The Art of Tough

May 9, 2016
Junior U.S. senator Boxer, a Democrat from California, will retire in 2016, and this reflection on her years in office will serve as a key record of her work during those years. She speaks warmly of colleagues Barbara Mikulski, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, reserving criticism for the expected villains: Newt Gingrich, George W. Bush, and her 2010 Senate opponent, Carly Fiorina: "It's clear that she hasn't a clue." Boxer, who briefly worked as a reporter for the Pacific Sun, writes serviceably, if not inspiringly, in the memoir format. Regarding Florida's role in the Bush/Gore contest, she writes: "it was a bizarre situation, which has gone down in history." On the topic of Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, she focuses on the fact she was sick with the flu. She has an eye for a good anecdote, as when she fought for funding to fight AIDS or forced ethics hearings on former U.S. senator Bob Packwood. Ever the politician, she never draws the veil back too far. She calls herself "green" in an early conflict with John McCain and admits to several "over-the-top" campaign slogans ("Save Marin: Vote for Barbara")âbut after 40 years in elected office, Barbara Boxer knows better than to risk serious damage to her political legacy. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, Kimberley Cameron & Associates.

This audiobook memoir details the author's experiences coming of age in California, and then spending more than 30 years in public life, most recently as a U.S. senator from that state. Boxer immediately became one of the most pro-environment, antiwar legislators in Washington, and she continues to be a major voice for progressive causes. The foreword is read by another senator, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who does a good job setting the tone of the book, reading with enthusiasm and energy. Senator Boxer delivers the rest of the book with a pleasant voice, and she's clearly used to speaking with purpose and clarity. While she needs to vary her voice more and to make sure she doesn't miss emphasizing key words and ideas, overall, Boxer paces herself and reads slowly enough that listeners can ponder her positions. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

January 1, 2016

California's junior senator since 1993 (after ten years in the House of Representatives), Boxer proclaims, "One goal of this memoir is to inspire people to fight for change." A 65,000-copy first printing.

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