Twenty year old Bristol Palin, daughter of former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, has written a memoir and she’ll be signing copies.
The new book is called Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far
Bristol is of course most famous for being the daughter of John McCain’s 2008 running mate, Sarah Palin. She competed on Season 11 of “Dancing with the Stars” and also made appearances on the TLC travelogue “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” and ABC’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” A year after the birth of her son, the single mother became a spokesperson for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Along with her new jaw, Bristol will be moving to LA to star in a new yet to be titled reality/docu-series alongside Chris and Kyle Massey for the BIO network. “Not Afraid Of Life” will be in bookstores on June 24, 2011.
Book Signing Dates
June 29, 2011 6:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
118 E. Broadway Suite 238
Bloomington, MN 55425
952-854-1455
July 9, 2011 2:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Desert Ridge Marketplace
21001 N. Tatum Blvd. Suite 42
Phoenix, AZ 85050
480-538-8520?
From the Publisher
The oldest daughter of Sarah Palin and single mother goes beyond the headlines, offering readers an inside look at her life, her world, and the things that matter most, including her family and the faith that keeps her centered. When her mother became the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in 2008, Bristol Palin was instantly propelled into the national spotlight, becoming the focus of intense public and national media scrutiny at the age of seventeen.
In Not Afraid of Life, Bristol gives readers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at her life for the first time, from growing up in Alaska to coming of age amid the media and political frenzy surrounding her mother’s political rise; from becoming a single mother while still a teenager to coping as her relationship with her baby’s father crumbled publicly—not once, but twice. Bristol talks about the highs and lows of her appearance on ABC-TV’s Dancing with the Stars, including the aching hours of practice, the biting criticisms, and the thrill of getting to the show’s finals. She speaks candidly of her aspirations for the future and the deep religious faith that gives her strength and inspiration. Plainspoken and disarmingly down to earth, Bristol offers new insight and understanding of who she is and what she values most.
Source: barnesandnoble.com
Dear Bristol Palin,
You might not be afraid of life–and that’s great–but we (“we” as in “the Western Hemisphere”) are afraid of your mom. Please tell your mom to step away from podiums, lecture halls and indoor or outdoor auditoriums of any kind. Whenever she speaks, fear and dread strike the hearts of young and old alike. Please, for the love of all things holy, tell her to stop.
Thank you.
What’s the old saying…”if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
Peace
To clarify my statement above: If you can’t say something nice about (Bristol) then don’t say anything at all. I’d support that same statement if it were Sasha Obama, Chelsea Clinton, Caroline Kennedy…
Peace..
Begins From Within
a) There is something in America called freedom of speech, which allows an individual to say something that is not nice about someone else as long as it is not slanderous.
b) If you reread my comment, you’ll see that I didn’t say anything “not nice” about Bristol. I was commenting on her mother.
c) Her mother truly DOES scare me.
Well maybe Obama , Pelosi, or Reid truly DO scare me but I would never think to criticize their children because of their parent. Why the negativity directed toward a 20 year old girl who wants to tell the story of how her life has changed because of a mistake she made? Haven’t even read her book so why fear that others might be interested in what she has to say?
Why is world?
It just seems to be a human trait to want to protect the speech of people with whom we agree. For the First Amendment, that is not good enough. So it is really important that we protect First Amendment rights of people no matter what side of the line they are on.
Floyd Abrams
@fcc: I appreciate that, and I respect that fact that you extend that courtesy to people on whose side you are not on. I also do not look favorably upon those who ridicule the children of those in public office, because in my opinion, it’s a cheap shot.
However, by writing this book, Bristol has opened herself up to criticism, simply because she is the daughter of one of the most polarizing public figures to have emerged in recent years. Someone who had sought the second-to-highest seat in the land is surely deserving of criticism, especially when she has used herself as a tool to spread her party’s propaganda.
Again, I have nothing against Bristol. For her mother, I can’t say the same.
Again, where in my original comment did I criticize Bristol?
When you say we I assume that you think you speak for the entire western hemisphere? As the old saying goes, speak for yourself, and I will speak for myself in November 2012.
You’re right. I meant to say those in the Western Hemisphere WITH A BRAIN. This has zero to do with Democrat vs. Republican. This has to do with a woman who believes dinosaurs lived 6,000 years ago and who doesn’t have a basic understanding of American history, yet wants to run for office.
So you think that only people who agree with you have a brain? Maybe it’s all of us who have a brain and you are the one who doesn’t. Just because we don’t agree with you does not mean that we don’t have a brain, only that we don’t agree.
I’m sure she knows more factual American History than those being taught today. She was taught back when we took pride in the great and wonderful feats of our Country. Barack Obama is the most polarizing figure in our Nation’s history. He uses class warfare and race baiting to rule from his lofty perch. Just speaking the truth! I bet Sarah knows how many states we have and how old her children are.
It’s amazing that you appointed yourself spokesperson for the entire Western Hemisphere! It is even more amazing that you believe the entire Western Hemisphere is afraid of her! If that were the case, there would be no need to keep her away from podiums, lecture halls, and auditoriums…she would be there by herself. To the contrary, she attracts huge audiences because she inpires hope, leadership, and words that have not been heard for a long time. The reason that she attracts people isn’t because they are so afraid of her. That is totally illogical! Why would you choose a site that is announcing her daughter’s book signing to malign Sarah if you have nothing against Bristol?
Clearly, you have not read the original comments carefully. Thus, I will repost my response to fcc regarding your last sentence:
I also do not look favorably upon those who ridicule the children of those in public office, because in my opinion, it’s a cheap shot.
However, by writing this book, Bristol has opened herself up to criticism, simply because she is the daughter of one of the most polarizing public figures to have emerged in recent years. Someone who had sought the second-to-highest seat in the land is surely deserving of criticism, especially when she has used herself as a tool to spread her party’s propaganda.
Of course she fills lecture halls. Sarah Palin has a lot of supporters. That is what is scary. It’s frightening when knowledge and progressive thinking takes a backseat to snappy one-liners and a marketable image.
Looking forward to reading Bristol’s book coautored with Nancy French.Bristol has done a great service to teens by talking about the hardship of being a single mother at a young age. Her work with the Candies Foundation including appearances in two PSAs has helped to publicize a problem that is too often glamorized on tv reality shows.I for one agree with the recent call for more civil discourse and hope others will be open minded and kindhearted when discussing those with different political or social positions.
Oh yes, that Bristol Palin is such a selfless humanitarian, yes indeed. I guess that’s why she accepted a $262,500 payment for her great “service” and “work” with the Candies Foundation. Yeah, I guess that must be why. And as for mama Palin, I am soooo looking forward to having such an intelligent and learned lady as our possible future leader. We can only live in hope that she gets on another ticket. What was it Matt Damon said again? Oh yes… “she’s going to have the nuclear codes.” And that will make me sleep so soundly. Maybe we’ll even have a reality show of the whole Palin clan from inside the White House. Yippee!!!!
Maybe we’ll even have a reality show of the whole Palin clan from inside the White House. Yippee!!!!
I agree with you on this one.
For those more interested in the truth vs politically based bashing of all things Palin here is the statement by Neil Cole of the Candies Foundation about Bristol’s involvement. See complete statement on Huffingto Post.
“Nonprofit paid Bristol Palin seven times what it spent on actual teen pregnancy prevention.” This is the headline flying around the internet today. Unfortunately, it is entirely off-base. Bristol Palin has been a successful vehicle to raise awareness about teen pregnancy prevention.
The Candie’s Foundation chose Bristol Palin to join the foundation’s teen pregnancy prevention efforts because we knew she would generate tremendous attention for the issue. Her involvement has been more successful than we imagined. Bristol’s work — which has included two television PSAs, one viral video, multiple print PSAs, two town hall meetings, and six television interviews — has resulted in more than ONE BILLION media impressions. This is an unprecedented reach for a teen pregnancy prevention campaign
@fcc Ummmm… you expect people to take you seriously when you quote the Huff Post?
I realized that I should have quoted more of your post than I did. “And as for mama Palin, I am soooo looking forward to having such an intelligent and learned lady as our possible future leader. We can only live in hope that she gets on another ticket. What was it Matt Damon said again? Oh yes… “she’s going to have the nuclear codes.” And that will make me sleep so soundly. Maybe we’ll even have a reality show of the whole Palin clan from inside the White House. Yippee!!!!” I totally agree with you on this entire paragraph.
As to her being hired by the Candies foundation, I also think that if she helps convince one teenager to be carefull to not get pregnant, than the money is worth it. It’s their money to spend so who’s business is it how they spend it? It isn’t my tax money like so many things that are being paid for that I don’t agree with. She found that she had made one mistake in getting pregnant, but at least she didn’t turn it into two by covering it up with an abortion.
I agree with all of this
Maybe for some people having abortion was a mistake, but for others it wasn’t. Did you ever think of that?
I have two children who are adopted. When my son was a child he heard a newscaster talking about abortion. He wanted to know “what is abortion.” After explaining the term to him, he looked at me and said, ” I’m sure glad my birth mom didn’t do that to me.” I’ve always thought that is what an unborn child would say if given the chance.
I can’t believe it is ever right for the unborn child.
There are people who might say it is a mistake, but unfortunately, since their mothers decided not to let them be born, they have no voice. So some of us have decided to be that voice for them.
How has Bristol had “hardship” being a single mother? Certainly, whatever mental or emotional hardships she may have had are hers, and hers alone. But from an economic standpoint, her “hardship” as a single mother does not represent the hardship of the average young single mother in America. She comes from a wealthy family with a myriad of connections. She does not have to struggle juggling two jobs to support herself and her child. She does not have to put her child in daycare and wonder and worry all day as to whether her child is getting the proper care. Her child will go to a good school, will have proper medical care, and will always have a roof over his head. Again, I’m not belittling her. I have no doubt having a child at 18 takes an emotional toll. But she should not be held as a comparison to the average single teenage mother.
EXACTLY.
Exactly right. She can afford to hire 10 people working full time to cater to her child and therefore does not represent the average single teenage mother. She is not qualified to lecture anyone about her “hardships” because this is just a ploy to sell more of her books.
Please cite evidence that she “employs 10 people working full time to cater to her child”. Is simply telling someone about your life experience considered “lecturing”?Who is “qualified” in your eyes to talk about the “hardships” in their lives? Please give us a list of “qualified’ people that are allowed to talk or write and we are allowed to listen to or read.
Please learn to read. John did not write that she “employs 10 people,” but that SHE CAN AFFORD TO.
Well maybe you’ll learn about her “hardship” when you read her book. Life brings us many surprises when we are open to listening to people with a different point of view.
Clearly you have not listened to any of Bristol’s speeches, PSA’s, etc. She points out that she does have certain advantages that others don’t and addresses the fact that many will struggle to survive and how waiting to have children will eliminate unnecessary struggles for such people. But she herself takes personal responsibility for her son. Prior to Dancing with the Stars she had a day job and had her son in day care. She does not “come” from a wealthy family. Only in recent years with Sarah’s books and speaking engagements, etc has the Palins been wealthy. Prior to that they were a working class family until Sarah became governor of AK. Even then Todd still worked and they were not wealthy. But even Bristol has had to give up a lot having her child out of wedlock. Like other unwed mothers, it is difficult to date. She has had to postpone going to college and does a juggling act just like all unwed mothers. She tells her story because she personally experiences some of these struggles and others she has become aware of and wants to help young girls to avoid them. Bravo for her!
Ok, fine. However, the original comments about “hardship” were made in response to “faye’s” comment. Read the entire thread.
FYI: By “ok, fine” I don’t mean that I agree with you. I’m just tired of explaining what I wrote to people who fail to read the entire thread.
@Lauren: Bristol made the same mistake that many young American girls have made (including myself).. the difference between Bristol and me is that her baby bump grew on national television under the criticism of people who hate her mother. She might not have the same financial hardships that many of us have, but we haven’t had to face her hardships either. I would take my financial struggles anyday over being thrown into a political lions’ den. And before you say it’s not political and that she asked for criticism – politics is at the heart of every arguement/discussion about the Palins or any other political family.. and she did NOT ask for her mom to run for vp.
Nope, but she did say on national tv that she “would love to see” her mother go out on the campaign trail again in 2012 and that she’d “go along with her.” She got pregnant, unwed, and that did not look good for her mother’s campaign. It was seen as such a liability that they even pushed for a shotgun wedding. That did not pan out so then she did HERSELF the service of doing an abstinence “PSA” for 250K, bought herself a house and some plastic surgery. Can your average pregnant teen do that? No they can’t. So is that what the average teen has to “learn” from reading her “memoir”? It’s no different than the movie star, dripping in excess, who gets on tv and scolds us all for not driving a hybrid car. I’m sorry, but I actually WORK for a living. And now Bristol intends to… what? Quietly raise her child away from the media? Umm no, quite the opposite. She intends to raise him on reality tv in Los Angeles with her new reality tv roomies, the Massey bros. I honestly can’t take this girl any more seriously than Paris Hilton. These people are not role models. They’re media-whores.
“politics is at the heart of every arguement/discussion about the Palins or any other political family”
@Annabella, you are exactly right about this. And guess what? That’s the point. Without her mother, Bristol is no one… there is no PSA, no book deal, no reality TV. Without her name, she’s just a young, dumb girl who got knocked up, that’s it. And to imply that she is not liking or using the media attention (by saying she didn’t ask for her mom to run for VP) is absurd. She’s lapping it up with a big silver spoon. If she weren’t, as Bill said, she would be quietly raising her kid. When she pawns her child’s privacy for a reality TV stint, when she accepts large payments for PSA endorsements, and when she puts it all out there in a book, she IS ASKING for criticism.
It’s comical to read the name of the book and then realize she’s only 20 years old. I mean, let’s get real. How are you qualified at 20 to talk about “life”? Bristol is a “celebrity” opportunist like her mother, putting out a book, because like her mother, she knows, that publishing is the fastest ways to millions.
Are you jealous that you aren’t as well known as she is? After all the time that has passed since DWTS season 11, is any one else from the show searched for on the net as much as she is. You must have an curiosity about her, considering you had to search for her to find this so you could comment on it.
I am going to buy her book and I plan to watch the reality show with Kyle and Chris. I think it has taken great Bristol great courage to write this book which does go to show she is not afraid to live. I wish Bristol, Tripp and all the Palins much success in life. Let’s face it, if her last name was anything but Palin, she would be getting applause for being a single mother.
She may be only 20 years old. But she has gone through quite a lot in those few years. Having a child out of wedlock is common these days and is almost accepted as normal. But she is treated as a wh*re even though she has basically only had one boyfriend. She has the maturity now to understand that young people should stop and think before having sex and having children out of wedlock. For her to speak out about this is a really good thing. Even when she was on DWTS, she was subjected to hate mail and death threats despite the fact that she is just a sweet young woman! She cannot even have corrective dental surgery for an overbite situation without remarks like carrying her jaw with her. People usually do carry all the parts of their body with them! Even though she is young she has quite a story to tell!
Not only do I find Bristol Palin a beautiful girl, but also I think she has withstood an enormous amount of unfair criticism from a lot of people that just can not get past who her mom is. This girl is so strong for only being 20 years old. She has been mocked and taunted by so many including 50-year-old comedians who embrace every type of lifestyle, and have to resort to a filthy mouth for a hoped laugh or two. Also there have been those who resent the youth and beauty and yes wealth and fame of the Palin girls and it just drives them over a cliff. No understanding what makes some people resent her wealth and fame beyond their own envy of this kid. Yes she is brave because like her mother, Bristol stands with class and dignity on her faith. I am excited to read what Bristol has to say.
The British are coming! The British are coming!
Btw, @latp You’re cracking me up dude.
Paul, latp makes a lot of observations that you might not agree with, but it is their right to make them. You have the same right to make observations, but your posts are just attacks with nothing positive. And the jury is still out on the Paul Revere story. Wikipedia is frozen until they check it out. If you read the writings of Paul Revere, he does back up Sarah’s comment.
LOL!!!!!
“Nothing shows a man’s character more than what he laughs at.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
LOL!!!!!!!
I’m fairly certain I have nothing to learn about life and its hardships from a 20-yr-old reality TV contestant.
I am old enough to be her grandmother, but since I have never had death threats against me or white powder that was said to be anthrax sent to me, I could learn what that is like from her. I was not pregnant as a teenager, but reading her book might help me guide my grandchildren in the right direction when they are teens. You’re never too old to learn, and you can learn from someone younger than you.
Really? You need Bristol Palin to help you “guide” your grandchildren? Really really? I don’t know what to say about that, except that reading through these comments, I see you’ve made an awful lot of them. Obsess much?
Since you appear to not be a Bristol Palen fan, but you are here, I would say that you might be obsesed with trashing her. And yes, I do think that her experience with being a young mom could help guide my grandchildren and others. I only spend a short time now and then on the net, and I found this site because I am looking forward to reading her book, but I am far from obsesed. I have a full time job and volunteer work that takes up most of my time.
Who’s Bristol Palen? Just askin’.
Oh my, the anti-choicers have shown up. That’s what this discussion is all about for some of you. Not about Bristol or the fact that her mother can’t name a single newspaper and has a looser grasp on politics and basic American history than a third grader. It’s that the Palins are anti-choice. And that’s all that matters to you.
Little Bristol made mommy look very bad (as if she needed any help with that) to the extreme right-wingers and Tea Partyers during her lame campaign for a seat in the White House ‘gee golly doncha know’ by getting pregnant out of wedlock. So now little Bristol is on a damage control campaign — a campaign for which she was paid a cool quarter million for her “public service.” And her Fan Club of Four are here touting her “hardship” and what we can all learn from a reality TV losing-contestant. I would laugh, were it not sad. I am however looking forward to the sequel book: “Not Afraid of Plastic Surgery: My Face So Far.”
And what are you doing here? This is a site about book signings. And the book is Bristol’s. If you are interested in buying her book and having it signed, than you are in the right place. If you are not here for that reason, than you only came here to spread hate. My guess is the second option. I am here for the first option. Why don’t you go and check out to see if Weiner is writing a book that you can go to a signing for, you might enjoy that one more than Bristol’s
Here’s a tip for you, free of charge: then/than. They’re not the same word.
I just have to ask. What the heck does Weiner have to do with this discussion? How does bringing him into the discussion change the fact that Sarah Palin is a colossal moron and her daughter’s only claim to fame, besides being an unfortunate progeny, is a chin implant and reality tv? By the way, that’s a *rhetorical* question. I’m not actually interested in your response, ok dear.
Pmt, this might not have occurred to you, but some of us read this blog REGULARLY, and we are free to comment on any blog post we choose. If you don’t like that, well that’s just too bad for you, and you’re not going to change anyone’s opinion about the Palin clan. Really – don’t let us keep you up at night.
Now I, for one, am officially putting you on “ignore.” I suggest others do the same. That way you can sit here and argue with yourself. 😀
You are right, Quint. Nobody is going to change their minds about the “Palin Clan.” You hate them, you like them, or you are just neutral. After all this time, if you are neutral, then you are likely to remain so.
Yeah, everyone should be afraid of Sarah Palin, especialy those who rip off the taxpayers. Funny how people like Lauren are so AFRAID of Sarah Palin … what exactly are you afraid of, Lauren? The fact that she took on corruption in her state? Well, that would put you on the same side as the big oil companies and the corrupt officials in the Alaska Republican party.
So, let me ask Lauren … are you a corrupt oil lobbyist or a corrupt Republican in Alaska? Because that is what Sarah Palin DID as governor. She put the fear of GOD into the people who were abusing their positions to enrich themselves at the public trogh. She stood up for the little guys and put the interests of Alaskans ahead of the SPECIAL INTERESTS.
If that scares you, then I guess we can infer a lot about your character.
Either you don’t read … or you’re corrupt.
Relax, Nicole. You’ll blow a gasket. Let the intelligent and worldly Sarah Palin speak for herself 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRkWebP2Q0Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rXmuhWrlj4
As far as Sarah Palin goes, neutral is fine. The truth is on her side; anybody open to it will like Sarah. You may not want her for president, but she is a hard working, good person. In AK, she fixed a corrupt Republican party (which is why a lot of GOP don’t like her) and she fixed the big oil companies up there so that they stopped ripping the people off.
As far as Bristol Palin goes, she was hired by a pro-life group and she said ‘yes’. Don’t be upset that she makes money and supports herself and her son.
As far as abortions go, “I’ve noticed that all the people who support abortions have already been born.”
How can she do this to her precious little boy? He will grow up hating his own father! Bristol is turning out to be a self-serving liar – wonder who she learned that from?
Poor Tripp.