Murkowski Pens Book
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a perpetual headache for Alaska conservatives and a darling of coastal moderates, has released a memoir titled Far From Home. Judging by the early response, it’s doing little to repair her reputation among Republicans—and may be confirming everything her critics have long said about her.
The book, described as a reflection on her life and political career, hit Amazon’s virtual shelves two weeks ago. It currently hovers at a mediocre 3-star average with 46 reviews. More revealing is the split: a 46% one-star rating compared to 41% five-stars—the latter likely padded by fans outside Alaska who continue to praise Murkowski for her “principled moderation” and resistance to the Trump movement. In Alaska, however, that brand of moderation has another name: RINO.
The review section has already become a goldmine of biting commentary. One reader summed it up succinctly:
“Reading Far From Home feels less like diving into the life of a stateswoman and more like being stranded in a tundra of mediocrity, political cowardice, and recycled platitudes.”
Another writes:
“If you’ve ever wondered what political cowardice looks like in a fleece vest and pearls, look no further than Senator Lisa Murkowski—Alaska’s long-reigning champion of ‘talk tough, vote soft.’”
Even some Democrat-leaning readers appear disillusioned. One review slams Murkowski for attempting to walk a tightrope between Trump opposition and political survival, calling the memoir “a front-row seat to the slow-motion collapse of political conviction.”
Murkowski’s tenure in the Senate has been anything but forgettable for Alaska Republicans. Her survival has depended heavily on crossover Democrats, independents, and the ranked-choice voting system backed by millions in out-of-state dark money—an electoral scheme tailor-made to shield incumbents like her from grassroots accountability.
It’s not just the book that’s being panned. Murkowski herself continues to draw ire for years of legislative flip-flopping, from her votes on Obamacare and the Kavanaugh confirmation to her frequent alignment with Biden nominees. Alaskans haven’t forgotten—and if the memoir was meant to rehabilitate her image back home, it’s had the opposite effect.
There’s talk already about comparisons to Going Rogue, Sarah Palin’s bestseller from a decade ago. While Palin’s book rocketed to the top of sales charts, Murkowski’s Far From Home may end up far from relevant, both in political impact and reader interest.
One reader perhaps said it best:
“As an Alaskan resident, I would not waste a dime on this book. Murkowski’s flip-flopping and predominantly siding with Democrats makes her a RINO, not a moderate. We Alaskans do not trust her.”
The reality is, no memoir can rewrite a career—or conceal the trail of bruised trust left behind. Murkowski may have penned Far From Home, but for many Alaskans, she’s been far from representing them for a long time.