Government
True Compass: A Memoir
14/01/10 18:45
532 pages, Twelve. $35.00
Reviewed By Mike Attebery
Boy would I love to get Ted Kennedy’s take on the latest goings on in Washington and the political world. Between the increasingly contentious (and possibly doomed) cause of his life, Healthcare Reform, and the Democratic loss of the Senate seat long held by himself, and before him his older brother John, I can’t help but think that even Kennedy, the great pragmatist and Lion of the Senate would be feeling just a bit of dismay at the goings on in his absense. Either way, you can be sure his thoughts would be conveyed in a way both remarkably candid and imbued with surprising, occasionally understated wit and insight. Throughout this memoir, which covers his 77 years with remarkeably sharp recall, including the equally touching and tragic events of his youth, Kennedy shares his life story in relaxed, detailed prose. The latter portion of the book does begin to feel a bit rushed, particularly after Kennedy walks us through the events following his diagnosis with brain cancer, which does give the sudden wrap-up a rather grim if understandable conclusion, yet even with a rushed ending, one does finish this warm memoir feeling they have gotten to know a warm, complex, and politically talented individual. For anyone with an interest in government, politics, or the Kennedy family, this is a must read title. Get your copy here.