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Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far
When her mother, Sarah Palin, became the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in 2008, Bristol Palin was instantly propelled into the national spotlight, becoming the focus of intense public and national media scrutiny at the age of seventeen. In Not Afraid of Life , she shares with readers for the first time ever personal moments from her life—from her Alaskan roots to her pregnancy and single motherhood to her star turn on TV’s enormously popular Dancing with the Stars . This candid memoir is a heartfelt true story of a woman who is centered by her strong Christian faith and is Not Afraid of Life .
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 2011
21 people are currently reading
658 people want to read
About the author
Bristol Palin
1 book11 followersBristol Sheeran Marie Palin is the second child and oldest daughter of former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd.
After Palin became a single mother at age 18, she began to publicly advocate sexual abstinence for unmarried teens, and is now a paid speaker on the subject of teen pregnancy.
She competed in the fall 2010 season of Dancing with the Stars, where she received lower scores from the judges than some other contestants but was voted through week after week by fans. She reached the finals, finishing in third place.
After Palin became a single mother at age 18, she began to publicly advocate sexual abstinence for unmarried teens, and is now a paid speaker on the subject of teen pregnancy.
She competed in the fall 2010 season of Dancing with the Stars, where she received lower scores from the judges than some other contestants but was voted through week after week by fans. She reached the finals, finishing in third place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
June 17, 2016
I've read this book for a number of reasons.
1) I've been to Alaska (Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Anchorage).
2) I am Bristol's age.
3) I've always been interested in politics.
Bristol Palin obviously thinks she is a faultless damsel... As I've noticed another reader had mentioned you need to take her word with a grain of salt.
1) I've been to Alaska (Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Anchorage).
2) I am Bristol's age.
3) I've always been interested in politics.
Bristol Palin obviously thinks she is a faultless damsel... As I've noticed another reader had mentioned you need to take her word with a grain of salt.
November 7, 2011
Yes I read this book. And yes, I grabbed it off the biography shelf as my two year old was running around hiding in the aisles and my baby was crying. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have read it. But I did. Don't get on Bristol's bad side, cause she will let everyone know all about it. Didn't love the book and wouldn't recommend it, but it was an easy read and the first book I was able to successfully finish since my baby was born 2 months ago. Another reader's review sums up the book perfectly,
"Bristol...just seems very, very immature. I feel sorry for her. The majority of this book is an attempt to insult and bring down the father of her child, and I don't really think Levi has a great reputation anyways, so I think putting that many insults about the father of your child into print, for him to read later in life, shows pretty poor planning. I think she claims to take responsibility for her actions only because it sounds good; I don't think she actually does. She claims to be independent but then admits never really being alone. And she's constantly trying to complain about being "poor" and having to buy diapers and struggle to pay bills, and Levi not paying all his child support, and then she buys *two* houses, with money from her endorsements, which she only has because her mom is famous. She's done nothing to warrant that kind of money, and she acts like she earned it fairly and with great effort. It's honestly insulting to those of us that actually study/work/succeed on our own."
"Bristol...just seems very, very immature. I feel sorry for her. The majority of this book is an attempt to insult and bring down the father of her child, and I don't really think Levi has a great reputation anyways, so I think putting that many insults about the father of your child into print, for him to read later in life, shows pretty poor planning. I think she claims to take responsibility for her actions only because it sounds good; I don't think she actually does. She claims to be independent but then admits never really being alone. And she's constantly trying to complain about being "poor" and having to buy diapers and struggle to pay bills, and Levi not paying all his child support, and then she buys *two* houses, with money from her endorsements, which she only has because her mom is famous. She's done nothing to warrant that kind of money, and she acts like she earned it fairly and with great effort. It's honestly insulting to those of us that actually study/work/succeed on our own."
June 27, 2011
I wasn't sure what I would think of this but it is actually a really good book about the true life struggles of teen mother's. JUst finished this book. I was pleasantly surprised. It was really good and she was very honest about what she had gone through.
July 6, 2012
Oh boy. Where do I begin?
Let's start with the positives, right? This is a beautiful cover. The black and white photography looks crisp and adorable, and the fonts are pretty perfect.
Now, let's go inside the pages.
So, I'm not an overtly political person, and this is just a review of the autobiography itself -- nothing of the politics. Basically, this is Bristol Palin's 250+ defense of why becoming a teen mom was -- well -- pretty much, somehow, amazingly -- not really her fault.
Pretty much the majority of the book blames the boyfriend, who does of course sound like a deadbeat -- but then again, so did everyone who didn't have the last name "Palin" -- especially that Meghan character -- so you have to wonder how unbiased this girl could possibly be here. And, okay, I get it -- I lived an insanely sheltered teenage life, full of all kinds of controls up even through college -- but even *I* knew where babies came from and how to get drunk, even if I didn't do it. I don't think the readers are buying that this was really as mystifying to Bristol and she tries to convey.
There were parts where I felt like the story teller was trying to take a witty stance -- but it just came off as almost bitchy instead. In all honesty, this felt a LOT like that Amber Frey book I read a while back -- a 200 or so page overly-sappy self-indulgent defense of why she's still an amazingly moral, innocent girl even after all that Scott Peterson hoop-la.
Except, this one didn't leave me nearly as irritated. You get the impression that this is just a young barely-20-something who wants to bask in the sparkle and glam as long as she wants, and someone says -- hey, Bristol -- it's be a great idea to write your autobiography. Never mind the fact that you're not really old enough to have enough of a life story, but it will make money and you can make yourself sound good. And, like most girls her age, she said okay.
It had it's moments that were interesting -- like some of the brief campaigning and stuff. Then of course, like most celeb tales, we get to see her charity work and hear how fabulous she is.
You can tell from the cover, title, and subject if you'll like this one, I think. I doubt this review was at all necessary...
Let's start with the positives, right? This is a beautiful cover. The black and white photography looks crisp and adorable, and the fonts are pretty perfect.
Now, let's go inside the pages.
So, I'm not an overtly political person, and this is just a review of the autobiography itself -- nothing of the politics. Basically, this is Bristol Palin's 250+ defense of why becoming a teen mom was -- well -- pretty much, somehow, amazingly -- not really her fault.
Pretty much the majority of the book blames the boyfriend, who does of course sound like a deadbeat -- but then again, so did everyone who didn't have the last name "Palin" -- especially that Meghan character -- so you have to wonder how unbiased this girl could possibly be here. And, okay, I get it -- I lived an insanely sheltered teenage life, full of all kinds of controls up even through college -- but even *I* knew where babies came from and how to get drunk, even if I didn't do it. I don't think the readers are buying that this was really as mystifying to Bristol and she tries to convey.
There were parts where I felt like the story teller was trying to take a witty stance -- but it just came off as almost bitchy instead. In all honesty, this felt a LOT like that Amber Frey book I read a while back -- a 200 or so page overly-sappy self-indulgent defense of why she's still an amazingly moral, innocent girl even after all that Scott Peterson hoop-la.
Except, this one didn't leave me nearly as irritated. You get the impression that this is just a young barely-20-something who wants to bask in the sparkle and glam as long as she wants, and someone says -- hey, Bristol -- it's be a great idea to write your autobiography. Never mind the fact that you're not really old enough to have enough of a life story, but it will make money and you can make yourself sound good. And, like most girls her age, she said okay.
It had it's moments that were interesting -- like some of the brief campaigning and stuff. Then of course, like most celeb tales, we get to see her charity work and hear how fabulous she is.
You can tell from the cover, title, and subject if you'll like this one, I think. I doubt this review was at all necessary...
May 13, 2013
I was really disappointed in this book. I had read hoping to find out more about the difficulties of being a teenage mother, but Ms Palin really glossed over that, choosing instead to use the book to discuss her views on her ex-fiance (it's disappointing that she would choose to publicly insult her child's father, regardless of his actions) and the McCains, as well as the "lamesteam" media. I would not suggest this to someone interested in the experience of teen parenthood.
She is also incredibly judgemental of those who have made different sexual choices than she has. It's wonderful that Ms Palin feels comfortable with her decision to abstain from further sex before marriage, but disappointing that she chooses to claim that all who disagree with her are emotionally damaged.
She is also incredibly judgemental of those who have made different sexual choices than she has. It's wonderful that Ms Palin feels comfortable with her decision to abstain from further sex before marriage, but disappointing that she chooses to claim that all who disagree with her are emotionally damaged.
October 5, 2011
if nothing else, the 20 minutes it took me to read this book really got me thinking about ghostwriters.
September 1, 2011
I bought this book thinking it would be an easy read; easy it was not. Not because her writing was so thought provoking, but mostly because she comes off as an imbecile who thinks she never does anything wrong. You had to take everything she was saying with a grain of salt, and I think a memoir is more about being honest than making yourself look faultless.
The only thing I do like about the book is her side of the election, pregnancy and her crazy baby daddy.
The only thing I do like about the book is her side of the election, pregnancy and her crazy baby daddy.
July 10, 2011
I've also read Sarah Palin's book and Meghan McCain's book, so I was intrigued to get yet another angle on many of the same events. I found Sarah's book interesting, and it actually improved my opinion of her, where I now believe she is probably great on a state level, but I wouldn't trust her for various reasons at a national level (and I still think she's a little sheltered). I was surprisingly impressed by Meghan's book, and found myself feeling like I would enjoy sitting down and talking with her, despite being on opposite political ends. I thought she was well-spoken and made her own decisions. Bristol...just seems very, very immature. I feel sorry for her. The majority of this book is an attempt to insult and bring down the father of her child, and I don't really think Levi has a great reputation anyways, so I think putting that many insults about the father of your child into print, for him to read later in life, shows pretty poor planning. I think she claims to take responsibility for her actions only because it sounds good; I don't think she actually does. She claims to be independent but then admits never really being alone. And she's constantly trying to complain about being "poor" and having to buy diapers and struggle to pay bills, and Levi not paying all his child support, and then she buys *two* houses, with money from her endorsements, which she only has because her mom is famous. She's done nothing to warrant that kind of money, and she acts like she earned it fairly and with great effort. It's honestly insulting to those of us that actually study/work/succeed on our own.
I was also amused at the way Meghan in her book talks about how the Palins were always wearing expensive clothes and she was wearing cheap clothes, and Bristol writes the opposite, that Meghan bragged about her expensive taste and she wore cheap clothes (although Bristol talks about having boxes and boxes of designer jeans...another contradiction). Contrasting the stories in all three books is really interesting.
Sample petty quote about Meghan: "You could tell as she yelled there was something quite complex going on inside her. Or at least I liked to think so."
Sample insulting while pretending not to be insulting quote about my state: "I always listen to country music, and I felt that [a country singer] was totally normal in a city of people made of plastic. The people I met in California were so obsessed with their bodies, their clothes, and their cars...There's nothing necessarily wrong about the way they lived, but being consumed with image is not just something I'm used to."
A little ironic/hypocritical from someone who only has money because of image.
She's just a kid, I know, and I do think she's a great mother. But I otherwise found this a frustrating read.
I was also amused at the way Meghan in her book talks about how the Palins were always wearing expensive clothes and she was wearing cheap clothes, and Bristol writes the opposite, that Meghan bragged about her expensive taste and she wore cheap clothes (although Bristol talks about having boxes and boxes of designer jeans...another contradiction). Contrasting the stories in all three books is really interesting.
Sample petty quote about Meghan: "You could tell as she yelled there was something quite complex going on inside her. Or at least I liked to think so."
Sample insulting while pretending not to be insulting quote about my state: "I always listen to country music, and I felt that [a country singer] was totally normal in a city of people made of plastic. The people I met in California were so obsessed with their bodies, their clothes, and their cars...There's nothing necessarily wrong about the way they lived, but being consumed with image is not just something I'm used to."
A little ironic/hypocritical from someone who only has money because of image.
She's just a kid, I know, and I do think she's a great mother. But I otherwise found this a frustrating read.
September 12, 2011
I'm almost embarrassed to admit I picked this up and am continuing to read it. However I was interested for several reasons. Just like when I read her mother's book, I think it is important to learn about some of these so called "celebrities" before so harshly judging them.
What I think so far:
*She talks a lot about her mother and recounts stories that were brought up in Sarah's book... (hmm, could they have been written by one person?? Could this be another campaign strategy?)
*I think it might be nice for teens to read and have someone to relate to, in terms of saying you want to remain pure until marriage and then making a mistake. It happens to the best of us, and it is important to pick yourself back up, rather than beating yourself up about it.
*It should have been better edited. She was talking about riding to school with her brother and the "base" was pounding. (Either the ghost writer or someone at HarperCollins should have caught that one during editing read-throughs. It is BASS. Maybe she is just like her mother and doesn't read, so she wouldn't know the difference).
*Another example of that is when she is talking about her road trip from Alaska to LA and says they stopped in Utah "at a city called Cedar." Really?!? It is Cedar City *shakes head*
*She skips around in time a lot. It would have been nice to put even an approximate date to events, such as her run on DWTS.
Overall, I think the point of the book was good albeit too long. Talking openly & honestly about her struggles with teenage pregnancy & motherhood, trying to see the good in Levi but having to realize she can't fix him. I think a lot of teens struggle with that. I know I did when I was a teen in a similar situation. I think she spent too much time talking about her mom, although I see that she was trying to show that she wanted a similar childhood and family for her son. I don't like the fact that she never mentions considering adoption. I don't know if she ever did but too many teens & people in general disregard it, thinking thet have two choices, abortion or parenting.
I also wish that she would have included more about her future plans in terms of schooling. She talked about wanting to finish high school (which she did) and then learn a trade. But then she became "famous" and it sounds like she doesn't even work @ the drs office anymore. She may be the exception and be able to support her son on her DWTS winnings, book deal, & other tabloid deals, but it isn't realistic especially if the point of the book was to encourage other teen parents.
What I think so far:
*She talks a lot about her mother and recounts stories that were brought up in Sarah's book... (hmm, could they have been written by one person?? Could this be another campaign strategy?)
*I think it might be nice for teens to read and have someone to relate to, in terms of saying you want to remain pure until marriage and then making a mistake. It happens to the best of us, and it is important to pick yourself back up, rather than beating yourself up about it.
*It should have been better edited. She was talking about riding to school with her brother and the "base" was pounding. (Either the ghost writer or someone at HarperCollins should have caught that one during editing read-throughs. It is BASS. Maybe she is just like her mother and doesn't read, so she wouldn't know the difference).
*Another example of that is when she is talking about her road trip from Alaska to LA and says they stopped in Utah "at a city called Cedar." Really?!? It is Cedar City *shakes head*
*She skips around in time a lot. It would have been nice to put even an approximate date to events, such as her run on DWTS.
Overall, I think the point of the book was good albeit too long. Talking openly & honestly about her struggles with teenage pregnancy & motherhood, trying to see the good in Levi but having to realize she can't fix him. I think a lot of teens struggle with that. I know I did when I was a teen in a similar situation. I think she spent too much time talking about her mom, although I see that she was trying to show that she wanted a similar childhood and family for her son. I don't like the fact that she never mentions considering adoption. I don't know if she ever did but too many teens & people in general disregard it, thinking thet have two choices, abortion or parenting.
I also wish that she would have included more about her future plans in terms of schooling. She talked about wanting to finish high school (which she did) and then learn a trade. But then she became "famous" and it sounds like she doesn't even work @ the drs office anymore. She may be the exception and be able to support her son on her DWTS winnings, book deal, & other tabloid deals, but it isn't realistic especially if the point of the book was to encourage other teen parents.
August 13, 2011
We all make mistakes when we are teenagers and often it seems to us like the whole world knows about our mistakes. For Bristol Palin, the whole world did find out about her mistakes when her life was thrust into the spotlight when her mother, Sarah Palin, was announced as nominee for Vice President of the United States.
Very quickly, everyone knew she was an unwed and pregnant teenager.
In this well-written, easy to read book, Bristol tells about growing up in Alaska, how her parent's careers affected her life, her son's father, Levi, and her experience being on Dancing With the Stars.
She makes Levi and his family out to be the bad guys and her family to be wonderful and the press to be horribly intrusive and I am sure that there is truth in all of that.
I found the book to be very interesting and I read it in one day.
I think that Bristol seems like a spunky young mom who is getting her life together and doing her best to raise her son well.
I wish her luck in life.
Very quickly, everyone knew she was an unwed and pregnant teenager.
In this well-written, easy to read book, Bristol tells about growing up in Alaska, how her parent's careers affected her life, her son's father, Levi, and her experience being on Dancing With the Stars.
She makes Levi and his family out to be the bad guys and her family to be wonderful and the press to be horribly intrusive and I am sure that there is truth in all of that.
I found the book to be very interesting and I read it in one day.
I think that Bristol seems like a spunky young mom who is getting her life together and doing her best to raise her son well.
I wish her luck in life.
September 29, 2013
3 1/2* This book was really pretty good. I admire Bristol's strong attitude. How many 17 year old girls do you know who get pregnant, keep working while finishing high school while getting zero help from the babies father? Bristol is a survivor. She was treated poorly by her worthless boyfriend but still tried to let him be a part of his son's life, even after he publicly shamed her, lied to the press about both her and her family.
Politics aside, there is a message here for any young woman who finds herself in a situation with a boy who promises love and faithfulness in exchange for sex.
Politics aside, there is a message here for any young woman who finds herself in a situation with a boy who promises love and faithfulness in exchange for sex.
June 9, 2016
I totally read this for fun because I read Levi's book first. So, obviously I had to get Bristol's point of view. As I said before, I read the two books for fun. Obviously it felt like a back and forth game of he said this and she said that, mixed in with thoughts on sex and thoughts on religion and then Sarah Palin. Honestly I could have read text messages and emails between the two and probably got a more real and true story. Bristol Palin is not my cup of tea. So to read you ask? Sure, knock yourself out, but you won't appreciate her more and you may be sad you wasted your time.
Oh, and if you were wondering, I'm team Levi...his story seemed more honest.
Oh, and if you were wondering, I'm team Levi...his story seemed more honest.
July 1, 2011
I really get the points and the reason why Bristol wanted to write this book... But the first 3/4 I felt like a lot of thing were repeated and blamed was put on Levi motethe both of them!! I a, not a political person at all, I wanted to read the book to find her story... But I feel like it could have been done with less pages... It seem to go on and on and repeat it self in some stories. I am happy at the end she made the right choice and is also taken some blame in the decides that she has made!
I would give it 2.5 stars really
I would give it 2.5 stars really
August 4, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised after reading this book. I initially read it because I love DWTS and Bristol was a contestant on it. During her time on DWTS I realized I actually really enjoyed her and figured I would give this book a shot. I generally do not read this type of book, but found I was interested throughout the book.
This is a very candid book about family, support, mistakes made and lessons learned. I found that there was a lot more to the story than I initially heard or read about.
This is a very candid book about family, support, mistakes made and lessons learned. I found that there was a lot more to the story than I initially heard or read about.
January 23, 2017
I bought this book for .50 at a used book store in Kenai, AK. I picked it up mostly because Bristol is my age, and I thought that would be a light memoir to read between finishing up some series. It was more interesting than I originally thought it would be and it was fun to read about places in AK that you visit often.
March 13, 2012
When you are 20 years old and have been brought up priviledged, what exactly do you have to write about? All the things afforded to you that others do not have?
December 7, 2023
If I wrote a memoir, it would instead be called "Very Afraid of Life," and it would be pretty boring. I found this to be a very interesting story from her perspective.
January 30, 2016
Read this a few years ago around the time of its release. I remember it being kind of jumbled but still enjoying it.
January 8, 2016
This book is terribly written but it's able to provide some insight into the mind of Bristol Palin.
March 4, 2012
Bristol Palin has obviously led quite a sheltered life. She still has a lot of maturing to do, and this book is aptly subtitled: My Journey So Far (emphasis mine). Rather than market the book to adults, it would be better as a Young Adult selection - it definitely reads as such.
That said, I did enjoy the book. Bristol may come to regret how harsh she was when describing Levi, simply because Tripp will someday read this book. No matter what relationship (if any) Tripp has with his biological father, the fact remains that Levi donated half of his DNA to create Tripp. And if you detest the person who helped you to create this child, it's not a large leap (as the child) to wonder if you are detested as well.
I have felt sympathy for all of the Palin children since the 2008 campaign. Bristol had the unfortunate experience of her private mistake having very public consequences, and everyone in the country feeling as though it made Bristol and her siblings fair game - from accusations that her younger brother was truly her child to those that her sister Willow was pregnant as well - it seems as though making jokes at the expense of a Palin is accepted policy. Maybe it would have been better for them had Sarah been a Democrat; it seems as though the "children of the candidates are off-limits" policy only applies to Democratic candidates.
Her supposed money woes are definitely not real. No matter what she may claim, at no time was she ever in danger of not putting food on her table or diapers on her child. Her parents may have forced her to work to contribute to her own expenses, but there is no way anyone in her family would have allowed her or her child to go without. Bristol would never have needed WIC, food stamps, or a state-supported Medicaid health insurance. People who need these programs truly understand the worries she claims to have regarding money. And who knows, maybe she did worry about it. But when she talks about how much her family is always so supportive of each other, it's hard to believe she ever questioned where the next box of diapers would come from.
Something she mentions her aunt saying to her really resonated with me as well - if Bristol only wants to be left alone and allowed to live her life in peace, why is she constantly putting herself out there into the public eye?
That said, I did enjoy the book. Bristol may come to regret how harsh she was when describing Levi, simply because Tripp will someday read this book. No matter what relationship (if any) Tripp has with his biological father, the fact remains that Levi donated half of his DNA to create Tripp. And if you detest the person who helped you to create this child, it's not a large leap (as the child) to wonder if you are detested as well.
I have felt sympathy for all of the Palin children since the 2008 campaign. Bristol had the unfortunate experience of her private mistake having very public consequences, and everyone in the country feeling as though it made Bristol and her siblings fair game - from accusations that her younger brother was truly her child to those that her sister Willow was pregnant as well - it seems as though making jokes at the expense of a Palin is accepted policy. Maybe it would have been better for them had Sarah been a Democrat; it seems as though the "children of the candidates are off-limits" policy only applies to Democratic candidates.
Her supposed money woes are definitely not real. No matter what she may claim, at no time was she ever in danger of not putting food on her table or diapers on her child. Her parents may have forced her to work to contribute to her own expenses, but there is no way anyone in her family would have allowed her or her child to go without. Bristol would never have needed WIC, food stamps, or a state-supported Medicaid health insurance. People who need these programs truly understand the worries she claims to have regarding money. And who knows, maybe she did worry about it. But when she talks about how much her family is always so supportive of each other, it's hard to believe she ever questioned where the next box of diapers would come from.
Something she mentions her aunt saying to her really resonated with me as well - if Bristol only wants to be left alone and allowed to live her life in peace, why is she constantly putting herself out there into the public eye?
February 8, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book. One of my favorite genre of book is biographies. I really like them because you learn things from them. In this book I learned a lot of things I never knew before. The book started off explaining her family and how her parents met which was very interesting. They met in high school from there they got married and had 5 children. Bristol talked about how she had to deal with her mother being in politics and how it effected her childhood. Then once her mother became the governor of Alaska and having to move across the state. She had to start at a new high school and help take care of her younger siblings because her father was working in their home town. She also dealt with having a relationship with Levi her boyfriend from across the state. At the same time as her mother got asked to become the vice-president candidate from John McCain she found out she was pregnant. These two things were big changes in the Palin household. In this book you hear from their side of the story and how they the media said things about them. Which I really liked because you could see how some of things the media said was ridiculous. Such as their was a story about how Sarah Palin last child was really Bristol's and they were covering it up for Bristol. Then in the book all the drama with Levi started happening. Levi was spreading lies about the family and he wasn't seeing his children ever. One of the times he did see him was when he used Tripp to be on a cover of a magazine with him. Bristol also talked about being on Dancing with the Stars. She talked about the whole experience and how she got to be in 3rd place. The book was good I mean some of things I didn't agree with, but I enjoyed reading her experiences and seeing how she dealt with each one that was thrown at her.
February 1, 2016
This is based on a true story of Bristol Palin, and everything that she has gone through, like her struggles of having a baby while being a senior in high school, struggles with her boyfriend Levi, and her mom that is a politician. It all started when her mom let her go to her "friends" in which she really went out to be with her boyfriend, Levi and all their friends. They all went out to a lake and camped out, had a fire, some tents, and they were drinking. She woke up the next morning, freaking out. Her friend came in there asking is she was okay, telling her how her night was with Levi. Well, turns out, that's when the unexpected happened, and that night she got pregnant. And that's where it all turns around for her, and her life. It changed everything, but was really inspiring and brave of a story. Because she was only a teen and got pregnant, didn't finish the rest of her high school career, and her mom was getting into politics, her life was changing dramatically. She and her family were very religious, and would wait to have sex till marriage. Her family was disappointed, her boyfriend doesn't care and won't care. He doesn't care about the baby, and the fact he is a dad. Bristol wants to see change in him and wants him to be the great father and see his child but he refuses. Her parents and family just down on her because she got pregnant, and didn't want till marriage. But because of her story, because she didn't give her baby up for adoption, people were inspired, and told their story and kept their baby. This book just inspires people to wait for the right time to be a parent, and what can happen if you don't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2011
I really loved this book. I don't often read non-fiction autobiographies, but I just had to read this one because it was written from the perspective of a girl my age. I haven't read Sarah Palin's book yet, I don't really know why not: I love Sarah, and I think she'd be a great president! I'd definitely vote for her! (Just had to get that out there!)
Anyway, I think Sarah's words sum up this book "You [Bristol] overcame a whole lot of challenges starting from ground zero to come so far...Way to go, Bristol the Pistol! We're proud of you." Instead of sinking lower and lower after Bristol violated her morals of no-sex-before-marriage, she overcame that and rose to the challenge and took her life as it is head-on.
I've always felt really bad about how the media treated Sarah Palin and her whole family, when in reality they are very good, dependable, loyal, and REAL Americans (compared to the Obamas...yuck!). They are the family that should've been the next Presidents' family, but instead the majority was sadly deceived by Obama's lie of "change."
"Not Afraid of Life: My Journey so Far" just solidified by excellent view of the Palins. They are a real, American family who are not obsessed with power. All they want, and all Sarah Palin wants, is to make America the country it used to be...one that actually follows the Constitution.
GO SARAH! :)
Anyway, I think Sarah's words sum up this book "You [Bristol] overcame a whole lot of challenges starting from ground zero to come so far...Way to go, Bristol the Pistol! We're proud of you." Instead of sinking lower and lower after Bristol violated her morals of no-sex-before-marriage, she overcame that and rose to the challenge and took her life as it is head-on.
I've always felt really bad about how the media treated Sarah Palin and her whole family, when in reality they are very good, dependable, loyal, and REAL Americans (compared to the Obamas...yuck!). They are the family that should've been the next Presidents' family, but instead the majority was sadly deceived by Obama's lie of "change."
"Not Afraid of Life: My Journey so Far" just solidified by excellent view of the Palins. They are a real, American family who are not obsessed with power. All they want, and all Sarah Palin wants, is to make America the country it used to be...one that actually follows the Constitution.
GO SARAH! :)
September 24, 2011
I picked this up at the library simply because I felt that Bristol Palin and her entire family have been treated unfairly by the media during and since the 2008 Presidential election. The unwritten rules about not reporting on the children of the candidates didn't apply here. Granted, Chelsea Clinton wasn't an unwed single mother and Malia and Sasha Obama aren't getting drunk on wine coolers out in the woods after sneaking out of the house. At least as far as we know, that is.
Anyway, I can't imagine having to undergo the type of scrutiny that Bristol Palin has had to deal with. I don't know that as a teenager (or as an adult) that I would be able to handle it.
After reading this book, I still admire her for having the strength to go on but otherwise, there's not much here other than a still immature person with a poorly written and edited quite repetitive book. She tries (but does not succeed) to make herself come across as honest, taken advantage of and faultless. She admits to making mistakes (multiple) with Levi Johnston but spends more time blaming him and less taking responsibility for her choices. Yes, she chose to birth and raise her son but there's still far too much rationalization for my liking.
This one is worth a quick browse at the library to satisfy curiosity but other than that, there's no reason to purchase.
Anyway, I can't imagine having to undergo the type of scrutiny that Bristol Palin has had to deal with. I don't know that as a teenager (or as an adult) that I would be able to handle it.
After reading this book, I still admire her for having the strength to go on but otherwise, there's not much here other than a still immature person with a poorly written and edited quite repetitive book. She tries (but does not succeed) to make herself come across as honest, taken advantage of and faultless. She admits to making mistakes (multiple) with Levi Johnston but spends more time blaming him and less taking responsibility for her choices. Yes, she chose to birth and raise her son but there's still far too much rationalization for my liking.
This one is worth a quick browse at the library to satisfy curiosity but other than that, there's no reason to purchase.
July 11, 2011
Not Afraid of Life, My Journey So Far, by Bristol Palin with Nancy French, William Morrow, June 2011, Hardcover, 272 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-0062089373, $25.99
“I lied to my mother,” writes Bristol in the opening line of her new book; a lie whose costly consequences would transform the seventeen-year-old in ways she would “not comprehend” until months later.
However, the lie isn’t the real story. It’s only the trigger that emotionally and physically changed Bristol and forced her into adult and parenthood far too early. The deception would make her dreams impossibly hard to realize and alter her desires, her goals and future plans. Yet in the ensuing turmoil, Bristol would discover God had a plan and purpose for her life in spite of her unwise actions.
She relates “the true story of deception and disappointment that began that night” through a memoir that portrays Bristol more like the girl next door than the young woman the press sensationalized. Not only did she excel in sports, she studied hard and reached honor grades with the goal of college in mind. When not in school or sports, she babysat her siblings, did her chores, fished, hunted and snowmobiled with family and friends.
Bristol’s story…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/3daewjm
“I lied to my mother,” writes Bristol in the opening line of her new book; a lie whose costly consequences would transform the seventeen-year-old in ways she would “not comprehend” until months later.
However, the lie isn’t the real story. It’s only the trigger that emotionally and physically changed Bristol and forced her into adult and parenthood far too early. The deception would make her dreams impossibly hard to realize and alter her desires, her goals and future plans. Yet in the ensuing turmoil, Bristol would discover God had a plan and purpose for her life in spite of her unwise actions.
She relates “the true story of deception and disappointment that began that night” through a memoir that portrays Bristol more like the girl next door than the young woman the press sensationalized. Not only did she excel in sports, she studied hard and reached honor grades with the goal of college in mind. When not in school or sports, she babysat her siblings, did her chores, fished, hunted and snowmobiled with family and friends.
Bristol’s story…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/3daewjm
April 15, 2013
Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far was truly an inspiring, encouraging book that I could read more than once. I believe every teenager/young adult should read this book.
In her book, Bristol comes clean and honest about her mistakes as a seventeen year old girl. She recalls lying to her mother, being lied to by her boyfriend, getting pregnant, and the long road of turmoil from the nonsense-obsessed-press that persecuted her and her mother, Sarah Palin. In the midst of Bristol's mistake, her mother was Running for Vice President of the United States. As all political campaigns and matters, the media uses anything and everything to beat, particularly, Republicans down. Bristol compares herself to Hester Prynne, the adulterous mother from classic literature's, "The Scarlet Letter". She recalls her encounters with her boyfriend, the media, and encourages abstinence in young people.
This book reaffirmed, my beliefs in abstinence and purity, and made me truly want to remain pure for so many reasons. This book is the true feelings and struggles of someone who messed up and failed her family, but got back up again. Bristol Palin learned from her mistakes, and is now teachings others to learn from her mistakes.
In her book, Bristol comes clean and honest about her mistakes as a seventeen year old girl. She recalls lying to her mother, being lied to by her boyfriend, getting pregnant, and the long road of turmoil from the nonsense-obsessed-press that persecuted her and her mother, Sarah Palin. In the midst of Bristol's mistake, her mother was Running for Vice President of the United States. As all political campaigns and matters, the media uses anything and everything to beat, particularly, Republicans down. Bristol compares herself to Hester Prynne, the adulterous mother from classic literature's, "The Scarlet Letter". She recalls her encounters with her boyfriend, the media, and encourages abstinence in young people.
This book reaffirmed, my beliefs in abstinence and purity, and made me truly want to remain pure for so many reasons. This book is the true feelings and struggles of someone who messed up and failed her family, but got back up again. Bristol Palin learned from her mistakes, and is now teachings others to learn from her mistakes.
July 18, 2011
How can anyone dislike this girl? Bristol Palin is not a spoiled snob the way the media has made her out to be. This is a twenty year old girl who made a simple easy mistake, and had a baby because of it. She doesn't want other girls to make the same mistake she did, so she is part of a campaign to help teenage girls understand the risks of having sex before marriage. Why is this wrong..? I respect Bristol and even look to her as a role model. She loves her son dearly and takes care of him alone without the loser father. (And yes Levi is a huge low life) She is trying to make her son have a good life, who can fault her for that? And only in one part of this book did I want to shake some sense into Bristol and that is when she over looked Levi's sins and took him back. Otherwise this book was perfect. I really enjoyed reading it. I love how she is a big christian ( I am too) and how she spoke about asking God for forgiveness and she quoted a few bible verses through out the book. I love reading about people who love God and reach out to Him. I really hope whoever reads this book enjoys it as I have, and comes to respect Bristol.
August 4, 2011
I found this memoir to be brave and open. While many wonder what she could possibly have to say, given her age and the publicity surrounding her. However, I think that is precisely her reason for this memoir. Perhaps Bristol felt the need to explain or even defend herself and her son. I respect that.
While reading the book, one needs to remember this is a memoir based upon the experiences, memories, and thoughts of a very young woman. We need to keep that perspective while we read her memoir.
Bristol shares her feelings of being in the political spotlight of her famous mother, the moral spotlight of being an unwed mother, the social spotlight of being linked to a seemingly narcissistic young man, all while coming of age in the tornado of what is the paparazzi.
I give her credit for doing as well as she is, and for not giving up. I give her credit for her perseverance, for maintaining grace and beauty under pressure. I wish her and her son well. I hope she continues to be brave enough to live her life honestly and fearlessly.
September 12, 2013
If you're thinking that "Not Afraid of Life" is an unclever reference to her "pro-life" values, you betcha. Bristol is definitely annoying, which can partly be explained by her immaturity. When author Nancy French wove this narrative, which is coherent (though not especially insightful or eloquent), Bristol was but a naive adolescent. Unexceptional in every way, her claim to fame was her teen pregnancy in the midst of her bafoon mother's unexpected rise into the national spotlight. She went on to make mucho dinero by selling pictures of her dear baby son to magazines that bid the highest, and by speaking as a "pro-life" and pro-abstinence advocate; the latter which is peculiarly ironic, for all the obvious reasons. It's a somewhat guilty pleasure to read about her asinine exploits in the Alaskan wilderness, and enjoy the baby mama drama with her hunky bonehead beau. But overall, if you would like to read a thought provoking or interesting biography, keep looking.
March 9, 2024
When I first read this book in 2014 I really enjoyed it and rated it 5 stars. My rating still stands today. I am rereading this because I didn't review it and don't remember the details. I appreciated how candid this book felt. The early part of the book discussed her childhood and what it is like being the daughter of a governor. The later chapters discussed her struggles with teenage pregnancy on a public scale and her brief stints on Dancing with the Stars. Before originally reading this book in 2014 I had a vague understanding of who Bristol was. I only knew what they showed in her Dancing with the Stars rehearsal packages I also knew that she had her own short lived reality show called Life's a Tripp in 2012. After this reality show Bristol stepped back from the limelight for a bit . That was until 2018 when she joined the cast of Teen Mom in 2018 through 2019.
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