Revival, Richard Wolffe
Revival, Richard Wolffe
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Revival
The Struggle for Survival Inside the Obama White House

Author: Richard Wolffe

Narrator: Richard Wolffe

Unabridged: 8 hr 55 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/16/2010


Synopsis

Revival is the dramatic inside story of the defining period of the Obama White House. It is an epic tale that follows the president and his inner circle from the crisis of defeat to historic success. Over the span of an extraordinary two months in the life of a young presidency, Obama and his senior aides engaged in a desperate struggle for survival that stands as the measure of who they are and how they govern.
 
Bestselling Obama biographer Richard Wolffe draws on unrivaled access to the West Wing to write a natural sequel to his critically acclaimed book about the president and his campaign. He traces an arc from near death to resurrection that is a repeated pattern for Obama, first as a candidate and now as president. Starting at the first anniversary of the inauguration, Wolffe paints a portrait of a White House at work under exceptional strain across a sweeping set of challenges: from health care reform to a struggling economy, from two wars to terrorism.
 
Revival is a road map to understanding the dynamics, characters, and disputes that shape the Obama White House. It reveals for the first time the fault lines at the heart of the West Wing between two groups competing for control of the president’s agenda. On one side are the Revivalists, who want to return to the high-minded spirit of the presidential campaign. On the other side are the Survivalists, who believe that government demands a low-minded set of compromises and combat.
 
At the center of this compelling story is a man who remains opaque to supporters, staff, and critics alike. What motivates him to risk his presidency on health care? What frustrations does he feel at this incredible time of testing? Written by the author who knows Obama best, Revival is a frank and intimate account of a president struggling to adapt, enduring failure, and outfoxing his foes. It is a must-read volume, full of exclusive insights into the untold and unfinished story of a new force in world politics.

About The Author

Richard Wolffe is an award-winning journalist and political analyst for MSNBC television, appearing frequently on MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Hardball. He covered the entire length of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign for Newsweek magazine. Before Newsweek, Wolffe was a senior journalist at the Financial Times, serving as its deputy bureau chief and U.S. diplomatic correspondent. He lives with his wife and their three children in Washington, D.C.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Christopher on January 30, 2011

Sub-Woodward (the comparison is not meant as a compliment) political tick-tock. Some illuminating moments, but mainly unsurprising if you have occasionally read the New York Times over the course of the past three years. Pedestrian, self-serving interviews are its backbone so I suppose that's not su......more

Goodreads review by Carlos on August 21, 2011

This book claims to give exclusive insight into the struggle between two competing factions inside the Obama White House. The revivalists; former top campaign aides to the president, and survivalists; Washington insiders who want a more pragmatic approach to governing. The material only covers a 30......more

Goodreads review by Tj on April 24, 2012

In theory the what Wolfe set out to provide is the sort of reporting that journalism should be providing. However the lack of an editor or need to maintain journalistic standards to some level hamper this book, finding Wolfe often seemingly defending the president the way one would a good friend who......more

Goodreads review by Laura on June 03, 2011

Enjoyed the book, though it felt a little unfocused and meandering in places. Overall, Jonathan Alter's "The Promise" offers a much more in-depth analysis of Pres. Obama's first year-plus in office, but if you're looking for a somewhat quicker read which primarily focuses on the period between the M......more

Goodreads review by Leisha on June 25, 2011

This book is written by an insider who loves Obama, and it's not very informative. It's sympathetic, cheerleading, and would have benefited from another round of careful editing -- Wolffe's prose is mainly good, pleasant, and easy to read, so occasional lapses in its quality are noticeable.......more


Quotes

Praise for Richard Wolffe’s Renegade
 
“Destined to be a classic in its genre.” —Douglas Brinkley
 
“Insightful …A thoughtful meditation on Mr. Obama’s life and character.” —Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
 
“There is enough drama, and then some, in Renegade. It is surely not the final word—but it is as close as we are likely to get.” —Ted Widmer, Washington Post
 
“A superb achievement …Wolffe’s brisk, well-written narrative is fully in the tradition of Theodore White and Richard Ben Cramer.” —Michael Beschloss
 
“An insightful, unusually moving, fully observed portrait … Marvelous.” —Ken Burns