Feb 7, 2012

Book Review: We're With Nobody by Alan Huffman and Michael Rejebian

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to choose sentences at random from your current read.

"Political research is about searching for evidence of both hypocrisy and nobility on front porches, in smoky conference rooms, and in courthouses, bars, deer camps and roadside cafes. It can be grueling, corrosive, satisfying and entertaining by turns." (ch. 1)
Title: We're with Nobody: Two Insiders Reveal the Dark Side of American Politics by Alan Huffman and Michael Rejebian
Published January 24, 2012; William Morrow

Comments: I found this non fiction book by two political researchers to be very revealing. They write about "opposition research" and declare neutrality as they accept jobs to hunt down information nationwide on political candidates - interviewing far and wide, going through newspaper stories, court records, delving into the detailed backgrounds and lives of candidates, large and small, to find the truth. So this is how they do it! A timely book! I give this a 4.5/5 rating!

Book description:
For nearly two decades, former journalists Alan Huffman and Michael Rejebian have been uncovering the buried truths about political candidates, from presidential appointees all the way down to local school-board hopefuls. We’re with Nobody is the eye-opening account of their life as opposition researchers—a remarkable adventure across the American political landscape and through the often seamy underbelly of U.S. politics.

From doing battle with reluctant, sometimes purposefully misleading bureaucrats to arriving in an unmarked police car for a clandestine meeting on the New Jersey waterfront, We’re with Nobody offers readers a revealing slice of national and political life: a close-up look at today’s political process, the fallible men and women we often choose to represent us and the little-understood industry of trying to bring candidates’ weaknesses to light.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book.

6 comments:

  1. Oh, this does sound interesting! I have always wondered how this type of information was found and who was responsible for getting the truth out about candidates. When I see some of the commercials on television during election time, this type of stuff is on my mind. Great review! I think I would like this book, and I am glad that you did!

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  2. What an interesting book! Not only would I like to read it but I have a friend who thrives on this stuff - I think I just found his birthday present! Thanks!

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  3. This is exactly the kind of book I devour. Thanks for spotlighting!

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  4. I know for a fact that my husband would love this book!!

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  5. If you think this one is revealing, you ain't seen nothing yet. Try "The Diary of Hillary Clinton's Secret Campaign Consultant." It just came out on Kindle. Now this is what I call a real insider's account of how it's done. What a business!

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