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freckleduck's review against another edition
2.0
This book was about the experience of being the president of the democratic national committee during the 2016 campaign. I found this book to be very self aggrandizing. Donna clearly had a point of view. Although she wants to understand the views of others,she seems to also want to explain herself and justify her actions. I wanted her to have a more nuanced approach.
amberleelettersandreads's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting account of the chaos that was the DNC and HRC campaign. While Donna Brazile is still trying to maintain some level of self-preservation, she doesn’t hold back on her criticisms of those involved in both organizations. This confirmed a lot of my suspicions but also made me weary of some of the accusations and talking points against the DNC. I definitely don’t know I buy her assertion that the Russians made up emails. Donna, you definitely leaked talking points to the HRC campaign.
kbrsuperstar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
4.0
Donna Brazile did not come to play and she drags evvvvvvvveryone, it was [chef kiss]
linda48's review against another edition
5.0
One of the first things that came to mind as I was reading this book was that this would make a good movie in the vein of All the President's Men and The Post - especially if they could get Viola Davis to play Donna Brazile.
The book paints a solid foundation to confirm that the Russians, indeed, did the hacking of the DNC computers and the implantation of malware that sat for months without anyone noticing. Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear were not the only hackers to the system, but they were the most damaging and the most frequent. Not only did they crack the databases (although from the sound of it, the DNC never really tried to have a tight network that couldn't be permeated), but they compromised emails, created false emails using the addresses for staff and executives, and actually sent threatening emails and those trying to extort something from the staff.
Nevermind the data and emails, Russians were suspected of planting bugs in the DNC headquarters and homes, creating a sense of fear no matter where staffers up to Donna Brazile by compromising their homes, offices, laptops and travel arrangements. It's clear that their agenda was to aid the Republicans in winning big, and they succeeded. An excellent timeline is included so that the reader can follow exactly how things unfolded throughout the Presidential election.
I don't understand how the political analysts came to the conclusion that Ms. Brazile was out to get the Clintons following the election. Yes, she was hurt by some of the shenanigans that Hilary's people played on her, basically nullifying Ms. Brazile's effectiveness as interim chair of the DNC, but throughout the book she was gracious, concerned and worked hard for Hilary Clinton to be elected President. I can't say she felt the same about Debbie Wasserman-Schultz who comes across as ineffective and who allowed the Democratic Party to be run by Clinton's people even before Hilary was nominated. No wonder the Bernie supporters were so upset. She also shares no love for the people that surrounded Hillary and who ran her campaign - the "Brooklyn" staff. And she doesn't mince words.
If you found yourself confused by how the hacks happened or the ramifications of the same on the democratic process of our elections, this is the book to read.
The book paints a solid foundation to confirm that the Russians, indeed, did the hacking of the DNC computers and the implantation of malware that sat for months without anyone noticing. Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear were not the only hackers to the system, but they were the most damaging and the most frequent. Not only did they crack the databases (although from the sound of it, the DNC never really tried to have a tight network that couldn't be permeated), but they compromised emails, created false emails using the addresses for staff and executives, and actually sent threatening emails and those trying to extort something from the staff.
Nevermind the data and emails, Russians were suspected of planting bugs in the DNC headquarters and homes, creating a sense of fear no matter where staffers up to Donna Brazile by compromising their homes, offices, laptops and travel arrangements. It's clear that their agenda was to aid the Republicans in winning big, and they succeeded. An excellent timeline is included so that the reader can follow exactly how things unfolded throughout the Presidential election.
I don't understand how the political analysts came to the conclusion that Ms. Brazile was out to get the Clintons following the election. Yes, she was hurt by some of the shenanigans that Hilary's people played on her, basically nullifying Ms. Brazile's effectiveness as interim chair of the DNC, but throughout the book she was gracious, concerned and worked hard for Hilary Clinton to be elected President. I can't say she felt the same about Debbie Wasserman-Schultz who comes across as ineffective and who allowed the Democratic Party to be run by Clinton's people even before Hilary was nominated. No wonder the Bernie supporters were so upset. She also shares no love for the people that surrounded Hillary and who ran her campaign - the "Brooklyn" staff. And she doesn't mince words.
If you found yourself confused by how the hacks happened or the ramifications of the same on the democratic process of our elections, this is the book to read.
kkirkhoff's review against another edition
3.0
I felt I needed to read this book, not because I'm a Donna Brazile fan and I wanted to get the inside scoop of her election year and DNC chair experiences. I wanted to read this because while I detest the Clintons, and I'm indifferent towards Brazile, I wanted to be open to other viewpoints and perspectives. I didn't think Brazile was a bitter partisan like James Carville or Sean Hannity.
As the title reveals, most of the book was about the hacking of the DNC email servers. There was a good bit concerning her interactions with the Clinton team ("Brooklyn"), the worthlessness of Debbie Wasserman Shultz as DNC chair, and of course, the election. Seth Rich came up more than a few times. I think mostly just to point out that he wasn't murdered by the DNC or the Clintons.
It was an interesting, quick read. I did have more than a few dozen eye-rolls and chuckles at some of her claims, but I'm sure people could say the same thing about a book by the RNC chairman.
As the title reveals, most of the book was about the hacking of the DNC email servers. There was a good bit concerning her interactions with the Clinton team ("Brooklyn"), the worthlessness of Debbie Wasserman Shultz as DNC chair, and of course, the election. Seth Rich came up more than a few times. I think mostly just to point out that he wasn't murdered by the DNC or the Clintons.
It was an interesting, quick read. I did have more than a few dozen eye-rolls and chuckles at some of her claims, but I'm sure people could say the same thing about a book by the RNC chairman.
newtimbuktu's review
4.0
Hard book to pin down. Brazile provides substantial critical analysis of the Clinton campaign but frames the hacking of DNC by the Russians in the sort of apocalyptic, spy games framework which is hard to mesh with the books larger analysis of the state of Democratic party. She does a good job praising the people she worked with, but my big take away is that she was terrified by the Russians and wanted to show the high-stress environment people were in in the 2016 campaign which gives a level of cover for all involved. I would have wanted her to end the book with takes on the real structural changes to American mainstream liberalism her anecdotes lean towards at times (i.e. Robbie Mook's technophilia and coldness towards her strategy as a microcosm of the Democrats general lack of respect for Black issues, the Black vote, and the suffering of Black communities). Instead, she ends to book saying the Russians (allegedly) killed her dog and we all just gotta do better.
amberleelettersandreads's review
4.0
This was an interesting account of the chaos that was the DNC and HRC campaign. While Donna Brazile is still trying to maintain some level of self-preservation, she doesn’t hold back on her criticisms of those involved in both organizations. This confirmed a lot of my suspicions but also made me weary of some of the accusations and talking points against the DNC. I definitely don’t know I buy her assertion that the Russians made up emails. Donna, you definitely leaked talking points to the HRC campaign.
ajlewis2's review
3.0
A very realistic look from the eyes of the Chair of the DNC on the events during the time after the Convention through the Election of 2016. It is a horrendous story of mismanaged funds, lies or at least withheld truth, fear promoting to the point of life threats, some people trying very hard to do what seemed right to them, and just unimaginable exhaustion. It's hard to think of how things could have been any worse. This is the Chair's story. Others tell it differently. I'm thankful to have read this to get an inkling of how this sort of thing works and doesn't work.