Mr. Frank's memoir is a sophisticated and extended work of political analysis posing as his life story…what so plainly animates him—and this book—is making his case for how politics and issue advocacy should be practiced. That is part of what makes Frank so edifying: He uses his personal and political rise mostly as a vehicle to do what he did best during 32 years in Congress—to argue, cogently and cleverly, for his point of view…[Frank's] chief motivation in writing this book appears to be using his experience in public life to argue that the democratic process, though imperfect and given to incremental gains, is a more effective tool for social change than the protests and provocations often favored by the left…The stories he tells to undergird his case are what makes his book enriching for students of politics of any (or no) stripe. And when he does offer a look at some backstage drama, it is often in the service of making this point.
Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage
Narrated by Barney Frank
Barney FrankUnabridged — 13 hours, 0 minutes
Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage
Narrated by Barney Frank
Barney FrankUnabridged — 13 hours, 0 minutes
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Overview
How did a disheveled, intellectually combative gay Jew with a thick accent become one of the most effective (and funniest) politicians of our time?
Growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey, the fourteen-year-old Barney Frank made two vital discoveries about himself: he was attracted to government, and to men. He resolved to make a career out of the first attraction and to keep the second a secret. Now, sixty years later, his sexual orientation is widely accepted, while his belief in government is embattled.
Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage is one man's account of the country's transformation--and the tale of a truly momentous career. Many Americans recall Frank's lacerating wit, whether it was directed at the Clinton impeachment ("What did the president touch, and when did he touch it?") or the pro-life movement (some people believe "life begins at conception and ends at birth"). But the contours of his private and public lives are less well-known. For more than four decades, he was at the center of the struggle for personal freedom and economic fairness. From the battle over AIDS funding in the 1980s to the debates over "big government" during the Clinton years to the 2008 financial crisis, the congressman from Massachusetts played a key role. In 2010, he coauthored the most far-reaching and controversial Wall Street reform bill since the era of the Great Depression, and helped bring about the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
In this feisty and often moving memoir, Frank candidly discusses the satisfactions, fears, and grudges that come with elected office. He recalls the emotional toll of living in the closet and how his public crusade against homophobia conflicted with his private accommodation of it. He discusses his painful quarrels with allies; his friendships with public figures, from Tip O'Neill to Sonny Bono; and how he found love with his husband, Jim Ready, becoming the first sitting member of Congress to enter a same-sex marriage. He also demonstrates how he used his rhetorical skills to expose his opponents' hypocrisies and delusions. Through it all, he expertly analyzes the gifts a successful politician must bring to the job, and how even Congress can be made to work.
Frank is the story of an extraordinary political life, an original argument for how to rebuild trust in government, and a guide to how political change really happens--composed by a master of the art.
Editorial Reviews
04/27/2015
Frank—who recently retired after four decades in Congress—chronicles his rise to political power as his homosexuality became increasingly more compatible with his political career, while at the same time his core liberal principles surrounding the virtue of activist government fell more and more out of favor. Frank confesses that elocution and diction have never been his strong suits, but he has played on his quick wit and masterful debating skills during his time in the public spotlight. His performance demonstrates the matter-of-fact authenticity that over the years has helped him score points with allies and adversaries alike. The expository portions of the narrative may not always flow smoothly, but Frank’s gift for reciting memorable barbs offers pure entertainment. He delivers his critique of the unruly aspects of the 1993 gay-rights march on Washington in the manner of a somewhat gruff sage figure who shares wisdom from his own experiences. A Farrar, Straus and Giroux hardcover. (Mar.)
★ 01/26/2015
This detailed and accessible memoir certainly lives up to its title, as former Massachusetts Congressman Frank offers a warts-and-all portrait of his life in public service. His achievements in a wide range of areas, from financial reform to fighting discrimination against gays and lesbians, validate his belief that “pragmatism in the pursuit of my ideals was morally compelled.” Frank’s own struggles with revealing his homosexuality are interwoven with his time attempting to make the government work better, and he freely admits mistakes he made both in his private and public life. Frank effectively separates himself from well-intentioned liberals who—in his opinion—are sometimes not in touch with the real world, such as those in the 1960s who criticized the architectural design of low-income housing. He is unsparing, however, in his critique of Republicans, describing George W. Bush’s war in Iraq as “the worst single policy decision any U.S. President has ever made.” His experiences in Congress illustrate his approach to making progress: never letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. Agent: Eric Lupfer, WME. (Mar.)
Winner of the Randy Shilts Award for Gay Nonfiction
“Frank makes fascinating political history. It helps that it's funny." —James Kirchick, The Wall Street Journal
“I [once] said [to Frank] I was sorry I would never be able to vote for him as the first gay president of the United States. After reading this book, I am sorrier than ever.” —Garry Wills, The New York Review of Books
“A sophisticated and extended work of political analysis . . . What so plainly animates [Barney Frank]—and this book—is making his case for how politics and issue advocacy should be practiced. That is part of what makes Frank so edifying: He uses his personal and political rise . . . to argue, cogently and cleverly, for his point of view . . . Enriching for students of politics of any (or no) stripe.” —Jonathan Martin, The New York Times
“A fun book to read.” —Chuck Todd, Meet the Press
“The early 21st century's answer to Mark Twain . . . one of the most idiosyncratic, influential and entertaining people to serve [in Congress].” —Colin Woodward, The Washington Post
“An enlightening and entertaining romp through a half-century of American politics and policymaking. But what can it possibly offer as a guide to fixing government during an era of polarization, dysfunction, and public disaffection? The short answer is more than you might think . . . . [Barney Frank] brings life, passion and humor to these sober observations and demonstrates why politics and government should be and sometimes can be a noble and uplifting undertaking.”—Thomas E. Mann, Brookings Institute
“Much more entertaining than most political memoirs, Frank's story isn't just revealing; it may be the most fun you can have reading about the United States Congress.” ?Kirkus (starred review)
“Filled with wonderful and insightful examples of legislative maneuvering and political intrigue . . . [Frank is] worth reading as both the story of a public figure who has lived a full and fascinating life as well as a primer about American politics from an insider who knew how to make the system work.”—Peter Dreier, The Huffington Post
“Frank's own intertwined political and personal odysseys add up to a remarkable story.”—Julia M. Klein, Boston Globe
“Frank deliciously charts his adventures from the closet to the center of the political stage . . . Frank is candid, and self critical on each step. He details compromises and pragmatic realities. His account of life during the Clinton years is particularly fascinating.”—Rob Watson, The Huffington Post
“A well-written, marvelous memoir.”—Martin F. Nolan, San Francisco Chronicle
“A vivid and candid account of a life, both private and public, that is told in the gruff, wry and blunt voice that is literally unique in American politics—the inimitable voice of Barney Frank . . . Frank is an intimate, courageous, and revealing book about what the political landscape looks like from his unique perspective.”—Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal
“Barney Frank will be remembered as one of the hardest-working, quickest-thinking, most effective—and most quotable—congressmen in our nation's history. Frank tells his story with characteristic candor, from coming out of the closet and working for LGBT rights to fighting for sensible financial reforms. Frank's belief that government can improve people's lives has given passion and energy to a remarkable career in public service.”—Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator for Massachusetts
“This is authentic Barney—a compelling narrative because it mixes the personal with the professional and with his one-of-a-kind sense of humor. It's also an important piece of history by a skilled legislator who has been able to get things done in Washington, D.C., that have made a real difference in all of our lives. I was privileged to work with him.”—Hank Paulson, former Secretary of the Treasury
“This detailed and accessible memoir certainly lives up to its title, as former Massachusetts Congressman Frank offers a warts-and-all portrait of his life in public service.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[Frank] is an illuminating look at behind-the-scenes politics and larger societal changes and one man's struggle with sexual politics and identity.” —Booklist (starred review)
“You will learn so much that's new from this spectacular anecdote-riddled book—even if, like me, you've known Barney Frank for forty-nine years. Who better than the smartest, funniest man in Congress, as Barney was widely perceived to be, to make the case for government, for pragmatism, for the little guy, for equality . . . and to explain how things really work—and could be better? He was there for all of it.”—Andrew Tobias, author of The Best Little Boy in the World
“[Frank] relates in delightful candor why a man who was told he "couldn't win," ended up a national hero . . . there is no other living politician today able to compare with Barney's tireless dedication and sprightly unusual life story!” —Liz Smith
★ 03/15/2015
In every generation there are congressmen and women who stand out for their leadership and legislative accomplishments. In the last 40 years, none has left a greater mark on the House of Representatives, and by extension the United States, than Barney Frank of Massachusetts. This is his political memoir, beginning with his working-class origins outside New York City and covering his journey to becoming a distinguished congressman. Frank eventually took the position as point person for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) topics as the first member of Congress to come out voluntarily and he, of course, played a large role in repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as well as in many other LGBT issues. He was also instrumental in defending and promoting liberal causes across the board as a visible member of Congress. These included a wide variety of civil rights, social justice, and economic subjects, from affordable housing to financial regulation. While Frank has a reputation for being pugnacious, it is clear from this book that he takes integrity and collegiality very seriously. VERDICT Anyone interested in contemporary history or politics will definitely want to read this highly accessible memoir. [See Prepub Alert, 9/21/14.]—David Azzolina, Univ. of Pennsylvania Libs., Philadelphia
Former Congressman Barney Frank reflects upon the strange and curious changes in his personal and public life since his childhood. However, he should have opted to read just the introduction and not the entire production of his memoir. Frank has a distinct voice but not one that makes particularly good listening for more than 12 hours. His words mush together, making him hard to understand, and listeners may find themselves pausing, rewinding, or getting lost while trying to make sense of what is being said. It's too bad because his narrative is fascinating. He captures the fascinating shift from a world in which it was shameful to be a homosexual and popular to be a representative in the government to a place where his sexuality is largely accepted and his work in Congress largely criticized. L.E. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
★ 2015-01-21
Now that the fiery, occasionally dyspeptic congressman has left office, he lets the air out in a memoir that feels like it's just the thing the long-serving politician has wanted to publish.Frank tracks the nuances of two intriguing movements during his more than four decades in public life. When he was a novice politician in the late 1960s, the author had to hide his homosexuality, although nowadays—in a trend that owes some of its success to Frank's becoming the first member of Congress to come out of the closet in 1987—same-sex marriage is increasingly prevalent. But while some personal freedoms are more possible now than when Frank entered politics, the concept that government can actually help citizens is decidedly on the wane. Nonetheless, the author has never stopped fighting the battle to pillory the idea that big government is inherently problematic. He writes movingly about issues of public housing and fairness that he has espoused throughout his career, but he also proves to be a barbed, exacting, witty thinker. On the topic of the "competent, uncharismatic" George Bush's now infamous "read my lips: no new taxes" mishap, Frank writes, "[s]emantically, the phrase bothered me because it is illogical—you tell people to read your lips when they cannot hear you, and this does not apply when you are speaking to them through a microphone." In addition to his personal story, parts of the book read like a manual for young politicians: "I think it is both legitimate and politically helpful to make my ideological opponents look not just wrong but also foolish, especially if I can use humor to do it." Much more entertaining than most political memoirs, Frank's story isn't just revealing; it may be the most fun you can have reading about the United States Congress.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940169456356 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Macmillan Audio |
| Publication date: | 03/17/2015 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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