Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage Paperback – March 1, 2016

I once published a letter in the Washington Post defending Barney Frank from charges that he was rude to the point of meanness. I argued instead that he was honest and not willing to engage in all the polite niceties that make civilization possible, "not one of those oily people who grease the gears of the system." But I was wrong,In this book, Barney shows that he knew exactly how to do that, how to compromise when necessary, how to make allies across the aisle, how to work within the system. In fact, despite Barney's reputation as the most left of the lefties, his is a conservative argument for working within the system rather than confronting it from the outside. Beginning with his working the Civil Rights movement in the 60's to his LGBT activities, he has, he shows us, argued for the system, a reformer rather than a radical.Given that, the book is a wonderful introduction to the workings of government and politics, from the Mayor's office in Boston to Congress. He shows us how the system works with clarity and his usual humor. The book is not itself funny. The author rarely jokes, but he lightens the text with accounts of his past jokes. His main emphasis is on the economic crisis of 2008 and the LGBT rights movement, but he includes a lot of other campaigns, some perhaps he would rather not recall. Back when he was in Boston, he argued for a stop to police harassment of Boston's combat zone. I remember reading the the press his argument,"Dirty old men have rights too," and thinking that belonged up there with Voltaire. I have loved him from afar ever since. He discusses being Jewish but leaves out anything about Israel, of which there is only one passing reference in the book. Yet his occasionally emotional support for Israel is one of those quirks I would have liked to learn more about. I highly recommend this for any budding politician or social scientist who would enjoy an engaging inside tour of the way things really work.

I read the book. as a Republican, I think some parts trashing the Republicans are unfair. But the style flows well, the literary quality is good. some of the lines are very funny. i enjoyed reading PARTS of it. some relevant facts were omitted. the class-warfare/budget-balancing analysis at the end is very interesting; i didn't agree with all of it. as a pro-lifer, nothing in this book convinced me that ripping unwanted babies apart is morally just, or a good idea. I think the hippies should take their fair share of blame for undermining trust in government, if that's the big complaint. i note that Dems are for regulating every big business BUT abortion clinics. they're concerned about lead paint, but not about imposing the same health and safety rules on abortion clinics that other medical clinics take as a matter of course. I think they care more about making a culture-war point than aobut health and safety; or else they'd be as tough in regulating abortion clinics as other doctors, banks, or lead paint.

Anyone expecting a juicy tell-all might be disappointed, as will those seeking snarky new quips. But this book should be required reading for anyone interested in American Government or LGBT history. I was fascinated and learned a great deal about how our government actually works. It is an excellent exposition of pragmatic politics and of fighting for the good in a system dominated by self-serving politicians and those beholden to the highest campaign contributors. It is also very funny, as Frank recounts some of his now legendary counterattacks on opponents. In general, it is sweet-spirited despite Frank's rep as an old curmudgeon and full of praise for those on both sides of the aisle who have won his admiration. He also takes the time to explain some of his controversial decisions and how he came to them. Brilliant, beautifully written and never boring. HIghly highly recommended. Fans of the American version of House of Cards should read this just to see how far the series departs from the reality of American government.

I'm glad I read this book. I found it to be informative, and I enjoyed the voice in which it was written. In particular, I value the insight into what is and is not achievable via politics, and how to best go about obtaining the obtainable results.One thing I noticed about this book, is that in several places it contrasts the way things were in the past to the way things are now. In a future edition, it may be wise to include some sort of reminder that words like "now" and "today" refer to the date of publication, not the current date for the person doing the reading. One might think this would be obvious, but I have met no small number of people who might well forget this consideration.

I read this wonderful biography when it first came out, but reviewing it now is timely after the recent airing of his recent documentary. Long an admirer or Mr. Frank, I found his book (and the documentary) full of exactly what you would expect from him -- "frankness," and his ever-present humor. The title of the book says it all. In it you will find a wealth of historical information along with the honest perspective of his commentary. It is a "frank" discussion of policy decisions, political strategies and personal choices made with great courage during tumultuous times. It is also a love story that warms the heart and rekindles the hope that, amid seeming congressional infertility, there may just be a few seeds germinating.