Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia
by Mary Beth Brown
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Book Summary Information
Author: Mary Beth BrownEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-01-15
ISBN: 1595550984
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Book Reviews of Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia
Book Review: Eagles' Wings
Summary: 5 Stars
I love the story of Condoleeza Rice. Won't be the last book I read about her. This book is easily read in a day; the book is more about her whole life story, the people who influenced her, primarily her parents and family, and not about her more famous roles in government service. So it's a little lacking in substance, but I'm glad I read this biography of her first to get my feet a little wet. She was a preacher's kid and only child, her home in Birmingham, Alabama. Most interesting was how her family decided to become Republicans given that most Southern African Americans have been Democrats ever since they were given the right to vote. I love her father's attitude about the segregated South and the route he chose to fight it, as the author reveals. Her family refused to be humiliated publicly by having to use segregated bathrooms, fountains, etc. They simply waited to get home. Her father didn't openly rant and rave about their conditions nor stir up trouble. He acted nobly despite ignoble treatment. He and Condi's mother lavished all their attention and energies upon Condi's education and upbringing. Being a preacher's kid, of course, she was nurtured to have a very strong and active faith in G-d while seeing all of the evils within the segregated South. I write this as a southern white woman who was a child during the height of the most egregious events in Birmingham, so I'm always saddened to read of how some of my fellow citizens and neighbors in my backyard so to speak behaved at that time. Reading this book made me understand well why Condi doesn't have strong aspirations to be President, though she's more than adequately prepared for the job. She has a high IQ, no telling how many words a minute she can read, is extremely intelligent and wise. I understand too why she is so poised and graceful in her ways. Not only is she an accomplished concert pianist, she is also a talented ice skater from her days in Denver where her family moved and Condi went to college at a young age. My favorite story in this book is the one about her being shooed off the red carpet at an airport by one of President George H. W. Bush's secret service details. Over two decades ago, she was very young to be in such a high office. It's obvious in reading this book how incredibly hard working she is. Kudos to President G. B. W. Bush to introducing her to the American public. Regardless of what you say or think of him, he's obviously made some wise decisions.
What amazes me about Condi which you can infer from reading this book is how seemingly apolitical she is which is the perfect attribute for a Secretary of State dealing with a multitude of crises involving very disparate peoples. She's not so vocal about her particular opinions unless the need arises.
All in all I highly recommend the book be read or any others about her. She's truly a fascinating and inspiring person.
Funny how right leaning I'm becoming as I age. My father explained this phenomenon to me when I was a teenager. I really think the voting age should be raised to age 40, kind of like how the drinking age was raised some years back. I'm really going to miss Condoleeza Rice these next years and even W.!
I just hope that if there are tens of billions of dollars slated for building levees in Louisiana, that those tens of billions of dollars slated to go to Louisiana get used for precisely that purpose and not wind up in the slouchy pockets of some crooked bureaucrats'. So proud of the GOP, and particularly my state's (Georgia) representatives for voting against the "stimulus" bill. Senator Chambliss said on Fox last night that it was the most important vote he cast in all his years of service. G-d bless you and yes ma, there are some good republicans!
I knew a few weeks ago what I would entitle this review. The miraculous landing of the USAIR plane in the Hudson river and the survival of all on board in the nonexistant shadows of the World Trade Center towers made me realize how Americans value the life and safety of human beings regardless of their beliefs or views. The pilot, Air Force trained, with eons of flying hours, and his crew reacted to the emergency with text book reactions. (The FAA requires yearly emergency training by all airline personnel).
This eagle's landing shows the world how Americans value all human life regardless of race, religion, creed. Amazing too, how quickly and sympathetically, citizens on boats in the water, quickly came to the scene, along with the standard emergency crew of Coast Guard, and other professional emergency employees. Would such an immediate response by all American citizens be as swift in other cities? Does it take a national disaster to prompt people's knee jerk reactions? I hope not, but what a tremendous, heroic response by all of New York City that day and that one in September.
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