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This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral-Plus, Plenty of Valet Parking!-in America's Gilded Capital

by Mark Leibovich

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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5932939,937 (3.32)5
"A book about contemporary political culture in Washington, DC"--
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Showing 1-5 of 27 (next | show all)
Couldn't make it past the first chapter. The snark seemed more like name-dropping than anything else and I didn't really like the writing style. ( )
  tsmom1219 | Feb 24, 2022 |
A detailed critique of Washington's love of itself and the egos that govern and the egos of those who cover them. Oddly enough, written by a major member of that insider press club. Maybe too "inside baseball" for some, but an interesting look at politics and the Washington press.

Leibovich writes with a good sense of humor sometimes pretending not to be as self aware as he actually is.

A good read if you are into this sort of thing. Which not everyone is.

Also, I assume I'm related to the author, but have no idea how. ( )
  Joe901 | Nov 2, 2021 |
I confess to not reading "This Town" completely, having fast-forwarded and skimmed over the middle of the book. The author, Mark Leibovich, writes about the inner workings of Washington insiders, from the usual suspects including the most powerful politicians and media faces, down to lower tiered behind-the-scenes individuals such as a press aide of California Congressman Darrell Issa.
Unfortunately, I'm among the 85% who hold a negative approval rating of Congress, especially over these past several years, and reading more about their inner workings, their posturing, their craving for power and attention, only reinforces the negative for me.
However, true political wonks may find this entertaining, since Leibovich provides many examples and stories in his book.
( )
  rsutto22 | Jul 15, 2021 |
Leibovich was essentially leaning over telling all these stories in our ear and then returning to take his place in "This Town" ( )
  Sarah_NOVA | Jul 11, 2021 |
Leibovich sometimes crosses the line, but in the main his book is sidesplittingly funny, especially for those of us who have rubbed shoulders with some of the luminaries described -- and skewered -- in "This Town." Must reading for the career-minded Washingtonian who wants to suck up his or her way to glory. ( )
  JamesSchumaker | Jul 10, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 27 (next | show all)
The longer I roamed around “This Town,” the more I thought Leibovich should have borrowed Newsweek’s memorable post-Sept. 11, 2001, cover line: “Why They Hate Us.” His tour through Washington only feeds the worst suspicions anyone can have about the place — a land driven by insecurity, hypocrisy and cable hits, where friendships are transactional, blind-copying is rampant and acts of public service appear largely accidental.

Only two things keep you turning pages between gulps of Pepto: First, in Leibovich’s hands, this state of affairs is not just depressing, it’s also kind of funny. Second, you want to know whether the author thinks anyone in Washington — anyone at all? — is worthy of redemption.
 

» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Mark Leibovichprimary authorall editionscalculated
Barrett, JoeNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dewey, AmandaDesignersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kulick, GreggCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Tim Russert is dead.  (Prologue)
Apparently cholesterol plaque ruptured one of Russert's arteries.
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The second edition has an afterword by the author.
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"A book about contemporary political culture in Washington, DC"--

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