Want to know where the real seat of control lies in the US government? Then this book about some of the most powerful men in the history of the House of Representatives is an excellent (although short) resource. I now have a much better appreciation of the need to ensure control of that body is in the hands of truthful, focused and principled people.

The book needs a re-write, though. It stops (was published) before the full impact of Newt Gingrich's term could be evaluated.

Read this book and you'll have a new respect for the workings of the House of Representatives and, by extension, the federal government - something like controlling chaos!

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. It covered each topic just enough with a good balance of political, social, and personal aspects and how the three inter-related and affected the subjects. For someone just beginning to understand the history of the House, it is a great book to read.

Ever wonder how 435 egomaniacs get even a few bills done in
Congress?

The Cheneys supply the answer in this book of excellent
vignettes on several masters of the US House of Representatives. Meet
Clay, Polk, Stevens, Blaine, Reed, Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn and
Gingrich as they work their will on their members to controll the
legislative process.

By examining the role of congressional
leadership through history and historic personalities, this book both
illustrates how the House has changed and how the nature of power
hasn't. These men relied on personal relationships, codes of honor
that won respect and a willingness to exercise power (ie, risk tough
battles, reward friends and punish enemies) to run the House.

Both
the history buff and those interested in leadership studies will find
this book interesting. Though well written, the book is short. I
think that it could have delved into more detail of some of the
political battles these men faced and still been fascinating. Maybe
Dick Cheney will have the time to expand upon this theme as Vice
President -- there is a lot of opportunity for writing while jetting
to and from foreign funerals (as John Nance Garner -- FDR's 1st VP --
said "the job's not worth a bucket of warm spit!).

I can't help but think of this book as another example of right-wing hypocrisy. Conservative pundits like Limbaugh love to decry the ills of "political correctness," for the supposed reason that it places certain viewpoints off-limits for discussion. And that without reasoned discussion, how can we get to the bottom of things? They argue that there can't just be one prevailing world-view set forth without challenge.

Well then Lynne Cheney comes along, and proceeds to implicitly link instance after instance of shady logic, all culminating in the exact same thing. It must be grand to be able to label our entire American culture as decadent on the basis of a few morbid events. This is fallacious reasoning at best, ridiculous at most. And it would not be so foolish if she didn't turn around and attempt to parrot the exact same fascist ideology of the PC crowd, i.e. "What WE say is right, what YOU say is wrong, and not only do we disagree with you, but we reserve the right to not even consider your views, because we know that there can be only one truth."

It's hypocrisy to an alarming degree. If the PC legions are wrong for foisting their view of things upon you, then Lynne Cheney attempting to justify HER views with the exact same refusal to recognize shades of grey is just as tyrranical and false. Much of her superiority complex and incessant yammering about what is "right" and "wrong," and how we can't allow anything but "right" into our discussion exemplifies what so many Americans fear about right-wing social engineering.

I'll give her one star for attempting to help, and another for recognizing the foolishness of revisionist history, but I cannot go any further until she and right-wing America admit that, though they definitely corner the market on self-righteousness, they do not have a monopoly on truth.

Lynne V. Cheney's "Telling the Truth" is an investigation into Postmodernism and its influence on today's culture. Postmodernism holds that there is no objective reality, and therefore that there is no such thing as truth. Reality, in its view, is constructed by dominant social groups, defined by race, gender, or class. Postmodernism is hostile to reason, to excellence, and to standards of any kind. Politically, it is manifested in movements such as multiculturalism and radical egalitarianism, It is hostile to the notion of individual liberty, which it regards as an "inherently oppressive" concept. This philosophy has become widespread in the academic world and is having a growing influence over our culture. Most of Ms. Cheney's book focuses on the cultural manifestations of Postmodernism. Many of these are truly frightening. I recommend this book if you want to learn more about the threat that this intellectual movement poses. The book is written for a general audience and is easy to read.

The author, Lynne Cheney has taken on a subject that needs to be addressed in any modern society. Our societal goal is to make sure our people are free to live in a nation free from fearful hate name calling. The book is a counterbalance against manufactured revolutionary theory, which originates in a few multi-cultural studies departments at institutions of higher learning, and passed on by a lazy pliant media. She points out that many have abandoned the study of truth, removing impartiality, and replacing it with feel good idealism not grounded in reality. Political correctness actually labels people and prevents a free exchange of ideas. The book using quotes and ideas exposes so-called various scholars who are actually marginal to the discipline of history and points out that many do not accurately represent the accountable study of history. The author points out that the better route is a more broaden, encompassing, worldly and diverse approaches in academic life and teachings. If we cannot tell the truth, search for the truth and solve problems from the truth, we can't begin to help others find real solutions. History shows that pioneers end up with arrows in their backs. And Prophets are seldom listen to until it is too late.

bad fiction is what happens when you churn out books to try and capitalize on your name.

This is a fun to read political thriller that accounts for a conspiracy to cover-up the death of the Vice President. If you are interested in U.S. politics, government officials, conspiracies, or scandals, you will enjoy this fast-paced easy and enjoyable read. Both serious and humerous, this novel delivers an interesting look into the questionable behaviour of our nation's biggest players.

As co-author of "The Body Politic," I feel it necessary to inform some of the bilious Democrats reviewing the book that the political figure on whom the fiction was based was one-time Vice President Nelson Rockefeller (1974-77), who died of a heart attack while in the company of a young female aide. At the time the novel was written (1988), my co-author Lynne Cheney's husband Dick was as far removed from the prospect of becoming Vice President as Placido Domingo. And the Second Lady's becoming VP in his place was, as David Boies is my witness, entirely my idea. Read the book. Better still, buy it first, then read it.

This piece of pseudo-academic drivel could almost be taken for parody if it wasn't for the fact that it was written by the Vice-President's Wife.

It is quite astonishing to read this at the moment with the current drive to destroy a country already crippled by both a dictatorial leader and UN sanctions

When Cheney finally comes to the opinions of the academics that she is so obsessed with critcising, it is hard to imagine how any sane person could seriously complain when campus members are chanting "Make Peace, Not War".

The article is concerned with a desire to teach Americans about their nation's history - although it seems from this, that her nation's history is the very last thing that she wants anyone to discuss.

The fact that these views effectively sum-up those of the current US administration is utterly terrifying and is another reason why everyone with a brain should read this in order to know the truly vile opinions dominating a vile administration in the world's most dangerous nation.

it you want to be a shrill conservative, fine.. but please don't have the audacity to try and pass it off as scholarly.

Lynne Cheney's 15-page delivery is trenchant and engaging as expected from any presentation she gives. She zeroes in on the dangers of political correctness and engagingly sites a string of invidious examples currently raging at American universities.

However, why this one speech was issued as a stand-alone work is curious. It is short enough to have been reprinted as a thought provoking magazine article or would have been a powerful chapter in a collection of similar orations published in book form.

As an isolated speech it leaves the reader wanting much more. The wife of America's next vice-president has too much to say and has provided far too many brilliant speeches and essays for them to be offered on an individual basis like this.