Synopsis
On November 3, 1998, the state of Minnesota elected former pro-wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura as its governor. The only Reform Party candidate ever elected to major office, his election shocked the country and even the world. In his colorful past, he has been a Navy SEAL, Hollywood actor, radio show host, television commentator, and a well-known professional wrestler. With a creative campaign, charismatic personality, and down-to-earth attitude, he won an upset election and single-handedly shook up the structure of modern politics. This fascinating biography details the life of the man who went from the wrestling ring to the governor's mansion.
VOYA
This review was written and published to address two books in the Lerner Biography series, one about Cleopatra and the other about Jesse Ventura. The good, the bad, and the in-between—no details appear to be spared in these readable biographies. No fictional conversations or events are recreated. Cleopatra's story—that of a scheming woman determined to rule and hold onto her empire no matter who was used, offended, or murdered along the way—is that of her lovers, Caesar and Mark Antony, as much as it is hers. Chapters in Cleopatra are divided by catchy titles such as "Sneaking In" and "Laying the Trap" in bold typeface. Jesse Ventura chronicles the life of one of today's most brash politicians. A former Navy SEAL best known as a professional wrestler, he is fearless in sharing his opinions. Although his defeat was predicted just two months before the election, Ventura swept to victory as governor of Minnesota, defeating favorite political son, Skip Humphrey, in one of the largest voter turnouts ever in that state. There are no subdivisions in the Ventura book, but it is peppered with quotes from Ventura, his family, and acquaintances. The length of these biographies makes them acceptable for those assignments with page minimums. Although written by different authors, the layout, writing style, and vocabulary are uniform. Short gold-bordered sections examine topics pertinent to the subjects, such as the Hellenistic World and Pro Wrestling Moves. Others profiled in this series include Maya Angelou, Princess Diana, Jesse Owens, and Bill Gates. The books in the Lerner Biography series provide fast reads that can be enjoyed even when not used for assignments. Index. Illus.Photos. Biblio. Source Notes. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 1999, Lerner, 112p, $25.26. Ages 13 to 18. Reviewer: Pam Carlson
SOURCE: VOYA, October 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 4)