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Well worth the time.
Highly interesting and exhaustively detailed first-hand account of the first female UK premier. In the 1980s, Britain could arguably be defined by three things: Diana, Pop music, and Margaret Thatcher-- it is refreshing to see the least showy of the three recall her memoirs. Although the Iron Lady's sometime turbulent relationship with the Queen is hardly ever mentioned. In fact, Her Majesty barely appears at all...in that case, you will have to consult a biography for her infamous debacle with the Queen over the Commonwealth. Still, highly recommended...even if you need to take it's mammoth size in small doses. A great read.

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No rust on the Iron Lady
This book is one of the most interesting political autobiographies I have read (and I've read many of them). I must confess that interest was intensified due to the fact that I worked in the House of Commons during her tenure in office, and indeed worked during the 1987 General Election for two Conservative Members of Parliament (David Amess of Basildon and David Evennett of Erith & Crayford--yes, I know, you've never heard of either of them).

This is actually the first volume of Margaret Thatcher's books to be published; the prequel is 'The Path to Power' and there is a follow-up, 'The Collected Speeches', but for those interested, 'The Downing Street Years' is the book to have.

It begins with the 1979 General Election, and carries forward to her resignation as Prime Minister a decade later. In this volume are her perspectives on all the various Cabinet intrigues, shuffles and reshuffles; her attempts to find civil servants and other helpers who were not of the old guard but of a new mentality, often asking, 'Is he one of us?' by which she meant, not is he a Conservative, but rather, will he get something accomplished, is he a do-er?

Thatcher's perspectives on the various scandals and inter-Cabinet fighting makes for interesting reading -- she is candid in her likes and dislikes among her Cabinet colleagues. Her final row with Geoffrey Howe, who delivered a scathing speech in the HoC that mostly prompted the leadership crisis, is enlightening. (I've not seen his version, if one exists--it would be good to compare the two sides.) She was very disappointed at the end when she thought she had the continued support of the party, but each of her ministers and 'friends' told her in turn that while he supported her, others would not. She saw the writing on the wall, and after having won the first ballot for party leadership but not by a sufficient majority to avoid a second ballot, she resigned in favour of John Major (whose autobiography, recently issued, is also well worth reading, particularly for his comments about how Thatcher tried to maintain a controlling influence over him from behind the office).

You might be tempted, if you're not really into politics and not reading this for scholarly purposes, to skim over various minor issues that are gone into great detail. Historians are appreciative, but I seriously ask myself how many non-political scientists and historians will read through all the detail of what are now minor bits of history?

In all, a brilliant career, the first woman head of government in a major Western democracy, and well worth reading on the whole.

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long and solid
If you're interested in how a strong-willed conservative would deal with an ingrained socialist government (not to mention society), give this tome a look-see. Very well written, brutally honest, with just enough of Lady Thatcher's dry Brit humor to spice things up. As another reviewer has pointed out, though, if you're American and unfamiliar with certain British lingo, be prepared to scratch your head on occasion. Favorite quote from the book: "It was not long before the conversation turned from trivialities-- for which neither Mr. Gorbachev nor I had any taste-- to a vigorous two-way debate. In a sense, the argument has continued ever since and is taken up whenever we meet; and as it goes to the heart of what politics is really about, I wouldn't have it any other way>"