- Paperback: 816 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine Books (Sep 29 1996)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0345410483
- ISBN-13: 978-0345410481
- Product Dimensions: 14 x 3.9 x 21 cm
- Shipping Weight: 885 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,340,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Smith takes the reader inside the political process in Washington, discusses changes over the past decade and the present network, then explains how the parts fit together. Having enjoyed "a fifty-yard-line seat at the power game" for a quarter century as a New York Times correspondent and bureau chief, he is well placed to report on the new congressional assertiveness against the presidency, the explosion of special-interest politics, the massive growth in staff power, the burgeoning of video politicsas well as such long-established goings-on as the partnership between the military services, defense contractors and members of Congress. The book is not only a survey and analysis of major dimension, it is a probing documentary: in discussing how political coalitions are arranged or how congressional mavericks play "porcupine politics," for instance, Smith often presents the action itself in scenes with dialogue. Many of the anecdotes and quotes found in these pages will become part of the national folklore. A sure-fire bestseller. BOMC featured selection.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
From Library Journal
To succeed at politics, one must realize that power comes to those who are smart and quick enough to grab it. Smith ( The Russians , LJ 9/15/76) relies primarily on anecdotes and case studies from the Reagan era to illustrate how the use of power determines the effectiveness of government. He brilliantly relates how structural changes in the political environment have created a new breed of largely unaccountable video politician. His Washington is a "city of cocker spaniels" whose government officials need constant approval and membership in ever-changing alliances to flourish. Potentially the political book of the year; highly recommended. Karl Helicher, Wolfsohn Memorial Lib., King of Prussia, Pa.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wheels and deals: insights into the myopic octopus,
By
This review is from: Power Game: How Washington Really Works (Mass Market Paperback)
Hedrick Smith captures much of the essence of Washington, DC: deals and how they are made, and what the people who make them are like.Although this book is somewhat dated for the contemporary reader, yet it's the case that the more things change, the more they stay the same, especially in Washingtom, DC. The non-American observer may not fail to be amazed at how parish pump, pork barrel politics can play such a part in the seat of institutions which are so influential worldwide. Mark Felt's exhortation to Bob Woodward: "Follow the money" can equally explain why myopic DC policy makers hear certain facts and not others; Smith has done a service in upturning the stones and revealing some of what's beneath. But my hunch is that he has uncovered only a fraction of what could have gone into this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not Government 101,
By A Customer
This review is from: Power Game: How Washington Works (Paperback)
Forget everything you were ever taught or told about how government works. Rick Smith has captured the reality. Though it was written about Washington much of The Power Game is also true of state and sometimes even local government. A must read for anyone with an interest in government or politics.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Cure for the insomniacs,
By A Customer
This review is from: Power Game: How Washington Works (Paperback)
This book was assigned to me for summer reading for Advance Placement Government class. I got it through borders and paid high price for it, I highly suggest buying it used through amazon.com. In the beginning this novel seemed very interesting with its unique insider perspective however this insider perspective drowned the novel with annoying anecdotes. The perspective was lost with countless examples that were perfect cure for when I was in desperate need of sleep. The author states his views and makes his points in the first page of two of every chapter and for the next 10-20 pages it just filled with every moment of his 30+ year experience at D.C. This novel is 700+ pages long and could very easily be trimmed down to under a 100 and still have a greater impact. So I would advise to buy it used then just read the first page of every section.
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