<DIV><DIV>A portrait of one of Australia's longest-serving prime ministers, this biography goes behind the public image to find neither the strong-willed man of principle his supporters like to imagine nor the cunning opportunist painted by his foes. The discussion covers Howard's suburban middle-class upbringing and his success at implementing his polices, concluding that although the image of the ordinary bloke has helped his enduring popularity, he—like George Bush—possesses a number of uncommon strengths that have made him one of the most formidable leaders in Australian political history. </DIV><DIV> </DIV></DIV>