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

Best inside story on the 2008 election

The detail and candid information is just awesome! Word recommend to anyone wanting to see how Obama won and how crazy Palin is.

A little too fast to last

Production credits at the end of this recording identify companies rather than individuals. That may not be why there are so many obvious edits, mispronunciations and really, really cheesy cliches in the text, but the book and the recording evidence a rush to finish rather than an effort to create a lasting work of history.

Waiting until the second part of the book to begin talking about the McCain campaign leaves the first section feeling thin and perhaps biased. But the story focuses intently on the personal aspect of politics, how very small personal moments impact lasting decisions.

Hillary and Sarah Palin are both accused of being unbalanced; John McCain's and Hillary's daughters both receive negative comparisons to hookers; and guessing which of the two people in any particular conversation is the source for the authors is almost impossible to avoid.

It's a long ride, and you already know the way it turns out, but there are moments of real drama along the way and a number of new stories to boot. It's a shame the narration is as sloppy as the writing itself often is, but the rewards more than make up for the problems.

Excellent!

Any additional comments?

When I finished the book I was ready to pick up Game Change 2...but of course it hasn't been written yet since we are living it right now. As this presidential race rounds the bend for the home stretch, the narrative of Game Change runs through my mind and I wonder which missteps will be the Game Changer for this 2012 race. The book was truly enjoyable, and I think both Dems and Repubs would enjoy listening to the story.

An excellent dissection of what went wrong

Delving into the depths, this book shows the whats and whys behind what happened in this landmark election. Candid reflections, assessments and scrutiny give the listener an inside look behind the scenes. My only issue is the description of what Hilary and Palin wore in every public appearance, with only the rare mention of Obama’s tie or Biden’s jacket. Why do we need to know that Hilary wore a blue pantsuit with orange blouse in Texas? Or Palin’s red Manolo pumps? Come on guys, you’re better than this.

A Great First Political Non Fiction

I have to admit, although I placed this book on the old Wish List, it might have languished if it were not for these fake 1 star reviews on Amazon by those Kindle owners who were very unhappy about the publishers not making book available on Kindle right away. As a result the one stars prevailed over the 5 star. I downloaded it...just because of that. I have never read a political book before, even though I have wanted to, and I was interested. After reading the first chapter, I was dubious but after that it took off right away for me. This was the first election I really got behind so I was knowledgeable of time frames -- this book provided much insight to what goes on in the background that I could not believe. I just loved it -- these are political animals -- it's a different breed. Hearing about Obama and Clinton as well as Palin and John McCain behind the scenes was a delight. It was so informative for those who just don't know. I think the Palin & Hillary parts were the most revealing. It's not as dry material as one would think.

Well written and well read

If politics is your thing then this a must read! The narrative is tight, proving the rule again from English Comp 101: "There is no good writing, only good rewriting". Well balanced and candid without sounding like gadflies, this is a fantastic book for the long commute.

It was also very well produced and the audio is very clean. Dennis Boutsikaris does a great job keeping the voices separate. Even his Bill Clinton voice is subtle enough to avoid the cardinal sin of being distracting.

A must read.... however, be careful

Its hard to make a pancake so flat that it only has one side but the authors seem to have done it. I loved their research and attention to detail and for giving us such an intimate glimpse into the private lives and character of some modern high profile politicians. I just find it a little hard to believe that all the politicians they researched were so flawed, profane, lacking basic civility or so stupid and incompetent except for one... "The Anointed One"(TAO). They accurately criticize the free ride the press gave TAO in the campaign and then do the exact same thing in their book. Is America this hard up for leaders that there was only one choice for a moral, competent person without baggage last time around? Where are the modern Washingtons, Lincolns, Jeffersons, Adams, or my personal modern favorite, Truman? What does it say about the moral strength of a democracy that can't produce decent, competent leaders? The book made me feel sad for a country that I love that seems to have lost it's moral compass. I think its a must read but I don't believe the authors were honest in there portrayal of TAO... I hope I'm wrong and he really is that good and perfect of a person as the book says he and his family are. Heaven knows that's what we need in the White House.

Wonderful, Funny and Smart

I can't say enough about this great book. A great listen!

Well written, you don't want to put it down!

Any additional comments?

I would have never picked this book as I am not into politics, but our book club took it on. I was so surprised how much I enjoyed the book. Written like a great fiction.... but its the facts ma'm!! Sometimes laugh out loud funny. Even though we all know how it turns out, you are drawn into it like your not sure what happens next. Very well done!

Inside view of an extraordinary campaign

If you are interested in politics, you will enjoy Heilemann and Halperin's insider view of the 2008 presidential campaign. The audio book is well done and I listened to the entire book. Even with a insider's look at all the blemishes of the candidates, I came away with a sense that we elected the right man in Barack Obama, and that Hillary Clinton is a remarkable person. Obama made the right choice is asking her to be Secretary of State.