Losers

Well written as always and a real insight into the candidates and how the organizations and the campaign actually worked.

Brilliant as usual from Michael Lewis

If you liked Game Change, Double Down and/or Primary Colors, you will find this to be a fascinating look into Presidential campaign politics. Game Change (2008), Double Down (2012), and Primary Colors (a fictionalized 1992) all showed the behind-the-scenes action, conflicts, and non-TV ready quotes of their respective races. Those books were all best sellers and wildly reviewed, praised and discussed.Mr. Lewis wrote this book about the 1996 Republican primary and general election. Clinton won in a rout, partly by moving to the right and taking away much of the GOP's positions. Combined with a robust economy, peace and general world stability, the '96 election was met with a terrible amount of voter apathy. Mr. Lewis also suggests that both Dole and Clinton were both very stale politicians in 1996, mostly because they(a) trusted TV ads to communicate to the public over meeting them in person(b) allowed consultants and "hired strangers" to advise them, polish them, neuter them and shield them from the public(c) agreed on major issues (Clinton's move right) and disagreed on only very wonky, minor detailsDespite the boring nature of the two major candidates, Mr. Lewis wrote a riveting book that is far more fascinating 21 years later. Mr. Lewis wrote a great deal about Pat Buchanon's populist campaign (which partly predicted the rise of Trump), as well as Steve Forbes's awkwardness, and Keyes's intensity. The two major stars of the story are Morry Taylor (a self made tire magnant who like Buchanon, also predicts the rise of Trump) and John McCain, who comes across to Lewis as an amazingly refreshing and honest politician.An incredibly number of political figures that dominate the next 20 years appear here, as well as a number who were quite significant in 2016 (John Kasich makes an appearance, as does Al Franken). Lewis interviews losers of Presidential races as well, and their stories are quite interesting (McGovern, Dukakis).If you like Presidential politics, you will loves this. Beyond belief.

You can't review a product without, a little bit, reviewing yourself at the same time. If you've read 20 books in the same genre you're not just reviewing the one, you're reviewing it in context of the others.I give that digression to introduce that I bought this book and read it in October 2008. This was the very end of the election campaign. As you'll see from other reviewers, Lewis spends a fair amount of the book talking about one Republican who wasn't afraid to speak his mind: John McCain.One of the central thrusts of this book is that the mainline candidates couldn't say anything interesting or controversial because you can't say anything interesting or controversial if you want to win a nomination or an election. That's why he stays with the "Losers" - because to Lewis' mind one reason they can't win is they say what they think, and that makes them more interesting as a result. Lewis' McCain says what he thinks, and Lewis respects him for it.This book therefore provided an interesting bit of longitudinal analysis of the life and political career of John McCain. I won't get into a discussion of whether McCain stayed "true to himself" during the election - some say he did, some say he didn't, and what does that matter anyway for this. I'll say that if you read this book, you'll look back at the 2008 election in a whole new light. Not a bad feat for a book written 12 years before.

I accidentally read liar's poker few years back and realized Lewis is pretty good story teller and kept reading his later books, big short and boomerang and then decided should read all his books out of admiration for his writing skill and decided if I don't gain any new insights I sure will be entertained. I must say he didn't disappoint at all.He is in a category of his own considering the breath of subjects he has covered in his writing granted he wrote all the books after liars poker from journalistic view point but still I admire his ability to cover such breath of subjects and his ability to get motivated and tell story from a vantage point which most talking heads miss out.Losers, with 2012 election looming decided I must read this to get that different vantage point and see what he saw.I am sure all the books he has written involved lot of work but somehow I feel this one he must have spent lot of time and I would imagine it being an exhausting endeavor considering politics can get way more personal than, bonds and Internet start ups.Well it's a book by Michael Lewis I think that alone warrants a reading.

Another great read by Michael Lewis. With a humorous and engaging writing style, he describes what it was really like to be a part of the campaign most people never see. Reading this today, in the context of the last 2-3 years of national elections, was truly enlightening.

Another outstanding work by Lewis. This man knows how to write he’s informative, witty and writes in a style that holds your attention.

Lewis dissects the 1996 presidential campaign with his usual great good humor and piercing insights. Read this in the light of the current campaign, with The Donald selling anger and others trying to sell their particular snake oil. A very enjoyable look at politicians, some of whom are still in office, John McCain for one.

this is classic michael lewis, along the lines of _liar's poker_ rather than _the blind side_. irreverent, laugh-out-loud funny, and insightful. the author has a wonderful writing style that is easy to read, reflects a wry wit, and is oddly ... warm-hearted. prospective readers should not assume that this is a caustic, cynical treatment of politics.the candidates covered in the book are now largely irrelevant to national politics, but mr. lewis' observations regarding the various archetypes and the political process are still illuminating. the book gave me a new appreciation for figures with whom i largely disagree on issues, like buchanan and keyes. the book also provided valuable insight into mccain, which obviously has great relevance today.

This book answers the question, "Why are some campaigns so uninspired?" Michael Lewis chronicles Bob Dole's campaign as run by "rented strangers" and contrasts it with the inspiring but unsuccessful campaigns of the candidates for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination. The anecdotes are funny and provide a perspective that is sorely lacking in political books: the perspective of the people who lost elections.

Mr Lewis has such an easy style. He informs through succinct anecdotes that illuminate with great effect. Written 20 years ago, there is such correlation with today's electoral circus as to be spooky. 'La plus ca change...'

Interesting at times but also slants to the left. I've enjoyed most of Lewis' writings and maybe I should have expected the liberal take on Republican candidates. Regardless, some of the stories about "The Grizz" are worth the read.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I teach AP Government and to be able to provide my students a book with such insight to how a real campaign works, the quarks and nuances was just fantastic

Fast shipping! Great book!

It’s incredibly interesting to compare the characters here to their future. To look at the view of politics in 1994 and compare it to 2016. Lewis was ahead of his time and predicts the rise of a Trumpish populism