"Man of the People: The Life of John McCain is the first in-depth and straightforward examination of the remarkable journey of John McCain. Equal parts biography and history of late twentieth-century American politics, this fascinating book pieces together the puzzle of McCain's extraordinary life through the events and circumstances that shaped his distinctive personality and molded his character. Political journalist and bestselling biographer Paul Alexander parlays his unique access to McCain and his circle to recount: McCain's formative years as the son and grandson of four-star admirals; McCain's brutal - yet transformative - stint as a prisoner of war in Vietnam; his difficult decision to leave behind a promising military career to craft a new life in U.S. politics and the hard-fought presidential campaign that raised McCain's national popularity and brought him acclaim."--BOOK JACKET.