Game Change

Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime

By: John Heilemann, Mark Halperin

Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris

Length: 14 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

"This shit would be really interesting if we weren't in the middle of it."--Barack Obama, September 2008

In 2008, the presidential election became blockbuster entertainment. Everyone was watching as the race for the White House unfolded like something from the realm of fiction. The meteoric rise and historic triumph of Barack Obama.... The shocking fall of the House of Clinton - and the improbable resurrection of Hillary as Obama's partner and America's face to the world.... The mercurial performance of John McCain and the mesmerizing emergence of Sarah Palin.

But despite the wall-to-wall media coverage of this spellbinding drama, remarkably little of the real story behind the headlines has yet been told. In Game Change, John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, two of the country's leading political reporters, use their unrivaled access to pull back the curtain on the Obama, Clinton, McCain, and Palin campaigns. How did Obama convince himself that, despite the thinness of his résumé, he could somehow beat the odds to become the nation's first African-American president? How did the tumultuous relationship between the Clintons shape - and warp - Hillary's supposedly unstoppable bid? What was behind her husband's furious outbursts and devastating political miscalculations? Why did McCain make the novice governor of Alaska his running mate? And was Palin merely painfully out of her depth - or troubled in more serious ways?

Game Change answers those questions and more, laying bare the secret history of the 2008 campaign. This is a reportorial tour de force that reads like a fast-paced novel.

©2010 John Heilemann and Mark Halperin (P)2010 HarperAudio

Thank you for the work!

It is unfortunate that some people will not take the time to understand what went on during this historical race. It is also a shame that some of us cannot see that together we are the greatest nation on earth but divided we look like a nation of fools. Thank you again for your work.

Morning Joe inspires me to read another great book

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. It is hard believe the story it tells happened four years ago. I remember many of the events, and knowing the back story makes the events more fascinating. If any one of the candidates in the 2008 presidential election was your most or least favorite, you'll enjoy this book. Well written, reportedly balanced, and as much as an audio book can be a page turner, this is a page turner. I don't have HBO, but look forward to seeing the movie based on the book.

Better and more informative than the movie.

Would you listen to Game Change again? Why?

Absolutely. It was a well told story that game incredible insight into the 2008 Presidential Election. This is definitely one of those times when the movie doesn't do the book justice.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Game Change?

The opening of the book when Hillary loses Iowa and the utter shock in the Clinton camp. That really set the stage for the rest of the book.

What about Dennis Boutsikaris’s performance did you like?

Boutsikaris is the Rolls Royce of audiobook narrators. My wife had purchased the audiobook and was listening to it first. I walked in and said that was Dennis Boutsikaris doing the narration and it would be a good listen. She was shocked that I knew the narrator after only listening to a couple of sentences. I'm an audiobook veteran and I've never been disappointed with a Dennis Boutsikaris performance. He tells a great story and knows exactly the mood of the story and does a great job relating it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Very much so. It was a very informative story and I thought I knew all the back stories but I found out I knew basically nothing.

Any additional comments?

If you've only seen the HBO movie Game Change, you owe it to yourself to read the entire book. Sarah Palin's story is only about 15-20% of the whole book and there is so much more to learn.

Excellent

What made the experience of listening to Game Change the most enjoyable?

Although this was written from true events, it was as exciting and fascinating as fiction. A truly enjoyable story... Highly recommend... especially to those who closely followed the race.

Amazing Story

Great story. So informative. I learned so much more about the political process than I ever thought and it was shocking!

Can jump into anywhere.

I loved this non fiction book with all the back room, inside "dirt" on the leading players in the run up to the 2008 presidential elections!
I especially liked the way it didn't matter which chapter you listened to because they could all stand alone.
This book was perfect for audio listening!

Amazing listen

Compelling, well-read, addictive. I breezed through this one in less than a week, which, for me, is incredibly fast.

excellent

Loveved the book. Provided a perspective history on how democracy works and how to motivate and unite. the country for the common good. obviusly #45 did not read it nor those that got him elected.

Great insight on behind the scene of the election!

Any additional comments?

You like the TV series West Wing? Then you are going to love this book.

Awesome!

What made the experience of listening to Game Change the most enjoyable?

Very good narration solid material made this one a huge hit. If you are into politics, this is a must read. The candid look into politics at this level is astonishing. Its like the NFL's "Hard Knocks" for Washington's elite.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Almost flawlessly delivered.

Which scene was your favorite?

Bill asking why he didnt know about Obama until...
Reminds me of Robert Redford and Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid..."Who is this guy?"