Reviews

The packaging for this audio describes it as half "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Mr. Smith wanted to channel federal dollars to fund a visionary national boys camp; Ventura wants to take funds away from government programs to give tax cuts to individuals. This three-hour whining session contains not one other shred of real policy--just complaints about unfair government practices. It's the sad story of a frat house-style rebellion on Minnesota campuses that reeled horribly out of control and for which now the people of that state must suffer through the inane antics and ignorant thought processes of Ventura for the next few years. The hardest part is the governor's gloating about how the election was the result of his "plan," and how (who knows?) the next stop may be the presidency of the United States. Definitely not recommended.--Mark Pumphrey, Polk Cty. P.L., Columbus, NC Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura describes his politics and his life with a simplicity that his supporters will cheer as fist-shaking bolts of truth and that his detractors will pan as loud, flippant and glib. The text first outlines Ventura's political platform ("less government is more" just about sums it up), then tracks his life through roles as blue-collar bad boy, Navy Seal, pro wrestler, wrestling commentator, film star, mayor, talk-radio host and, finally, campaigner and governor. Ventura likes to play the angry man in the bar complaining about the bums in office. Like most Reform Party candidates, he doesn't believe government can do much anyway. Eighty percent of the book is autobiography, a series of American success stories about the man who doesn't believe in the word can't. His ego appears to play such a large role in his persona that even his claim that he doesn't want to be called upon to be president exudes a scent of sham modesty. Ventura fan or not, any reader can appreciate the story of this man's desire to unseat "the old boy network" and engage the people. But the chapters on his entertainment years, and Ventura's incessant name-dropping, ultimately undermine his premiseÄthat he isn't a politician, just a private-sector Joe. At times, Ventura is so entertaining that readers might forget, temporarily, that he's a celebrity politician employing the advantage of his fame. (June) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.