POLITICAL JUNKIE ALERT! (DECEMBER 2013)

With all that's been written about the 2012 Presidental primaries and the election, one would think there was not much left to say.  So not true!

Mark Halperin and John Heilemann have lots more info to offer in DOUBLE DOWN, a book that many critics have labeled "the best political read in years." 

Gary S. is the nonfiction reviewer, politcal pundit on my blog and his astute comments below will elaborate on this "behind the scenes" glimpse into all the insider action. (And who doesn't like a little insider action?...)

 

DOUBLE DOWN BY  MARK HALPERIN AND JOHN HEILEMANN

Gary S. writes:

I really liked Double Down! If you liked Game Change (about the 2008 Presidential election), then you will like the sequel about the 2012 election. Initially I thought the book was too long in certain sections, but as I got half way through, it really grabbed my attention.

The authors portray an 'in the room' approach to private meetings with candidates, donors and spouses—with direct quotes of conversations or quotes from private emails, which was really interesting. The book is great at breaking down the election as a war—with generals (campaign managers), weapons (money) and intelligence (polling data).

My favorite parts were the strategy sessions preparing for the Presidential debates—and how Obama almost blew it in Denver at the first debate.

Despite the accolades for the book, I think it will have limited appeal because, unlike the 2008 election, the characters in 2012 were less colorful. In 2012, there was no Sara Palin or John Edwards to entertain us, so we had to rely on Michelle Bachman and Herman Cain, and they dropped out too early to gain traction in the book. 

I think DOUBLE DOWN will appeal to those who are political junkies (ok, that's me) and those that were pleased Romney lost (yup, that's me too). It's sort of like reading a book about your favorite sports team. You have to like sports—and of course only if your team won the championship.

MORE INFORMATION 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/books/double-down-by-mark-halperin-and-john-heilemann.html?_r=0

REMINDER

To order click on the Amazon Search Box in the Sidebar. A percentage of your purchase goes to The Vineyard House on Martha's Vineyard, a facility for people in recovery.

 

DOUBLE DOWN (11/12/2013)

I found the book GAME CHANGE by poltical experts Mark Halperin
and John Heilemann a riviting,"fly on the wall" political read. Okay, maybe I skipped to the "juicy" Sarah Palin stuff first, but overall it was an accurate inside view of a political climate...with just the right amount of "juicy".

Their new book DOUBLE DOWN is another backroom account. Who knew that Mitt Romney poked fun at fat people? Do I need to know that? Well, no but it left me wanting more...

Just released this week, DOUBLE DOWN is rapidly heading to the best seller list. There's enough political inside info to keep our heads spinning until the next election, and then some.





DOUBLE DOWN BY Mark Halperin and John Heilemann


What the veteran political reporters Mark Halperin and John Heilemann report in “Double Down,” their buzzy, behind-the-scenes book on the 2012 election, is that on the eve of the second debate, the usually self-possessed president was having doubts about his ability to rise to the occasion. “I just don’t know if I can do this,” they quote him saying to his advisers in a last-minute crisis meeting.

Such provocative scenes — served up with fuzzy sourcing and breezy prose — pepper “Double Down,” the follow-up to “Game Change,” the authors’ best-selling book about the 2008 presidential campaign.

Again the emphasis is on creating a novelistic narrative that provides a you-are-there immediacy but that can make the reader wonder at the authors’ supposed omniscience. And again, small telling details — like Mr. Romney reportedly being prone to poke fun at fat people or Mr. Obama trying to quiet his mind by making lists on yellow legal pads — take precedence over historical perspective and analysis.

The book testifies to its authors’ energetic legwork and insider access, while pointing up their eagerness to emphasize the roles that personality and process (as opposed to pure policy) play in politics.
(New York Times Book Review - Michiko Kakutani)



MORE INFORMATION

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/books/double-down-by-mark-halperin-and-john-heilemann.html

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303482504579175850306497402


Game Change and Double Down can be ordered directly from this blog. Click on the Amazon Search Box in the Sidebar to order.