In Twice as Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power, Newsweek Senior Editor Marcus Mabry sets out to unravel the contradictions surrounding the "pianist-figure skater-football fan turned Sovietologist" we know as Condoleezza Rice, the first Black woman to be Secretary of State, the first female National Security Advisor -- and the first female, first minority and the youngest Provost at Stanford University -- and in 1964, the first Black student admitted to study at the Birmingham Southern Conservatory of Music. Mabry interviewed Rice's family, friends and colleagues, and trudged through her past to find out how "Condo" (the nickname her father gave her) became "Condi" (the nickname President George W. Bush sometimes uses to reference her).

Whenever possible, Mabry seems to have gotten both sides of the story -- having spoken with Rice's critics and friends. Mabry does a great job of analyzing Rice. He details a contradiction and then connects that contradiction to her past. For instance, he estimates that her sheltered middle-class upbringing is responsible for Rice's views on race. Mabry believes that as her striver parents were raising her parallel to the Civil Rights Movement, they taught her to ignore the view others -- racist Whites -- may have of her and believe what she wanted to believe of herself. Mabry believes that this concept of choosing to believe what one wants explains the contradictions surrounding her support of President Bush's decision to invade Iraq. In his most profound analysis of Rice, Mabry estimates that her appreciation of a certain type of music signifies an inner unfulfilled striving:

Rice liked the German composers, especially Johannes Brahms, in whose work she said there was "unresolved tension." Some of that tension grew from Brahm's often-contradictory style. There was also tension in his harmonies; in one of his late pieces, written in falling thirds, he constantly gave the listener a musical reference point and then introduced a note that didn't seem to belong. There was a sense of striving in his music -- sometimes strained, sometimes heavy with baggage -- that never reached closure. That Condoleezza Rice, so self-constrained, would most enjoy the music of unfulfilled striving suggested an inner life more complex than her perpetually composed exterior indicated.

Of course, we cannot discuss Rice without discussing the events of 9/11. The details Mabry offers about the events surrounding 9/11 suggest that this tragedy was caused by "structural problems" within the CIA and FBI and a lack of communication between these two agencies. But as the face of America, and President G.W. Bush's tutor, Rice inevitably takes a lot of heat for 9/11 and the events that followed.

Mabry offers Rice the opportunity to address the criticism -- much of it unfair and beyond her control -- she has received during her tenure. Rice is primarily criticized for her seemingly blind defense of Bush 43 and his policies. Although it's almost nonsensical to compare her job as Secretary of State to any other occupation: How many of us go along with what our bosses -- who sometimes happen to be close friends -- tell us to do in order to sustain our incomes or for other reasons? And critical thinking people have to wonder: If Rice would receive the same condemnation if she were White -- even a White female. (Females in general are often judged harshly for behaving the same way their male counterparts do, particularly with respect to showing aggression and confidence.)

Rice was criticized for shopping on Fifth Avenue in New York City at an upscale shoe store during Hurricane Katrina, but Hurricane Katrina happened to have occurred during her scheduled vacation time. Rice offers that Hurricane Katrina, being a domestic issue, was not one of her "accounts." As Secretary of State, Rice is responsible for external affairs. One wonders: If Hurricane Katrina had affected a predominantly White upper class ward, would Secretary Rice have been expected to fly out there immediately? Would a White Secretary of State have been expected to rush to the scene -- or would the President's presence have been enough? Rice gets much of the same criticism other successful Black celebrities get -- from many Blacks themselves.

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey was criticized for not attending John Johnson's funeral. Winfrey was scheduled to be out of town when the publishing giant died and received a lot of flack for not cancelling her plans to attend his funeral. Many Blacks had a fit: How could she not change her plans to attend Johnson's funeral? Certainly this must mean Winfrey was not grateful for the doors he had opened for her. And certainly Rice not rushing to New Orleans during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina must mean she did not care about the many Blacks that were affected.

Rice does not view herself as a "visible African-American national figure," as most Blacks expect her to. She views herself as a capable person, not confined by race or history. While raising her during the Civil Rights Era, Rice's parents taught her not to focus on the fact that she was excluded from certain experiences, so Rice's immediate reference is not race.

Rice does care about "her own" though. She is simply not the typical emotional female or the typical emotional Black person. (In the view of many, females and Blacks tend to be more emotional than logical.) Mabry tells us that Rice is the founder of a community-based program in Palo Alto, California that makes it possible for "motivated students [to] receive instruction in math, language arts, science and technology, and, of course, music . . . [Rice] raised money for uniforms and brought Colin Powell in to speak. Rice believes that those who want to lift themselves from poverty and ignorance should be given the opportunity."

Rice would probably describe herself as a compassionate conservative. Rice is a Rrepublican because in her own words, she'd "rather be ignored than patronized." Her view on affirmative action is that it gives qualified minorities the opportunity to prove themselves.

Condi fights with her mind, the way she was taught to by her parents -- the way people are used to men fighting. Some wonder if this is the problem some people have with Rice. Maybe some folks are just uncomfortable with an attractive Black woman standing her ground.

Mabry concludes that Rice's life "demonstrates the power of inner will in overcoming external constraints." But he believes that because Rice has failed to enhance America's power internationally, Rice has actually "fallen short." Only time will tell. The verdict in this case will probably be based upon how the Middle East fares in the long run. As long as Condi is the face of America, and as long as the conflicts in the Middle East are America's most pressing issue, her success will likely be measured by what happens in the Middle East.

For having only spoken with Rice a total of three hours in addition to the research he conducted, Mabry has amassed an impressive amount of information about the seemingly contradictory Condoleezza Rice. He provides valuable insights into Rice's career and character while treating the reader to American, Soviet Union and Middle Eastern history lessons.

You might not start doodling "I love Condi" after reading Twice as Good, but you will learn that Condoleezza Rice is in fact twice as good and discover how she got that way.

Shakesha Coleman has a background in political science and public policy.