The Wilderness

by McKay Coppins

First published 2015

The Republican Party faces a crisis after losing the 2012 election. McKay Coppins opens the curtain on the party's internal battles as politicians scramble to chart a path back to power. Through more than 300 interviews, he reveals the fierce competition among presidential hopefuls including Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Bobby Jindal, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Donald Trump, and Scott Walker. Each figure represents a different vision for the party's future. Establishment veterans clash with Tea Party insurgents while newcomers try to break through. Coppins captures the raw ambition, personal rivalries, and strategic maneuvering that define this pivotal moment. The book exposes how power brokers operate behind closed doors and how lawmakers position themselves for national campaigns. This intimate portrait shows a party wrestling with its identity while desperately seeking a formula for victory.

Genres: political-science, politics, 21st-century, american-history

Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: political-intrigue, power-struggles

Period: 2012

400 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company

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