Winning Back America (Paperback)

by Howard Dean (Author) "My family comes from Sag Harbor, New York..." (more)
Key Phrases: civil unions, New York, President Bush, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
"I talk as simply and directly to people as possible," claims Dean, and though his official campaign biography-cum-manifesto is notable for its plainspokenness, it mostly lacks the passionate forcefulness the front-running Democratic candidate has shown on the campaign trail. The toning down appears deliberate; not only does Dean apologize for intemperate remarks, he goes out of his way to describe himself as a nonradical during his late '60s college years and compares his fiscal outlook to that of his "moderate business-oriented Republican" father. (He also has kind words for President Bush and his family, though he turns critical on the subject of the president's aides.) The account of his childhood and college years is bland, the result of downplaying his family's wealth. A feeling of enthusiasm doesn't set in until his decision to enroll in medical school, perhaps because this is also the period when he met his wife. Dean's flat facade also cracks in passages recalling the circumstances of his older brother's capture (and probable execution) by the Pathet Lao in Laos in 1974. Obliquely touching on the emotional effects of this trauma on his family, Dean also discusses how it has increased his reluctance to send American soldiers into combat and put their families through the same process. The final sections of the book veer away from the personal to the political, and much of its rhetoric will be instantly recognizable to anyone who's seen a Dean stump speech, possibly frustrating those who want to learn more deeply about the man and what he stands for.
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Product Description

GOVERNOR HOWARD DEAN'S GRASSROOTS BID FOR THE PRESIDENCY IS GENERATING EXCITEMENT IN EVERY CORNER OF AMERICA.

In Winning Back America, Governor Dean writes for the first time about his life and the people and events that have shaped him, beginning with his upbringing in New York and taking us through his medical career, eleven and a half years as governor of Vermont, and finally into his presidential campaign. Howard Dean writes about:

• The years at college that changed the way he looks at America

• His decision to attend medical school and the origins of his commitment to children and to universal health care

• Meeting his wife, Judith Steinberg, and bringing up a family in Vermont

• One dramatic day that he began as an internist and ended as governor

• The successes of his governorship

• His decision to run for president of the United States

• His vision for the country

Winning Back America is Howard Dean in his own words. Dean tells his story with characteristic verve and forthrightness and also with emotion as he reflects on the death of his father and on the disappearance of his brother Charlie in Southeast Asia at the end of the Vietnam War.

Howard Dean's personal recollections bring us a full portrait of the candidate as a father, a husband, a son, and as a political leader.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743255712
• ISBN-13: 978-0743255714
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #448,703 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore the Right-Wing "Reviewers"--Decide for yourself., December 12, 2003

By A Customer

I get such a kick out of reviewers like the one who calls dean a "rich preppy boy." Please. Like George W. Bush is NOT a rich preppy boy?

Let's stick to reviews of the book please. Howard Dean states a case for winning back America that is, in my opinion, articulate and intelligent.

In light of Al Gore's recent endorsement of the man, you owe it to yourself (if you want to be an informed voter) to read what the man HIMSELF has to say, and not rely on any "reviews" to decide for you. Including this one, of course.

Get it from the source. It's a well-written book, and worth your time.

43 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dean is the "real deal", December 2, 2003

By	Annie (San Anselmo, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I just finished reading Howard Dean's, "Winning Back America". It was an inspirational experience that renewed me with confidence that Dean is the "real deal" and has the vision, values, experience, and drive to make an outstanding President. What's packed in these 179 pages are the thoughts of a man who understands what America has historically stood for in the eyes of its founders, citizens, and countless millions around the world. Dean writes with clarity and passion about his intense desire to work to restore America to its traditional role of "leadership in which our power is multiplied by the appeal of democratic ideals and by the knowledge that our country is a force for law around the world, not a law unto itself."

Like millions of Democrats, I was flabbergasted by the Supreme Court's "interpretation" of the 2000 election. I figured with our democracy so blatantly compromised, things in America couldn't get any worse... then they did. Lots worse. I felt alternately embarrassed and dumbfounded by the audacity of George W. Bush. The kicker came the morning after 15 million of us marched against his plan for a pre-emptive strike against Iraq. Bush's response to history's largest protest was "I don't care." If 15 million protestors around the world couldn't get this guy to re-think his position, and no one in Congress seemed to be noticing anything was amiss, well, what could I possibly do to make a difference?

Nothing. Or so I told myself. I was that discouraged... Totally lacking courage.

Then along came Howard Dean and the first thing I noticed was that he was pissed off, not just at the Bushies but also at the Democrats for abandoning their liberal ideals and becoming "Bush lite." Good point. Dean was also saying that he was "tired of being divided by race, gender, sexual orientation." And that touched me too. And then he said that we had "the power to take back our country." And that hit a chord -- in fact, it made me teary eyed from the potency of it. I suddenly found myself feeling encouraged about what could be done to change the direction of our government's policies so that those policies really represent who we are. I wanted to be part of that change.

Reading Dean's book I kept thinking that this guy cares so much about people and about moving America forward, it makes you care too.

It's time to join together and do the work. Howard Dean has reminded us that we have the power to take back America. So, if you've got some folks on your gift list who are feeling depressed about the way things have been going since Bush took over, buy them a copy of "Winning Back America". It works better than Paxil.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Read, December 11, 2003

By A Customer

Wonderful book! A great, fun read! Some of the right wing wackos on amazon.com are hopelessly trying to give lame one star reviews of this great book. They are off their rocker and need to go back and tune into Rush or O'Lielly so they can do their thinking for them.

This is a fabulous book, well written, well researched. Dr. Dean has got my vote in 2004! And I was a former Dubya supporter! God help me! Howard Dean rocks!