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Title: Vernon Can Read! A Memoir by Annette Gordon-Reed, Annette Gordon-Reed, Vernon E., Jr. Jordan ISBN: 1-891620-69-X Publisher: PublicAffairs Pub. Date: 16 October, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.88 (17 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: We need the Unauthorized Biography.
Comment: This book is an unfortunate piece of near puffery: much form, much superficiality, little substance. But what does one expect from a Power Broker? Truth or Dare?
In keeping with the unwritten Power Broker Creed, Mr.Jordan reveals very little about the inside mechanations that made him who he is (as opposed to who he was). That is to say, the book speaks volumes about those life experiences that made Vernon Jordan the moderate civil rights leader he was years ago, but says exactly nothing about the transition from that leadership role, to the man who had the president's ear (not to mention the man who kept his secrets)and the ear of the REAL powerful people in this global econonmy: the corporate mavens for whom Vernon was (is?) paid handsomely to dish out advice and counsel to.
We never hear in any detail about how Jordan quietly but persistently accumulated the power he achieved and, indeed, what motivated him in this pursuit. And no, I was not interested in any Monica dirt: Monica and the whole presidential thing, was (and is) beside the point when it comes to a rigorous Jordan analysis. That whole episode merely served as a template (and not a particularly good one) for the kind of back scratchery at high level that Jordan has been doing for years.
But then again, what does one expect? People like Jordan (and mind you, I am a big fan of his)live by the aforementioned unspoken creed: power is best accumulated and exercised quietly. Thus, one does not reveal the secrets of the kingdom to just any average reader (by the way Vernon, what really does go on at those Bildeberg confrences?).
We will not get the whole unexpurgated version of Jordan's life until some biographer decides to swim against currents and put one together.
Those of us interested in reading something much more telling than Jordan's superficial telling of the story of his life will have to wait. Just as we similarly anxiously awaited biographical treatments of other quiet power brokers in the Clark Clifford, Tommy "the cork" mode (the wait is soon over for those of us interested in Tommy the cork and, thanks to the same author, was over several years ago for a good analysis of Clifford's life. CLifford's own biography, Counsel to the President, left much to be desired, too).
As a high school to college level autobiographical treatment of the life of an important figure in post-world war II america, Vernon Can Read suffices. As anything deeper, it does not.
Vernon can certainly Read, but what Vernon wrote certainly leaves alot to be desired.
Rating: 5
Summary: This book should be in every African American's home
Comment: I listened to the unabridged audio cassette version of Vernon Can Read! This is a wonderful book. It has many dates and events in African American history of which Mr. Jordan contributed to, experienced and/or witnessed. These events are not only significant in the life of Mr. Jordan but also in the history of African Americans. The book is well written and easy to read and/or listen to. I told my five year old son about the experience of young Vernon Jordan and Mr. Maddock. It was inspiring to my son and we often listen to that portion of the tape while driving home from school. Mr. Jordan wanted the book to inspire his children and grandchildren and I suspect that it has. The book has also inspired my son. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 3
Summary: Interesting and Frustrating
Comment: This book is both interesting and frustrating. It is interesting because of the information it gives about life for African Americans in Georgia prior to the end of Jim Crow. And for the information Jordan provides about starting out practicing law in Georgia with attorney Donald Hollowell.
After that it becomes frustrating because of all it leaves out. And once you read interviews with Vernon Jordan about why he wrote "Vernon Can Read," you understand something about his character. It appears that the sole reason he wrote the book is because so many Caucasians had never heard of him prior to the election of Bill Clinton as president (and the Monica Lewinsky scandal), and he wanted to let them know he had an entire career history before Clinton was even heard of...
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Title: The Measure of a Man : A Spiritual Autobiography by Sidney Poitier ISBN: 0062516086 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 24 April, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones by Quincy Jones ISBN: 0385488963 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 09 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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Title: Growing Up Black: From Slave Days to the Present-25 African-Americans Reveal the Trials and Triumphs of Their Childhoods by Jay David ISBN: 0380766329 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: February, 1992 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: The Negro's Civil War : How American Blacks Felt and Acted During the War for the Union by James M. McPherson ISBN: 140003390X Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 14 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Bill Clinton and Black America by Dewayne Wickham ISBN: 0345450329 Publisher: One World/Ballantine Pub. Date: 15 January, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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