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)

They're out of touch ... and how!

Another case where the author makes his point early, so the later part of the book are examples after we've already been convinced: the Beltway Bubble is far more insular (inbred) than I'd thought ... and I'm a jaded political junkie! An Old Boys' (mostly male, but there are Old Girls, too) Network of overpaid "consultants" living off of the presumed "connections" between lavish parties. Instead of trickle-down, money there circulates laterally.
By the end of the first audio part I'd heard enough, so put the book aside, coming back later, which didn't help. Inside story of a Hill staffer didn't work for me, so I ended up fast-forwarding through much of it. Pace picks up for the final 1/3 or so with a portrait of Hillary Clinton, followed by an analysis of the role of the D. C. press corps in the 2012 campaign ("spin rooms" are a vestigial non-necessity). Romney fans might take offense that their candidate is usually referred by the author as Mittens.

Overall, I found the tales of overpaid has-beens, and wanna-be's,a bit of a downer. Still, I thought it took guts for the author to write so honestly about folks he sees regularly. Recommended, though if you're looking for juicy details, there aren't really a lot. One point that stood out for me was Leibovich's regular mention of Tammy Haddad, a big party thrower (whom I'd not heard of before); seemed almost as though he feared she'd strike him from future guest lists if he didn't talk her up enough?

Audio narration was very good.

This Town

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Overall this was a good story. Not that many revelations but well a thought out book. Clearly something has went off the tracks in Washington DC, it is also clear that the overriding cause is money and the role it plays in American politics Without regard to Party or philosophical leanings, money has corrupted for the most part everyone engaged in government.

The other major issue as I see it is the press and their decision to walk away from actual reporting so as not to offend the ruling class and their corporate advertising clients. This book touches on this problem. For the most part, authors have been unwilling to point out their own role in the disintegration of American politics.

I'm a person that tries to read at least 4 news papers every day and have been doing so for some time and have witnessed this problem gradually manifest itself. It has been like the example of a frog in a pot of water on the stove. Unfortunately more and more people get their news from Comedy Central rather than the 6 PM news. Part of this has to do with the shot callers at networks and Editors of newspapers promoting news casters and print journalist based on reasons other than their journalistic ability. This has resulted in the dumbing down of content, I'm not sure if this is done for the audience or the walking haircuts now considered journalist. Another factor has been sites like Politico that turns politics into a celebrity game show like US or People is for movie stars. Politics should be treated different than Hollywood. The author does just that in this book and that is why I am recommending it.

Would I recommend it? yes

Would you be willing to try another book from Mark Leibovich? Why or why not?

Yes, I thought he was good author.

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

Yes, flawless.

Did This Town inspire you to do anything?

It actually made me more despondent in regards to the ruling elites of both Parties.

Any additional comments?

This was my first Audible book. The presenter did a great job but I still like books better for some reason.

breezy, hilarious tour of DC

What made the experience of listening to This Town the most enjoyable?

The use of actual events to illustrate the incestuous, incredible vanities at play in the capital.

What did you like best about this story?

Mark Leibovich's informed sarcasm. LOL.

Have you listened to any of Joe Barrett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Barrett, who fronts dozens of Audible's best reads, has never been better. I can think of many, many authors who read their own material, who should defer to this pro.

Any additional comments?

My fave audiobook of the last 30.

Interesting Peek Behind the Political Curtain

Leibovich provides an interesting look into the world of politics in Washington, D.C. with the perspective of an insider who's usually an observer of those who wield the power. The story flowed well and did a very good job of explaining how everything and everyone in D.C. are (incestuously?) related and connected. For political junkies and lovers of the TV Series, The West Wing, this book will provide a thrill that shows what makes Washington tick.

Definitely worth reading if you're interested in American politics!

Fun Memories

Such a fun writer, I’m 89, and remember these public characters!
Leibovich reminds us that we as a
PEOPLE are a lot ah like and should not take ourselves so seriously

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.