Nader: Crusader, Spoiler, Icon

By Anonymous

Few figures in our history have had the wide-ranging influence of Ralph Nader. Deemed by Rolling Stone the "most dangerous man in America," Nader has had a profound impact on our society and government.As a public figure, Nader is virtually without parallel, playing a lead role on the national stage for nearly four decades. The consummate public advocate and the "U.S.'s toughest customer" (Time), Nader has brought about the passage of groundbreaking laws covering everything from auto safety to hazardous x-rays to affordable insurance. Untold numbers of lives have been saved through his efforts.But the private man is shrouded in mystery and secrecy. For this probing biography, the first since 1975, Justin Martin spoke with Nader along with more than 300 people, including close associates, old friends, and family. The result is a sweeping portrait, covering Nader's small-town Connecticut boyhood, his days at Harvard Law, the David-and-Goliath battle with GM that launched him into the spotlight, and colorful encounters with characters as varied as Albert Einstein, Gloria Steinem, Fidel Castro, Phil Donahue, Susan Sarandon, Upton Sinclair, and Al Gore. The climax of this extraordinary story is an astonishingly revealing insider's account of the 2000 election. Nader is the definitive life of a fascinating, controversial man of our time-a true American icon.A Merloyd Lawrence Book This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 073820563X
• ISBN13: 9780738205632
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

wonderful...couldn't put it down

For as much as Ralph Nader has influenced and shaped events in this country, most people know next to nothing about the man. Nader has had a long, fruitful career fighting for those without a voice. In this book, Justin Martin has provided the most revealing, eye opening account of a truly great citizen. As far as biographies go, this book is pretty straitforward. Martin covers Nader's childhood, school days, college days,...

The PR Guy Who Reads

I gotta say, who knew this guy was this cool? I kind of thought Ralph Nader had a story behind him. And here I find it in full living color. Martin, who wrote the fab Greenspan book from the high falutin era, now takes on an "icon" whom no one really knows...which is the point. Since Nader's plan was to stay silent and mysterious so it is wild to see Martin foil it in such an artist, comprehensive and above all, surprisingly...

Balanced (though not overly favorable) view of Nader

I've long followed the career Ralph Nader, so when I saw NADER: CRUSADER, SPOILER, ICON by JustinMartin, I just had to read it . . . and I'm glad I did, in that in doing so, I came away with a balanced (though not overly favorable) view of the consumer advocate that I have long admired.Nader has been tireless in his efforts to bring about change in America . . . while sometimes spreading himself too thin, he nevertheless has...

Good book, but Nader remains an enigma

Ralph Nader is arguably one of the most fascinating (and polarizing) figures on the American scene. He's been in the public eye for nearly four decades, and has along the way attracted intense loyalty but also intense fury, especially after running a presidential campaign two years ago that split the political left right down the middle. Nader is nothing if not a tightly wrapped bundle of contradictions, all of which simply...

Safe to Read at Any Speed!

I actually voted for Nader in 2000 so certainly I¹m familiarwith his campaign issues and I knew a bit about his background too. But I¹m 28 years old and much of what he¹s accomplished he did while I was busy watching Punky Brewster and Saturday morning cartoons. It was illuminating to read this biography and get exposed to his whole story, birth to present. He's led a life that is more fascinating and controversial than I...