Books and More (from the Campaign Period)







Mike Huckabee.  Nov. 3, 2009.  A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS: Twelve Stories That Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit. New York: Sentinel HC [Penguin Group]. +
"Huckabee recounts twelve Christmas memories-often funny, sometimes deeply moving-that range from his childhood in Arkansas to his years as a young husband and father to his time as a governor and then a presidential candidate. These true stories will help you smile, take a deep breath, and maybe slow down your own holiday treadmill."

Sarah Palin. Nov. 17, 2009.  GOING ROGUE: An American Life. New York: HarperCollins. +
"In this eagerly anticipated memoir, Palin paints an intimate portrait of growing up in the wilds of Alaska, meeting her lifelong love, her decision to enter politics, the importance of faith and family, and the unique joys and trials of life as a high-profile working mother. She also opens up for the first time about the 2008 presidential race, providing a rare, mom's-eye view of high-stakes national politics - from patriots dedicated to Country First to slick politicos bent on winning at any cost. Going Rogue traces one ordinary citizen's extraordinary journey, revealing Palin's vision of a way forward for America and her unfailing hope in the greatest nation on earth." [with Lynn Vincent]

Mitt Romney. March 2, 2010. NO APOLOGY: The Case for American Greatness. New York: St. Martin's Press. +
"In No Apology, Mitt Romney asserts that American strength is essential—not just for our own well-being, but for the world’s...  Creative and bold, Romney proposes simple solutions to rebuild industry, create good jobs, reduce out of control spending on entitlements and healthcare, dramatically improve education, and restore a military battered by eight years of war.  Most important, he calls for a new commitment to citizenship, a common cause we all share, rather than a laundry list of individual demands."

Newt Gingrich.  May 17, 2010.  TO SAVE AMERICA: Stopping Obama's Secular-Socialist Machine.  Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, Inc..
"Exposing the mortal threat now facing America, To Save America offers concrete strategies for dismantling the machine and replacing it with policies and institutions that work. But we must act fast, Gingrich warns, or our children will inherit a secular, socialist America transformed beyond recognition."

Newt Gingrich, William R. Forstchen and Albert S. Hanser.  Nov. 9, 2010.  VALLEY FORGE: George Washington and the Crucible of Victory.  Thomas Dunne Books [Macmillan].
"Valley Forge is a compelling, meticulously researched tour-de-force novel about endurance, survival, transformation, and rebirth. It chronicles the unique crucible of time and place where Washington and his Continental Army, against all odds, were forged into a fighting force that would win a revolution and found the United States of America."

Rick Perry.  Nov. 2010.  FED UP! Our Fight to Save America from Washington.  New York: Little, Brown and Company [Hachette Book Group]. +
"Now, do not misunderstand me, America is great. But we are fed up with being over-taxed and over-regulated.  We are tired of being told how much salt to put on our food, what kind of cars we can drive, what kinds of guns we can own, what kind of prayers we are allowed to say and where we can say them, what we are allowed to do to elect political candidates, what kind of energy we can use, what doctor we can see. What kind of nation are we becoming?"

Sarah Palin.  Nov. 23, 2010.  AMERICA BY HEART: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag.  New York: HarperCollins. +
"Written in her own refreshingly candid voice, America By Heart will include selections from classic and contemporary readings that have moved her-from the nation’s founding documents to great speeches, sermons, letters, literature and poetry, biography, and even some of her favorite songs and movies. Here, too, are portraits of some of the extraordinary men and women she admires and who embody her deep love of country, her strong rootedness in faith, and her profound love and appreciation of family. She will also draw from personal experience to amplify these timely (and timeless) themes..."

Tim Pawlenty.  Jan. 11, 2011.  COURAGE TO STAND: An American Story.  Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. (>) +
"In Courage to Stand, Pawlenty reveals, for the first time, how he found the resolve to get the job done, taking readers all the way back to the lessons he learned as a boy in the gritty meatpacking town of South St. Paul. From the devastating early death of his mother to the struggle to work his way through college and law school and his epic political battles as governor, Pawlenty opens up about his deepest beliefs and shares his vision for a better America."

paper... Newt Gingrich.  Jan. 2011.  TO SAVE AMERICA: Stopping Obama's Secular-Socialist Machine.  Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, Inc..
paper... Mitt Romney.  Feb. 2011.  NO APOLOGY: Believe in America.  New York: St. Martin's Griffin. 

Mike Huckabee.  Feb. 22, 2011.  A SIMPLE GOVERNMENT: Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (and a Trillion That We Don't!).  New York: Sentinel HC [Penguin Group]. +
"Just in time for the run-up to the 2012 election, the bestselling author of Do the Right Thing and A Simple Christmas takes his vision even further, offering clear solutions to the key issues facing our nation in the Obama era...  Politicians, lobbyists, and so-called experts spend too much time arguing and focusing on the differences that divide us. As a result, those in Washington are obsessed with the win or loss of their side and not with actually solving problems. Huckabee shows how we can return to our roots—the simple founding principles that created America and made our nation strong—to build a more promising future."

Ron Paul.  April 19, 2011.  LIBERTY DEFINED: The 50 Urgent Issues That Affect Our Freedom.  Grand Central Publishing [Hachette Book Group].
"The term 'Liberty' is so commonly used in our country that it has become a mere cliché. But do we know what it means? What it promises? How it factors into our daily lives? And most importantly, can we recognize tyranny when it is sold to us disguised as a form of liberty?...   This is a comprehensive guide to Dr. Paul's position on fifty of the most important issues of our times, from Abortion to Zionism. Accessible, easy to digest, and fearless in its discussion of controversial topics, LIBERTY DEFINED sheds new light on a word that is losing its shape."

Frank Bailey with Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon.  May 24, 2011.  BLIND ALLEGIANCE TO SARAH PALIN.  New York: Howard Books [Simon & Schuster]. +
"This explosive, up-close view of Sarah Palin comes from an inner-circle confidant and unmasks the truth about one of the most notorious political figures of our time...  Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin is a chilling exposé of Palin and the story of one man’s slow drift from his most cherished beliefs to his ultimate redemption - sure to strike a chord with readers from both sides of the aisle."

Newt Gingrich.  June 13, 2011.  A NATION LIKE NO OTHER:  Why American Exceptionalism Matters.  Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, Inc..
In his inspirational new book, A Nation Like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism Matters, Gingrich lays out a powerful defense for America as the Founders intended it.  Recounting our nation's unique birth and our Founding Fathers' struggle to create a country in which the individual—not the state—is sovereign, A Nation Like No Other explains exactly what American Exceptionalism is (a set of core values reflected in our Declaration of Independence) and what it is not (nationalist hubris). These core principles are being threatened. Centralized bureaucracies, left-wing ideologies, destructive litigation, and liberal elites are actively campaigning against American Exceptionalism and the very things that have made this country the wealthiest, the most powerful, and the most generous nation in history.

film.  Stephen K. Bannon, producer.  premiering June 28, 2011 in Pella, Iowa.  THE UNDEFEATED.  Santa Monica, CA: Victory Film Group. +
"Starting during the Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989 when Palin worked a commercial fishing boat she owned with her blue-collar husband, the film shows the struggles, the victories and the setbacks during a controversial career.  Starring the leading conservative commentators Mark Levin, Tammy Bruce, Andrew Breitbart; conservative activists Kate Obenshain, Sonnie Johnson, Jamie Radtke; and Alaskan civil servants, political leaders and advisers from the dramatic days of change in mid-decade, “The Undefeated” provides a fresh and revealing look at Governor Sarah Palin.  The film is structured in three Acts and chronicles Palin’s early days in Wasilla; her achievements as Governor of Alaska, which yielded her an astonishing 80 percent approval rating; and her meteoric rise to the national stage as John McCain’s running mate."

Fred Karger with Steve Fiffer.  Sept. 14, 2011.  FRED WHO? Political Insider to Outsider.  Amazon Digital Services (Kindle Edition).
"In FRED WHO, Karger--with uncommon candor and poignant humor--answers the question that everyone from Sir David Frost to Rachel Maddow, from the New York Times to Politico, has been asking for the last several months: Who the hell is Fred Karger? He painstakingly relates what it
is like to live in the closet, afraid to tell family, friends, colleagues, and the candidates for whom he works. He shares the lessons learned working for the likes of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. And he offers wonderful stories about life on the political trail and in Hollywood (where he was an actor before turning to politics. Sound familiar?)"

Joe McGinniss.  Sept. 20, 2011.  THE ROGUE: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin.  New York: Random House, Inc..
"Based on McGinniss’s on-the-ground reporting that began in late 2008 (which yielded an April 2009 Conde Nast Portfolio cover story) and continued with his return to Alaska in 2010, this book is a startling and penetrating examination of the illusion and reality of Palin--and a probing look at the Alaska and the America that have produced her, and the country she feels she is destined to lead. The Rogue delves deeply into Alaska’s political and business affairs and Palin’s political, personal, and family life to chronicle how and to what extent Palin and her beliefs, attitudes, and outlook will influence and even change life in America and the perception of America abroad."

Herman Cain.  Oct. 4, 2011.  THIS IS HERMAN CAIN!  My Journey to the White House.  New York: Threshold Editions [Simon & Schuster]. 1, 2
"Growing up poor in the segregated south, Cain describes how he pulled himself out of the depths of poverty and became successful the old-fashioned way. Through college, a stint as a Navy mathematician, working at the Pillsbury company and becoming its youngest ever vice president, and eventually serving as the CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, Herman Cain relied on self-motivation and determination to get where he is today. His strong beliefs and values have helped him in his career and personal life, and he reveals his self-made secrets in this memoir."

Michele Bachmann.  Nov. 21, 2011.  CORE OF CONVICTION.  New York: Sentinel [Penguin Group].
"Michele Bachmann is one of the most compelling leaders in America. But despite all the magazine covers and cable television stories, most people don't know who she really is, where she comes from, or what she believes. So she decided to tell her own story and let the reader decide." +

Ken Avidor, Karl Bremer and Eva Young.  Dec. 6,  2011.  THE MADNESS OF MICHELE BACHMANN: A Broad-Minded Survey of a Small-Minded Candidate.  Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
"Since Michele Bachmann became a front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, journalists have been plumbing the depths of the well-regarded blog Dump Bachmann for material on her. Now the bloggers themselves pour forth a decade's worth of research and analysis to show that, no matter what you've heard about Bachmann, there's worse. Much worse. After dogging her heels for the past decade, they reveal the blood-curdling truth about the woman who may well become the Republican Party’s 2012 presidential nominee."

Allen J. Lichtman.  Jan. 2012.  PREDICTING THE NEXT PRESIDENT: The Keys to the White House 2012.  Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
"In Predicting the Next President political analyst and historian Allan J. Lichtman presents thirteen historical factors, or “keys” (four political, seven performance, and two personality), that determine the outcome of presidential elections. In the chronological, successful application of these keys to every election since 1860, Lichtman dispels much of the mystery behind electoral politics and challenges many traditional assumptions. An indispensable resource for political junkies who want to get a head-start on calling Decision 2012."

Michael Kranish and Scott Helman.  Jan. 17, 2012.  THE REAL ROMNEY.  New York: Harper.
In The Real Romney, Kranish and Helman delve searchingly into the psyche of a complex man now at his most critical juncture—the private Romney whom few people see. They show the remarkable lengths to which Romney has gone in order to succeed in politics and business, shrewdly shifting identities as needed, bringing tough-minded strategy to every decision, and always carefully safeguarding his public image. For the first time, readers will gain a full understanding of the kind of man Romney is—the kind of man who may be running their country.

Gary Johnson.  Aug. 1, 2012.  SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT.  Aberdeen, WA: Silver Lake Publishing. +
"My seven principles have worked and continue to work in every aspect of my life.  To stay focused and true to these principles, I keep them written down on a small piece of paper in my wallet."  ...This project was first reported in late Oct. 2009, but publication kept getting pushed back.





Strictly e-books



Tom Bevan and Carl M. Cannon.  Nov. 11, 2011.  ELECTION 2012: The Battle Begins.  New York: Crown Publishing Group [Random House].
"In the first of a three-eBook series, ELECTION 2012: The Battle Begins, written by Tom Bevan and Carl M. Cannon, provides an in-depth look at the inner workings of the White House reelection team and many of the major GOP candidates running for president. In addition, this groundbreaking e-original provides fascinating insights from some of the key GOP figures who flirted with a presidential run and why they ultimately declined... ELECTION 2012: The Battle Begins gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the early stages of the 2012 race, providing in-depth reporting, analysis, and the latest coverage of the campaigns of President Obama and the GOP candidates." +  [Kindle]


James Moore and Jason Stanford.  Nov. 2011.  ADIOS MOFO: Why Rick Perry Will Make America Miss George W. Bush.  Amazon Digital Services.
"Steeped in Texas politics, New York Times best selling author James Moore, and co-author Jason Stanford have been watching Rick Perry, the state's longest-serving governor, from his earliest days in Austin. Here, in the first full reckoning with Rick Perry's record, they retrace the rise of an obscure cotton grower from the plains of West Texas to presidential candidate of the Republican Party." [Kindle]


Mike Allen and Evan Thomas. Nov. 30, 2011.  Playbook 2012: THE RIGHT FIGHTS BACK.  New York: Random House. 
"Two of America’s most perceptive political reporters join forces for an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the race for the White House in POLITICO’s Playbook 2012, a series of four instant digital books on the 2012 presidential election. The first edition, The Right Fights Back, follows the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination." [Kindle]


Mike Allen and Evan Thomas.  April 3, 2012.  Playbook 2012: INSIDE THE CIRCUS.  New York: Random House.
"Two of America’s most perceptive political reporters join forces for an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the race for the White House in POLITICO’s Playbook 2012, a series of four instant digital books on the 2012 presidential election. The second edition, Inside the Circus, pulls back the curtain on the pursuit of the Republican nomination, as operatives jockey for position and strategists vie to fashion a message that can win over all factions of the fractious GOP." [Kindle]


Alex Pareene. April 17, 2012.  THE RUDE GUIDE TO MITT.  San Francisco and New York: Salon Media Group.
"Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for president in 2012 -- but his alien weirdness makes him a very difficult candidate to get to know. Mitt not only thinks it's perfectly fine to put a dog in a crate strapped to the top of a speeding car for a 12-hour nonstop trip, but he repeats the story years later with a chuckle. Millionaires, Mormons, unimpressive scions and ideologically fungible panderers have run for president before, in spades, but only Romney combines all those elements in one robotic package, topped off with appropriately immobile hair."  [Kindle]


Tom Bevan and Carl M. Cannon.  June 14, 2012.  ELECTION 2012: A Time for Choosing.  New York: Crown Publishing Group [Random House].
"With intimate access to the White House, GOP candidates, and their campaign staffs, Real Clear Politics is the latest in a series of e-originals written by veteran RCP journalists Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon. With up-to-the-minute newsbreaking material, Real Clear Politics gives an insider’s perspective on the many struggles the candidates had over the course of the primaries, including Romney’s inability to put away his competition; how Gingrich, a great counterpuncher in debates, ultimately was done in by an inability to defend himself; the unlikely success of Rick Santorum, who later became a lightning rod for critics over social issues; and the “kitchen sink” approach that Obama’s message team is adopting for attacking Romney. All of these key moments and issues, as well as a careful survey of the terrain ahead for the general election...are sure to make Real Clear Politics the must-read ebook for understanding the 2012 campaign." [Kindle]


Glenn Thrush.  Aug. 20, 2012.  OBAMA'S LAST STAND.  New York: Random House.
"...follows the reelection campaign of President Barack Obama as it struggles to find the winning formula in a political landscape that has changed dramatically since his history-making victory in 2008...   In Obama’s Last Stand, POLITICO White House correspondent Glenn Thrush chronicles the efforts of the president and his team to secure a second term in the face of a determined opposition, unfavorable economic headwinds, and a series of missteps by his own team." [Kindle]


Jay Root.  Sept. 20, 2012.  OOPS!  A Diary from the 2012 Campaign.  San Francisco: Byliner Digital Services.
"'Oops!' is more than just a comically insightful, gaffe-by-gaffe chronicle of a presidential campaign meltdown: The Little Campaign That Couldn’t. While providing juicy, exclusive details from the front lines of how Perry’s White House aspirations imploded and his campaign staff splintered into rival factions, veteran political reporter and longtime Perry watcher Jay Root also shines a bright light on how American political campaigns really work in the age of Twitter, YouTube, and the insatiable appetite of the never-ending cable-and-Internet news cycle."  [Kindle]


Dan Balz.  Nov. 8, 2012.  OBAMA VS. ROMNEY: "The Take" on Election 2012.  New York: Diversion Books.
Obama vs. Romney is a collection of 50 dispatches from the campaign trail, by one the preeminent political journalists of our times. Balz recounts the back-and-forth slugfest of 2012 in a single seamless narrative, including his hundreds of interviews with behind-the-scenes players who crafted both Obama’s scorched-earth re-election game plan and Romney’s audacious strategy for unseating a president. The result is a complete inside story of the campaign from the early days in both parties, through the dramatic ending that wasn’t written until the very last hours of the election. [Kindle]


Glenn Thrush and Jonathan Martin.  Dec. 17, 2012.  THE END OF THE LINE: Romney vs. Obama: the 34 days that decided the election.  New York: Random House.
"The fourth and final eBook in POLITICO’s Playbook 2012 series once again provides an unprecedented minute-by-minute account of the race for the presidency. The End of the Line follows President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney as their campaign teams go all-in to win in the critical final weeks of the 2012 election." [Kindle]


Michael Hastings.  Jan. 15, 2013.  PANIC 2012: The Sublime and Terrifying Inside Story of Obama's Final Campaign.  New York: A BuzzFeed/Blue Rider Press Book.
"With access to the Obama re-election machine, Michael Hastings reports  the behind-the-scenes story of the campaign trail: from Obama’s self-destructive performance at the first debate to the harrowing days of Hurricane Sandy, all culminating in his triumphant victory late in the evening on November 6th. Along the way, Hastings gives a first hand account of the excitement and madness traveling with the White House press corps, bringing to life a series of unforgettably strange moments from the trail. From one of the sharpest, funniest, and most controversial young American journalists writing today comes Panic: 2012 – the definitive account of how President Obama almost blew it." [Kindle]




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