Howard Dean: A Citizen's Guide to the Man Who Would Be President (Paperback)

~ Dirk Van Susteren (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From the introduction on, it's clear that the multiple authors of this book are attempting to do for former Vermont governor Howard Dean what political columnist Molly Ivins did for George W. Bush in her pre-2000 election book, Shrub: to examine the private life and public record of a high-profile presidential candidate for clues as to how he might perform if elected. Like Bush, Dean comes from a privileged background: He grew up on New York's Park Avenue, the son of a successful Wall Street stockbroker, and graduated from Yale University. From there, however, the two men's lives and interests diverged. After a brief, unhappy stint on Wall Street, Dean left the business world for a career in medicine. After medical school in the Bronx, he and wife/fellow physician Judith Steinberg moved to Burlington, Vermont, where they set up a family practice together. Dean entered state legislative politics in the early 1980s, and this book does a thorough job of covering his rise to governor in 1991, as well as many of the major issues he faced in nearly 12 years in the job.

Voters who think of Dean primarily as an anti-war progressive may be dismayed to discover that he's actually a very pragmatic, moderate Democrat. He's a fiscal conservative who sided as often with businessmen as he did with environmentalists. And, true to Vermont's quirky political orthodoxy, he favors gay rights (with significant qualifications, it turns out) but is opposed to a national gun control bill. The most valuable chapter by far is the final one, "What Kind of President?" in which Dean's positions are concisely laid out on a variety of issues: taxes, education, health care, labor unions, and foreign policy. Ultimately, Dean is presented as an unlikely mix of Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower--not exactly a catnip combination for progressives, nor the unelectable leftist that he's sometimes painted to be by his detractors.

Although a worthy book, Howard Dean: A Citizen's Guide suffers from having too many authors--nine of them, mostly Vermont daily newspaper reporters--and too little authorial voice. Unlike Ivins' examination of Bush, this volume doesn't crackle with wit or speed ahead on interpretive energy. Still, it's a solid examination of a seemingly decent man who is likely to be the Democratic candidate and a credible contender to Bush in the 2004 presidential election. --Keith Moerer

Review

"... a worthwhile read for anyone trying to decide whom to support in the 2004 Democratic primaries." -- Boston Phoenix

"...an authoritative, up-close portrait of Howard Dean and his improbable rise to stardom. Every Democrat should read carefully..." -- David Gergen

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Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Steerforth; 1 edition (October 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586420755
• ISBN-13: 978-1586420758
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,430,169 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good, Old-Fashioned Reporting, November 24, 2003

By A Customer

[Full disclosure: I'm a Vermont resident and a Dean supporter.]

I haven't finished this book yet, but I am deeply impressed by the quality of the reporting. As a Vermont resident, I've had the luxury of learning about Dean from my friends and neighbors. They've always painted a complex portrait of Dean--a man with great strengths and important weaknesses, but also a widely-respected governor.

This book resonates with those local opinions, and fills them in with a wealth of detail. It describes Dean's tireless work to put Vermont on sound financial footing, his health care battles, his reaction to civil unions, his environmental record (both good and bad), his least popular policies--and ultimately, his reputation as a man who deeply loved his adopted state.

In an era of shoddy reporting and "taking stenography for power", the authors of this book understand the role of the press: to educate, illuminate and inform the citizens of this country. They tell both the good and the bad, interview supporters and opponents--including a large number of people who are both--and try to acheive a well-rounded view of Dean.

I don't know whether every fact in this book is correct, or every conclusion is fair. But the reporting is credit to Vermont's press.

If you don't live in Vermont, this is perhaps your best guide yet to understanding Dean's record as governor. If you're a Dean supporter, this is an excellent way to learn more about his achievements and his failings. An informative book.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Topical Outline of Dean, January 7, 2004

By	MZ (Novinger, MO United States) - See all my reviews

There are several books out there on the shelves about, or authored by, Howard Dean. I chose this one because it was written by independent observers; people who are not connected to the Dean Campaign for President. I wanted an objective account of the his background and his political record. That is exactly what I got.

The first few chapters that detail his adolescent years are kind of dry, but informative. This book changes speed and gets interesting as soon as it tackles his public service career. His political record is one of a fiscal conservative, and a proponent of states' rights. If it wasn't for his passion for universal health care and land conservation, you might think he is Republican. He balanced the budget in Vermont, and when almost every other state had a budget crisis, his state was financially comfortable. At the same time, he was able to attract new business to the state, expand health care coverage, and protect wild lands from development. This book has a separate chapter for many separate issues, which enables the reader to study specific items of interest, and pass over those of little concern.

The mass media has painted Howard Dean as a left-wing liberal. Part of this stems from the Dean Campaign's attempt to unite the Democratic base. But the other factor in this misrepresentation is the Vermont civil unions law. Howard Dean did not write this law, but he did sign it. His postion being that he supports equal protection under the law. As the book explains, Dean is not a social radical, but simply felt giving equal legal rights to same-sex couples was the right thing to do.

The final chapters of this book attempt to explain the "Dean phenomenon," including his use of the Internet as a major campaign tool. And since the book was finished and rushed to publishers in the fall of 2003, the material is topical and will still be useful throughout the election year.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great overview of Howard Dean, November 12, 2003

By A Customer

This is the place to go if you want to learn more about who Howard Dean is and what his key policies were in his 11 years as governor of Vermont. This is a serious look at Dean's policies and his personality and it examines these issues in a critical light. It helps explain how a governor from a small rural New England state has emerged as a leading Democratic presidential candidate. This is not a glowing pro Dean campaign book but instead is a thoughtful review of the Dean record and how it affects his presidential campaign. It is a must read for anyone who wants to better understand what makes Howard Dean tick !