I knew Bill Minutaglio. Our boys went to school together, and he was my son's basketball coach one season. I met Molly Ivins, and always had great respect for her. ( )

Just as Franklin Roosevelt before her, Molly Ivins was accused of "betraying" her "class" when she looked beyond the blinders of her social privilege to the needs of the vast masses of underprivileged humanity. Growing up in a wealthy family in oil-rich Houston, Texas, she was very tall, very beautiful, and lived up to the reputation of red-haired women. She was blessed with a lion's share of personality and audacity. She defied her roots to become one of the most influential liberal journalists in America. Her short, brilliant bursts of insight were hilarious and painfully spot on. Shortly before Ivins's death, in her typical caustic fashion, she condemned American immigration policy: "We've already tried greed and stupidity; it's time to try something else"—a statement that could just as easily apply to any number of other contemporary issues. Minutaglio and Smith have done their research, and it shows. As a bonus, their fine writing, with its own brand of wit and irony, makes Mollie Ivins's life the page-turner that it ought to be. Where are you Hollywood? What a great film her life story would make. Put a red wig on Charlize Theron and get on with it! (March 2010) ( )

I don't know why I picked this biography up, I never read many (if any) of Ivins' columns or articles, but once I started reading, I found it hard to stop. The biography, written by people who knew her well, is both touching and harsh. The Molly Ivins the public knew and the real Ivins are both intertwined in this (hopefully) honest account of her life. ( )

Disappointing biography of Ivins. Despite working for Ivins one of the authors provided little that was not fairly common knowledge. Hopefully, future biographies of Ms Ivins will be better. ( )