This Town

Two Parties and a Funeral - Plus, Plenty of Valet Parking! - in America’s Gilded Capital

By: Mark Leibovich

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the nation's most acclaimed journalists, The New York Times' Mark Leibovich, presents a blistering, penetrating, jaw-dropping - and often hysterical - look at Washington’s incestuous "media industrial complex".

The great thing about Washington is no matter how many elections you lose, how many times you're indicted, how many scandals you've been tainted by, well, the great thing is you can always eat lunch in that town again. What keeps the permanent government spinning on its carousel is the freedom of shamelessness, and that mother's milk of politics, cash.

In Mark Leibovich’s remarkable look at the way things really work in D.C., a funeral for a beloved television star becomes the perfect networking platform, a disgraced political aide can emerge with more power than his boss, campaign losers befriend their vanquishers (and make more money than ever!), "conflict of interest" is a term lost in translation, political reporters are fetishized and worshipped for their ability to get one's name in print, and, well - we're all really friends, aren't we?

What Julia Phillips did for Hollywood, Timothy Crouse did for journalists, and Michael Lewis did for Wall Street, Mark Leibovich does for our nation's capital.

©2013 Mark Leibovich (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"This Town is funny, it's interesting, and it is demoralizing.... I loved it as much as you can love something which hurts your heart." (John Oliver, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)

"In addition to his reporting talents, Leibovich is a writer of excellent zest. At times his book is laugh-out-loud (as well as weep-out-loud). He is an exuberant writer, even as his reporting leaves one reaching for Xanax.... [This Town] is vastly entertaining and deeply troubling." (Christopher Buckley, The New York Times Book Review)

"It's been the summer of This Town. What lingers from This Town is what will linger in Washington well after its current dinosaurs are extinct: the political culture owned by big money." (Frank Rich, New York Magazine)

the wolf of insignificance is at the door

have you spent significant time in washington DC ?
do the inner workings of politics just fascinate you ?
do you have a greater tolerance for gossip than your classmates ?

if so, this might be a very good book for you
if not, you might find the book insular and a bit repetitive
it's basically a prolonged and chatty lesson on human nature

in 1975, 3 % of former congressmen became lobbyists
in today's washington DC, the number has risen to about 40 %
mr. leibovich would like to tell us just how that transition occurred

those in political power are a sad but predictable bunch of people
p.j. o'rourke's book " parliament of whores " outlined them clearly
it's those next to power that are an even sadder, clumsier group

the press corp, legislative aides and socialites all buzz around DC
they all lack the power and leverage that money or electability brings
so they traffic in the only commodity left to them : relationships

mr. o'rourke's effective book commented on DC from the outside
sadly, mr. leibovich tries to the same from " inside the machine "
it's a difficult task since the reader can often questions his motives

can mr. leibovich remain next to power without actually having power ?
will all of his efforts keep the wolf of insignificance away from the door ?
niccolo machiavelli would say no and he's probably right

Leibovich is Voice of the Peephole

Leibovich lovingly lambasts This Town's most prominent insiders and inside outers - while copping to his own complicity as a member of The Club.

As both muckraker and media muck, the vet journalist exposes the success of excess so superbly, the listener is compelled to laugh even as his stomach churns.

Joe Barrett's narration is excellent - most appreciated when he voiced famous people - never mimicking - but "suggesting" a subject's unique vocal qualities.

Barrett also understood the humor - and when to push or let it ride.

The total effect is one of both knowing and utter disbelief that our nation's capital seduces even the most well-intentioned with the siren song of greed.

Hail to the Thief.

scary

I enjoyed this very much, although I spent a lot of the time with my mouth hanging open in dismay. Explains a lot

Delicious Takedown of DC Culture

Leibovich has written an incredible takedown and expose on the incestuous and self-referential DC media and political culture.

Good, but not great. Worth a read.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, just for those hilarious tidbits about 'The town'. Worth reading to hear about how people acted.

What did you like best about this story?

The particular tidbits that leibovich watched with his own eyes.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

been less dry

Was This Town worth the listening time?

yes. a few dry parts, but overall worth listening to.

Loved this book--I wish there was more

Would you listen to This Town again? Why?

No, but I do not listen to a book more than once.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mittens--I loved Romney's nickname! There were so many memorable characters--both those I recognized and those I did not.

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

Great performance--really captured the irony and sarcasm that I am sure the author intended.

Any additional comments?

Please write another book--I read all of the author's articles in the NYT magazine and he does not write enough.

Mark Leibovich needs therapy

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The idea was intriguing but the execution was too much about the author who wasn't that compelling. No context.

What was most disappointing about Mark Leibovich’s story?

It was too much about him.

Which character – as performed by Joe Barrett – was your favorite?

I cannot recall

Was This Town worth the listening time?

It's good for casual reading. I prefer long stuff.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend checking this one out of the library or shopping remainders where it probably is by now

Laugh and Scream

If you could sum up This Town in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, funny and disgusting

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The total lack of connection between This Town and the planet Earth.

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

Some humor and perfectly understated.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The politicians discussing the "stupid" people they represent while eating lobster and drinking champagne.

Any additional comments?

Laughed one minute and screamed obscenities the next. Entertaining and disgusting.

Funny, Juicy and Interesting

After reading Leibovich's book, I came away with a pretty different view of Washington. I dislike it even more. However, this was just a fun book to listen to. Barrett is a gifted story teller and I had several instances of out loud laughter at some of the antics of the people that run our country right now from the lobbyists to the Beltway Club to the White House. This covers it all and doesn't spare anyone. There is some overlap here with Game Change and Collision 2012 but only towards the end. There is significant emphasis on the journalism crowd as well as Hill staffers and the "wanna-be's" of Washington.

However, it's just fun. It was somewhat slow for me to get into but I became more interested in the middle of the book. The piece on Harry Reid was very insightful but would have wanted more on Hillary and Obama.

Regardless, it was fun.

Bias Proof

Great read for anyone interested in who actually stole America. Leibovich takes no prisoners in this wonderful look behind the curtain.