Sunday, March 15, 2015

Reviewing Barney Frank's memoir in the Washington Post

In today's Washington Post, I review former congressman Barney Frank's newly released memoir, Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same Sex Marriage.

The book "relates his rise from pumping gas for his father’s northern New Jersey truck stop to Boston City Hall, the Massachusetts legislature and, ultimately, the upper echelons of congressional power. The central, ironic theme: As Frank’s influence grew — and anti-gay bigotry withered — the New Deal order to which he was devoted cracked, crumbled and was scattered before a libertarian wind"

Most political memoirs are safe, predictable and dull. This one isn't, which won't surprise anyone familiar with Frank (who now lives in southern Maine and even writes a column for the Maine Sunday Telegram.)

I've been busy writing my own book, so haven't reviewed one for the Post in a year. The last one was of Amy Chua's monstrosity, The Triple Package.

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