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His Way: A Biography of Robert Muldoon
Details the life and political career of New Zealand's Minister of Finance and Prime Minister between 1967 and 1985, explaining his strengths and weaknesses and how he eventually lost the flexibility to react to changes in his country.
556 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 29, 2008
If you're interested in the Muldoon era of New Zealand political history 'His Way' will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the man in question.
At over 500 pages, 'His Way' is no light reading, but those who perservere are rewarded with a rich, detailed portrait of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon. As someone who was not alive when he was at the hight of his power I found his biography a real eye opener about what New Zealand was going through durring the 1970's and 80's.
That said, if I wern't required to read 'His Way' for an assignment I certainly wouldn't have read it cover to cover. Although Muldoon's life is intresting enough to fill a novel only the most hardcore Muldoonites (if they still exist) would have the appetite for a 500 plus page blow by blow account of his life. I believe most people would prefer to dip into it at certain points of interest, such as the Springbok tour of 1981, rather than dive into the whole thing.
I also felt Gustafson may have been too kind in his portrayal of Muldoon. For a man who ruthlessly destroyed his opponents and elicited such extreme reactions in the public I expected a more critical assessment of his character and actions than Gustafson presented.
At over 500 pages, 'His Way' is no light reading, but those who perservere are rewarded with a rich, detailed portrait of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon. As someone who was not alive when he was at the hight of his power I found his biography a real eye opener about what New Zealand was going through durring the 1970's and 80's.
That said, if I wern't required to read 'His Way' for an assignment I certainly wouldn't have read it cover to cover. Although Muldoon's life is intresting enough to fill a novel only the most hardcore Muldoonites (if they still exist) would have the appetite for a 500 plus page blow by blow account of his life. I believe most people would prefer to dip into it at certain points of interest, such as the Springbok tour of 1981, rather than dive into the whole thing.
I also felt Gustafson may have been too kind in his portrayal of Muldoon. For a man who ruthlessly destroyed his opponents and elicited such extreme reactions in the public I expected a more critical assessment of his character and actions than Gustafson presented.
March 14, 2013
A good book, well researched, detailed and readable. A good assessment of the man although as with Gustafson's Holyoake biography a little more critical analysis, and the impressions of those who were in opposition to him would have been valuable.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews