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

Fascinating -- the truth is better than fiction

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. This is a no-holds-barred, down-and-dirty look behind the glossy, phony exterior of politics and media "spin." I think, regardless of party affiliation, you will find this a fascinating listen. This is also not a dull or rehashed "politics" book -- it's more about the flaws of human nature, media manipulation, and mass perception.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I thought the book's treatment of former Senator and current Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to be fair and surprisingly sensitive. A quote from a potential female voter hit especially close to home: "I want a female President, just not her." Clinton is an intelligent, savvy politician, who seemed to be punished in 2008 by the media at large for her marriage to former president Bill Clinton and the fact that she wasn't a traditionally "girly girl" in skirts and mascara, like former Governor Palin.

What does Dennis Boutsikaris bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dennis Boutsikaris is a great narrator. I largely "read" audiobooks, because I love reading, but I'm a commuter by car, and I regret not having the time to visually commit to paper books or e-books. Audiobooks is the best way for me, and Boutsikaris has a clear, pleasant voice that really "drives" the story.

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

Definitely. The story never "lags." Admittedly, it is focused heavier on the struggle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for Democratic presidential candidacy, but the book also spends a decent amount of time exploring the McCain campaign and the choice of Sarah Palin for potential Republican VP. I didn't know much about John Edwards's personal life prior to this book (he is not presented very sympathetically), and that was very eye-opening for me.

Any additional comments?

It doesn't matter how you voted -- there's a lot to like in this book.

One of the Best

This is by far one of the five best audiobooks I have ever listened to. I have been constantly seeking out good audiobooks for the past decade. I've listened to everything from scifi to history to classics and this one absolutely has it all:

1. A Great Story. Unbelievable story no fiction could ever hope to come close to replicating. You just can't make this stuff up.
2. The Best History/Poli Sci. Great insight and analysis. Incredibly well written.
3. Tabloidy Tabloidiness. I hate TMZ as much as the next person, but when people that are supposed to be the finest example of what our nation has to offer are throwing around fbombs like this - I love it. There were so many moments where I just sat there - mouth agape - thinking holy jeez these people are insane. You come away thinking one reason Obama won is that he was just the least insane.
4. West Wingyness. That inside the beltway perspective. You have to wonder why no one ever went straight to the staffers after previous elections.
5. Superb Narration.

I wish I could find more audiobooks like this one. There was absolutely never a time where I drifted off and had to rewind.

Game Change

A fascinating look behind the scenes of the 2008 election.

Hmmmmm! Really?

This book sheds a red light on our political figures. It's trashy at it's best, painting a picture of the madness that took place to push to the presidential seat. The real side of people in politics with real emotions. I could see the good, the bad and the ugly side of trying to make it to the center of America, the White House!

Great political saga

Overall very enjoyable, but the narrator makes some glaring and repeated mispronunciations, such as MAL-ee-ya for Malia Obama, and Caro-lynn (rather than Caro-LINE) for Caroline Kennedy, and who knows how many others with less familiar names.

Excellent Book

Really enjoyed the insight into the inner workings of the campaign and the players.

wow

very interesting to hear how things work behind the candidate. How certain candidates staff's unable to work together destroyed chances to win vs. other candidates who stood out and won. I have a much better feel and understanding of the campain process

Great Listen

This was a great recap of one of the most exciting general election campaigns in history; certainly of my lifetime. The insights from behind the curtains of each campaign say a lot about who these people really are and why we may or may not be happy for whom we voted for in November 2008.

Fascinating

I consider myself very up-to-date on politics in America, yet, on many occassions found myself surprised by the content of this book. The narrative is interesting and often makes one feel that it is fiction, though I believe almost all of it and understand that the information comes from credible, and unnamed sources. If you enjoy the "inside baseball" angle of politics, then you should not miss this book.

Election time is back read this

I have found this helpful Hilary's second time around. Will Bernie screw her out of the election again? This book is a must read for democrats!