Anyone Can Grow Up: How George Bush and I Made It to the White House

Rating:
Summary: Dreadful, dumb, yet interesting!
Review: How this woman ever got to be a reporter is beyond my understanding. I take it that she is good at being able to spot things that interest the casual reader of Time magazine. Her analysis of the Bush Gore election is that Bush should win because he served better food than Gore. In the end, this book is dreadful yet interesting because it speaks volumes about what passes for thoughtful 'political commentary' theses days.

Rating:
Summary: Top-Notch Reporting
Review: When I learned that TIME's Margaret Carlson was publishing a long-overdue compilation of her "Public Eye" columns, I knew immediately that this book would be well worth its cost. Having enjoyed reading Carlson in the pages of TIME over the years, I've developed great respect for her insightful reporting and commentary.

Margaret Carlson is an honest writer; she is one of the few commentators who have transcended partisanship to objectively evaluate the issues. Her unpretentious columns chronicle the people and the issues that have shaped our nation over the past decade and a half. Even though she leans left on social issues, the book is anything but an apology for Democrats. With sharp wit and exacting turn of phrase, Carlson takes on both sides of the political spectrum as she searches for those politicians with authenticity, candor, and courage. As an added bonus, Carlson has written several pages of fresh autobiographical material for the book revealing the fine, intelligent woman behind the reporter.

It is disappointing to hear reviewers carping about this book not for its quality but because they didn't notice that the book's description clearly states that the book is a collection of Carlson's best columns. If you saved your back issues of TIME, save your money on this book. If not, perhaps you, like me, will enjoy rediscovering the most captivating stories of our time as told in Carlson's perceptive, engaging prose. For any lover of news and politics, Margaret Carlson is a must-read reporter, and this book is a must-have collection of the columns which so eloquently narrate the history of our generation.

Rating:
Summary: Yawn. Avoid this book.
Review: Yawn. Is this woman really a writer? Does she have a brain? Dull, boring and stupid. I was not able to finish this poorly written book. Avoid.