Ron Brown: An Uncommon Life

Rating:
Summary: A tour de force
Review: I loved An Uncommon Man. Adroitly written, Steve Holmes tells a story about one of the towering African-American figures of the late twentieth century. Through this biography, one remembers that the civil rights movement still has a way to go - and that some of the struggles are not that old. Moreover, one learns about - and appreciates - the human side of a gifted person who, through his great talent and hard work, rose to the apex of the American political system and had an impact on politics that continues today. Brown refused to let the color of his skin stop his progress albeit acknowledging the reality that race played. Significant detail about the history and background of Brown and his family and colleagues make this a particular joy to read. Anyone who enjoys contemporary political biographies will love this tour-de-force.

Rating:
Summary: An uncommonly good book
Review: In this unauthorized biography, Steven Holmes has done a meticulous job of reporting -- conducting countless interviews and citing numerous original source materials. This highly readable work conveys the essence of a man who rose to the highest ranks of American government and whose influence on the global economy is felt even today. Holmes delves into every aspect of Ron Brown's life -- from his childhood at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem, through his college and military days, his stint at the Urban League, and his meteoric ascension through Democratic party politics into the Clinton cabinet. Readers of "An Uncommon Life" get a thorough sense of Brown's charm, his analytical mind, his tenacious drive to succeed, his weakness for beautiful women. Holmes offers an unsparing but ultimately fair view of the nation's first black Commerce Secretary, whose all-too-human flaws can never overshadow his accomplishments.

Rating:
Summary: Too little too late
Review: The definitive and first book about Ron Brown (my personal hero) was written last year by his daughter (The Life & Times of Ron Brown) and is available on amazon too. Since the Holmes book was second, and comes four years after Brown's tragic death, I assumed that it would contain new and believable information. Unfortunately, it is obvious that holmes never met Brown and clearly didn't interview anyone close to him, only folks with an ax to grind. As a result, the story of an inspirational leader has been reduced to rumor and innuendo. it makes Brown's life seem blah and he was anything but!

Rating:
Summary: Inaccurate and few credible sources
Review: This book is full of inaccuracies and shaky source material. For example, Holmes main source of info seems to be an aquaintance (and convicted felon) who only knew Brown in later years. There are no impressions or information from close family members or anyone that seemed legitimately close to Brown. As a result a lot of the info in the book is wrong: from descriptions of meetings and conversations to jobs held by Brown's widow to misidentification of people in the pictures. Admittedly, I'm often cynical about books written by investigative reporters that never met their subject matter or people close to them, but this book is very weak. I read the biography/memoir written by Ron Brown's daughter ("The life and times of Ron Brown") which is much better. Check it out for the real deal!

Rating:
Summary: A good read!
Review: This is a great book especially if you're interested in what makes Washington tick. It is a true, honest, tough but fair portrait of a man who lived and breathed politics. He succeeded tremendously in his efforts on behalf of the Democratic party and his community of people, African Americans. Unfortunately, he made a few mistakes along the way but he should not be chastised. Are we not all human and do we not all show our frailty in different forms? The biography moves quickly as it evolves from childhood thru youth to mature adult and captures the essence of Brown's experiences to show us how he became the man we remember today.

Rating:
Summary: It's Great!
Review: Wow! This is a great book. The story of how one man, Ron Brown, emerges as the hidden hand behind the Democrat's re-taking of Washington is a gripping tale of power, politics and personality. Born into a middle-class black family, Ron Brown's life takes him from the halls of Harlem's fabled Hotel Theresa, where he grew up, to all-white Middlebury College, to the civil rights movement and, finally, to a position where he helps resurrect the fortunes of the Democratic Party. Ron Brown is presented in all his complexities - his life, his loves, and his ability to bridge racial divides with a silken, yet steely, determination. It's a tale well-told, smoothly-written, and filled with solid investigative reporting. This is a book to buy - and keep.