Political Fictions
by Joan Didion
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National Bestseller In these coolly observant essays, Joan Didion looks at the American political process and at "that handful of insiders who invent, year in and year out, the narrative of public life." Through the deconstruction of the sound bites and photo ops of three presidential campaigns, one presidential impeachment, and an unforgettable sex scandal, Didion reveals the mechanics of American politics. She tells us the uncomfortable truth about the way we vote, the candidates we vote show more for, and the people who tell us to vote for them. These pieces build, one on the other, into a disturbing portrait of the American political landscape, providing essential reading on our democracy. "One of our most cherished and insightful explicators of American culture...brings her perspective to the ultimate insider world." --San Francisco Chronicle Winner of the George Polk Book Award show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I'm glad that I picked this up after watching the new Netflix documentary on Joan Didion! I'd previously had Slouching Towards Bethlehem on my to-read, but for some reason, had never gotten to it. Will absolutely pick that up now. These political essays were incisive and funny page-turners. The only complaint I had was that this copy I read didn't have original publish information on each essay. I would have liked to know as I was reading them, what audience/publication they were originally compiled for.
I agree with another reviewer who said that t his would have been even better with better candidates. I read t his way long ago so my review maybe a bit vague. But I enjoyed i t. I like to read anything and everything political.
I would like to see her come out wit h another book about what is going in right now in America. I just got done watching Trump's impeachment trial. It makes me sad that people..adults..OUR POLITICIANS who serve at our pleasure..act like they are three years old, slinging insult s and making up stories.
So many of our elected leaders are nothing more then sociopaths. She does an excellent job in explaining the political process which has worsened with time and I would like to read her thoughts on the mess that is show more our political process in 2020. show less
I would like to see her come out wit h another book about what is going in right now in America. I just got done watching Trump's impeachment trial. It makes me sad that people..adults..OUR POLITICIANS who serve at our pleasure..act like they are three years old, slinging insult s and making up stories.
So many of our elected leaders are nothing more then sociopaths. She does an excellent job in explaining the political process which has worsened with time and I would like to read her thoughts on the mess that is show more our political process in 2020. show less
An impressive work by a keen observer.
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Author Information
56+ Works 36,338 Members
Born in Sacramento, California, on December 5, 1934, Joan Didion received a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1956. She wrote for Vogue from 1956 to 1963, and was visiting regent's lecturer in English at the University of California, Berkeley in 1976. Didion also published novels, short stories, social commentary, and essays. Her show more work often comments on social disorder. Didion wrote for years on her native California; from there her perspective broadened and turned to the countries of Central America and Southeast Asia. Her novels include Democracy (1984) and The Last Thing He Wanted (1996). Well known nonfiction titles include Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1968), The White Album (1979), The Year of Magical Thinking (2005) and Blue Nights (2011). In 1971 Joan Didion was nominated for the National Book Award in fiction for Play It As It Lays. In 1981 she received the American Book Award in nonfiction, and was nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Prize in nonfiction for The White Album. Didion has received a great deal of recognition for The Year of Magical Thinking, which was awarded the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2005. In 2007, Didion received the National Book Foundation's annual Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In 2009, Didion was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Harvard University. On July 3, 2013 the White House announced Didion was one of the recipients of the National Medals of Arts and Humanities presented by President Barack Obama. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Politiska fiktioner
- Original publication date
- 2001
- People/Characters
- George H. W. Bush; George W. Bush; Bill Clinton; Al Gore; Newt Gingrich
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 973.929
- Canonical LCC
- E839.5
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 973.929 — History & geography History of North America United States 1901- Cold War, Vietnam War, Digital Age (1953-2001) Bill Clinton (1993-2001) North American Free Trade Agreement, Impeachment of Bill Clinton, Balanced Budget Surplus Era
- LCC
- E839.5 — History of the United States United States Later twentieth century, 1961-2000 Political history
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 498
- Popularity
- 60,209
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.83)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 1
