First published 2013
Mark Leibovich pulls back the curtain on Washington's permanent political class, revealing how the nation's capital really operates behind its public facade. He shows how defeated candidates become lobbyists earning more than they ever did in office, how disgraced aides emerge with greater influence than their former bosses, and how even funeral services transform into networking opportunities. The author demonstrates that Washington runs on shamelessness and money, where losing elections or facing indictments barely interrupts careers. Political reporters gain celebrity status for their access, conflicts of interest disappear into convenient amnesia, and everyone maintains the fiction of friendship while pursuing personal gain. Leibovich documents a system where scandal becomes currency and failure opens new doors to wealth. His investigation reveals that the carousel of power never stops spinning because Washington has perfected the art of recycling its players regardless of their public disgrace.
Genres: american-fiction, american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism, current-affairs
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, systemic-critique
Setting: Washington DC
Period: 21st Century
386 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press