Although readers have been promised a tell-all with The Governor, Rod Blagojevich doesn’t really deliver – at least not the way readers are expecting.
If you are looking for a relatively comprehensive biography of Blagojevich, then this is the book for you. From his childhood through the scandal, he covers just about everything of note in his rise in Chicago politics. It can be assumed that he has annoyed at least a few in the “Chicagoland” political machine with this text, but as for what really happened with the scandal – that remains couched in a rather convoluted story that will satisfy few. Honestly, one needs a scorecard to keep track of who is doing what and for whom by the time Blagojevich gets into the meat of the scandal, and it would honestly be unfair to even attempt to summarize that here.
Readers must also wade their way through repetitive claims of innocence embellished with historical references. Blagojevich continually claims that he doesn’t wish to be compared with statesmen like Teddy Roosevelt, but repeatedly compares himself to them. He also states his distaste for his father-in-law’s habit of airing the family’s dirty laundry in the press, but then goes on to enumerate his problems with the elder politician in the book. Both of these circumstances lend a hypocritical tone to the entire text.
However, there is something to be gained from reading The Governor, particularly for students of political science, and anyone with aspirations in the world political consulting. Blagojevich obviously wrote this with little or no assistance from political consultants, and as such, it can be considered an excellent reference text for political campaign managers seeking to prevent a candidate from speaking too candidly to the public and others with similar needs. It is worth reading if one is highly interested in the entire situation, but it is not for the faint of heart nor for anyone accustomed to highly polished memoirs.
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