The Price of Politics

By: Bob Woodward

Narrated by: Boyd Gaines

Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Based on 18 months of reporting, Woodward's 17th book The Price of Politics is an intimate, documented examination of how President Obama and the highest profile Republican and Democratic leaders in the United States Congress attempted to restore the American economy and improve the federal government's fiscal condition over three and one half years. Drawn from memos, contemporaneous meeting notes, emails, and in-depth interviews with the central players, The Price of Politics addresses the key issue of the presidential and congressional campaigns: the condition of the American economy and how and why we got there.

Providing verbatim, day-by-day, even hour-by-hour accounts, the book shows what really happened, what drove the debates, negotiations, and struggles that define, and will continue to define, the American future.

©2012 Bob Woodward (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Fair account - painfully boring

What did you like best about The Price of Politics? What did you like least?

What you will get here is a highly detailed, day by day, account of failure. As you know, none of the characters are particularly endearing, and this account of their meandering trek toward inevitable breakdown is mostly depressing. I couldn't wait for it to end, just like I can't wait for this horrible chapter in the country's history to become... well... history.

Fair enough, and well researched, this book is good for the budding journalist or polysci-er, who are looking forward to a spot on the wheel of our massive central bureaucracy. For those of us who value leadership, accomplishment, and greatness, this is like reading about the modern day fall of Rome with our progeny as the unwitting characters in the pitiful final chapters to come. While listening, I kept asking myself "why didn't I buy gold 10, 20, 5 years ago??". Did I ever think that our representatives in Washington would protect the currency, and seek responsible governance? You can listen to this account if you need more evidence that Nero is fiddling, and Rome is burning.
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Bi-Partisan view of politics from the inside

I really enjoyed this book. This is written as an admitted Politics nerd. I really enjoy getting a behind the scenes look on how things actually get done in politics. I admittedly lean left in my political ideology, however, i think this book was fairly critical of the president when need be and also critical of congress and Republicans when necessary. Bob Woodward put the current political landscape of our country on full display, and did so in a way that simply stated facts and the opinions of both sides letting the reader decide how they feel.

If you are looking at this book then it means politics is something that interest you. Therefore, this would be a very good book to pick up and listen too. The narration is good and adds as to the story allowing the reader to instantly be able to tell who is speaking even before their name is read. You almost feel as if you are in the room when these discussion are happening. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it.

Woodward quality but a story lagging

Would you try another book from Bob Woodward and/or Boyd Gaines?

Woodward's access to politicos still is without match. And Gaine's read is good. But story could be told as effectively in half the length.

Would you ever listen to anything by Bob Woodward again?

Yes

What three words best describe Boyd Gaines’s performance?

Adequate but tiring

Do you think The Price of Politics needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No follow-up. Interesting subject but entirely over cooked

Great Journalism

If you could sum up The Price of Politics in three words, what would they be?

Amazingly in depth.

If you’ve listened to books by Bob Woodward before, how does this one compare?

Very similar in style to Obama's Wars. Both have a remarkable range of interviews with the principle actors involved in the actual decision making.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really enjoyed the story of Obama telling off Eric Cantor and walking out of a meeting.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Truth really is stranger than fiction.

Any additional comments?

If you want to know the full story behind the clown show that led to the recent Fiscal Cliff and the next impending debt ceiling crisis then you should check this book out. Woodward presents a bipartisan spreading of the blame, though I believe he lets the facts speak for themselves (i.e. it's mostly the House Republicans fault). His access is so complete that you begin to wonder if he's making some of this stuff up. But then you will remember that if he did make it up, you would never believe it. Truth really is stranger than fiction.

Fantastic book

If you could sum up The Price of Politics in three words, what would they be?

Children run Washington

Any additional comments?

Shows that politics means more than the country in Washington - from both parties.

Informative

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

I would not recommend it to a friend, as I feel my friends would not have the patience to listen to it.

What did you like best about this story?

It clarified exactly what happened during the budget negotiations during the last two years of President Obama's current term.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

I was amazed to learn that the Speaker of the House took more than 24 hiours to respond to a phone call from the President. According to the author, this had never happened in the past. It dramatized the extreme gulf between the two sides. I felt it showed disrespect for the office of the President.

Any additional comments?

If you want to know what really went on, this book will tell you. It is factual and even-handed in its presentation. There is equal criticism of both sides.

New Perspective on Recent History

As a political junkie, I followed what was happening in the depth ceiling debate, etc. But the inside story of the negotiations was fascinating. A good reminder that what we see on t.v. in real time is really only a superficial glance. Woodward's style kept the story moving right along. I was amazed at how every twist and turn was political with no apparent concern for the consequences for the country. Are there no statesmen left? It totally reinforced my opinions of the players involved, unfortunately.

Essential to understand 2008-2012+ politicians

If you want to understand the main actors in Washington DC, the debt ceiling negotiations, or the state of the Republican party, you should listen to this book.

Most surprising: Who comes off best in this novel? Joe Biden - who would have ever guessed? 2nd runner up -- perhaps John Boehner?

Obama's lack of political skill is clearly displayed. I think he is really more of an academic stumbling around in the world of politics.

Eric Cantor and his Tea Party fellows are revealed as completely intransigent, preventing any actual progress being made. The problems inside the Republican party are shown in Speaker Boehner's inability to whip the votes of his own party. (And that happened again in late 2012 after this book was released.)

Very detailed on one area only, needed a bit more.

Where does The Price of Politics rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Woodward has done better in the past, not a bad read. He plays it pretty middle of the road.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The incompetence of the Obama administration.

If you could give The Price of Politics a new subtitle, what would it be?

Why we need to fire Obama

Interesting but too much detail

The story is good and provides insight but has such detailed narratives (the constant back and forth asking for more cuts or revenue) that one can easily become lost.