Amanda Coyne

I would give this 4.5 stars, but not quite 5. This is a good overview of the influence of the oil industry in Alaska politics as well as the story of the Ted Stevens era and the rise and fall of Sarah Palin's Alaskan political career. Of particular interest are the chapters in how the community of Wasilla changed as a result of the Alaskan pipeline boom of the 1970s, a story typically focused on the North Slope, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.

An excellent read; certainly one that appeals to my perspective on the Republican party, but informative nonetheless. I had always known about people in Alaska being paid to live in Alaska and that it pretty much depended on the oil industry, but this book takes that simple narrative and expands it significantly while weaving in the story of Alaskan politics.