The Faith and Values of Sarah Palin: What She Believes and What It Means for America

Mansfield, who has already written about the faiths of George Bush and Barack Obama, joins with writing partner Holland to analyze the faith of the next logical subject: Sarah Palin, a Pentecostal who is among the probable contenders for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Palin, the authors rightly note, is among America's most polarizing figures. This analysis sheds some light on the topic, but not much. The authors say they've done research, but much of their reconstruction of Palin's life and career in Alaska is unsourced and merely rhetorically overheated (Palin's pastor is a "beloved man of god). A chapter about Palin's husband, Todd, is especially lightweight and speculative ("He seems to have lost a sense of himself during this time). Although they spend much time delineating her leadership qualities, they are largely silent about her decision to resign as Alaska's leader. The public record, including Palin's own words, is sufficient for this to have been a more substantive analysis of an important topic. (Sept.)