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The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics
The maverick (and very funny) governor of Colorado tells his story, from early loss to college on the ten-year plan, to remarkable business and political success
In just over a decade, John Hickenlooper has gone from brew pub entrepreneur to governor of Colorado, hailed by political analysts and media alike as a solid contender to be the next vice president. In The Opposite of Woe , Hickenlooper tells his own story of unlikely success in his singularly sharp and often hilarious voice.
After ten years at Wesleyan, Hickenlooper found himself laid off from his first job as a geologist. So he rented a space in an empty warehouse in an empty pocket of Denver’s downtown to open a brew pub. Honest, likable, practical, Hickenlooper turned out to be a natural at the job; the pub was a huge success. In fifteen years, he blossomed from small business owner into millionaire at the helm of a string of pubs across the western United States. He was so influential in the community that, encouraged by many, he ran for mayor, essentially as a lark. And then he won.
So began his eight years as one of the most creative and successful mayors in the United States. Doubling down in politics, Hickenlooper ran for Colorado governor in 2010, and won again—twice. Tackling a host of volatile issues, from prison reform to fracking, capital punishment to same-sex marriage and legalized marijuana, Hickenlooper’s administration has persuaded opposing constituencies of a true battleground state to agree and move forward on a middle path—all while dealing with tragic wildfires, floods, and the assassination of a cabinet member.
On display throughout the book is the rare candidness that has made Hickenlooper not only wildly popular but also remarkably successful. Cowritten with journalist and former speechwriter Maximillian Potter, The Opposite of Woe is a fresh and refreshing angle on our political landscape from one of its brightest rising stars.
In just over a decade, John Hickenlooper has gone from brew pub entrepreneur to governor of Colorado, hailed by political analysts and media alike as a solid contender to be the next vice president. In The Opposite of Woe , Hickenlooper tells his own story of unlikely success in his singularly sharp and often hilarious voice.
After ten years at Wesleyan, Hickenlooper found himself laid off from his first job as a geologist. So he rented a space in an empty warehouse in an empty pocket of Denver’s downtown to open a brew pub. Honest, likable, practical, Hickenlooper turned out to be a natural at the job; the pub was a huge success. In fifteen years, he blossomed from small business owner into millionaire at the helm of a string of pubs across the western United States. He was so influential in the community that, encouraged by many, he ran for mayor, essentially as a lark. And then he won.
So began his eight years as one of the most creative and successful mayors in the United States. Doubling down in politics, Hickenlooper ran for Colorado governor in 2010, and won again—twice. Tackling a host of volatile issues, from prison reform to fracking, capital punishment to same-sex marriage and legalized marijuana, Hickenlooper’s administration has persuaded opposing constituencies of a true battleground state to agree and move forward on a middle path—all while dealing with tragic wildfires, floods, and the assassination of a cabinet member.
On display throughout the book is the rare candidness that has made Hickenlooper not only wildly popular but also remarkably successful. Cowritten with journalist and former speechwriter Maximillian Potter, The Opposite of Woe is a fresh and refreshing angle on our political landscape from one of its brightest rising stars.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published May 24, 2016
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354 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
March 4, 2019
The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics was a delightful and well-written memoir by John Hickenlooper and coauthor Maximillian Potter. While his undergraduate work at Wesleyan was in literature and writing, it was in auditing a geology class that Hickenlooper realized what he wanted to do. Coming to Denver as a geologist in the 1980's, he was laid off after five years, when the oil and gas industry collapsed in Colorado. It was at this point that he and a partner took the risk of opening the first microbrewery in lower downtown Denver in 1988, when it was still a sketchy neighborhood with a lot of abandoned buildings, crime and a growing homeless population. However, there was a keen interest in preserving and restoring the warehouse district and all of its beautiful historic buildings. Hickenlooper was very successful and later went on to open many more brewpubs, not only in Denver, but throughout the region. With the opening of Coors Field in 1995, lower downtown Denver was thriving. Hickenlooper ran for mayor of Denver serving from July 2003 until his inauguration as governor in January 2011. John Hickenlooper has steered the city of Denver and the state of Colorado through some rough times and is widely known for his ability to work across party lines to accomplish what is needed to move the state forward. He has been a valuable to asset to the community and it remains to be seen where he goes from here.
"Ultimately, too, it takes a politician to sell the seasonal yet hopefully timeless brew to the public at large. Abraham Lincoln put it best: 'With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.'"
"The way I see it, the only two failures are in not learning from mistakes, and in failing to take on the dreams we dare to dream."
". . . . and I had developed an abiding affection for old, and especially historic buildings. We were going back to the historic way of making beer; what a fine excuse to breathe life into an abandoned jewel of a building, a frog prince waiting to be kissed."
"The J.S. Brown Mercantile Building, erected in 1899 was simply magnificent. Five stories with a full basement, 11,600 square feet per floor. . . .Old western regal, constructed of red brick and rhyolite, with spectacular seven-foot-high arched windows along the two sides of the building that faced the intersecting streets of Eighteenth and Wynkoop."
"The Wynkoop Brewing Company's success triggered a revival of the entire Lower Downtown area. As the Denver Post reported this Wynkoop effect, 'Beer flowed out, money and people flowed in. Other businesses opened up, along with galleries and pioneering residents.' The former ghost town of abandoned warehouses and tumbleweeds was now cool 'Lo Do.'"
"The Lower Downtown story has often been cited as one of the most vibrant instances of urban redevelopment in the United States. LoDo indeed felt like a community. All for one, and one for all."
"I talked about how, although Colorado had been burned, flooded, and once again endured senseless, inexplicable violence, we did not let that define us. That was not our story, what we showed the world, was that Colorado does not shut down. Colorado does not quit. Colorado does not break."
ADDENDUM - March 4, 2019. Today Governor John Hickenlooper announced his candidacy for president of the United States. Colorado has long been considered a battleground state that is known to be quite purple. However, through two terms as mayor of Denver and two terms as governor of Colorado, Hickenlooper has demonstrated his ability to work across party lines, passing a lot of landmark legislation requiring bipartisan approval. It remains to be seen where his candidacy goes in this crowded field.
"Ultimately, too, it takes a politician to sell the seasonal yet hopefully timeless brew to the public at large. Abraham Lincoln put it best: 'With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.'"
"The way I see it, the only two failures are in not learning from mistakes, and in failing to take on the dreams we dare to dream."
". . . . and I had developed an abiding affection for old, and especially historic buildings. We were going back to the historic way of making beer; what a fine excuse to breathe life into an abandoned jewel of a building, a frog prince waiting to be kissed."
"The J.S. Brown Mercantile Building, erected in 1899 was simply magnificent. Five stories with a full basement, 11,600 square feet per floor. . . .Old western regal, constructed of red brick and rhyolite, with spectacular seven-foot-high arched windows along the two sides of the building that faced the intersecting streets of Eighteenth and Wynkoop."
"The Wynkoop Brewing Company's success triggered a revival of the entire Lower Downtown area. As the Denver Post reported this Wynkoop effect, 'Beer flowed out, money and people flowed in. Other businesses opened up, along with galleries and pioneering residents.' The former ghost town of abandoned warehouses and tumbleweeds was now cool 'Lo Do.'"
"The Lower Downtown story has often been cited as one of the most vibrant instances of urban redevelopment in the United States. LoDo indeed felt like a community. All for one, and one for all."
"I talked about how, although Colorado had been burned, flooded, and once again endured senseless, inexplicable violence, we did not let that define us. That was not our story, what we showed the world, was that Colorado does not shut down. Colorado does not quit. Colorado does not break."
ADDENDUM - March 4, 2019. Today Governor John Hickenlooper announced his candidacy for president of the United States. Colorado has long been considered a battleground state that is known to be quite purple. However, through two terms as mayor of Denver and two terms as governor of Colorado, Hickenlooper has demonstrated his ability to work across party lines, passing a lot of landmark legislation requiring bipartisan approval. It remains to be seen where his candidacy goes in this crowded field.
June 23, 2016
Hickenlooper is a talented storyteller, making this an entertaining read and a very candid look into his personal life. I came at the book with prior admiration for the role he's played in Denver and Colorado as a leader willing to take risks himself, as well as his knack for building coalitions who are willing to innovate in order to achieve better outcomes for the community. I also happened to be in his office for a bill signing earlier this year when he tripped and nearly dropped the entire transcript of this book on the floor. He proudly, if not a bit sheepishly, told us he had just completed the final draft and his book title made me take note - I guess he's a good salesman, too. Reading it, I appreciated getting his view of the politics we see in Colorado news everyday, though I was more entertained by getting to know his personal history.
October 13, 2016
At a time when it's difficult to have much faith in America's democracy, Governor "Hick"'s witty and laugh out loud autobiography brings hope. Amazing read chronicling his life prior to politics as the first brewpub owner in Denver which spurred the revival of LoDo as well as his time as governor dealing with the worst fires, flood, and shootings in state history. During his time as governor he has brought both republicans and democrats, industry leaders in oil and environmental agencies, etc. together to work collaboratively to make progress in Colorado policy. I look forward to following his work more closely.
September 30, 2019
First of all, this book is too long, so right off the bat, you get the impression that Hickenlooper thinks too much of his importance. I read short books and super long books, but I can forgive a lot of writing gaffes if you manage not to waste my time. On the flip side, if your book is a tome, I expect you to provide Anna Karenina-levels of spiritual fulfillment. Don't get me wrong, I also thought Bill Clinton's My Life and Ron Chernow's Grant were too long at twice the length and twice the political importance of this.
Why is it so long? The first 60% of the book focuses on Hickenlooper's early foibles and every woman he ever dated. Some of this background is important so that we can see why he became the type of leader he became, but certainly, not most of it. In defense of this section though, Hickenlooper can be very very funny.
The remaining 40% is the important part, but by that time I'd lost a lot of interest and focus. Considering that Hickenlooper is running for President just 3 years after the publication of this book, there was a noticeable lack of overall policy. Rather, he recounted his process and decisions along the way. While I appreciate that his process is facts-based, as that seems to be lacking in governance these days (though especially in Republican governance), quite often, his fact-gathering was insufficiently comprehensive. Other times he emphasized public opinion over fact-gathering, making for somewhat inconsistent results. For example, I thought his explanation and support for fracking seemed to be lacking in any views inconsistent with the limited facts he'd gathered as an insider in the industry. Okay, he drank some fracking fluid that a government agency said was technically safe for drinking, congratulations. But just off the top of my head, here are some things he failed to investigate or mention: 1) how comprehensive are these government requirements when corporations and conservatives constantly lobby to loosen or remove envirnmental regulations? 2) safe for whom? testing on pregnant women and children is not allowed and at best are a guess. I didn't even take a single Tylenol when I was pregnant, do you honestly think pregnant women drinking fracking fluid is safe when it's not even tested? But this is just one example of his lack of rigorous thinking which stood out mainly because of his constant self-congratulation on his rigorous thinking. Don't get me wrong, he's still 100% better than Trump for the leader of the free world, but that appears to be true also of most people I know.
Why is it so long? The first 60% of the book focuses on Hickenlooper's early foibles and every woman he ever dated. Some of this background is important so that we can see why he became the type of leader he became, but certainly, not most of it. In defense of this section though, Hickenlooper can be very very funny.
The remaining 40% is the important part, but by that time I'd lost a lot of interest and focus. Considering that Hickenlooper is running for President just 3 years after the publication of this book, there was a noticeable lack of overall policy. Rather, he recounted his process and decisions along the way. While I appreciate that his process is facts-based, as that seems to be lacking in governance these days (though especially in Republican governance), quite often, his fact-gathering was insufficiently comprehensive. Other times he emphasized public opinion over fact-gathering, making for somewhat inconsistent results. For example, I thought his explanation and support for fracking seemed to be lacking in any views inconsistent with the limited facts he'd gathered as an insider in the industry. Okay, he drank some fracking fluid that a government agency said was technically safe for drinking, congratulations. But just off the top of my head, here are some things he failed to investigate or mention: 1) how comprehensive are these government requirements when corporations and conservatives constantly lobby to loosen or remove envirnmental regulations? 2) safe for whom? testing on pregnant women and children is not allowed and at best are a guess. I didn't even take a single Tylenol when I was pregnant, do you honestly think pregnant women drinking fracking fluid is safe when it's not even tested? But this is just one example of his lack of rigorous thinking which stood out mainly because of his constant self-congratulation on his rigorous thinking. Don't get me wrong, he's still 100% better than Trump for the leader of the free world, but that appears to be true also of most people I know.
April 20, 2017
For audiobook readers
I actively seek out read-by-the-author titles, but John's stuttering and halting reading style was really distracting for me throughout the entirety of the book. I think he could have benefited from having a professional read the book instead.
Review
This books reads like the obligatory memoir of somebody considering running for president in 2020.
Two thirds of this book was tedious: his ancestors coming to America and establishing themselves was uninteresting; his childhood and college years made him sound like an egotist and a brat. This portion of the book seems to exist to establish some sympathy ("my father died when I was a child") and to get ahead of some tidbits that might be politically damaging ("Yes, I smoked pot. Yes, I had a DUI").
The way he described his relationships with women was off-putting. He devoted way more time to the unrequited love of his college would-be-girlfriend than to his wife of ten years and mother of his child. I'm personally also curious about people who insist on "destination relationships" like John seemed to at times: he dated a woman who lived in Sweden. He would travel to Texas and back while dating Helen.
In the final portions of the book, he finally gets to stuff that I found interesting and relevant to me as a Denverite. He describes establishing the Wynkoop pub house in LoDo, and running for mayor. He then proceeds to FLY through his gubernatorial career by listing the tragedies he encountered while in office, including public shootings, floods, and wild fires.
The rushed conclusion introduces Robin, the new Mrs. Hickenlooper, and that's pretty much it: a profile of a political candidate.
Highlights:
+ descriptions of LoDo before and during revitalization
+ his (and his father's) friendship with Kurt Vonnegut
+ parts about his mother. I ended up liking her as a character much more than John himself.
+ the Tom Clements story, as told by Hick. Amazing how a tragedy so close to him eventually turned out to be more intertwined with characters from his past than what at first appeared.
+ appearances by Denver personalities. For example, I didn't know Michael Bennet began his political career as Hick's first mayoral chief of staff.
I actively seek out read-by-the-author titles, but John's stuttering and halting reading style was really distracting for me throughout the entirety of the book. I think he could have benefited from having a professional read the book instead.
Review
This books reads like the obligatory memoir of somebody considering running for president in 2020.
Two thirds of this book was tedious: his ancestors coming to America and establishing themselves was uninteresting; his childhood and college years made him sound like an egotist and a brat. This portion of the book seems to exist to establish some sympathy ("my father died when I was a child") and to get ahead of some tidbits that might be politically damaging ("Yes, I smoked pot. Yes, I had a DUI").
The way he described his relationships with women was off-putting. He devoted way more time to the unrequited love of his college would-be-girlfriend than to his wife of ten years and mother of his child. I'm personally also curious about people who insist on "destination relationships" like John seemed to at times: he dated a woman who lived in Sweden. He would travel to Texas and back while dating Helen.
In the final portions of the book, he finally gets to stuff that I found interesting and relevant to me as a Denverite. He describes establishing the Wynkoop pub house in LoDo, and running for mayor. He then proceeds to FLY through his gubernatorial career by listing the tragedies he encountered while in office, including public shootings, floods, and wild fires.
The rushed conclusion introduces Robin, the new Mrs. Hickenlooper, and that's pretty much it: a profile of a political candidate.
Highlights:
+ descriptions of LoDo before and during revitalization
+ his (and his father's) friendship with Kurt Vonnegut
+ parts about his mother. I ended up liking her as a character much more than John himself.
+ the Tom Clements story, as told by Hick. Amazing how a tragedy so close to him eventually turned out to be more intertwined with characters from his past than what at first appeared.
+ appearances by Denver personalities. For example, I didn't know Michael Bennet began his political career as Hick's first mayoral chief of staff.
August 4, 2016
Anyone who has met and gotten to know John Hickenlooper away from media spotlights and fawning crowds will meet him again in this entertaining book. "The Opposite of Woe” is a refreshing and candid portrait of a man who does not intentionally groom a media persona or let his ambitions get in the way of his deeper desire to connect and communicate with people of every socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and ethnic background. As he described to me once in a private conversation, he is an extrovert's extrovert. He has always been open and candid about his views on regional affairs and events -- humorously and disarmingly so -- and his natural plainspoken honesty has won him many diverse friends and fans.
This book reveals Hickenlooper from the inside-out and perhaps could also become a political tutorial for what honest, hardworking, disenfranchised citizens want in a new generation of national leadership. We want candor, sincerity, dependability, and selfless representation in the halls of political power. We want real people who don't take themselves too seriously. We want representatives with multidimensional life experiences concentrating into encompassing wisdom. Through thought-provoking stories, this book discloses why the Colorado governor has these qualities. He is an exemplary personification of the best qualities associated with his Boomer generation: learned, diverse, multicultural, self-empowering, entrepreneurial, passionate about social justice, and committed to being a change agent.
“The Opposite of Woe” is breezy and entertaining to read also because it is well crafted with help from a seasoned journalist, editor, and co-author: Maximillian Potter. This book has the professional flair one would expect to find in a “GQ” magazine cover story.
For those of us seeking a new generation of experienced leaders, it will be difficult to find many as qualified, committed, and competent as Denver's former mayor and Colorado's current governor. Those who know him well understand this. Now readers who have not met “Hick” in person can get to know him much better through his charming memoir. Grab a craft beer and meet the former geologist-cum-brewpub builder who has become a Colorado political sensation.
This book reveals Hickenlooper from the inside-out and perhaps could also become a political tutorial for what honest, hardworking, disenfranchised citizens want in a new generation of national leadership. We want candor, sincerity, dependability, and selfless representation in the halls of political power. We want real people who don't take themselves too seriously. We want representatives with multidimensional life experiences concentrating into encompassing wisdom. Through thought-provoking stories, this book discloses why the Colorado governor has these qualities. He is an exemplary personification of the best qualities associated with his Boomer generation: learned, diverse, multicultural, self-empowering, entrepreneurial, passionate about social justice, and committed to being a change agent.
“The Opposite of Woe” is breezy and entertaining to read also because it is well crafted with help from a seasoned journalist, editor, and co-author: Maximillian Potter. This book has the professional flair one would expect to find in a “GQ” magazine cover story.
For those of us seeking a new generation of experienced leaders, it will be difficult to find many as qualified, committed, and competent as Denver's former mayor and Colorado's current governor. Those who know him well understand this. Now readers who have not met “Hick” in person can get to know him much better through his charming memoir. Grab a craft beer and meet the former geologist-cum-brewpub builder who has become a Colorado political sensation.
January 8, 2017
I was born in Pittsburgh, went to college in Boston, lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area, moved to New Haven, CT, and raised a family, and for the last 16 years, I've lived in Denver. I moved to Denver during the primary before John Hickenlooper became Mayor of Denver. I don't know if this book would be of interest to anyone who doesn't live in Colorado. But, I really enjoyed it. Our Guv is straight talking and refreshingly candid about his life so far. I remember most of what he talks about, and it's interesting to hear the inside scoop.
April 9, 2020
This is not your standard political memoir. Within the first couple of pages, Hick is talking about his marital problems with his ex-wife and what they discussed in their counseling sessions. The level of candor remains super high throughout. He's very frank about his ACTUAL shortcomings (e.g., quick temper, can be obnoxious, rambles, emotionally unavailable) which is so refreshing.
I think he's an interesting political type - would probably describe himself as "more practical than partisan." It makes sense that he was a mayor and a governor as these are both roles that lend themselves to do-ers, not thinkers. I can see why he was reluctant to run for the Senate seat at first but I think he would be a great Senator.
The book was (much) too long for my tastes, but I stuck with it because I'm supporting Hick in the Senate race this year and wanted to be well-informed.
Ps - the opposite of woe is giddy-up. Get it?????
I think he's an interesting political type - would probably describe himself as "more practical than partisan." It makes sense that he was a mayor and a governor as these are both roles that lend themselves to do-ers, not thinkers. I can see why he was reluctant to run for the Senate seat at first but I think he would be a great Senator.
The book was (much) too long for my tastes, but I stuck with it because I'm supporting Hick in the Senate race this year and wanted to be well-informed.
Ps - the opposite of woe is giddy-up. Get it?????
July 3, 2019
What on Earth made Hickenlooper think some of these stories were a good idea to share? Don't tell people about how you were cool in high school because you smoked pot. Don't tell people about how you were growing pot in high school. Don't tell people about how your goal when you went off to college was to lose your virginity. Don't include the fact about how you did lose your virginity to some no name girl from San Antonio who you hardly remember because you were obsessed with a girl who wouldn't give you the time of day. Don't tell the story about the time you went to see Deep Throat with your mom.
All in all the first half of the book read like Hickenlooper wanted to make a stupid teen sex comedy.
The book made me lose respect for Hickenlooper as a politician. I saw him as crass and oblivious. He came off as desperate for the reader to think he is cool and funny. I question his judgment.
All in all the first half of the book read like Hickenlooper wanted to make a stupid teen sex comedy.
The book made me lose respect for Hickenlooper as a politician. I saw him as crass and oblivious. He came off as desperate for the reader to think he is cool and funny. I question his judgment.
June 24, 2021
This would have been a great book had he hired an editor. It ebbs and flows between inspiring and exciting to being a chore to get through.
November 7, 2021
Absolutely loved it. Hickenlooper is quirky and fascinating and it comes across in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
June 19, 2020
It’s an interesting read for a Colorado resident.
October 6, 2016
A Well-Told Memoir
Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet Governor Hickenlooper. After our meeting, I tracked down the audio book. The opening of this book is fascinating where Governor Hickenlooper and his wife, Helen were invited to the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. and sat in the box with President and Mrs. Obama.
Later after college, Hickenlooper bought and sold some real estate and makes this statement, “The only true failures are in not learning from our mistakes and failing to take on the dreams we dare to dream.”
Listeners will love learning how Hickenlooper’s father was a fraternity brother with famous author Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut even wrote a very short story which appeared n a beer label sold at Wynkoop Brewing Company, where John Hickenlooper was a partner in this restaurant. As he talks about his beer business, Governor Hickenlooper makes clear through his stories and details that one of the keys to urban renewal is through cooperation. This theme is woven throughout this audio book.
The title for this book comes from a story Hickenlooper told during his first campaign for political office—the mayor of Denver. He was a dark horse candidate and behind in the polls. One day he dropped by his campaign office and gathered everyone together and told them a story involving Kurt Vonnegut and asked them, “What is the opposite of woe,” One of the workers responded, “The opposite of woe is giddy up.”
Every listener will take away something different from THE OPPOSITE OF WOE, MY LIFE IN BEER AND POLITICS. I enjoyed this audio book and heard it cover to cover. It is worthwhile listening and recommended.
Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet Governor Hickenlooper. After our meeting, I tracked down the audio book. The opening of this book is fascinating where Governor Hickenlooper and his wife, Helen were invited to the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. and sat in the box with President and Mrs. Obama.
Later after college, Hickenlooper bought and sold some real estate and makes this statement, “The only true failures are in not learning from our mistakes and failing to take on the dreams we dare to dream.”
Listeners will love learning how Hickenlooper’s father was a fraternity brother with famous author Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut even wrote a very short story which appeared n a beer label sold at Wynkoop Brewing Company, where John Hickenlooper was a partner in this restaurant. As he talks about his beer business, Governor Hickenlooper makes clear through his stories and details that one of the keys to urban renewal is through cooperation. This theme is woven throughout this audio book.
The title for this book comes from a story Hickenlooper told during his first campaign for political office—the mayor of Denver. He was a dark horse candidate and behind in the polls. One day he dropped by his campaign office and gathered everyone together and told them a story involving Kurt Vonnegut and asked them, “What is the opposite of woe,” One of the workers responded, “The opposite of woe is giddy up.”
Every listener will take away something different from THE OPPOSITE OF WOE, MY LIFE IN BEER AND POLITICS. I enjoyed this audio book and heard it cover to cover. It is worthwhile listening and recommended.
September 30, 2016
I picked up this book not really planning to reads the whole thing. I not only read the whole book, I really enjoyed it. His story is both relatable and inspiring. I already admired Mr. Hickenlooper. Now I respect him even more.
June 3, 2016
Loved this book! I would have given it 5 stars if he supported education in Colorado.
December 3, 2016
Great read! Very proud of our governor and all he's accomplished. Proud to live in Colorado. So refreshing to see people working together to solve problems.
August 8, 2019
Where do I start? First of all Hickenlooper did not write this book, Maximillian Potter is the writer and Hickenlooper just fed him the "life stories" to put into sentences. Also, I just finished reading Kaira Rouda's The Favorite Daugher and the main character is a narcissist, and when I picked up The Opposite of Woe, the narrator (Hickenlooper) and sounded exactly like the narcissist from the novel. At first, I wasn't sure I could actually finish this book. It wouldn't be something I'd normally pick because Hickenlooper has not impressed me in his run for president (still polling at 1%) but reading all the candidates books was something I thought would be "fun." (In reality there are a lot of narcissists out there and some of them are running for president. Sorry we've already got that in the White House, why continue?) Also he an awful lot like a republican and that lane is pretty full in the 2020 run, so I wonder what he has to offer. Turns out nothing. I was surprised he said Obamacare was an abject failure in Colorado. It was successful in Washington State, so I blame the failure in Colorado on Hickenlooper. Washington Governor Inslee seemed able to deal with it. Also what kind of failure saves lives? Obamacare saved my husband's life and many others, but republicans don't care, that's why Hickenlooper sounds republican. I didn't read everything between the covers but I do think the last chapter should sum up the policies he has to offer the American people, but instead a long quotation from the Bible was one of the last paragraphs. One last peeve: the acknowledgement pages? Really? 5 pages, small print of at least a hundred people on each page. Who does that? Acknowledgement for a a book generally is short, concise and includes the people who helped with the book not a list of all the people you've known in your life. The picture of Hickenlooper in his birthday suit in the picture section and the sections about his love life were distracting. Who was this book written for? Apparently Hickenlooper. This awful self-indulgent book destined for the second hand bookstore.
January 10, 2019
This is not a great book by any stretch of the imagination, but it was very interesting. Hick and I each moved to Denver from the east within about a month of each other, so getting his perspective on the changes in this area during the last four decades has been interesting. During his time in political life I always lived in the suburbs, so I didn’t have the opportunity to vote for him as mayor, but he always struck me as a good and decent man, one who went out of his way to bring all voices to the table, so it was easy to support his campaigns to be governor. The picture he paints of himself in this memoir confirms my impression of him, and fleshes out the details. When he runs in 2020 (and mark my words, he will) I’ll be pleased to cast a vote for him. Giddy-up!
December 15, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If I were to rate it strictly among fun memoirs by politicians it would receive 5 stars and lead the pack. Potter probably helped finesse the style but it is written well, in that genuine light Hick voice. It was a fun travel down 30 years of Denver political history. It was a big thank you to many of the players that supported him and made much of what he has accomplished possible. His childhood interesting. All the early girl stuff—half the book…glad he has finally happily settled in.
Informs me as I observe him in his current legislative role and the pros and cons to his personality that he brings to his senate position. A great guy who has done a lot for our state (with the help of many). Big thanks to all of them!
Informs me as I observe him in his current legislative role and the pros and cons to his personality that he brings to his senate position. A great guy who has done a lot for our state (with the help of many). Big thanks to all of them!
January 21, 2019
I read this book because I find Hickenlooper's politics to be quite compelling and I wanted to learn more about him as a person. I enjoyed Hickenlooper's candid, reflective look back at his life. The sections on his childhood and early adult years were informative and I appreciate his willingness to be real. However, these parts were probably a bit too long. The latter sections, about his business and political endeavors, were great.
In terms of politics, he clearly shows his strengths as a facilitator with common sense. I believe he could provide much-needed leadership on a national level. If he doesn't run in 2020, I think he would be a fantastic VP choice.
In terms of politics, he clearly shows his strengths as a facilitator with common sense. I believe he could provide much-needed leadership on a national level. If he doesn't run in 2020, I think he would be a fantastic VP choice.
November 20, 2016
I enjoyed this book a lot, and wish I could give it more stars. I'd call it a solid 3.5. I learned a lot of things that I didn't know, even though I lived in Colorado during Hickenlooper's political rise, and knew of his restaurant entrepreneur years. There were a lot of instances where I wanted to read the end of the story, and it just wasn't there. One example, the Clyfford Still museum: I didn't know how his works came to be in Denver before reading this book, but the book glossed over how the actual museum built to house his works came into being.
February 12, 2017
I give it four because I really liked him as a mayor and somehow remember a lot of his story - just as a citizen. It was great to learn some of the behind the scenes to how Hickenlooper became our governor. But I would have given it a four as a memoir just as a book, because, like many memoirs, the more current the event, the more rushed the writing seemed. And even though Hickenlooper is humble in his writing, its slanted toward his view of things - which made it somewhat of a political platform rather than a story.
April 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. John Hickenlooper's transformation from geologist to brewery owner to politician makes for an interesting read. And as a person living in Colorado, it's neat to hear about some of the local people and places he's encountered over the years. My only complaint is about the narration of the audiobook. Hickenlooper narrates this himself, and he has a tendency to take weird pauses mid-sentence and fumbles over a few words--I'm honestly surprised they didn't edit these things out of the final version. It was a bit distracting. Otherwise this was a fantastic read.
August 19, 2019
Although hickenlooper withdrew from the democratic presidential candidate field while I was reading this, I finished. I thought it was an interesting look into the life of a public person and made a compelling case for his candidacy and election, as you would expect from a campaign book. But then anyone who can explain and defend his positions and decisions, even if you disagree with them (and mostly I agree) is refreshing in this day when a large portion of the country doesn't care about this, is refreshing. I recommend this book.
May 10, 2017
Maybe not for everyone, but I loved the audio book read by the author in his folksy style. This is an entertaining, humorous and revealing account of a very unique politician...especially in today's toxic, partisan environment. I haven't always agreed with him, but the man has been a very effective governor. Give this book a try and see if you agree that the country could more leaders like him today.
August 12, 2017
John Hickenlooper has a really interesting style of storytelling, employing wit thoughtful reflections. I felt like he overdid some of the more raunchy parts of his book. Overall, it was fascinating to read his life story, as well as some family background stretching back to the early days of Philadelphia. He experienced many twists and turns. It's incredible to see how he got to where he is today.
January 11, 2019
Hickenlooper's folksy storytelling may work well in person or on TV, but it does not work on the page. This book rambled and wandered and I was completely over it by the end. I also could have done without the entirety of Hickenlooper's family history. It was interesting to learn how he ended up in Colorado and started the Wynkoop. I also enjoyed learning about some of the motivations in his political career.
April 27, 2023
This was a bit disappointing. Hickenlooper confesses he's not a great writer, and its true. He focuses heavily on his upbringing, youth, education, and romantic relationships. The stuff that matters to very few who are interested in a politicians biography. He almost glosses over his time in office, which was the whole reason I got this book.
In spite of that, there were some fun and interesting parts which saved the book from a scathing review.
In spite of that, there were some fun and interesting parts which saved the book from a scathing review.
December 17, 2017
This book was amazing. It’s the first political book I’ve read. Hickenlooper really is not your average politician and he shows it in this book.
He is thoughtful and very smart. He talks about how much business-thinking can help government. Denver and Colorado have come so far since the 80’s and he has been the #1 champion of the efforts for their success.
He is thoughtful and very smart. He talks about how much business-thinking can help government. Denver and Colorado have come so far since the 80’s and he has been the #1 champion of the efforts for their success.
December 5, 2018
This was really nicely written. I was surprised to be moved by many of the stories throughout the book of Hickenlooper’s life experience. It turns out he’s not just a politician, but also a complex human being. It was also interesting hearing his telling of some of Colorado’s triumphs and tragedies. Overall a really good read, while maybe a bit longer than expected.
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