Customer Reviews

Rudy!: An Investigative Biography Of Rudy Giuliani

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Being a pro-Giuliani guy, I ignored the book initally, knowing the tone of it was anti-Rudy. I had then picked this book from the library after I read that it was the inspiration for the Woods TV film. I was disappointed in the TV movie and hoped this book would be better.

Whether the TV film used any of this material or not is questionable, since whatever similarities Barrett's book and the film share are very minor and could be found from other sources besides this book.

But enough of the film, what about this book? It turned out not to be quite as Anti-Rudy as I thought. I don't think Barrett intended to write a full smear on Rudy. In fact, for one who knew very little of Rudy before he became mayor, the book was quite revealing. Barrett was friends with Rudy during this time and his insider knowledge shows at this point. I learned a lot about Rudy as a prosecutor in his early days and how the one time Bobby Kennedy-Democrat became a republican. Considering how pro-cop Rudy is, I was also surprised to learn he was involved in the Serpico cases and the other whistle blower case that led to the movie"Prince of The City." Also, we find out that Rudy had relatives involved in organized crime, which might explain his toughness to stand up to the mob.

Barrett and Giuilani stop being friends about the time he became Mayor. And it is there, the book falters. Not so much because it is anti-Rudy but more because of what Barrett reveals during his mayor days. We find out Rudy is like most politicans: flip-flops on issues, takes more credit that he deserves for certain things, and because he joined the Republican party became more Republican-like than he was before he became mayor. Rudy's typical politican actions seem to surprise and dissapoint Barrett. A journalist with Barrett's insight and knowledge has no excuse not to realize this makes him look exteremely naive. He, of all people, should know that those who are purists as Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan don't survive in politics mainly because of their inability to compromise.

A lot is spend on Rudy's infidelities. Barrett treats this as that makes Rudy a bad mayor the same way those Republicans who think Clinton is a bad president because he is a philanderer. His attempts to discredit Rudy's successes as mayor are the same way Republicans would discredit Clinton's booming economy days. His precedessor(Bush I/Dinkins) already made the steps necessary to get on the right track and that he (Clinton/Giuilani) was lucky to be at the right place at the right time. Now I don't credit Clinton or Giulani 100% for everything, but to say that he had nothing to do with it and their precedessor did, sorry I ain't buying that.

Strangely, on what might be valid criticism on Giuliani is either briefly mentioned(the NYPD police brutality flap) or ignored(the Brooklyn Art Museum flap).

So, the book(although better than the TV movie) ends up being a disappoinment. It's even more disappointing because the first half is very strong. A great bio on Rudy has yet to be written. Barrett's book isn't it.

As a lifelong resident of New York City who came of age during the Giuliani years, i found this book very interesting. I was particularly impressed with Barrett's research into Giuliani's family history and his pre-mayoral career. The chapters on his '89 and '93 races for mayor were also interesting. a chapter dedicated to crime statistics seemed mundane but i guess was part of Barretts quest to give as much data to support his claims against Giuliani's success in bringing down crime. Most biographies have a level of bias, this one does have a high level of bias against Giuliani. it was still great reading and a good account on a portion of new york city history.

It amazes me that Barrett even got this thing published. He admits, early on, that he's "anti-Rudy". He not only insults Rudy, but the entire country of Italy.

Go have a root canal instead of reading this, you'll be glad you did.

After reading this book I have decided that a rule of mine should be never to read a book with an exclamation mark in the title. I picked this book up to learn more about the man that has been every where over the last year, what I got was a book filled with innuendo, conjecture and slanted comments meant to dirty the reputation of the subject. I would think that if this author dug into anyone's background and used his form of slash and burn reporting, the person - any person - would come off bad. Some of the barbs do have some truth, but given that Guiliani is a hard charging politician, they come with the territory. Sure he has stepped on some toes, changed or flip flopped on a few campaign statements, and maybe like all of us, taken a little too much credit for positive accomplishments, but that is not the view this author wants you to come away with. Lets face it, the author has a great deal of animosity toward Guiliani and he used this book to vent.

I also was bothered by the book setup, I like a biography to follow chronologically - I want to learn about the person through their life. This book takes subjects or topics and details his life via the subject so each part of the book covers the mans whole life. I also felt the writing was somewhat choppy and just not very smooth. To tell the truth I kept reading to find errors in what the author was saying. If you are looking for an unbiased look at Guiliani then keep looking, this book is nothing more then a political hack job.

If you like Rudy, you won't like this book.
If you don't like Rudy, the book will provide abundant ammunition when you make your case. Barrett is obviously biased against Rudy, and there's no ambiguity about that. But only the ignorant, of the hopelessly dogmatic, will accuse him of not doing his homework, or of being a 2nd rate journalist. Every assertion he makes is backed up with facts and data, sometimes ponderously so.
It's not light reading, or particularly entertaining, but if you want the facts (nothing but the facts, ma'am) on the phenomena that is Rudy Giuliani, this is the only book to read.

Do not waste your money to buy this book. For that matter, don't even try to get it at your library. Barrett admits to an anti-Rudy bias in the preface almost as if to forewarn readers of what is to come and to give himself license to indulge in the worst kind of reportage. I stopped reading it on page 19 after reading the following......."The Italy from which the ...Giulianis had emigrated was even then fractured by an ancient cultural and economic fault separating north and south. Northerners, many of whom identified culturally with Germany and Switzerland, were lighter-skinned, often blue-eyed, while southerners were darker-skinned, with thick shocks of black hair and deep brown eyes....Southern Italy, referred to in some circles as the Africa of Italy, was populated, some Northerners would have told you, with dirty peasants, boisterous drunks and conniving criminals...Italy's cultural chasm......was bridged by some families who married across it......" Barrett then points out that Rudy's southern Italian mother and northern Italian father attempted this "bridge" by their marriage.
Case closed!