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Speaking for Myself: The Autobiography

Author: Cherie Blair
Publisher: Little, Brown
Category: Book

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Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

19 reviews
Sales Rank: 982

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6 x 1.7

ISBN: 1408700980
Dewey Decimal Number: 941.085092
EAN: 9781408700983
ASIN: 1408700980

Publication Date: May 15, 2008
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Also Available In:

•	Audio CD - Speaking for Myself: The Autobiography

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Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Ignore the vitriol - this is a really good read July 17, 2008
If you've already decided you hate Cherie Blair (as some previous reviwers clearly have - one star? Come on - that's just nasty) then there will be little point in you reading this. Your views will not be changed. Fortunately, lots of people don't have their opinions formed by the tabloids, nor their barometer for perfection set so high that human failings are not permitted in anyone with the temerity to be in the public eye. To you, I would say, go and buy it. I came to it with little in the way of opinions other than that Cherie Blair must have done something terrible in a past life to have had so much opprobrium heaped on her over the years, plus I was interested in hearing her speak for herself. It helps, obviously, that I am close to her age, have seen my children grow up in the same sort of period, and lived though the momentous political events that form the backdrop to much of this book. And I loved it. Indeed, I found it extremely difficult to put down. It's intelligently written, well constructed and thoughtful, with enough intimate detail to enlighten and entertain, but no mud slinging or sentimentality. Whatever others might suggest, she doesn't launch missiles at her 'enemies', simply tells it how it was from her point of view, with great dignity. Neither does she twitter on about Tony particularly. She loves her husband, clearly. She is loyal to him. Enough said.
I found the insights into life at Downing Street - and within government generally - fascinating (I was shocked to hear there is NO BUDGET for the premier's wife to dress appropriately, for example, though plenty of interference in what is deemed politically correct), but mostly I was just drawn to it because here's a very ordinary - albeit very bright - girl who achieved great things professionally, just happened to fall in love with a Prime Minister to be, and juggled home life and career like so many of us do. Only more so, of course. It possibly doesn't merit five stars (precious few books do) but I made my four five for the simple reason that a verdict of one star is not a review of the quality of the book on sale here, but would seem to be directed at its author, which feels unfair.

4 out of 5 stars

Well-written and insightful July 8, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I would just like to say that I found it to be very enjoyable. I have read several biographies that were difficult to get into and poorly written - this is not one of them.

The autobiography presented Cherie Blair as relatively down-to-earth, humble backgrounds, and has worked hard to get where she is. It was an insightful, inspiring and endearing read, and I would certainly recommend it to others.

5 out of 5 stars

A very compassionate lady. July 3, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

YOU DOUN'T HAVE TO BE A SOCIALIST TO ENJOY THIS BOOK I ENJOYED IT ENORMOUSLY I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN I THINK CHERIE WAS MORE THAN GENEROUS
WITH THE PHOTO'S AND SHE CAME ACCROSS AS VERY CARING AND LOVABLE HUMAN
BEING.

5 out of 5 stars

Just a normal women telling her story!!! June 25, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful

Having read the book I came to the conclusion that Cherie Blair is just a normal women like million other women in the world with hopes, fears, wishes, dreams, shortcomings, ego, hate, love, values... Most people think that once we have done our duty by election our pears into an office being the White House, Downing Street 10 or any other office these people leave their personality at the door when they enter and become some sort of political saints. We have done our task and expect them to become almost holly just under God. Well maybe in ancient France the Sun King Louis XIV and his culture believed this but not me in the 21st century! The book clearly showes that politicians, more so than other people, stay human after all once in office. If someone is to blame than it is not the Cherie Blairs of this world for being human but the voters who put them in office. Just make a better choice in the voting booth!

3 out of 5 stars

Does everybody have an opinion about this woma.n? June 24, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Reading the other reviews written about this book will show you that Cherie Blair is a woman about whom everybody has an opinion, and a strong one, at that.

This book is not a political biography, nor an analysis of the first ten years of the New Labour Government. It is a partial biography written by a woman who has some claim to recognition in her own right, but whose major claim to fame is that she is married to Tony Blair. Interestingly, although she uses Cherie Booth as her professional name, and most of her other books have been written under that name, this book was by Cherie Blair.

Cherie Blair is obviously an intelligent woman, graduating top of her year in law, and forging a career at the bar (in what is still a male-dominated profession) whilst looking after a home and family. What's more, she made it against all odds, coming from what was virtually a one-parent family at a time when such families did not receive the support that they now enjoy. Perhaps that goes some way towards explaining her extraordinary blend of shrewdness and naivete.

Surely she must have realised that, on the day after her husband became Prime Minister, there would be cameras trained on her front door - and that any embarrassing photographs would be recycled endlessly? How could she have been taken in by the likes of Carole Caplin? Didn't she have any friends of her own who could have pointed out the obvious truth that hangers-on who were attracted to her because of her position were in it for their benefit, and not hers? Even on leaving Number 10, didn't she realise that her throwaway line to the press about not missing them, even if intended as a joke, would be the thing that most people remembered about her husband's exit from the highest office in the land?

Another strand that runs through this book is Cherie Blair's worry about financial security. That's only natural, given her background, but she is a successful barrister, whose earnings (and earning potential) far outstrip those of most people. She is also married to a man who will not have to rely on his (not insubstantial) Prime Minister's pension, but who has the ability to earn a fortune in the future. Her apparent obsession with money does seem to sit rather uncomfortably on the shoulders of a self-professed left winger.

What this book does emphasise is the difficulty of being a successful woman as well as the wife of the Prime Minister. Most Number 10 wives have kept in the background, but that is not Cherie Blair's way. She seems to believe that the place for the head is firmly above the parapet, and she does seem to have attracted blame for things that were not of her making. As far as I know, nobody blamed Mrs Eden for the Suez crisis, or Mrs Chamberlain for the Munich debacle, so why is Cherie held partly responsible for the fact that her husband ordered the troops into Iraq?

We will all have to wait for Tony Blair's autobiography for an explanation of the political thinking that has shaped the past decade, but this book might give you an idea of what it's like to be in the grey area behind the throne.