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The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
11
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
11
Review Date: 11/30/2009
Helpful Score: 2
If you're a political junkie like me, then this is definitely the book for you. Written by campaign manager David Plouffe, "The Audacity to Win" is an insider's account of the successful Obama 2008 presidential campaign. Plouffe does a great job of explaining the rationale and logic behind some of the campaign decisions, like where to campaign or what voters to target. There's also insight into the other candidates and their strategies, with Plouffe dedicating an entire chapter to Sarah Palin. I also like how he interspersed a few personal details into his story of the campaign, telling how he balanced family life with being the campaign manager, although there wasn't much of a balance since he spent most of his time on the job. This is a great book and will intrigue anyone with an interest in politics or current events.
Review Date: 4/13/2011
This book had a great premise - two years after the disappearance of her three year old son, evidence turns up which appears to show Zan Moreland may have been responsible - but the story failed to develop. Mary Higgins Clark's trademark of multiple plotlines that all tie into the central mystery isn't evident here. There are plenty of characters but they all have the same function - to debate whether or not Zan kidnapped her son, and it gets repetitive very quickly. It doesn't help that Zan, even though she's undergone an incredible trauma, isn't a very sympathetic character. When Zan isn't feeling sorry for herself, she's shrieking, and if she isn't shrieking, she's oddly detached, like the story is boring her too. This book isn't one of MHC's best.
Review Date: 1/5/2010
Helpful Score: 1
This book focuses mainly on the later years of Brooke Astor's life, including the scandal of elder abuse involving her son, Tony. Meryl Gordon interviews most of the main players involved in the scandal, including Brooke's son Tony, her daughter-in-law and Tony's wife, Charlene, her grandsons Phillip and Alec, Brooke's friends, David Rockefeller and Annette de la Renta, among other insiders. All of these differing perspectives make this book an insightful and compelling read. Gordon takes a very even-handed approach, presenting a warts-and-all protrait of Brooke and Tony, making her account all the more believable.
Review Date: 9/23/2006
While very well written, the book takes a very critical stance towards the Princess of Wales and is very sympathetic towards Queen Elizabeth.
Review Date: 8/11/2006
Helpful Score: 4
Very comprehensive look at a series of brutal rapes that took place in Spokane during the 70's.
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