Category: deer in the headlights

Deer In The Headlights by Levi Johnston



In January I posted about reading Levi Johnston’s “Deer in the Headlights,” and I wanted to follow up with a short post about the book.

I’m giving it five stars and there’s a reason for this. It’s an easy read, it sounds honest enough, and I’m glad I got to read Levi’s side of the story. He seems like a simple, uncomplicated guy, and for him to take on the task of actually getting a book of his own out I think is commendable in itself. I don’t mean that in a snarky way either. I know how hard it is to write a book, and I’ve never even tackled a memoir. Most young guy Levi’s age don’t even read books let alone write them. For that alone he would have received at least four stars from me. And even if he had help with the book, he did it.

If Levi wanted to get his story out and show what he’s really like with this book, as opposed to what’s been written about him in the mainstream media and said by the Palin family, he succeeded. This post is not a knock against the Palin family. I’m not a political person (I don’t trust any politician.)But as I’ve said before, you don’t get to the position of becoming Governor of a state the size of Alaska…or any size for that matter…by being a simple girl with a simple dream. The Palin family, good old simple Todd included, are hardcore players and all that simple working man nonsense never passed with me. I could say the same thing about our current President, or anyone out there in a position of political power. It simply stands to reason. We aren’t talking about simple down home folk when it comes to winning in politics.

But I did find a certain amount of innocence in Levi’s book, where he was thrown, pardon the cliche, in with the wolves and they ate him up alive…or at least they tried. I believe his descriptions about certain family members. I like that I didn’t get a sense of bitterness either. After all he’s been through, he sounds as if he’s still basically a nice person who is willing to maintain a balance and give credit where it is due, which is more than most in his position would have done. In fact, I didn’t come away from the book thinking how terrible the Palin family is. I came away with the same thought I had before I started the book: these are complicated, powerful, ambitious people who know how to get what they want through determination and manipulation. I’m not being snarky about that either. Without ambitious people like Sarah and Todd Palin we wouldn’t get anything done.

I didn’t get the impression Levi was on the defensive, which is more than I can say about other books like this. Though I’m sure he could have sounded that way, it sounded more to me as if he came to terms with his situation and put an end to it with this book. Or, at the very least, he came to terms and showed us who he is. I could be wrong. I could be reading far more into this than I’m supposed to be reading. But I like to think that people write books like this to tell their stories, share their personal feelings, and let the world know who they are. I believe he did this in DITH and he did it well, too. I would recommend the book to anyone as well written, fast paced, and nicely executed. And I’m going to give it five stars because it deserves all that and more.

Deer in the Headlights by Levi Johnston



While going through my reading list last night, I noticed that I’d made a note to check out Levi Johnston’s book, “Deer in the Headlights.” I’m still reading Merv Griffin’s bio, and two different novels. But nothing is really keeping my interest right now. This happens every so often and I try to find something that I normally wouldn’t read.

In this case, it’s going to be Levi Johnston’s book. I’m doing it partly because it isn’t something I’d normally read and partly because I’m curious to hear his version of what’s been played out in the press. I know people have strong opinions about Levi, in both directions. But I honestly don’t have any. To me he seemed like an overzealous kid, with a little too much testosterone and not enough knowledge. And when he got caught up in the vicious cycle of the Palin family, he wound up over his head. Trust me, I’m not making any specific commentary about the Palin family. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about them unless one of them were actually running for office. But, in a general sense, it would be impossible to believe that people who have been so highly publicized in the media aren’t pros at media manipulation. In other words, like them or not, none of them are simple folk with simple dreams. And I’d like to read Levi’s side of the story.