Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Something different: strange, alien, ominous..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, White House, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

G. Gordon Liddy's autobiography is as spookily fascinating now as it was in 1980, especially the memorably unvarnished depiction of his early years. Listening with admiration to Adolf Hitler on the radio, seeking to free himself from "disabling emotionalism" by slaughtering chickens, young Gordon must have made quite an impression on the neighbors. The army, the F.B.I., the Watergate scandal, and jail are covered with equal pungency: you have to admire the author's ferocious candor, whatever you think of his values. This new edition features a 1996 postscript as combative as the main text.

Review

"Will is, I think, destined to become a classic; certainly it is one of the most engrossing and thoroughly honest self-revelations that I have ever read. This one you've absolutely got to read." --Denver Post

"There is almost an embarrassment of riches in this book. His story rings true...It is credible. A hundred little facts and inferences convince me that he has been as honest as he could be." --Bob Woodward, The Washington Post Book World

"Candid...forthright...lucid...graphic...intelligent...mind-boggling...outrageous. Whatever else may be said of Mr. Liddy, he is a True Believer." --Larry King, The New York Times Book Review

"An unusual and fascinating book...Will is a great deal more than just Liddy's view of Watergate. Extremely well-written, constantly enthralling. Liddy also includes a scathing indictment of Judge John Sirica; a clean and concise history of the FBI; an expose of the federal prison system; and an incredible analysis of the general moral health and welfare in the United States...No matter what your preconceived notion of G. Gordon Liddy may be, this book will not leave you unmoved." --Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Will is a knockout of a book that will totally fascinate the reader. But it is the humor that you never quite suspect will be there that really grabs you." --West Coast Review of Books

"Intelligent...intimate...worth reading." --Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Liddy is a memorable man, to put it mildly, and one whom history is not likely to forget, you may be sure." --Philadelphia Inquirer
-- Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; Rep Sub edition (November 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312119151
• ISBN-13: 978-0312119157
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,309 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nietzsche Knows Best, April 18, 2000

By A Customer

As a former conservative turned to what Mr. Liddy would call a "liberal nitwit," I have nothing but praise for this fascinating book. And the words of other five-star rating reviewers are right on target. What I want to emphasize is that G. Gordon Liddy is, to my mind, one of the few living embodiments of the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. This may seem strange to leftist college profs, to whom the great iconoclast of the nineteenth century is a hero for his debunking and (to use a modern word) deconstruction of so many traditional modes of thought, and who wish to carry on his work in the name of democracy and justice. But Nietzsche was in truth a right-wing aristocrat, and his destruction of the old "myths" was certainly not done to pave the way for the banality of a Starbucks coffee hour. G. Gordon Liddy knows this; and whether or not he has actually read any of Nietzsche is, for this astute and articulate defender of the old order of things, quite beside the point. Liddy's book is an account of a man who believes that he has cracked open the secret of life, and decides to live accordingly, on his own terms and by his own lights. As a Christian and a Catholic, I do not agree with Mr. Liddy's conclusions. But his own desire to escape any self-observed hypocrisy is, in contrast to many of his opponents, simply admirable.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wham! Impactful whether you love him or hate him, May 10, 2004

By	therosen "therosen" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy (Mass Market Paperback)

G. Gordon Liddy seems to generate a lot of different views. Liberals hate him, though Al Franken is a good friend of his. Conservatives respect him, though he doesn't seem to be able to stomach Bill O'reilly. Timothy Leary - well, they considered each other respected adversaries. Mr. Liddy's autobiography will provide keen insights into the man, the story and the legend.

This is more than just a viewpoint on Watergate. In fact, if that's what you're after, you'll probably be disappointed. The book covers his upbringing, his early military career, his arrest of Timothy Leary, his personal development of willpower, and his initial forays into the political arena.

Who cares? Well, one of the questions of Watergate is "Why?" and this helps quite a bit. As someone who was very young at the time, I do not have a great deal of recall of the situation. Mr. Liddy does a good job explaining his views of society at the time - that America was at war from within, and he was duty bound to do everything in his power to re-elect and then protect the President.

You know the outcome of the Watergate breakins, but the story still draws you in. You know bad things will happen, but you want to see how the G-man comes through it. His stay in prison is common knowledge, but how did survive and even thrive in there?

I suspect this autobiography will amplify your feelings of the man. Those that hate him may find him a monster. Those who like him will deepen their respect. I came in to the book on the fence, and find myself admiring a man whom I still am working to comprehend. To use one of his favorite words, you'll find this a very potent book. Even if you don't like him.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will; Historical and Inspirational, December 26, 1999

By	chad (Las Cruces, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy (Mass Market Paperback)

Will is a very motivating and inspirational work by Liddy. It chronicles his battles with different fears as a boy, and his triumphs as an adult. It gives a virtual play by play of expierences in the FBI, private law practice, public law practices (including a drug raid on Timothy O'leary's pad), political covert operations for Nixon, and prison life. Whether you admire or admonish Liddy's importance to the 20th century, this is a must read for anyone who interested in the culture and environment of the late 60's and early 70's.