Sayings of Generalissimo Giuliani

By Kevin McAuliffe

This is not your standard political biography. the core of this book is--incontrovertibly and inescapably--Rudy Giuliani in his own words, being himself.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566491630
• ISBN13: 9781566491631
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Welcome Rain Publishers
• Length: 488 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.0" x 5.9"

Customer Reviews

A Fascinating Descent into Madness

As a transplanted New Yorker who arrived just prior to Rudy Giulianni's second re-election (which just happened to coincide with a week-long gang epidemic that quickly disappeared after he was elected), I have watched my adopted city fall into the grips of a freedom crippling fascist and have wondered how on earth Guilianni was ever given power. Surely, I thought, the fair residents of this great city are not all so overwhelmingly stupid to have honestly believed that such a dangerous man would be the savior of our city. Reading this powerful little book has answered my questions. The book itself is simply quotes attributed to Guilianni, with the occasional reporting of facts surrounding an issue or event. Taken as parts they can be seen as an instructive look at how one can use spin control and bombastic indignation to cover up almost anything, but when the piece is assembled as a whole, an inadvertent narrative begins to emerge.These excerpts from Guilianni's full political career, stretching from the late 60's to the late 90's, provides an overwhelmingly fascinating narrative of a mild mannered liberal who becomes a mild mannered -- if passive aggressive and ethically sketchy -- conservative who slowly (from about 1995 to 1999) becomes a power hungry, openly vindictive, petty, horrible man. As the pages turn and the reader is greeted with quotes that provide point and counterpoint on issue after issue, one finds oneself constructing the timeline of Guilianni's own personal descent into madness; we are all able to watch as this man becomes crazier and crazier with every passing year.In the end, there are two narratives here. One is that of a city that is held prisoner by the tyrannical oppression of one of the century's most dangers threats to personal freedom. The other is that of a flawed man, a man who had strong, workable ideas for how to turn a rough city into a utopia, and in the process somehow lost his soul entirely.

A Mayor Gone Sour

As well-researched as any fine work of scholarship, this book is leavened with McAuliffe's subtle wit and fortified by his intimate knowledge of City Hall. The reader is left less with anger than with deep disappointment at the lost promise of this mayoralty. Giuliani's prosecution of Hortense Gable, however, shows his character never really changed, and it provides a particularly ominous foreshadowing of Rudy's worst excesses as mayor. Malachy McCourt, the ultimate gadfly, provides the perfect introduction.

Witty and detailed - 2 Thumbs Up!

Hilarious, funny, and well-researched! I work in a small bookstore and we have been passing this book around since it first came out. I have yet to have any customer who has purchased the book disagree. Enjoy.

428 pages of joy

This book captures Mayor Giuliani like no other that I have read. It displays his huge "Cahones" and Ego in his governing style. Reading this book brought make many memories of recent events in NYC politics. I especially like the Mayor's humor or lack thereof. There's so many great quotes and some great commentary by McAuliffe. Definitely 5 stars.

Laughed for hours this is Rudy at his best

I was a little skeptical when I first purchased this book, but once I started reading, I could not put it down. No matter your opinion of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, you will enjoy this book. It tracks some of the most outrageous, flamboyant, and downright comical things that the Mayor has said through the years. Even the Table of Contents is comical with such Titles as Rudy and the Blacks (or, The Generalissimo, While on a Botany Expedition, Discovers an Exotic New Species - People of Color)or Alex Trebek Calls It "Potpourri". Thousands of quotes with great commentary. I highly recommend!