BOOK REVIEW: Tallywhacker Troubles

(Originally published 2010, Paperback edition 368)

Mr. Young's explanation of how John Edwards went from being the Democrat's political darling to pariah rings true when compared to other versions; especially the cockamamie stories given by John Edwards and his late wife, Elizabeth. The author's confessional also doesn't exactly place him in a favorable light. He pulls no punches about how he was complicit in the Rielle Hunter cover-up and Edwards' other indiscretions. However, Mr. Young also takes pains to very plausibly explain how he got deeper and deeper into helping a narcissistic liar.

The problem with reading any historical book is that a reader breezes through someone's life in a short period of time. We have the luxury of being able to analyze events or actions that spanned many years and shake our heads in holier-than-thou judgment that we wouldn't have done the same thing. And keep in mind, most of the characters in this political farce were highly intelligent people. How in God's creation could Senator Edwards risk it all for a space cadet like Rielle Hunter? How could Elizabeth Edwards stay so long with and blame others for her husbands sins? What the heck was Andrew Young thinking to go to such depths at the expense of his own family? The author makes a commendable attempt to explain without expecting exoneration from the reader.

It is ultimately a story about power and how people can become corrupted by its influence. Mr. Young's narrative is straightforward and compelling. The reader gets a good feel of what it must be like to be a close assistant, known as a body man, to a powerful politician. The Founding Fathers were correct in distrusting power. None of us are immune to such forces. In the whole scheme of things, John and Elizabeth Edwards are small potatoes, but their implosion is a wonderful example of how power corrupts. Mr. Young's memoir depicts the Beltway's continual ability to easily strip a person of their humanity in the pursuit of power. And what is it with powerful men and their pee pees? Be it politicians, business executives, religious leaders, you name it, and they frequently seem to have problems keeping their "little hombres" in their pants. I swear, speaking as a guy, I sometimes think eunuchs should be the only males allowed to run for office. Mr. Young's memoir is a sad, shocking, entertaining but important story well worth reading.

(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #301)