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)

DC From an Insider's View

I was surprised at just how well written this book was. The author was constantly entertaining and making me laugh while providing some great information. I would recommend this book to all political junkies but, be warned, when you are finished with the book Washington, politics, and journalism will have a different meaning.

A Lot of Fun and a Bit Depressing

This is a great book. Very funny, but very depressing. Mark Leibovich is hysterical, but the underside of media coverage of politics...and worse, the revolving door among government, media, lobbying, government, media, private industry, etc made me concerned for the survival of our republic. Who's in charge, and who's paying attention? Apparently, I haven't been. I look at a lot of our media outlets differently now. Whose interest do they serve? More importantly, whose interest do our elected officials serve?

Entertainment that will make insiders squirm!

Where does This Town rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top for type.

What did you like best about this story?

It names names.

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

Mark.

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

Yes. But there were a great many more that disgusted me.

Any additional comments?

I wish someone had persuaded Mr. Lebowich to edit the dreary section on Mr. Issa's handler.

Enlightening

What did you love best about This Town?

It gave me a deeper understanding into the Washington politics / media / money culture. Also, reading (or listening) between the lines, I can see how an incestuous money culture can live side-by-side with the left / right screaming matches.

What was one of the most memorable moments of This Town?

Some of the funny descriptions of politicians and political operatives.

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

Good cadence and inflection.

If you could give This Town a new subtitle, what would it be?

None.

Any additional comments?

The author did a good job of hiding his own political biases and, I think, treated the subjects of the book as fairly as he could. I get the feeling, however, that his head exploded when Trump was elected president.

At some point, enough much is enough

What did you like best about This Town? What did you like least?

The author is clearly writing from first person and he just as clearly isn't making any of this up. It'd just be too weird to be fiction.

Somewhere near the end of the first book, I thought, "Sweet Jesus...there's more?" And I just couldn't go on. Bad enough I found myself driving along whispering, "The horror...the horror" as the first book played out.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something fictional. Likely with magic. Where bad guys are clearly marked by their black robes, bad haircuts, and evil laughs. And where said bad guys get beheaded on a regular basis. Seriously need a palate cleanse.

Which scene was your favorite?

The old, wily congressman saying that he really did think it was important to remember peoples' birthdays and anniversaries. That was so perversely endearing.

Was This Town worth the listening time?

Yes; and it was worth knowing when to stop.

Wity take on DC

I worked for a pollster mentioned in the book just as the insanity captured in the book started happening. The story moves and captures the spirit of DC. The author deals with a serious matter while capturing the bewilderment you feel watching the Beltway circus. As an observer, your choices are getting sucked in to sleeze, cry over the fact that this is the seat of democracy or find some humor. The author captures this range well.

More than I wanted to know!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Great insiders view of the cynical media lifestyle that feeds off the powerful but, the gossip felt a little to invasive for me, was blushing most of the book. I did enjoy hearing the frank unrevealing.

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

Good voice, inflection and kept it lively.

Do you think This Town needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Of course...the story continues and really there's a lot more on social media getting folks in trouble that would be fodder for a next book.

Any additional comments?

I live and work around the Beltway, it was helpful to be entertained by the stories of what most folks assume happens...but, names, dates and specifics make it come to life.

Funny wicked, cynical

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

"This Town" is a guilty pleasure that reveals the similarities between the daily doings of Big Government in DC and your average American high school. Bulllies abound, ambition is as necessary as good hair, people get ousted and are sometimes allowed to return and meritocracy remains only a lofty goal. I just wish that Liebovich included one big apology (to everyone he savages) at the end instead of repeatedly disavowing his unkind / devastating comments immediately after. It's snarky and reminds me of the lame of apologies of an insult comic after he trashes an unwitting audience member.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was the encounter of two journalists at the bar mitzvah of David Brooks' son. As one of the journalists gives the other a "heads up" that he will be trashing him in tomorrow's column--during the traditional Jewish circle dance--the other says: "I cannot believe you are telling me this DURING THE HORA!" The narrator delivers this line with such relish!

Any additional comments?

Joe Barrett gives a terrific performance.

Hilarious, snarky, completely believeable

What did you like best about this story?

So funny and sarcastic. Yet the joke is ultimately on us, as the vain, rich, corrupt and powerful in This Town, indulge themselves and their egos at our expense.

Very Fun Look at DC

Excellently written examination of the political Capitol of the world. Kind of scares you to know some of these people mentioned have any power.