Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia

by Mary Beth Brown

Book Overview

"One day I'll be in that house," said ten year old Condoleezza Rice as she gazed across the White House's expansive front lawn.

Of course, Condi made good on that promise. With poise and gracefulness?combined with an iron will and determination?rarely seen in Washington, Rice has become one of the most iconic and influential figures on the world stage. This is her story.

Condi provides an in-depth study of the life, faith, and...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595550984
• ISBN13: 9781595550989
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Eagles' Wings

I love the story of Condoleeza Rice. Won't be the last book I read about her. This book is easily read in a day; the book is more about her whole life story, the people who influenced her, primarily her parents and family, and not about her more famous roles in government service. So it's a little lacking in substance, but I'm glad I read this biography of her first to get my feet a little wet. She was a preacher's kid and only child, her home in Birmingham, Alabama. Most interesting was how her family decided to become Republicans given that most Southern African Americans have been Democrats ever since they were given the right to vote. I love her father's attitude about the segregated South and the route he chose to fight it, as the author reveals. Her family refused to be humiliated publicly by having to use segregated bathrooms, fountains, etc. They simply waited to get home. Her father didn't openly rant and rave about their conditions nor stir up trouble. He acted nobly despite ignoble treatment. He and Condi's mother lavished all their attention and energies upon Condi's education and upbringing. Being a preacher's kid, of course, she was nurtured to have a very strong and active faith in G-d while seeing all of the evils within the segregated South. I write this as a southern white woman who was a child during the height of the most egregious events in Birmingham, so I'm always saddened to read of how some of my fellow citizens and neighbors in my backyard so to speak behaved at that time. Reading this book made me understand well why Condi doesn't have strong aspirations to be President, though she's more than adequately prepared for the job. She has a high IQ, no telling how many words a minute she can read, is extremely intelligent and wise. I understand too why she is so poised and graceful in her ways. Not only is she an accomplished concert pianist, she is also a talented ice skater from her days in Denver where her family moved and Condi went to college at a young age. My favorite story in this book is the one about her being shooed off the red carpet at an airport by one of President George H. W. Bush's secret service details. Over two decades ago, she was very young to be in such a high office. It's obvious in reading this book how incredibly hard working she is. Kudos to President G. B. W. Bush to introducing her to the American public. Regardless of what you say or think of him, he's obviously made some wise decisions. What amazes me about Condi which you can infer from reading this book is how seemingly apolitical she is which is the perfect attribute for a Secretary of State dealing with a multitude of crises involving very disparate peoples. She's not so vocal about her particular opinions unless the need arises. All in all I highly recommend the book be read or any others about her. She's truly a fascinating and inspiring person. Funny how right leaning I'm becoming as I age. My father explain

Learned so much

This book is both enjoyable to read and very informative. It is interesting to read how Condi's childhood, college, and time at Stanford all contributed to shaping her for her current career at the White House.

WHAT A READ!

Whether Republican or Democrat, (or other), white or black (or other), male or female, I think every reader will find this a most interesting book about a very unique person. There were a few surprises in the book, which I had never heard from any other source. The author did a great job of tracing Condoleeza's rise from her segregated upbringing in the deep south of the 60's to her becoming Secretary of State. Great book!

Inspirational

As soon as I finished this informative biography, I instructed my both of my daughters to read it. Dr Rice is exactly the kind of role model I want for them. This is an interesting bio not only for the light it sheds on the winning of the cold war, but more so in the instruction to the pathway to success and greatness. Before I read this bio I was a fan of Dr. Rice but now she is my hero.

Condi: The life of a steel Magnolia

A "Condi" is a book for all readers. I found the book inspirational, interesting, and entertaining. Not only did I learn more about the "black" experience in the south, but I learned about the winning solution to inequalities. Condi's parents knew this all along, education and hard work. Every parent that wants their children to turn into wonderful adults should read this book. Every little girl in America should read this book. Unlike the female characters of the pop culture world, this is the type of women that I want my girls to emulate. Although, she is beautiful, she carries herself with respect and dignity wherever she goes. This book has made a wonderful impact on me. Thank you MB Brown.