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A Journey: My Political Life |  | Author: Tony Blair
Publisher: Knopf
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
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Rating:  19 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1St Edition
Pages: 720
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.5
Dimensions (in): 10.3 x 6.6 x 1.5
ISBN: 0307269833
Dewey Decimal Number: 941.0859092
EAN: 9780307269836
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Product Description
Tony Blair is a politician who defines our times. His emergence as Labour Party leader in 1994 marked a seismic shift in British politics. Within a few short years, he had transformed his party and rallied the country behind him, becoming prime minister in 1997 with the biggest victory in Labourâs history, and bringing to an end eighteen years of Conservative government. He took Labour to a historic three terms in office as Britainâs dominant political figure of the last two decades.
A Journey is Tony Blairâs firsthand account of his years in office and beyond. Here he describes for the first time his role in shaping our recent history, from the aftermath of Princess Dianaâs death to the war on terror. He reveals the leadership decisions that were necessary to reinvent his party, the relationships with colleagues including Gordon Brown, the grueling negotiations for peace in Northern Ireland, the implementation of the biggest reforms to public services in Britain since 1945, and his relationships with leaders on the world stageâNelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush. He analyzes the belief in ethical intervention that led to his decisions to go to war in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and, most controversially of all, in Iraq.
A Journey is a book about the nature and uses of political power. In frank, unflinching, often wry detail, Tony Blair charts the ups and downs of his career to provide insight into the man as well as the politician and statesman. He explores the challenges of leadership, and the ramifications of standing up, clearly and forcefully, for what one believes in. He also looks ahead, to emerging power relationships and economies, addressing the vital issues and complexities of our global world.
Few British prime ministers have shaped the nationâs course as profoundly as Tony Blair, and his achievements and his legacy will be debated for years to come. Here, uniquely, we have his own journey, in his own words.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 19
 A fascinating journey September 2, 2010
Emil B (Sydney, Australia)
103 out of 118 found this review helpful
As Tony Blair said it at the beginning of the book, this is not a memoir; it is a reflection of history that unravelled around him mainly during the time of his prime ministership. Readers may have extremely different political views and a review risks appearing taking one side or another. My review is not about Tony Blair the politician, but Tony Blair the writer. I am only judging the book from the point of view of the quality of writing describing personal development, political views, exposure to events and people packed in one single volume. My conclusion is if you can put the politics aside, it is a great read.
Undeniably, Tony is a master of political thinking. He is the longest serving Labour Prime Minister after all. You will find in this book a superb analysis of leadership when he writes about the period before the election in 1992. He is a genius when it comes to understanding the change in the public mood and society, although not without fault, as history has shown. An interesting read is the analysis of Labour philosophy, its political agenda, the structure of the voters who favoured Labour, and who didn't, the meaning of "working class" in the 80's (the philosophical essence of the change to New Labour could be summarised in his words: "I hate class. I love aspiration"), the thinking system of some of the Labour main public figures.
The book is personal story narrated in a style that changes throughout the book. It can be crisp and clear, but it can be convoluted, dragging the argument on and on. It gives away a schism between two sides which contradict themselves: the intense, ambitious political man who has the point blank desire to get the power ("it is an extraordinary feeling...you can achieve something beyond the ordinary") and the person accepting the destiny that gives him the sceptre of that power. The sense of destiny appears sometimes as if he did it because he had to; it is almost a justification for some difficult choices.
One of the aspects I liked about the book is its authenticity. Tony Blair seems to be genuine; he is not chasing elegance and righteousness and sometimes he becomes so involved with the subject to the point where he almost forgets he is addressing to a reader. He would know when is opinion is controversial and accept many others have opposite opinions. He leaves the door open for others' interpretation of error on his behalf. He knows the public is judging him. His only defence is personal belief in what he considers his duty.
He can be very funny at times. The story of his "freaking" experience at the Balmoral Castle with the royal family when the valet asked if he wanted him to "draw the bath" made me laugh out loud. I have the impression he enjoyed working on this book; except probably when he talks about Gordon Brown.
He describes the PMQ (Prime Minister Question) times as "discombobulating, nail-biting, bowel-moving, terror-inspiring, courage-draining experience in my prime ministerial life, without question". And many other subjects are treated with the same deliberate style, the Northern Ireland peace deal, Iraq, relationship with US, etc.
There is one thread though that goes through the book, something that causes him quite a discomfort: his relationship with Gordon Brown (GB as he refers to him sometimes). This is an aspect of his life that has no definite closure and he is not hundred percent comfortable talking about it, but he talks.
I can bet London on a brick on that you will find at least on one occasion something intriguing, interesting and fascinating somewhere in this book that will surprise you. I will not give any example of that for two reasons: I don't want to give away details of the book and because of many of the controversies and huge amount of publicity that followed Tony Blair during this political life, what is interesting, intriguing, interesting and fascinating depends entirely on the reader's attitude and political belief.
Fabulous Read of the Life of a Charismatic Prime Minister !!! September 3, 2010
Richard Stoyeck (Westport, CT)
45 out of 56 found this review helpful
First my objective analysis: Blair was Labor leader in 1994, and rode that position to become Prime minister in 1997 with the biggest victory in Labor's history. The book contains 22 chapters covering the period 1997 to 2007. There is a chapter dealing with 2007 - 2010 which are issues that are current and subsequent to his service as Prime Minister. As you know all biography is subjective and selective, and this book is no less so than others. The book's most interesting chapters are:
3) New Labor
5) Princess Diane
6) Peace in Northern Ireland
8) Kosovo
12) 9/11 "Shoulder to Shoulder"
My Subjective Analysis": Tony Blair can write, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. You know an author is at the very top of his form when he can put together sentences in such a way that you say to yourself, if I had a month to think about it, I don't think I could have put it any better.
An example is in the introduction, where Blair states the American burden is that it wants to be loved, but knows it can't be. Love is given to nations with which we sympathize...powerful nations aren't loved...they have to be feared by their enemies.
Blair also seems to be excellent at understanding the world leaders that he developed extensive personal and long relationships with. This includes Vladimir Putin, Clinton, Bush, and now Obama. Listen in just a few words at what awaits you:
Bill Clinton - The Prime Minister found Clinton to be, "The most formidable politician I ever met, actually a brilliant President. He made it at times look easy."
George W. Bush - Blair thought Bush was straight forward and direct. He says about Bush, "The stupidest misconception was that he was stupid" - great intuition, less about politics, more about he thought was right and wrong.
Barack Obama - This was a very interesting observation. "This is a man with steel in every part of him."
You will love his candid analysis of all the major players in the world. However as is true in most autobiographic materials, Blair is less candid about himself and his shortcomings. There is very little about his upbringing or what brought him to his political beliefs. Regarding Iraq he is unapologetic about leading his country to war when there were no weapons of mass destruction. It seems he is trying to sway history here, more than the current reader.
Blair also states that his interest in religion was greater than his interest in politics, but then tells us nothing about how his religious beliefs have impacted and shaped his political beliefs. All in all this is a GREAT READ, and I urge you to do so, if only to get a wonderful understanding of how a foreign leader who had an understanding of America in this time viewed our country through his own informed lens.
Blair will always be remembered as the man who brought the Labor Party into the 21st century by getting rid of the concept of nationalization, and let's disarm by ourselves. He also was quite eloquent in explaining our President's position on Iraq better than our President was. Small failing's aside, I think you will love reading this book, and thank you for reading this review.
Richard C. Stoyeck
Great insights...great read... September 2, 2010
Lewis Codington (China)
42 out of 55 found this review helpful
Mr. Blair has fascinating insights into our times and especially into the leaders who have been on the world stage during his years in politics. He speaks as if he is chatting to you over a cup of coffee...yet his thoughts and conclusions show deep thinking and understanding. Much more than simply reviewing the events he has been part of, he evaluates, assesses, and judges the importance and substance of these recent years. A great book...
Transparency Personified September 7, 2010
Gordon Prentiss (Santa Barbara, CA)
11 out of 14 found this review helpful
All any reader would like in a non-fiction author is candor. In the case of this fine book, Mr. Blair does not disappoint, always speaking from the root of things. He witnessed so much, had relations with America's Clinton, Bush, and Obama, and takes us inside the political, high security "back room," letting us listen in to those oh-so-confidential affairs. And this is all done from the vantage point of someone from the UK, a rarity in today's political climate. It seems that so much of what we are fed, wether internationally or domestically, in terms of media info, is skewed towards an American perspective. All one has to do is read 71 Days: The Media Assault On Obama to see that reality at play. For those seeking a perspective unlike any we've recently seen regarding the world affairs of today, "A Journey" is your book.
A series of worrying admissions from a once very powerful man. September 3, 2010
Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author)
24 out of 34 found this review helpful
It was 0830 on 1 September 2010 as I walked past a large London bookshop. The window display comprised 2 books - one of which was this much awaited Blair Memoirs. Mine was the first copy sold. Whilst political insiders will doubtless find much over which to raise their eyebrows, my own surprises were over his relationship with his immediate successor Gordon Brown. Don't you just hate it when people say "THEY KNEW" that such and such was going to happen but did nothing to prevent it from happening when they had the power to make a difference. In this work, Blair actually claims to have known Brown would be an awful Prime Minister. Well, we can all say that - after the event. More importantly, he also admits that he failed to sack Brown for fear of creating problems for the Labour Party and accelerating Brown's succession to Number Ten! I found this difficult to digest.
This is neither a pro nor anti-Blair review, it is based on his book and his revelations. A couple of years before standing down in the most diabolical fashion ever!, Blair stated he would reduce immigration to the United Kingdom to a certain figure by the September of that year. Eventually, however, nothing happened because he was unable to make any difference whatsoever. Now ask yourself this; If the Prime Minister is unable to change things, who can? Because of his disclosures in this book, for the very first time I have begun to see Blair as a weakling. Here is a man who admits to crying because a soldier was killed in Iraq. Well what did he expect? Here is a man who would not remove or even demote Gordon Brown for "FEAR" of the consequences. Not a strong man then! Here is a man who admits to having turned to drink because of the pressures of the job. Definitely not! Altogether, I began to feel so disappointed in this man, it came as something of a betrayal. Perhaps we were all fooled to some extent by the young, pretty boy, self assured image - although it is an image that has now also caught on in other parties!
The memoirs commences with the revelation (for those who did not know!) that, as he entered No 10 for the first time as Prime Minister, he had not previously held any government post whatsoever - not even a junior post. From there he went on to change the face of British politics, change the face of the Labour Party and introduce several American-style techniques by employing spin-doctors to provide the most positive gloss onto anything that might be perceived as unsavoury. It really is a candid and revealing exposé of the man in charge for all those years and for that he must be applauded.
Only now, however - some two years after stepping down, do we read this personal account of those years only to learn it appears he became a victim of his own spin. In so doing he leaves a lingering question over whether or not he was ever completely suited to the job. This book has changed my perception of so many aspects of British political life in general and Tony Blair in particular. No longer will I blame Gordon Brown for the financial mess in which the UK finds itself at this time. Why? Because it is abundantly clear from this book that Brown should never have been Chancellor and the only person able to remove him from that post had become frightened of replacing him.
My own political inclinations are simple; I subscribe to the view that one must vote for the party who will best look after your own personal interests. Having read this book, my personal assessment of Tony Blair - as a person, is reduced to the minimum ONE star rating. That said, the book itself is easily a FIVE star product and, therefore, well worth reading.
NM
Showing reviews 1-5 of 19
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