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The Price Of Politics (2012)

by Bob Woodward(Favorite Author)

3.58 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1451651104 (ISBN13: 9781451651102)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Simon & Schuster

review 1: Easily the worst Woodward book I have ever read. After having read a few newspaper articles on the difficulties of political leaders to come to agreement on budget matters, I don't think this book added more to the story, and took a few hundred pages to not add anything. Woodward's conclusion, that President Obama and Speaker Boehner could have done more to come to an agreement instead of taking our financial system to the brink of collapse in 2011, seems to be remarkably naive. I'm not arguing that Obama and Boehner were perfect. Far from it, obviously. But their political surroundings (the times and their increasingly ideological colleagues) made meaningful compromise impossible. Honestly, the fact that the two of them felt that a grander bargain was possible proved... more a certain bit of optimism that might have bordered on the absurd. It's not Obama's or Boehner's fault that they occupy high positions of power after decades of polarization, though that certainly doesn't mean that they didn't play a part in that drift. Personally, considering the more recent late 2013 march towards the cliff, I think Obama and Boehner both displayed a stronger dose of needed leadership skills. The President broke the fever of crisis by standing firm on the default, and Boehner allowed his crazier teammates to walk towards the cliff, all the while telling the larger society that he wouldn't let us collapse. No grand bargain for sure. But the best that was possible. Until elections provide us with a stronger governing majority, I believe that the President and Speaker are providing us with the best leadership we can have right now. And we may REALLY come to regret a more definitive leadership majority than the stalemate we seem frustrated by now.
review 2: I received this book as a First Reads giveaway. The book first interested me because of the author, Bob Woodward. I expected the writing to be engaging, but wasn't sure if the content of the story could keep up. Now,..I'm sure. Bob introduces the reader to the political inner circle few ever get to see and with all the glorious, scandalous detail. I doubt the average citizen is aware of the magnitude of hope, heartache, scheming, and deceit invested daily in Washington affairs, nor the minds or motivation of the players who represent us there. I was far from aware. Bob brings these facts to light and does it through the actual words and testimony of the participants. And though I didn't want to like this type of story, I couldn't help but love the revealing story that Bob discovered. I didn't want to put the book down. Where was the news coverage? Why did none of the important details ever make the 'talking points' of the evening news on CNN or Fox? Did no one know...or care? Bob Woodward does, and this book is his smoking gun. Don't miss it! less

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