Customer Reviews

The Book of Political Lists

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Surprisingly entertaining, and full of stuff handy for awkward moments (the location of a tiger tattoo is revealed). It's quick reading and never blushes, even in talking about one of the anti-Reagan slogans mentioning panty hose. It made me laugh and reconsider some of the things that have inspired gasps today compared to the way things used to be done. A good read for anyone not considering going into politics. If nothing else it is honest.

To anyone who loves politics and loves useless facts even more, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!!!!!!

No plot, no conclusion, just characters!!!! It's a great look at the unknown side of politics. Sure, noone cares about most of this stuff, but, hey, SOME PEOPLE DO! ME INCLUDED!!! TO NERDS LIKE ME, THIS BOOK IS A MUST!!!!

A great quick guide to the great, near great and never great in American politics. Will be useful for that useless information that pops up during the course of the day. Very fast read, great for the summer. While some information will pass out of use as fast as a Ken Starr subpoena, the bulk of the book is great histroy

This book is worth reading despite some flaws. One error occurs on page 167 where the book describes Jim Lightfoot as being a U.S. Senator from Iowa. Congressman Lightfoot never held that position. On page 197, Mario Cuomo is said to have become New York Governor in 1982. The correct year is 1983. On page 210, Ulysses Grant is incorrectly labelled the incumbent president in 1880. Rutherford B. Hayes was President that year, not Grant. On page 306, (future) Vice President Elbridge Gerry's name is reversed. On page 351, Governor William S. Taylor of Kentucky is listed as having been a Congressman from Kentucky. The Biographical Directory of the US Congress does not confirm this. On pages 72 and 73 is the list "Presidents' Relatives Who Wrote Books". One important one left out is "My Brother Lyndon", by Sam Houston Johnson. This book was written by LBJ's brother after Johnson left the Presidency. There are other lists which are also incomplete.

This book is a compendium of disconnected lists of political trivia. Here are some typical bits, selected at random:

States that have given birth to more than one president

Inclement Inaugurations

Presidential burial groungs

Greatest Presidents, ranked (1948, Life Magazine)


Supreme Court Justices who were congressmen

Robert Bryant Haynes political platform
(teenager who ran for President in 1988, he wanted to lower taxes and ban abortion, among other things)

Mario Cuomo's greatest Italian American politicians

Bob Dole's 10 nicest things about not being an elected official
(e.g. get to go to more Dodgers games)

"George" was a vehicle set up as an editorial doodling exercise for one of Joe Kennedy's grandchildren. It folded upon his demise. A sibling is still working as an editor, publishing "Profiles in Courage for our Time", among other things, leading to a failed bid for a Senate appointment. Perhaps that sibling should update this book, then try a different state.

I am constantly going to this book to look up things about American Politics. There is a lot of information that crosses many different areas. There is the Congress, The Presidency, and the Supreme Court. There is a lot of information about past Presidential campaigns which is interesting.

There is also a large portion of the book called Pop Politics that includes trivia on what actor played what President, what Politicians were on T.V. shows and many other things. There is also a guaranteed thought provoker of a chapter about Political Prisoners in America.

The book has a lot of information about the 105th Congress (1997-99) which dates the book a little, but most of the information is historical so it doesn't matter that much.

This is a very good resource. There is an introduction by the late John F. Kennedy Jr.

Eskin's lists are surely more entertaining and enduring than another dull day of Monicagate. Pick this up. Amaze your friends and enjoy.

This book is not only informative it's fun. I did however, find a mistake. The order of Presidential Succession is incorrect. Two of the Cabinet members have been omitted: Defense and Commerce. This makes me wonder the accuracy of the information.

Facts Facts Facts Facts Facts Facts. Useless Facts Useless Facts Useless Facts Useless Facts. I like it. 'Nuff Said.