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methanojen's review against another edition
Enjoyable and educational political read. I have new sympathy for Obama and Clinton and reinforced skepticism for McCain and Palin after reading this book. Especially Palin, what a disaster. I'm glad that there was a happy ending (spoiler alert: Clinton accepts Obama's offer to be SoS -- whodda thunk it?) :)
cseibs's review against another edition
3.0
A book to dispel any lingering notions of integrity in the American political process. Also, a horror story of the lack of scruples in the media's handling of just about any issue. This book was informative and entertaining (though everything should be read with a grain of salt), but overall the most depressing book I have read in a long time.
pierceinverarity's review against another edition
3.0
This is not a particularly substantive book, but it boasts lots of juicy campaign gossip. While much of the chronology is a more lurid rehash of the news accounts we read of the campaign, there are some genuine insights here, which make it a slightly less than entirely guilty pleasure.
lspargo's review against another edition
4.0
The 2008 election is really the first election I paid attention to, so I found this book fascinating. It seems especially pertinent in this election year, and makes me wonder what's going on behind the scenes this time around.
littletaiko's review against another edition
4.0
This was an incredibly fascinating book. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves the behind the scenes stuff of political races. It showcases the good and bad of all the candidates and portrays them as the very human people that they are. That said - I still think politicians have to be crazy to actually want to do this job.
ppigg81's review against another edition
5.0
Now im not one to usually go nuts over political novels, but this was a page turner! Very very well written about a fascinating race. No matter how you felt about the outcome, this was a great story
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
What a great insider look at an election from the primaries to the end result! Although I knew the outcome of this book before I started reading it, I loved reading the behind the scenes look of a presidential campaign from beginning to end. I instantly picked up this book because I am more and more drawn to the things of Washington, D.C. as my home is right on the outskirts of the city. I feel as though now more so than ever, the decisions that are made in D.C., greatly affect me and my future.
This book claims from the beginning that each candidate will be shed in a light that is true and honest, with each having some negative encounters. I don't believe this is so. I believe just as the media did not hound Obama in his campaign, this book does not shoot him down or shed much of a negative light on him or his campaign.
It was interesting to read of the rise and fall of both Hillary Clinton and John McCain. The insider aspect of Edwards and his wife was shocking and made me second guess everything that I hear because I had no idea some of the details that were revealed.
I loved the honesty that the authors did have stating that they would not put quotes around a quote if they were not certain that it was actually said. This made for some hard reading when reading some of the conversations, but I was glad they kept their integrity by not putting quotes.
I would pass this book along to my friends who love to hear the behind the scenes look at movies, tv and more. Also to my political friends, this is a great look at campaigns from both a Democratic and Republican view.
This book claims from the beginning that each candidate will be shed in a light that is true and honest, with each having some negative encounters. I don't believe this is so. I believe just as the media did not hound Obama in his campaign, this book does not shoot him down or shed much of a negative light on him or his campaign.
It was interesting to read of the rise and fall of both Hillary Clinton and John McCain. The insider aspect of Edwards and his wife was shocking and made me second guess everything that I hear because I had no idea some of the details that were revealed.
I loved the honesty that the authors did have stating that they would not put quotes around a quote if they were not certain that it was actually said. This made for some hard reading when reading some of the conversations, but I was glad they kept their integrity by not putting quotes.
I would pass this book along to my friends who love to hear the behind the scenes look at movies, tv and more. Also to my political friends, this is a great look at campaigns from both a Democratic and Republican view.
balderromey's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty interesting read, especially if you're into politics and historical events. They spent a majority of the book following the Clinton and Obama primary campaigns.
rebeccamahanyhorton's review against another edition
4.0
When the majority of the campaigning for the 2008 election occurred, I wasn't close to voting age--I wasn't even a teenager. My exposure to the entire affair consisted of watching most of the SNL skits about the campaigns, hearing my parents discuss it every once in a while, and talking with friends who knew about as much as I did.
Reading this book, then, was very interesting. It wasn't just a look at the campaign I didn't experience, but a behind-the-scenes look at what was really happening behind all the messages, speeches, and ads. I really liked seeing that side of the campaign (though more than once I wondered how the hell the authors got all that information, down to exact quotes). To me, it really humanized the politicians that too often can be seen as a collection of ideals that we do or don't agree with.
I felt a little iffy on the treatment of Hillary Clinton and other women in the book. I didn't doubt the veracity of what the authors said, but sometimes the way they said it struck me the wrong way. (Hillary's a "scold"; Bill had "bimbo eruptions"; "hysterical"; Biden's lapse into chauvinism in a practice debate was troubling only in the implications that it had for Obama's campaign.)
In short, though, it was a really fascinating (and incredibly well researched) read. I would imagine that even somebody who followed the 2008 election closely would enjoy it too.
Reading this book, then, was very interesting. It wasn't just a look at the campaign I didn't experience, but a behind-the-scenes look at what was really happening behind all the messages, speeches, and ads. I really liked seeing that side of the campaign (though more than once I wondered how the hell the authors got all that information, down to exact quotes). To me, it really humanized the politicians that too often can be seen as a collection of ideals that we do or don't agree with.
I felt a little iffy on the treatment of Hillary Clinton and other women in the book. I didn't doubt the veracity of what the authors said, but sometimes the way they said it struck me the wrong way. (Hillary's a "scold"; Bill had "bimbo eruptions"; "hysterical"; Biden's lapse into chauvinism in a practice debate was troubling only in the implications that it had for Obama's campaign.)
In short, though, it was a really fascinating (and incredibly well researched) read. I would imagine that even somebody who followed the 2008 election closely would enjoy it too.