And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress

From Publishers Weekly

Congressman Rangel didn't become one of the highest-ranking Democrats in the House of Representatives, or the newly appointed chair of the Ways and Means Committee, by alienating his colleagues, and he upholds that tradition in this memoir. A few of his anecdotes reflect badly on Republicans, but mostly the emphasis is on Rangel. The title comes from the attitude he adopted after nearly dying in the Korean War. "I lost my right to complain about anything again in life" after that, he explains, though the lesson really sank in after a job counselor pressured the high school dropout to choose a career and helped him get the college education that sent him to law school and beyond. Such stories from Rangel's early life, when he straddled the line between street life and higher aspirations, offer some of the most engaging passages. As for contemporary politics, Rangel revels in his role persuading Hillary Clinton to run for the Senate, while occasionally weighing in on the war in Iraq and the "kind of racist algebra" he believes keeps the GOP from making concessions to black voters. All in all, a fairly standard political memoir. B&w photos. (Apr. 5)
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From Booklist

Rangel, the newly elected chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, reflects on his time in Congress, in and out of majority status, and the surprising road that led him there. The 19-term congressman from Harlem who replaced the legendary Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was a high-school dropout with the gift of gab and a mind for public service. He returned from military service in Korea with a Purple Heart, but little education. Between NYU and St. John's Law School, Rangel learned to relate to people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. After he was turned down by the state attorney's office, he was subsequently employed by the U.S. attorney's office. His foray into politics came via the Democratic Party organization, yet his independent streak caused him to buck convention. His experience as a state assemblyman provided opportunity to forge^B alliances across party lines, particularly with Republican governors. That kind of bipartisanship has served him well in his 30-plus years in Congress. A great read at this time of political transition. Vernon Ford
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.