In 2006, an angel-faced but tough forty-two-year-old former small-town mayor named Sarah Palin became a long-shot candidate for Alaska governor demanding a higher ethical standard in state government. The timing of her reform message and a widening scandal produced a tornado that reshaped the political landscape. Surprising everyone, Palin thumped by wide margins both a sitting governor in the Republican primary election and a former governor in the general election to become Alaska's first female chief executive and its youngest ever. Through the campaign, and early in Palin's first term, the energetic and attractive mother of five achieved near-heroine status in her state. At one point, the new governor's approval rating reached 90 percent, prompting the Fox News Network to describe her as "a Politician with eye-popping integrity" and some national GOP leaders to tout her as a prototype of the "new Republican."
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A politician of eye-popping integrity . . . and probably the most popular public official in any state." - Fox News Network
Review
"Sarah Palin is a politician of eye-popping integrity."
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More About the Author
Kaylene Johnson is author of five books about Alaska and the people who live there. Her books include Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned the Political Establishment Upside Down; Trails Across Time: History of an Alaska Mountain Corridor; Portrait of the Alaska Railroad and the memoir A Tender Distance: Adventures Raising My Son in Alaska. Her award-winning articles and essays have appeared in the Louisville Review, LA Times, and other publications . She received a B.A. from Vermont College and holds an M.F.A. in writing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 37 people found the following review helpful
By J. Ader
Format:Hardcover
This book was written and published months before Sarah Palin became the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, so those harping about this being a political stunt for McCain need to go back and brush up on their reading skills: Published April, 2008. I'm sure now there will be other books written, both praising and condemning her.
This is a basic introduction to Mrs. Palin, a place to start for anyone wanting to find out about her early years.
This is a basic introduction to Mrs. Palin, a place to start for anyone wanting to find out about her early years.
97 of 132 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a review of the book, not of Sarah Palin as a candidate. I felt I needed to get my hands on this in order to learn more about the person who has been thrust into the national spotlight and may soon hold an extremely high position in the U.S. Government. Her selection came as a surprise and I had to try and understand why John McCain chose her, other than because she brings excitement and intrigue to the ticket.
This brief book, a character sketch with many photos, is written in a straightforward style. It holds Sarah Palin in a very positive light. (Initially published before her selection as the GOP running mate, this version has been renamed and scooped up by people like me as an attempt to get to know her.) She is portrayed as an ordinary mom (a hockey mom) who, according to her father, has had an impenetrable stubborn streak since childhood.
The family came to Alaska from Idaho in 1969. She is the daughter of a teacher (and part time hunting/fishing guide) and a school secretary. They lived modestly. Her highlight reel in public life includes a captain's position on the high school JV basketball team, the beauty queen title "Miss Wasilla," and stint on the city council. This was her introduction to the good old boys network, which she has spent the rest of her career pushing aside. She was elected president of the Alaska Council of Mayors, chaired the gas and oil conservation commission and gained a reputation as a reformer. Next step: the Governor's office, which she's held for two years.
Does this brief introduction to this head-turning politician enable the reader to decide whether or not she's qualified to be a heartbeat away from the highest elected office in the land? No. Is it an interesting read? Yes. All party politics aside, she's a fascinating woman. And right now, this slim book provided more information than I could get anywhere else.
Michele Cozzens is the author of It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club.
This brief book, a character sketch with many photos, is written in a straightforward style. It holds Sarah Palin in a very positive light. (Initially published before her selection as the GOP running mate, this version has been renamed and scooped up by people like me as an attempt to get to know her.) She is portrayed as an ordinary mom (a hockey mom) who, according to her father, has had an impenetrable stubborn streak since childhood.
The family came to Alaska from Idaho in 1969. She is the daughter of a teacher (and part time hunting/fishing guide) and a school secretary. They lived modestly. Her highlight reel in public life includes a captain's position on the high school JV basketball team, the beauty queen title "Miss Wasilla," and stint on the city council. This was her introduction to the good old boys network, which she has spent the rest of her career pushing aside. She was elected president of the Alaska Council of Mayors, chaired the gas and oil conservation commission and gained a reputation as a reformer. Next step: the Governor's office, which she's held for two years.
Does this brief introduction to this head-turning politician enable the reader to decide whether or not she's qualified to be a heartbeat away from the highest elected office in the land? No. Is it an interesting read? Yes. All party politics aside, she's a fascinating woman. And right now, this slim book provided more information than I could get anywhere else.
Michele Cozzens is the author of It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Skylark Red
Format:Paperback
This is a personal and affectionate profile of Alaska's popular governor. For those disappointed in this, understand it was released in April 2008, so was not written as a PR piece for the 2008 presidential campaign and doesn't seriously scrutinize her politics. This is a plus, since it is devoid of partisan opinions. It shows her integrity and independent spirit and how she took on the Alaska Republican machine because no one else could or would. On the down side, it glosses over the Bridge to Nowhere controversy, which she switched sides on after becoming governor. And yes, she really did put the governor's jet on eBay. It is an interesting short read, giving insight into why McCain chose her as his running mate. It's time he unleashed Sarah Barracuda.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
ok read
This book was ok but not a great read. Is it a book I will keep to read again in the futre--no. It has been donated.
Published 4 months ago by Sierra Guy
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must For Those Who Love Sarah's Own Books
While this isn't her autobiography and "America By Heart", all Sarah fans and supporters will love it. Read more
Published on February 16, 2011 by 14davehunter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sara
outstanding in all respects. How different growing up in Alaska is. I did feel in reading the book that she was not realizing that it was her responsibility to speak up as a... Read more
Published on November 7, 2010 by madam esquire
2.0 out of 5 stars
Super Silly Sarah Star Simpleton Sawdust
To Reason Why is not the question. Someone left this book behind and there was not a thing to look at while I waited patentiently for my appointment. Read more
Published on October 24, 2009 by Leo Otag
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true patriot
I loved this book. To be honest, there has been alot of controversy over Sarah Palin and I wanted to read up on her background and form my own opinion. Read more
Published on October 20, 2009 by Ashley Constable
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sarah Palin
I got this book for myself and one for my brother. We both loved the book very much. It was interesting and not boring at all.
Published on September 12, 2009 by M. Porter
1.0 out of 5 stars
Complete Idiot!
If you want to see the real Sarah Palin just go to [...] and listen to her mindless rants. Come on she's a complete moron. Read more
Published on August 26, 2009
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cuts through the mud
What an enigma. Sarah Palin is a hard to know from available writings in the marketplace of ideas. So, this book cuts through the mud. Read more
Published on August 20, 2009 by Michael D. Kopp
1.0 out of 5 stars
Upside Down?
Sarah Palin turned the political establishment upside down? This unprepared small-time politician was derided for her lack of qualification, intelligence and poise during her vice... Read more
Published on March 5, 2009 by Sol T. Kim
1.0 out of 5 stars
Strictly fluff for Palinistas--not the biography we need...
Before John McCain's surprise anointment of Sarah Palin as his running mate in August 2008, non-Alaskans who knew about Sarah Palin at all were likely (like me) to be policy wonks... Read more
Published on February 12, 2009 by L Goodman-Malamuth
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