senator Lieberman points out a lot of the problems that we have in Washington D.C., namely to much partisan bickering. He also offers the solution to this problem, which is that members of the House and the Senate, must put aside this partisanship and work together in a bipartisan way to do the work of the people. I highly recommend this book to all of those people who are interested in public life. But I would also recommend it to those who have little interest in politics, simply because, Senator Lieberman points out that many people who go into politics, do it not for their own benefit, but as Senator McCain put it "To serve a cause greater than oneself." Which is what Senator Lieberman is saying in a different way. I felt that by including examples from his own political career, will help to show to people that public life can be the noble profession that it truely is. I am a young Republican, and I like the fact that Senator Lieberman has crossed Partisan lines to get things done in Washington D.C.

Joseph Lieberman, in what came to be known as his campaign book in 2000, eloquently pleads his case, albeit somewhat subliminally, for a prominent political role in the Democratic party and the presidential election of 2000. He may have written it before he was selected to be the vice-presidential nominee but that does not remove the background purpose of this work. Each time Lieberman contends that he knows what the people want and what would serve them better than what they had previously, he seemingly points to himself and proclaims "I'm the man you want." That being said, Lieberman's purpose is justified as his Senate and Connecticut public service record will attest. He is, and continues to be, as we have seen in the 2004 presidential race, a qualified candidate with a unique outlook on issues as well as a set of perspectives and ideas on how to repair issues needed most.

He proclaims, controversially, that he is a religious man yet religion does not interfere with his function as a Senator. We have seen throughout the course of history that this is an arduous task and history will keep Lieberman in its footnotes as evidence of a separation as well as a closeness, however awkward it may seem, of church and state. Lieberman insightfully chronicles his journey from political nobody to Connecticut Attorney General then United States Senator. His observations and career path will provide insight and assistance to any person contemplating a run at political office, regardless of location or desired governmental office. Any reader who seeks a better understanding of Lieberman should find this book helpful as will any readers seeking information the nature and role a Senator can play in the goings on in America.