Paddy Ashdown’s autobiography was hailed as one of the most readable and exciting political life stories ever written of all – precisely because it was so very much more.
This is the autobiography of an old-fashioned Man of Action, an adventurer, to be compared more readily to Fitzroy Maclean than David Steel. Ashdown’s years as MP for Yeovil and leader of the Liberal Democrats pale alongside his time as a Royal Marine Commando, in the Special Boat squadron, as a spy, on military service in Northern Ireland and Indonesia, and then subsequently – perhaps his finest and most heroic role, as the UN’s High representative in war-torn Bosnia. As one reviewer remarked: “This must be the first political memoir to offer advice on the best way to execute a jungle ambush and on how to treat an open wound using red ants.”
Ashdown’s appeal – which explains this books’s hardback bestseller status – is that he transcends party political allegiances, and is seen as a genuinely honest and decent man unafraid to take on the hardest challenges.
A Fortunate Life: The Autobiography of Paddy Ashdown
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A hearty raconteur, Lord Ashdown has written a winner. --Good Book Guide, September 2010
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'Ashdown has a terrific tale to tell, and he tells it well.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Paddy Ashdown once gave a friend of mine a piece of advice: "there are few sins in moving too quickly".
Reading his immensely enjoyable memoirs, it is easy to see that Ashdown lived his life by that very rule. From his days in the Special Boat Service, through a life in politics and eventually in the managerial post of his career -- as the UN's point man in helping Bosnia-Herzegovina emerge from a devastating war -- the British politician has always moved quickly, sought to take the initiative and capture as much enemy territory before his adversaries have even realised an attack was under way.
Lord Ashdown says he has led a most fortunate life. "I was a soldier at the end of the golden age of imperial soldiering; a politician while politics was still a calling rather than a profession and an international peace builder backed by Western power, before Iraq and Afghanistan drained the West of both influence and morality."
I suspect he is being a bit too modest here. Luck and fortune come not to those who wait for a propitious moment, but to those who shape and seize opportunities. As the SBS motto has it, Who Dares Wins. Daring and swiftness of action can, of course, sometimes backfire. In the end of the chapter about his Bosnia experience, Ashdown admits he probably got out of the country too early, leaving a number of crucial reforms unfinished. In the chapter about his ultimately aborted appointment as the UN chief in Kabul, the reader gets the sense that he probably assumed too quickly that Afghan president Hamid Karzai would welcome his role. But the times when Ashdown's desire for momentum let him down are few and far in between.
"A Fortunate Life" has an easy style, as do Ashdown's autumnal reflections. The reader is not encumbered by faux philosophical observations, but easily-worn insights. A great book and so far one of my favourite reads this year.
Reading his immensely enjoyable memoirs, it is easy to see that Ashdown lived his life by that very rule. From his days in the Special Boat Service, through a life in politics and eventually in the managerial post of his career -- as the UN's point man in helping Bosnia-Herzegovina emerge from a devastating war -- the British politician has always moved quickly, sought to take the initiative and capture as much enemy territory before his adversaries have even realised an attack was under way.
Lord Ashdown says he has led a most fortunate life. "I was a soldier at the end of the golden age of imperial soldiering; a politician while politics was still a calling rather than a profession and an international peace builder backed by Western power, before Iraq and Afghanistan drained the West of both influence and morality."
I suspect he is being a bit too modest here. Luck and fortune come not to those who wait for a propitious moment, but to those who shape and seize opportunities. As the SBS motto has it, Who Dares Wins. Daring and swiftness of action can, of course, sometimes backfire. In the end of the chapter about his Bosnia experience, Ashdown admits he probably got out of the country too early, leaving a number of crucial reforms unfinished. In the chapter about his ultimately aborted appointment as the UN chief in Kabul, the reader gets the sense that he probably assumed too quickly that Afghan president Hamid Karzai would welcome his role. But the times when Ashdown's desire for momentum let him down are few and far in between.
"A Fortunate Life" has an easy style, as do Ashdown's autumnal reflections. The reader is not encumbered by faux philosophical observations, but easily-worn insights. A great book and so far one of my favourite reads this year.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Well you will finish the book wondering why we never trusted this man to run the country, a decent honest chap who had a life of trying to do good for others, apart from proportional representation.
It almost has you in tears reading about relationships with people in the Balkans suffering during the war.
well worth reading and its about someone who actually had a life rather than reading about celebrities who have done nowt.
It almost has you in tears reading about relationships with people in the Balkans suffering during the war.
well worth reading and its about someone who actually had a life rather than reading about celebrities who have done nowt.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Big Annie
Format:Hardcover
Most books take a while to get into but not this one - I was riveted from the prologue and then couldn't put it down - I laughed and cried in equal measure. In between times I was living the experiences with him. I've fallen in love with Bosnia and now want to see it for myself. What a book. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
christmas present
I purchased this for my husband for christmas and he was quite happy when he opened it, he has not finished reading it yet but is enjoying it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by shannon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating
I know a book is good when stop noticing where I am on my tube journey to work - slightly dangerous, but I like to, y'know, live life on the edge - and whilst reading this book, I... Read more
Published 3 months ago by HannHearts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memories Revisited
Having been one of Paddy's Troop Commanders in 'E' Company of 41 Commando, Royal Marines, I was intrigued to read of our common work way back in 1971-1972! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ian Watson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny, moving and interesting account of a remarkable life
It is a tribute to Paddy Ashdown's varied and fascinating careers that even hardened politicos reading his autobiography do not express regret at how relatively briefly his British... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mark Pack
4.0 out of 5 stars
wow, what a life
I had no idea Paddy had lead such an interesting and influencial life. Loved it. Great respect for him. His family sound fantastic too.
Published 15 months ago by S. Mcnally
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fortunate indeed, but a life lived to the full
This is a superbly well-written and fantastically honest, humourous, gently self-deprecatory account of the life of a man who had the great good fortune to have a solidly loving... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Josquine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Re-living a period with Paddy Ashdown
I bought a Kindle version of Paddy Ashdown's book and that was a mistake. I should have bought a printed copy. Why was this? Read more
Published 18 months ago by Alan T. Lovegreen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Readable
Paddy Ashdown describes his extraordinary life with honesty and a sensitivity that one would expect. Read more
Published 22 months ago by D. J. Andrews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Paddy Ashdown (autobiography).
I'm about 3/4 of the way through this book & am thoroughly enjoying it.His life before politics is absolutely fascinating,& the amount of "behind the scenes" talking that goes on... Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2010 by Ms. M. L. Maclean
5.0 out of 5 stars
A furtunate life turned out to be a fortunate read
I have always admired Paddy Ashdown and have even more admiration for him after reading A Fortunate Life. It is full of interest and totally absorbing. I fully recommend it.
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Joan S. Denham
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