First published 2015
David Axelrod opens his political memoir by tracing his journey from 1960s New York idealism through Chicago journalism to the highest levels of American power. The book details his transformation from reporter covering city corruption to campaign strategist reshaping Democratic politics. Axelrod describes his early success getting Paul Simon elected to the Senate using unconventional methods, then his work with major Democratic figures including Hillary Clinton, Deval Patrick, and Rahm Emanuel. The narrative centers on his twenty-year partnership with Barack Obama, from their first meeting through Obama's rise from state senator to president. Axelrod recounts his role as senior adviser during Obama's presidency, navigating economic crisis, two wars, and efforts to reform healthcare and financial systems. The memoir reveals the strategic thinking behind Obama's historic 2008 and 2012 campaigns while offering an insider's view of modern political machinery.
Genres: biography, american, political-science, memoir, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, political-machinery
Setting: Chicago, New York
Period: 1960s, 2000s, 2010s
528 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press