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TIME PRESENT, TIME PAST: A MEMOIR
Bradley, Bill
1995 37679 In describing his own life's journey, from a small Missouri town to professional basketball to the U.S. Senate, Bradley looks back at the lives of his ancestors, at the many heroic and memorable Americans he's encountered, and forward to the America of the next century, assessing both its politics and its national health. "One of the most decent, thoughtful, inspiring, and well-written books by a public figure I have ever read."--Doris Kearns Goodwin. ANNOTATION A superb memoir that concludes with an exciting vision of what this country can be, Time Present, Time Past recounts a classic American journey. Former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley speaks with affection about his small-town upbringing, traces the road he took through professional sports to public service, and vividly brings to life the world of a U.S. senator. FROM THE PUBLISHER During his terms in the U.S. Senate, Bill Bradley won a national reputation for thoughtfulness, decency, and a willingness to take controversial positions on issues ranging from tax reform to the rights of Native Americans. All these qualities inform this bestselling memoir, in which Bradley assesses his political career and the experiences that shaped his convictions, and looks beyond them to consider the state of the American union on the eve of the twenty-first century. Time Present, Time Past offers an intimate portrait of the day-to-day workings of the Senate: how legislation gets passed and sometimes thwarted; how money is raised and at what cost. But Bradley also writes about deeper questions: What does it mean to be an American in an age of dwindling opportunities and increasing inequality? How much can we expect from our public servants? What do we owe our fellow citizens? The result is a genuinely revelatory book, informed by intelligence, compassion, and unprecedented candor. FROM THE CRITICS Publishers Weekly The political autobiography of the former New Jersey senator and former New York Knick, an eight-week PW bestseller, features a new afterword by the author. Library Journal More than a memoir, this work by the senior senator from New Jersey offers a vision for the future. BookList - Ilene Cooper In this impressive memoir, Bradley, the senator from New Jersey and former basketball star, pulls off quite a coup. He uses his memories of life on and off the court, and on and off the Senate floor, as a starting point for discussions of race, immigration, campaign financing, and political integrity. Often when this kind of thing is attempted, the author's stroll down memory lane captures the readers' attention; then the analysis of the larger issues tires them out. Through skillful writing, a wealth of experiences to draw on, and a genuine and abiding interest in the well-being of this country, Bradley manages to avoid these pitfalls. Whether discussing his boyhood in Crystal City, Missouri, where the bigger world both beckoned and intimidated, or tackling the information explosion and the question of how it will impact the social and economic lives of Americans, Bradley is highly readable, thought provoking, and refreshingly honest. He pulls no punches when it comes to discussing his own shortcomings or those of his colleagues. Not that this book is in any way mean-spirited. Even Bradley's political foes should be disappointed by his afterword, in which he reiterates his recent announcement that he will not run again for the Senate. There aren't too many politicians that elevate the level of political debate. Bradley is one of them. David Halberstam - Vanity Fair Intelligent, surprisingly candid and exceptionally well-written? A love letter to America on the part of someone shrewd and knowledgeable about the country. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING David McCullough Marvelous? Consistently compelling? It has been a long time since any American in public life has written as valuable a book. - (David McCullough) Knopf Publishing Group 0-679-44488-2 / 9780679444886
Hardcover Very Good Condition New York
Price:
14.64 USD
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