Condi: Condoleezza Rice Story

Rating:
Summary: Tough-as-nails American Miracle
Review: Can Condoleeza Rice really be just one person? National Security Advisor, Former Stanford Provost, Tenured Stanford Professor, Hoover Fellow, accomplished classical pianist, figure skater, football fanatic, and the list goes on...

Felix does a good job chronicling Rice's ascension from Birmingham to Denver to Palo Alto and eventually Washington D.C. The book is chock full of insights from family, fellow professors, and Washington colleagues. One the more interesting vignettes described a Old West style "staredown" between Rice and Boris Yeltsin at the White House steps.

A fascinating read about a potential Presidential candidate.

Rating:
Summary: Will the Real Sistuh Please Stand Up?
Review: Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story by biographer Antonia Felix paints a picture of a life divine. This is the story of how a little black girl from the segregated south rose to prominence to become one of the most powerful women in political history. A woman whose impact may affect America forever. Hers however is not a story of a poor little girl scuffling from the ravages of poverty to a top level Presidential appointment. Not a rags to riches story here. No, Rice was raised in the comfort of the educated middle class, a privileged daughter of the south, the quintessential BAP, (Black American Princess).

Born to a third generation college-educated family in Birmingham, Alabama, Rice knew well the family history of her paternal grandfather's journey from sharecropper to college graduate and she knew the legacy she inherited was not to be taken lightly. Both the Rices and The Rays (maternal line) were proud, educated folk. Her mother, Angelena Ray Rice, was an accomplished musician and school teacher when she met John Rice, a young Presbyterian minister. By the time Rice was three years old she was learning French and the piano. Though she was in the midst of the most heated time of the civil rights movement-- her hometown was known as Bombingham--, the coping methods of the black middle class was one that shielded their children from the insanity and horrors of Jim Crow. Rice's parents' response to her concerns about segregated facilities was that it was not her problem. When the amusement park opened one day of the year for blacks, they did not patronize it. Summers were spent at college campuses where her parents took graduate courses, one being the University of Denver. They eventually moved there when John took a position as professor and administrator. Rice excelled in music and ice skating though she was informed that she did not have the aptitude for college. Of course her parents dismissed the notion and Rice proved them wrong by excelling in her studies at private schools.

After entering the University of Denver at age fifteen, where she challenged a professor on the intelligence of blacks, Rice realized that while she was a good pianist, she was not great and therefore shifted her interests elsewhere. She took a class in Russian Studies and there she found her passion. She went on for advanced degrees and eventually ended up at Stanford University as a professor and then a provost. It was there she came to the attention of President George Bush. But it is under the present President George W. Bush's regime that she has flourished and received world wide attention as the National Security Advisor.

The book, in tedious detail, chronicles Rice's academic and political career, however, nothing was really revealed that could have been culled from articles and other media outlets. This reviewer anticipated reading this book to get a real picture of the Condoleezza Rice that the public is not privy to and have my knowledge expanded about this hard-to-read woman. I wanted to get into the head of this woman with the plastered smile and perfect demeanor. I wanted to know the real woman. But maybe the façade is just what it is.

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub

Rating:
Summary: Shows us the career superwoman but not the person
Review: Condoleezza Rice was the object of intense curiousity earlier this year during the controversial 9/11 hearings. Although she revealed nothing except the standard public relations talking points, Rice maintained her poise in the onslaught of intense scrutiny. So it's no wonder the Bush administration has increasingly leaned on her to argue their position about the war in Iraq.

Antonia Felix's biography of Rice reads like an elongated resume of her subject and not much more. It's very much a public relations work as she dutifully cites Rice's accomplishments. However, anyone who has paid scant attention to Rice has heard it all before. Sure we learn of Rice's childhood in Birmingham during the height of the civil rights struggle, her love of football and classical music but we get no sense of what really makes her tick.

Is she an icy, cold blooded schoolmarm as many have suggested or is there in fact a personality behind the image she presents? Does she wholeheartedly believe in the policies she argues for on behalf of her employer or does she entertain any doubts? Rice is obviously an intelligent woman and I strongly suspect she's a more complex individual than her press, good or bad, lets us believe. I'm sure many would love to know how she reconciles her personal views and beliefs as a preacher's daughter and African American with some of the stands and policies of the people and institutions she has served as a spokesperson for.

Read this book if you want a recitation of Rice's career accomplishments but if you're looking for more you'll have to wait for another biography.

Rating:
Summary: Simple Book About a Complex Person
Review: I bought this book out of curiosity. I don't share much of Dr. Rice's political philosophy. However, she and I are the same age and I was interested in her background.

This book will serve as an adequate source of information for those, like me, mildly interested in Dr. Rice and her background. In no way does this book cover the more private aspects of her personality or motivations in life. Perhaps there's no way it could, being so contemporary.

Certainly the book documents Dr. Rice's life from her early days in a segregated society all the way to her appointment at the NSA. After reading this book I can understand much better why she is so comfortable with the Bush and Cheney families. She came from the elite black society of segregation, then moved into wealthy white society.

It is clear that Dr. Rice has been a person of discipline and achievement her whole life. This book doesn't delve into her personal life; it's not one of those 'intimate' biographies at all. In fact, the lack of insight into her personal life is rather noticeable, providing less information than the average biography.

This book could certainly serve as one of those quick-and-easy documents meant to fuel political campaigns. It's a light and quick read, which is all I wanted on the subject.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed in this book. Being an admirer of Condoleeza Rice, I was really looking forward to reading her life story. However the book reads more like a very very long and protracted resume rather than a story about someone's life. I think I expected to learn more about Dr Rice the person, rather than all the political accomplishments. For me, (and perhaps many others who like biographies/ autobiographies) reading stories about people, how they think, how they approach life, their dreams, their joys and sorrows and of course their accomplishments has always been inspirational. One gets the sense however, that the author of this book does not really know Dr Rice and writes about her "from a distance" per say. I guess I'll just have to wait for the autobiography.

Rating:
Summary: CONDI
Review: Monumental in-depth research make this work a 'must read' for students of international relations, politics or just plain folks who want a deeper insight into the people who are doing our job in Washington.
The only thing this book may lack is perhaps a personal interview with Ms. Rice. However Ms. Felix, an accomplished author of many books before this has presented a very clear picture of Rice, the person; Rice, the politician and Rice, the educator in her easily read, smoothly written style. (I am an author and professional reviewer for PBS. This is my 101st book/author. Chek out my website www......com for more information)