First published 2011
Bestselling journalist Joe McGinniss embarked on three years of research to uncover the real Sarah Palin. His investigation began on Election Day 2008 and reached its peak when he moved next door to Palin in Alaska during spring 2010. McGinniss combines his decades-old love for Alaska with his talent for exposing the gap between public image and private reality. The book presents two parallel stories: Palin's rapid ascent from Alaska politician to global celebrity, and McGinniss's daily experiences as he peels back the layers of the Palin persona. His reporting reveals the messy truth beneath the polished political image. The result examines not only Palin as an individual and cultural force, but also the Alaska and America that created her. McGinniss explores fundamental questions about her identity, her rise to prominence, and her lasting impact. The book offers readers both sharp analysis and moments of humor while exposing uncomfortable truths about a potential presidential candidate and the millions of Americans who champion her cause.
Genres: biography, american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Alaska
Period: 2008, 2010
321 pages · Hardcover · Crown