There’s much about the career of Sarah Palin that is unique. The hockey mom in lipstick has fashioned herself as a maverick since sashaying onto the national political stage last year as John McCain’s running mate. More recently, the former Alaska governor and would-be G.O.P. standard-bearer has defied expectations by turning in her memoir just four months after her book deal was announced — HarperCollins is rushing Going Rogue into stores Nov. 17. (Some credit for that accomplishment goes to the pol’s quick-typing co-author, Lynn Vincent.)
But there’s at least one aspect of Palin’s opus that seems familiar…perhaps too familiar. And that’s the subtitle: An American Life. Astute history buffs will remember that that was the subtitle of Ronald Reagan’s best-selling 1990 memoir, of course. But in recent years, the three-word phrase has been the default setting for biographies of a host of people who share only the same geographic accident of birth. I tracked down at least 20 examples, many of whose dust jackets appear below.
Some come attached to bios of great figures in history (Benjamin Franklin, Martha Washington, and Daniel Boone). Others accompany individuals who made a noteworthy contribution to their chosen fields (banker Andrew Mellon, filmmaker D.W. Griffith, and pediatrician Dr. Spock). But when your subtitle is shared by books on actor Burt Lancaster, golfer Ben Hogan, and Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia — as well as Garcia’s chosen instrument, the guitar — well, let’s just say your book title begins to look a whole lot less mavericky.
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Cripes, she even stole my font for it!
you’re obviously a socialist without a taste for freshly slaughtered moose meat. this book is for and about an AMERICAN!! one who revealed herself as someone who doesn’t know much, has a white trash family and quit her job so she could put it all down in her memoir! she’s writing for gun and god nuts everywhere. an American Life indeed.
Hahaha. Couchgrouch FTW!
couchgrouch: another Palin hating mind reader. Ho hum.
WHY is this even here? Palin is a national joke, not an entertainer. Trash the idiot coverage EW
National joke? I think she’s the one laughing. People constantly underestimate her – including members of the Republican party in Alaska, some of which are sitting in prison because “the hockey mom” blew the whistle on their backroom deals.
You mean like the Senator she DIDN’T blow the whistle on because he was bringing in so much pork to Alaska? And what about her own backroom deals, like the one in which she asked the McCain people not to mention Todd’s membership in the Secessionists? She may be laughing all the way to the bank, but her lack of ethics and ability to twist things her way is not the route to the White House. Not now, not ever.
You forgot to mention that she used these same Republicans to further her political career and sold them out when it became expedient. The woman’s a sociopath.
Sue, were you referring to Obama or Palin? I couldn’t tell by your description involving lack of ethics and ability to twist things on their way to the White House.
Seemed it happened in 2008, not sure why it wouldn’t happen again in 2012.
It’s the corporate owned median and the white trash people who give her creedence. I wish she, and them, would go away.
You’re wrong, a Palin autobiography is bound to have some entertainment value
, too bad about the ghost writer, I’m sure it would have been much more fun without!
I don’t know…her “Alaska is beautiful” imagery was pretty entertaining. esp when recited by the Shat.
I’m not convinced she’s an American. Has anyone seen an actual birth certificate?
You mean like Obama? He hasn’t produce a birth certificate that I know of.
At least Obama talks like he has a high scholl education. Palin rode on the short bus to school.
You really need to get over the birth certificate thing. You are showing true ignorance.
Really?!?! lilymea Really?!?!
Oh, a jab at the disabled! You just follow Obama in lockstep, don’t you.
communist bloggers say she was born in Russia…which is ok because you can see it from Alaska. she gets extra points on the Hamburglar maze for working the word “American” into her book title. she needed at least one of the three ultra-patriotic buzzwords “Freedom, American, God” on her book somewhere. good job, Sarah!
Ugh, she needs to go away, FOREVER
I both loathe and am grateful to this woman. I loathe her because I think she is a complete and utter moron and represents all of the things I don’t like about this country (dirty politics, ignorance, zealotry, and hypocrisy to name a few). However, I think she unintentionally contributed to John McCain’s defeat and Obama’s victory. So thank you for that at least, Sarah Palin. Now please go far far away. (Unless you are running for president in 2012)
Actually Amy, John McCain lost MEN voters at a faster rate than WOMEN voters. Sarah had a very positive impact on the campaign. He would have lost in a landslide without her.
Sarah turned out enthusiastic crowds rivaling Obama’s crowds – not bad for a VP candidate.
And if you think Sarah is a moron, why don’t you run for governor in your state and blow the whistle on the “dirty politics” as you say. That’s what Sarah did.
Thank you MotherofThree my sentiment exactly.
Get a grip on reality. Moronic Palin was a gimmick, a shot in the dark, to get the presidency. McCain and she are idiots, clear and simple. Also, McCain is gay. He hit on a male friend of mine in an elevator before he was running for president.
Hi. Female Christian conservative here. McCain lost my vote because of Palin. Just wanted to put that out there.
I’m confused – you people keep describing Palin, and I think you’ve got the names mixed up – seems you are describing Obama.
Perhaps you are describing them both – perfectly.
If you’ve not figured it out yet – ALL POLITICIANS ARE CORRUPT AND DIRTY.
I can see how you dislike Palin, but then surely you dislike Obama for the same reasons, no? If not – you cannot call Palin a hypocrite, for you are the embodiment of that word.
I just dislike Palin a lot more because she his a much bigger hypocrite. But Obama is showing his true colors by not pushing through any needed legislation. He will probably be a one-term president unless he does something quick.
Hmm EW must be having a slow news day so in an effort to make the liberal bloggers happy (since the others have been able to write about Micheal Moore and Letterman this week) you’ve decided to bring up Palin’s book and nag it’s subtitle…gee how cruel can you get? Forget that it has been number 1 on Amazon for weeks now and it isn’t even released yet! This is a woman whose family was attacked to try and further Obama. How is that hope and change working out for you now? We have over 2 trillion in debt and the unemployment is up over 9%. Yeah Barack!
Hmmm, her book has dropped to #2 on Barnes and Noble, behind a children’s book. And who attacked her? It was not her hated MSM, but Alaska bloggers who had seen her in action, and wanted the nation to know about her unethical tendencies. Obama never mentioned her one time on the trail.
And hate to tell you, but Bush’s budget never included the money for his wars…Obama’s does. And our retirement account is all back, and companies are recovering. I am happy with Obama…the John and Sarah show would have attacked Iran by now, not worried a whit about health care reform, and run up the debt even faster.
Pray that you are right.
Your retirement is…all back? Companies are… recovering?
WTH are you living? Certainly not in America. My retirement is still down and we are still experiencing layoffs and slowdowns. How are companies recovering if the unemployment rate continues to rise? Surely these ‘recovering’ companies would be hiring if they were truly recovering.
You can be happy with Obama – but please be honest about what he has done – NOTHING. He is AS corrupt, if not more so, than Palin.
Some ask “Why cover this?” while others say they hate her and she should go away. But EW never misses a chance to diss or make fun of Sarah Palin, and as you can see by the posts, most of you do the same. So it gives a chance for all you types desperately in need of a life to join together in your mostly unfounded hatred.
Absolutely right, Spud. I don’t understand the hatred either. People become unhinged at the mere mention of Sarah Palin. If Sarah were a liberal eliciting this much hate, Nancy Pelosi would be shedding tears, worried about someone assasinating Sarah. But since she’s conservative, all the hatred is justified. Welcome to double-standard world.
I am much more worried about her and the rest of the right wing nutjobs encouraging someone to kill the President. Never have I see a liberal PRAY for Sarah’s illness or death, have you?
MotherofThree… you’re my new best friend
lol Sarah needs more ppl like you to stand up for whats true along side her. I’ll be her no. 1 volunteer for her 2012 campiagn, and you can her no.2 volunteer lol keep rockin’ 
God Bless
Sue, seriously, where are you? YES, YES, YES, – I’ve seen evil and death wished upon Palin, countless times.
Seriously, you need to wake up if you really do live in America.
spud, EW just pointed out that the title of her book was derivitive. it is…and that’s their job. no one said they hated Palin…just that she’s dumb, with a goofy family and she quit her job to write a book. those are all facts…not unfounded.
Couch, since you’re so much smarter than Palin, why don’t you get off your couch and run for mayor! Then try to get elected governor in your state, running against an incumbent from your own party. Oh, and then work across party lines to lay the groundwork for a $26 billion natural gas pipeline, the largest private infrastructure project in history.
C’mon Couch … you’re so much smarter than Sarah Palin. Give it whirl. Oh wait, you’d rather just sit on your a** and diss her on a message board for clueless entertainment junkies.
Hey there, clueless entertainment junkie!
I am not just talking about this article, but the Bullseye, SNL coverage, references to her kids, name it. Find one even slightly positive nugget in EW’s files that does not have Tina Fey’s name tied to it. And you help make my point about EW’s glee in hounding Ms. Palin: “EW just pointed out that the title of her book was derivitive (sic)”. True, it is, but can you find a similar diss of any of the other 18 books shown or reference in this article? You cannot.
How many memoirs have the title “Going Rogue” … LOL?
NONE … No one remembers the sub-titles anyway.
No actually she quit her job because she got a $7mil advance for her book. Hence the reason her husband, Todd quit his job at BP. Plus all that money that people keep donating to SarahPac because that is her answer to how to help Americans without health care.
People contribute to SarahPAC because they like her ideas on health care reform. Here are some of Sarah’s answers to help Americans without healthcare:
1. Cut taxes so businesses can afford to HIRE more people, and provide benefits.
2. Demonstrate political courage by reducing/eliminating lawsuit abuse.
3. Allow insurance co’s to compete across state lines, lowering premium costs, and opening up choices.
4. Make individual policies tax deductible
5. Let people contribute to Health Savings Accounts pre-tax for routine medical expenses.
6. Continue FREE health clinics by giving doctors tax credits for donating their time to serving the underinsured.
7. Allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada
8. Keep America’s private system intact so we can have cutting-edge research that benefits all citizens.
And none of that matters for squat as long as insurance companies drop people from their rolls at will and call domestic abuse a “pre-existing condition.” All the research and pills and whatnot won’t matter squat if people still aren’t insured.
Thom Geier, You sound like a stupid monron. Everybody knows that title and the meaning behind it except for a left wing kook like you.
moron
Only the paranoid right wing nut jobs truly believe that anyone who pokes fun at Sarah Palin or points out her obvious flaws is really a leftist hate monger. Facts are facts – there is very little original about Sarah Palin and absolutely nothing qualifies her to be a leader of any sort.
There is very little original about Sarah Palin?
Really? Hmmm, she was the first female mayor of her town, first female governor of Alaska, youngest governor of Alaska, first female GOP VP pick. And her book, though yet to be released, is on its way to becoming the best-selling political memoir of all-time.
She attracted record crowds to GOP rallies last fall while showing that a mother of five can be just as tough as male candidates with children.
Maybe you need to re-examine your definition of “original,” Katie.
It seems that Sarah is NOTHING if not original.
How many other memoirs are titled: “Going Rogue” ??? None.
“It seems that Sarah is NOTHING”
Well said! At least she is not bothered by facts since she does not read newspapers!
So she was a female mayor and a female governor. Big deal. Not original. Oh, but she did fire everyone who was not in support of her – that’s certainly original for a small city mayor. Petty, but original. So is pushing legislation that makes women pay for their rape kits. Yes, you’re right, I stand corrected, that’s pretty original, especially in a state that boasts the highest rape statistics. Best selling book, yes, best selling political memoir of all time? Time will tell. Doesn’t mean squat beyond the fact that a lot of people (and churches, I hear) are spending a lot of money on something that may or may not have anything worth reading in it, but if you think that’s some kind of an achievement, well, ok. She attracted crowds, yes. Tough politician? Hardly. Politician yes, because she can twist the truth, polarize the opposition, sling mud as well as any man – original? Not really.
Maybe you need to define original, Mother of Three, and maybe your idea of a leader is someone who’d rather make a buck than finish her commitment, who’s downright proud of her ignorance doncha know (wink wink) and who trots her kids out into the public eye and then gets lippy when they become the butt of tasteless jokes. I don’t think that’s very motherly or very leaderlike. I do think a woman can be a strong leader, and I do think this country could benefit with a woman at the helm, but Sarah Palin isn’t that woman. (And before you put words in my mouth, neither is Hillary CLinton.) Sarah is nothing but a narcissist, with very little to show for her limited experience in politics. I look forward to when the book really comes out and her words are used against her. I wonder – will she then blame the ghostwriter for getting it down wrong? The publisher for speeding up the release? The editor for making or not making changes? Sarah certainly won’t take any blame for any errors in the book, she likes to be a victim. Again, not orginal, and deifnitely not a leader quality.
GERLDINE FERARO was the FIRST woman Vice Presidential candidate
Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro to be his Vice-Presidential candidate on July 12, 1984
she attracts crowds and was a female VP on a losing GOP ticket. and a gov who quit her job to rake in the $$$ on a book. wow. read the transcripts of her interviews…she’s a joke and gets treated like one. I’m neither GOP or Demo but there’s no comparison with Obama. blaming Obama for the current state is like blaming a pitcher who takes over in the 8th inning, 10 runs down. the economy’s steadily improving with the nightmares of two botched wars to deal with. hell, any prez would need 20 years for all that. it’s doubtful a woman who didn’t know what the “Bush Doctrine” is would’ve known where to start mopping first. she’s a legend in her own gun.
Couch, you’re neither GOP or Demo or all that bright yourself. Your comments about Palin and Obama show that you don’t know much. I guess you don’t track Obama’s gaffes? You know, the man who thinks they speak Austrian in Austria, and claimed that his great-uncle and the Americans liberated Auschwitz when the Russians did that, oh and he also lied and said his parents were inspired by Selma to conceive him, despite the fact Selma occured more than three years after his birth.
Pull your head out of your couch! The man has no clue. And he’s screwing up worse than Bush ever could. It’s like going from BAD to WORSE.
Palin HELP!
Screwing up worse than Bush? Seriously? The man sat on his ranch when warned in August of 2001 that an air attack was likely…and did nothing but watch it happen! Then he sent our soldiers to Iraq to be killed and our money (or China’s money) to Haliburton to be wasted and unaccounted for, to the tune of 10 BILLION monthly for 6 years, not that Bin Laden had anything to do with Iraq. THEN he decided that torture was legitimate; that spying on citizens was fine, and stacked the Justice Dept. with yes men.
What has Obama done? Stabilized the economy…the stock market has rallied and continues to improve, giving people faith in companies again. He is trying to reform health care for all of us, not just doing something to benefit his rich white guy donors (the Bush tax cuts.) He is renewing our global friendships, reversing the Bush cowboy mantra of going it alone. He wants to improve the global climate, encourage new technology, and eliminate waste in government. I’d say he’s done just fine in 9 months,
Sue, you continue to amaze me! You honestly think Obama has your best interest at heart? You honestly don’t think he is just an extension of Bush? You honestly don’t think he is as corrupt as Bush? You honestly don’t think he wants to pass health care to shuttle money to his cronies just as Bush did with the war?
WAKE UP! SERIOUSLY!
GE is just sitting there waiting for health care to pass because Obama has GUARANTEED them the health records business. They stand to make Billions from just that one sector alone. And if you don’t think your taxes will be going up with health care reform, you really need a reality check.
No, Obama’s actions don’t JUST benefit the rich white guy donors, his actions ALSO benefit foreign donors as well.
I’m so glad he is improving the global climate to the point our allies want to eliminate the dollar – wow, way to go Obama!!!!
Thom, I think you’ll find that the lion’s share of memoirs carry the subtitle “A Life,” or, in the case of many Americans, “An American Life.” How this is an indictment of Sarah Palin as a person, I fail to see…
As a self proclaimed “maverick” and a “rogue” you’d think she and her ghost writer could have coined something ORIGINAL… but that woman doesn’t have an original thought in her air filled head… lol…
Fact check, CouchGrouch. Palin did not blow the whistle on any former legislators who are currently sitting in jail. She did grouse and complain about some of her co-workers who sat with her on the oil and gas commission job she held (until she suddenly quit). One co-worker got fined several thousand dollars for conducting some Republican Party business on-the-job. She complained about the Attorney General who got sick about her constant complaining. He never was fined or found guilty of anything. Palin had NOTHING to do with the 2006 FBI sting in Anchorage. She was just running for Gov at the same time, everyone knew that she likes to rat out people. So she just co-opted the identity of a corruption fighter. To those of us in Alaska who know her (mostly Conservatives) she is an exaggerator, whiner, bully, and quitter.
And lets not forget she gave her husband the use of her office to futher the goals of Alaska (aka the Palins).
Cool how she managed to teach her children about abstinence. And liberals say abstinent only sex ed doesn’t work! How funny!
Ha! I love all this stupid back and forth nonsense. Sarah Palin is a hack. No one outside of Alaska had heard of her before the election and now she’s trying to cash in on all the coverage. She had a policy that paid people to kill wolves so they wouldn’t drive down the moose population so people could hunt the moose. That is evil and wrong. So is Sarah Palin. As for Obama: 4 more years!
Mr. Rosewater: not to mention the cost of the license it takes to murder a moose… a bear or a caribou… outsiders were consistently sold high priced hunting licenses to kill big game, and here we had peeps gassing wolf families in their dens and murdering them from airplanes and helicopters… nice ethics SARAH… mass murder of one species to PROFIT off the murder of other species… NICE…
and even more sickening, she was proud to justify that kind of behavior. says alot about her methinks.
alaskagirl, I never mentioned any of those things. I don’t know how they relate to what I said about Palin. unless Obama invades a country that never threatened the US and kills tens of thousands of people, ruins the US reputation worldwide and runs up a massive deficit, things won’t get worse under him. the bandages will continue to leak from 8 years of Bush, but that’s not Obama’s fault.
if Obama did think that about Aushwitz, that’s hardly a gaffe but a common mistake. both the US and Russia liberated camps in ‘45. not knowing the Bush doctrine(recent, immediate political history) or being able to name what newspapers you read…that’s an idiot.
I think she’s talking about…other people…and mistakenly attributed it to you.
It should actually have been subtitled “A disgraceful American life”, and of course the actual title should have been “Going Rouge”
Sarah Palin may now add “best-selling author” to her remarkable list of personal accomplishments. She continues to grow in popularity, prestige, and power.
What personal accomplishments? Taking six years to finish an undergrad degree from like four different schools? Being mayor of the meth capital of Alaska? Being a VP on a ticket that was absolutely spanked? Serving a half-assed term as Alaska governor, where her popularity was based on the state doling out oil welfare?
People compare her to Nixon, and that’s insulting to NIXON.
Mother of 3—r u from alaska. If not you should move there. If palin did not look the way she did no one would even listen to her. No even the gun waving,gay hatig, racistn white trash people who follow her. The woman went to 5 different colleges to finally earn a degree, qt her post on the enery commission when the going got rough, and quit the governership 18 months prior to her first term being done. The crazy conservatives also known as the teabagging hat group came out to see her. Any conservative votes she picked up for mccain did not compare to the amount of inependent voters she lost for him. She could possibly be the nominne in 2012 for the gop as what’s left of the party would be dumb enough to nominate her, but she would be nothing mre than fodder in a general election
Way to go alaska girl and tell it how it is. Aso how hard is it for a woman with decent looks to get elected in a state that is mostly maile and ignorant to bein with. If she came to the lower 48 she would be spanked and sent back home.
Maybe they will put the pictures of the witch doctor holding her hands and speaking in tongues in the book so people will understand how crazy, histrionic,and bi polar this woman is. She goes overseas and speaks badly of an american president. What a hypocrite.
I won’t waste my time reading this book…Sarah needs to retire, she doesn’t govern, she dosn’t represent the working woman, and she is unbelievable! Michele Obama is far more interesting!
I would.
Michelle Obama is just as boring as Sarah Palin. Both like to pretend like they represent the average American woman, and both really don’t.
I understand Sarah Palin’s new book has a short but inclusive bibliography:
“All of Them”
the dollar is fallen
obama is fallen
palin is rising
will all of you stop ! Everyone knows it’s all Bush’s fault ! She inherited it !
reply to RLB : well it seems to me she has gotten your interest you have spent your valuable time not only posting here but reading the post !
Is this a joke? Who on earth would read this?