ePub Hardball: How Politics Is Played; Told by One Who Knows the Game by Chris Matthews in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. There is no ideal or unique model among politicians!By Miller.Though the book has 1 1988 copyright date; the information is essentially timeless. It could have been written as a weekend conference hosting Prince Machiavelli; King Solomon; Sun Tzu and Dale Carnegie as its collective writing staff. The only facet that establishes a time frame is its real-life cast of characters; from Wendell Wilke and LBJ to Edmund Muskie and Ronald Reagan. Chris Matthews picks no favorites as he shows the merits and faults of many players quite candidly. His endless series of anecdotes are divided into chapters with unique central points which are wisely matched with exponents who mastered those techniques. Matthews takes many of the stories from firsthand experience as an operative with the respective master as he was employed in a variety of ways with many of the highlighted pols over a lengthy career in Washington.As the author points out; virtually all of the techniques; systems and characteristics are universal and could be used in sports; business; for-profit and non-profit environments as well as high-level politics. It is a book that is fun to read and does not bogged down with details or tedious issues of the day; choosing to focus more on the actions and reactions of the proponents and antagonists as they fought for their cause de jour. It's a primer for PoliSci 101; not too heavy but not kindergarten either. Neither a Pulitzer candidate or a coffee table tome; it will keep your interest especially as you relate the chapter's characters with the chapter's title.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. It's Not Who You KnowBy AI would be really interested to see Matthews update this book in light of the elections of 2008; 2012; and 2016. It seems to me that much of what he theorizes about the sales jobs required in politics works quite neatly up to and including George W. Bush; notwithstanding the Gingrich era erosion of comity in the U.S. legislature. But immediately after that; things that should have worked; under Matthews' views as I understand them; did not. And things that never should have worked did.You can't lay it all on populism: Matthews deals eloquently with populism. It might be the ready availability of "facts" to support any side on any issue. I don't know.Anyway; the book is well-written; and surprisingly objective; given that Matthews does have a political bent. For me; the only part where it fell shorter than it probably meant to was in its advice; which seems to presuppose that the doors to power that are within reach of young white upper-working class men are within the reach of everyone. It's not who you know; it's who you get to know is true as far as it goes. But; as a woman; I won't be getting to know anyone in the men's shower room any time soon.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not a bad read for AP GovBy Dylan PURNERI would say over all the book was great; but with a few caveats. For starters; like how every time Chris Mathews talks about someone in his book; he likes to talk about the person and his popularity; when popularity and strategy is; while important to some extent; really does not matter as much as say experience in being in the business of politics. I know; I know; Donald Trump won; and he has mostly no experience; but he does have one thing most don’t have; and that’s guts. He can plow his way through the establishment unlike no other; and speak what’s on his mind; and that’s what makes him a player. Unfortunately; many politicians are paid; and can’t do that.Other than that; the book is great; and shows mostly everything about how a politician functions in life and how a politician can “play” the game in this world.