The Politician

An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal that Brought Him Down

By: Andrew Young

Narrated by: Kevin Foley

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Like a nonfiction version of All the King's Men, The Politician offers a truly disturbing, even shocking, perspective on the risks taken and tactics employed by a man determined to rule the most powerful nation on earth.

Idealistic and ambitious, Andrew Young volunteered for the John Edwards campaign for Senate in 1998 and quickly became the candidate's right-hand man. As the senator became a national star, Young's responsibilities grew. For a decade he was this politician's confidant, and he was assured he was "like family." In time, however, Young was drawn into a series of questionable assignments that culminated with Edwards asking him to help conceal the senator's ongoing adultery. Days before the 2008 presidential primaries began, Young gained international notoriety when he told the world that he was the father of a child being carried by a woman named Rielle Hunter, who was actually the senator's mistress. While Young began a life on the run, hiding from the press with his family and alleged mistress, John Edwards continued to pursue the presidency and then the vice presidency in the future Obama administration.

Young had been the senator's closest aide and most trusted friend. He believed that John Edwards could be a great president and was assured throughout the cover-up that his boss and friend would ultimately step forward to both tell the truth and protect his aide's career. Neither promise was kept.

Not only is The Politician a moving personal account of Andrew Young's political education, but it also offers a look at the trajectory that made John Edwards the ideal Democratic candidate for president and the hubris that brought him down, leaving his career, his marriage, and his dreams in ashes.

©2010 Andrew Young (P)2010 Tantor

Interesting look

into John Edwards personal/political life. At time's this book doesn't keep your interest.

As someone who knew many of the players....

especially Edwards and Andrew Young, I am happy to see the truth of all of those unfortunate events published. This is likely a more truthful account of the people involved, their personalities, and fallacies (including Andrew's own) than we will ever see otherwise. As someone who deeply supported John in all of his campaigns, these events saddened me. Hopefully, we can all learn what hubris in those in power does! Thanks Andrew for having the guts to tell it like it was.

Truth at last

This is a well-written book that I feel is truthful and heartfelt. I also believed John Edward years ago but after his fall I began to see how a smiling, narcissistic personality can convert the masses. Sad but good read.

A real eye opener!

Things aren't always what they seem. John Edwards fooled a lot of people in the beginning..including me. I am just a regular voter who liked what they saw in this man...I have learned to dig deeper when looking at any candidate seeking public office. This book was informative about the sacrifices made by the campaign staff. Andrew Young was not spiteful his account.. which made it more credible for me. The journey of this young man is honest and heartfelt. He accepts responsibility for his part in all of it... which think I is redemptive. A real eye opener for all of us.

A Place in the Sun

Although the supposed subject of this book is John Edwards, it is essentially an autobiography or its author - Andrew Young. I found it fascinating. Not because Mr. Young is exceptionable, but rather, because he's like so many others who go unseen and unnoticed in the games of ambition and power taking place in our world. I found myself listening to the author's self-exposure the way a man might guiltily leer at a skantily clad woman on the street: the sight of all that unaccustomed nakedness is all the more riveting when you can't decide how intentional it is. Did Mr. Young mean to expose himself so completley, or did he honestly believe he was writing about someone else? Either way, it's hard to look away.

Great Dramatic Story!

If you like drama and a lot of "characters" who play interesting and compelling roles though out it, you'll like The Politician!

It starts out a little slow and self serving on Andrew Young's part (if he didn't move on from being the "victim" pretty quickly, he would have lost me) but he starts to pick it up and continues to take the readers to higher and higher levels of "what could possibly be next?" anticipation.

You don't have to be "in to politics" to enjoy reading this book!

Excellent reading, enjoyed it.

Excellent reading to hear the whole story. I was very interested when I saw Andrew & his wife on various television programs. Would recommend.

A must read for the curious

It's definitely an easy and more comfortable position to take for those who feel that Young wrote this book to make easy money on a hyped scandal or to get revenge. The truth is it's an interesting history on the rise of Edwards' political career and the transformations he went through that caused his downfall. Andrew Young comes off as a naive and gullible follower despite the story being told by him, but he doesn't swear his innocence. In fact, I found the epilogue to be a satisfactory statement on lessons learned. If you've followed the scandalous story of John Edwards and his issues in the press, you owe it to yourself to pick up this book and hear it from all sides. Edwards clearly has some soul searching to do.

Enlightening

This book is enlightening if you care one way or another. Even though Andrew Young does a lot of whining, he does admit that he was foolish to get sucked in. It sheds light on both John and Elizabeth Edwards. What manipulators!

A slight cut above a soap opera

I know why I downloaded this - the reviews made it seem intriguing although I knew there was some gossip appeal to it. I guess I assumed it would be well written since Andrew Young must have a certain level of intelligence. It is painfully bad. I could have gotten the same information from a good investigative reporter and I wouldn't have had to slog through it.

The irony of the whole experience is that Andrew Young came across as dysfunctional as John Edwards which I am sure wasn't his intention. I would definitely skip this one.