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angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
4.0
If you follow the corruption that is politics, then you might be burned out by a lot of this material and have already heard it. So the book alone was probably a three-star read and although the material is damning, unfortunately, I think very few people are actually paying attention anymore. Thereafter I loaned the audio version from the library so I could hear the included taped conversations of the Republican Committee in Congress. This two-hour audio section was mind blowing and absolutely five-stars. Every citizen should be made to listen to the Republicans talking about the 2020 election, the committee to investigate the January 6th insurrection, and about voter “fraud” in general. These people are lying to their constituents and you can hear them actually talking about it. These representatives say the exact opposite when talking with the media compared to what they’ve discussed in closed door meetings with their Party. It’s sickening. But because of this addition, I’d recommend getting the audiobook for this read.
waynediane's review
5.0
Love Jonathon Martin. Writes well with complete investigative reporting. Goes from Trump rise and fall. The pick of Kamala Harris-- Biden's buyers remorse. Handling of the impeachment details, Liz Cheney ending up being the hero (she just received the Profiles and Courage Award!). McCarthy- the person trying to be Speaker (he does not need to try any harder to not get). Etc. I have read many books on the past 2 years of impeachment, COVID, insurrection- and this by far is on the top of the list.
tempamatic's review against another edition
4.0
These two veteran journalists have done a magnificent job writing this book. I found it fascinating. However, I’ve been following the Trump Administration and its associated insurrection closely over the past several years, and there’s hardly anything new in this book that hasn’t already been reported.
For those who haven’t been keeping up with all the details of the horrendous news we’ve been suffering through over the past five or six years, this would be a great place to start.
If you have been following reliable sources, this will serve as an interesting and often maddening rehash of the worst president and political party that has ever inflicted itself upon the United States.
For those who haven’t been keeping up with all the details of the horrendous news we’ve been suffering through over the past five or six years, this would be a great place to start.
If you have been following reliable sources, this will serve as an interesting and often maddening rehash of the worst president and political party that has ever inflicted itself upon the United States.
eznark's review
2.0
This is an embarrassingly rosy look at Biden’s presidency to this point. The authors seemingly started with the thesis that Biden has been transformative and struggle to support their narrative. Ultimately they settle on hyperbolizing a mostly straightforward (while supersized) infrastructure bill to try and do the job. It is not convincing.
Additionally the authors repeatedly claim the Atlanta massage parlor shooter “targeted Asians.” There is no evidence supporting this claim of racial motivation.
Mostly this is a snooze fest telling us what we already know.
- McCarthy is a cowardly moron
- Kamala is just a moron
- Schumer is in way over his head
- Biden is suffering from cognitive deterioration
- Trump is shit
The most entertaining bits were the anecdotes about Biden and his staff trying to play identity Tetris with the cabinet and staff. I wonder how awkward it is to call yourself the next FDR to the Asian American caucus?
Additionally the authors repeatedly claim the Atlanta massage parlor shooter “targeted Asians.” There is no evidence supporting this claim of racial motivation.
Mostly this is a snooze fest telling us what we already know.
- McCarthy is a cowardly moron
- Kamala is just a moron
- Schumer is in way over his head
- Biden is suffering from cognitive deterioration
- Trump is shit
The most entertaining bits were the anecdotes about Biden and his staff trying to play identity Tetris with the cabinet and staff. I wonder how awkward it is to call yourself the next FDR to the Asian American caucus?
lokroma's review
4.0
This account of the 2020 election and its aftermath is both familiar and new. We know the story, but the NYT journalists provide lots of details that were not public at the time and that make this book read almost like fiction. For me in particular, Kamala Harris' frustration with her often limited role in the administration and the way she viewed her treatment by the White House was a revelation. There is also a clear view of the evolution of many Republicans in their unwilling capitulation to far right factions of both their party and their constituents that is not always clear from watching scattershot news broadcasts.
The book drags a bit towards the end as it describes the tedious negotiations over the infrastructure and reconciliation bills and Biden's consequent slippage in the polls, but the crisp journalistic writing makes reading even that a small price to pay for the reward of seeing all of this coherently from hindsight.
The book drags a bit towards the end as it describes the tedious negotiations over the infrastructure and reconciliation bills and Biden's consequent slippage in the polls, but the crisp journalistic writing makes reading even that a small price to pay for the reward of seeing all of this coherently from hindsight.
ruthlemon08's review against another edition
4.0
Insightful, scary, well-crafted behind the scenes events leading up to January 6th and the first year of Biden’s presidency. Not uplifting but important and packed with candid quotes from key figures.
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
3.0
Was Hoping To Learn More About Hunter Biden's Laptop
This was an okay book.
Fairly dry recent political history book really.
A lot of it I already knew from just the news!
3.2/5
This was an okay book.
Fairly dry recent political history book really.
A lot of it I already knew from just the news!
3.2/5