Yesterday evening, I had an opportunity to briefly interview Governor Bobby Jindal to discuss his new book, Leadership and Crisis, which goes on sale today.  In our chat, Jindal discusses many of the political points that the book makes, especially on the topics of health care, immigration, and the proper size and scope of the federal government, as well as the role of governors in restraining that growth.

The book, however, takes a somewhat different tone and approach than the interview.  Jindal’s book takes its time while moving through the agenda, and unlike many of the books written by officeholders, uses a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor, which is both disarming and entertaining.  For instance, he takes great delight in calling himself the most boring Governor in Louisiana’s history — and then takes readers on a brief tour of the charming rogues who preceded Jindal in the office.  He tells a touching and heartrending story about the health problems of his son Shaan (who is healthy now), but then follows that up with the story of how he delivered his third child himself and noting that his sense of humor may not always be appreciated.  In these passages, Jindal writes about corruption and the health-care industry by introducing them with these personal stories.

And I don’t even want to discuss the airplane story, since I’m traveling this week and next, but I will say that it’s a pretty good working example of how faith can sustain us.  In the end, this is a political book that lays out Jindal’s agenda as these books are supposed to do, but it’s also good insight into one of the rising stars of the Republican Party — and an entertaining read.