A Journey: My Political Life

Tony Blair

$19.00

Publication Date: September 20th, 2011

Publisher:

Vintage

ISBN:

9780307390639

Pages:

784

Description

In this remarkably gripping memoir, one of the most dynamic and controversial leaders of modern times gives us a firsthand account of his years in office and beyond.

Here, for the first time, Tony Blair recounts his role in shaping our recent history, from the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death to the war on terror. With rare honesty and courage, he recounts the belief in ethical intervention that led to his decision to go to war in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and, most controversially of all, Iraq. Filled with fascinating revelations about Blair’s close friendship with the Clinton family, his admiration for George W. Bush, and his relationship with Barack Obama, A Journey is a must-read political memoir, providing an unprecedented glimpse into Tony Blair’s experiences as Prime Minister, through his own eyes.

About the Author

Tony Blair became an MP in 1983, leader of the Labour Party in 1994, and was prime minister of the United Kingdom from May 1997 to June 2007. Since leaving office, he has served as the Quartet Representative to the Middle East, representing the U.S., the UN, Russia, and the EU in working with the Palestinians to prepare for statehood as part of the international community’s effort to secure peace. In May 2008 he launched the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which promotes respect and understanding among the major religions. His Africa Governance Initiative works with leaders and their governments on policy delivery and attracting sustainable investment in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. He also works with world leaders to build consensus on an international climate-policy framework.

Praise for A Journey: My Political Life

“Deeply personal. . . . Full of candid revelations. . . . A priceless glimpse into the mind of the man who…stood by America in some of its darkest recent hours.” –Wall Street Journal

“Engaging and insightful. . . . Detailed and nuanced.” –The Boston Globe

“Engrossing. . . . Informal and candid enough to keep the reader thoroughly engaged.” –Fareed Zakaria, The New York Times Book Review

“A political biography of unusual interest. . . . Blair is one of the great politicians of this generation and that makes his candid moments particularly interesting.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Well-written and perhaps unintentionally self-revealing. . . . Blair reveals himself through his thrusting political ambition, his rationales for decisions, his preoccupation with public image and his determination to play a prominent role on the world stage.” —The Washington Post Book World

“Fluently written. . . . Engaging.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

“Absorbing. . . . Surprisingly candid. . . . A political argument about how to win elections and make social progress.” —The Independent (London)

“That Blair was a formidable politician can be seen in the glimpses we get of how his mind works. . . . You are left thinking two things: that it would be a blessing if some of today’s politicians took note…and that, whatever your view of Blair, you still wouldn’t want to take him on in an election.” —The New Yorker

“Impressive. . . . Intellectually and emotionally engaging. . . . Blair writes well, practices transparency, and on almost every page explains his decisions in detail.” —Christian Science Monitor

“Unique. . . . A political biography of unusual interest.” —Los Angeles Times

“Unusually direct. . . . He is compellingly candid about how scared he was when he first became prime minister.” —The Guardian (London)

“Compelling. . . . Candid and comprehensive.” —Tulsa World

“Blair comes across as likable, if manipulative; capable of dissembling while wonderfully fluent; in short, a brilliant modern politician.” —The Boston Globe