Al Franken, Giant of the Senate

Overall a wonderful and entertaining read, especially if you share Mr. Franken's political views. Having read the book after Mr. Franken's resignation from the U.S. Senate, there is definitely a bittersweet, melancholy mood infusing his words. It is clear that he truly enjoyed serving as a senator representing the people of Minnesota, and he took his responsibility seriously and passionately. After years as an comedy writer, entertainer, and political pundit, he at last found a higher calling, one that motivated him to reinvent himself and provided him great job satisfaction. As a U.S. Senator, he learned to be more serious and respectful in order to avoid being cast as the clown of the Senate. Despite his desire to make flippant remarks (as his previous self), he discovered the concept of "dehumorization" which is mentioned throughout the book. His political observations are razor sharp and laugh-out-loud hilarious as in his previous books as a political pundit, but this time with more credibility as he was writing as a full-fledged U.S. senator. He sheds interesting light on the inner workings of the U.S. Senate, as well as the day to day grind he went through. His observations of his fellow senators are enlightening. His stories about Ted Cruz are particularly funny. But rather than just blasting the Republicans as he did in previous books, he also illustrates the importance of working across the aisle with fellow senators. I particularly enjoyed reading which senators he liked working with, and which ones he would rather avoid at all costs. The descriptions and anecdotes he shares are not to be found in most newspapers or magazines. It is bittersweet that he had to resign from the job that has given him the greatest satisfaction of his life. But his words, often funny, and always insightful, make "Giant of the Senate" a worthwhile read for progressives.

Al Franken rose to prominence as a funny man, experiencing success as both a comedy writer and a comedian. But Franken also has other passions. Unlike many in show business, he is still happily married his first wife, Franni, a union that has lasted more than forty years and produced two fine children and several grandchildren. He is also an idealist who has an uncommon interest in the survival and well-being of the little people of the world, those who are enjoined in the daily struggle of just getting by. His concerns for the welfare of the common man are what led him away from comedy and into the realm of public service. Franken, the junior United States Senator from Minnesota, is the author of six previous books, all with a liberal political bent, and a couple of which launch verbal harpoons at Republican gasbags like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly. He is now out with book number seven, a modest tome entitled: "Al Franken: Giant of the Senate." The new book is an autobiography that is mainly comprised of sketches of the author's life from his childhood in Minnesota, through his evolution as a comedian - with particular emphasis on the fifteen years in which he wrote for and was featured on Saturday Night Live, to his entry into the political orbit of Minnesota's revered Senator Paul Wellstone, and finally to his own life in politics. Quite a bit of the book is focused on Franken's experiences in learning to be an effective senator and his constant struggle to work within the arcane senate system while always staying focused on the needs of his constituents back home in Minnesota. In many ways this book is a primer on both how to be an effective senator as well as a functioning human being. It should be read and pondered by anyone who is considering running for office. The author goes into much detail about the importance of being prepared for the job, citing the extensive reading that he has to do in order to be ready for committee hearings on a wide range of issues - and his sheer delight when his thorough preparations enable him expose fallacies being presented as facts. Franken also hits, time and again, on the importance of playing well with others. Not every sitting United Stats Senator is someone that we might want as a next door neighbor - just ask the guy who lives next door to Rand Paul - but if a senator is going to be able to advocate successfully for the folks back home, he will eventually need the support of most of his colleagues, even the odious ones. The one exception to Senator Franken's tireless efforts to find something to like about each of his colleagues is Ted Cruz. His disdain for Cruz is noted on the book's jacket and has been repeated on talk shows and almost every published review of the book. The junior senator from Minnesota famously said about the junior senator from Texas: "Here's the thing you have to understand about Ted Cruz. I like Ted Cruz more than most of my other colleagues like Ted Cruz. And I hate Ted Cruz." One has to wonder how America's most humorous senator would characterize Senator Roy Moore! But Roy Moore or not, and Donald Trump or not, Al Franken still views the world in positive terms and beats the drum for hope and change. Yesterday Senator Franken posted the following "alert" on Twitter. His importance as a voice for a caring and concerned America is reflected in the fact that it has been retweeted nearly 60,000 times in less than a day: "RED ALERT: Senate GOP just added provision to their tax plan that would gut ACA & kick 13M ppl off insurance. Yes, it's same tax plan that would add $1 trillion+ to deficit while giving majority of benefits to corporations & the rich. We need you to make your voices heard again." We are being called to action by someone who truly cares. "Al Franken: Giant of the Senate" is inspiring - and so is the man who wrote it! He is the example that everyone who enters public service should strive to emulate.

A must read for anyone who still has faith that the world can be a better place with Al Franken playing a giant part in that. Pleae come for dinner next time you are in Australlia Al!

Amusing, informative, great reading. RUN FOR PRESIDENT! Recommend without reservation and with great enthusiasm. Most excellent in all ways. Hallelujah!

This is a great book, not often is there a chance to laugh out loud in a non-fiction book about politics. I love his cynical humorous style and his amazing insight into American politics. Hadn't paid a lot of attention to politics at all until the advent of Donald Trump, am not even American, so it was a real eye-opener to me about getting elected to the Senate. How difficult it must have been for Mr. Franken to curb his ever present humour when in session, what it's alright to say, what to avoid. To have spent many years of his life in writing for comedy and then finding himself in a situation where a lot of it was real life comedy except it was important to remember you are representing your supporters and dealing with real problems. I certainly recommend this book, it's interesting, entertaining and informative.

This is a very honest and informative look at how our government operates and why electing people who are "anti-establishment" generally backfires. The problem is not that there are differences of opinion; the problem is when our representatives refuse to talk, negotiate, work together to achieve things that may not be perfect, but are ultimately of benefit for our country. Al Franken is a serious politician and a great Senator as well as being a very funny and hugely insightful person! This book is not a partisan polemic (as some of his others can rather be, much as I love them). It is a really great look at how to make government work. We need many more people like him in our Congress. Great book, great person!

Good book for a disturbing time in American history but the disturbing is sure to pass....right? Looking forward to 5he next book, suggested title “Liars and the lies they tell from behind bars”