And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress Book

I haven't read too many political autobiographies/memoirs, but the ones I have read have always seemed to be way too self-serving where the politician's worst crime was THINKING about stealing a candy bar from the grocery store and all their stories seemed to curtail nicely into their political agenda (Orrin Hatch's autobiography actually has one of his staffers talking to him about considering an abortion--like that ever happened).

Charlie Rangel, on the other hand, is an incredibly honest politician. Though vague about a lot of his past, he does admit that he did some dirt growing up in Harlem. He's also incredibly self-effacing (he always gives credit to the people who have made him a success in life; and I love the way he talks about his becoming a decorated war hero in Korea, which he constantly describes as getting shot in the ass), profane, and funny ("Every weekend my uncle used to whip my ass just to be whipping my ass"), and really tells it like it is. He pulls no punches when talking about his stance against Iraq or even about his disappointment in supporting Aristide.

It is definitely the least contrived, most optimistic, and refreshingly honest political memoir I've ever read.