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Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success Hardcover – October 2, 2007

by Chris Matthews (Author)

37 customer reviews

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Chris Matthews is like no other TV interviewer. Life’s a Campaign is like no other book on success.

Famous for demanding the truth from his Hardball guests, Chris Matthews now reveals what the people running this country rarely confess: the secrets of how they got to the top. Here is the first book on power with insight snatched from those who wield it. Life’s a Campaign exposes the tactics, tricks, and truths that help people get ahead–and can help you, too, whatever your field of ambition.

Written in the assertive, good-natured style that is Matthews’s trademark, Life’s a Campaign is the most useful kind of investigative reporting. You’ll benefit from his insider’s scrutiny of the Congress, the White House, and the national news media. Here are the methods, showcased in fascinating anecdotes and case histories, that presidents, senators, and other powerful people use to persuade others and win–and the life lessons they provide for the rest of us.

You’ll learn about Bill Clinton’s laser-focused ability to listen to those he wants to seduce–and how he’s been teaching that craft to his wife, Hillary; how Ronald Reagan employed his basic optimism to win history to his side; the simple steps in human diplomacy that the first President Bush exploited to assemble a worldwide posse to attack Saddam Hussein and gain global approval in a way his son has failed to do; how Nancy Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the House by practicing the most fundamental of human qualities: hardnosed loyalty. You’ll also find out, for the first time, about Matthews’s own wild ride through the turbulent, converging rapids of politics and journalism.

The big payoff in Life’s a Campaign is what you’ll learn about human nature:

• People would rather be listened to than listen.
• People don’t mind being used; what they mind is being discarded.
• People are more loyal to the people they’ve helped than the people they’ve helped are loyal to them.
• Not everyone’s going to like you.
• No matter what anybody says, nobody wants a level playing field.

Knowing such truths is the successful person’s number one advantage in life. As you’ll learn in Life’s a Campaign, mastering–and employing–these truths separates the leaders from the followers.

Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success

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Product Details

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (October 2, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400065283
ISBN-13: 978-1400065288
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,097,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #220 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Specific Topics > Propaganda & Political Psychology
- #1766 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Journalists
- #1978 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Specific Topics > Commentary & Opinion

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Customer Reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars

5 star		32%
4 star		22%
3 star		16%
2 star		14%
1 star		16%

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Breezy and Entertaining

By Erica on January 23, 2008

Format: Hardcover

I found this book to be very enjoyable. It is a short collection of political anecdotes and 'life lessons.' It really isn't about being manipulative - I hate to say it, but having read the negative reviews here - those people really didn't read the book. Ok, so you associate 'politics' with being manipulative and then assume that a book that talks about lessons from politics must advocate a selfish sort of manipulativeness. Or else you watch Hardball and don't like it, so you then, by necessity, hate the book.

So here's an example: "Don't just call when you need something." Manipulative? Uh. How about just good manners and an appropriate way of building relationships? "Keep good company." Confucious pointed that one out. Perhaps by stating these more obvious examples, I may give the impression that the book is a bit bland. The advice might not be totally revelatory or new, but the book is written in an engaging manner and the anecdotes are enjoyable. And truthfully, organizing them around the 'what I've learned' or 'advice' premise makes it all the more entertaining.

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22 of 27 people found the following review helpful

Practical Advice For Everyone

By Bill Emblom on October 15, 2007

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

This book is a quick read, but does have some practical advice for anyone who interacts with people which would include most of us. Chris Matthews passes on wisdom that others have passed on to him which can be of benefit to young people trying to get started in a career. Matthews quotes Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton, and others who have provided wisdom in dealing with other people. Clinton on the importance of being a good listener. Most people can't wait until the other person finishes speaking so they can spout their own thoughts. Each chapter begins with catchy lines that teach a lesson such as Harvey Mackay stating, "Dig your well before you're thirsty." Each chapter is summed up to reiterate what Matthews wants to emphasize to you. Reading biographies, Matthews asserts, are beneficial to show us how others got where they wanted to go, and to study the routes others have taken. Of special importance, I feel, is the chapter on counting to ten, one hundred if you are really angry, before spouting a snappy or clever response at someone because all your hard work can be undone in a nanosecond. I rate the book three stars which isn't bad, and I'm sure Chris Matthews doesn't expect it to be rated five stars on the same level as some classic works, but the book does provide pracical advice for people. My copy is going to our local high school where I hope students will benefit from the wisdom Chris Matthews has provided.

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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Politics and Life Lessons Make for Strange Bedfellows

By Dave Carpenter on October 14, 2007

Format: Hardcover

What happens when one attempts to write about creating a winning life strategy using political stories? Well, judging by the diversity of the other reviews of this book, like politics in America, one ends up pleasing - at best - only half the people.

Probably because I set aside my political views in reading this book, I just plain enjoyed Chris Mathew's latest book. Sure, there are more informative books on achieving better personal results in life. And, there are better books on politics. But, I found the combination to be innovative and entertaining. Simply, a good read for a medium length plane ride or an evening by a nice fire.

Few readers are likely to discover great new insights into life in the pages of this book. But, I dare say that many of us can benefit by reading entertaining reminders of the basics.

An example of one of these basics, that I have already used in some of my classes on relationship building is this Chapter "bottom line" from the author, "Don't just call when you need something. If you plan to someday make withdrawals, it is good policy to start putting something in the bank." Surely, not an innovative thought. But, a reminder that is helpful.

Mere mortals who can benefit from such reminders, presented with quick illustrations from the world of politics, will enjoy this book. Political aficionados will probably be better served elsewhere.

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16 of 21 people found the following review helpful

Advice From an Old Pro

By Dennis Phillips on June 13, 2008

Format: Hardcover

I watch Chris Matthews almost every evening and have come to respect him a great deal even if I don't always agree with him. The thing that I most respect about the man is that he asks the tough questions of both sides of the political aisle. Many conservative Republicans are upset with him now because he is so tough on the Bush administration but a scant eight years ago liberal Democrats were upset with him over his treatment of the Clinton administration. Basically Matthews seems to ask the tough questions of whoever is in power despite the fact that in his political career he always worked for Democrats.

The reader will find out a lot about the author in this book including the fact that Matthews' father was a Republican and that the first President Bush took great delight in reminding Matthews of that fact. Matthews has in fact come into fairly close contact with almost every major American leader in the last thirty years and has gleaned several worthwhile insights from these successful people. It is those very insights that this book is meant to share. Matthews has zoomed in on several traits that seem to be shared by most of the people who have reached the top of the political ladder and it is his contention that many of these traits can be applied to almost any field with the same positive results.

As Matthews passes along his hints for a successful career he shares some wonderful stories some of which are amusing and some of which are very moving. The story of Tip O'Neill's visit to the still sedated Ronald Reagan shortly the failed attempt on the president's life for example is a very moving story and Matthews does an excellent job of telling it.Read more ›

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Great advice!!!

I kept hanging on to his statement "if you want to be a lawyer, go to any law school you can get into".

Published 24 months ago by B. Ryan

More or less an improved version of his book Hardball.

plenty too much Reagan and Tipper Gore idolizing. Kinda educational for being a pundit yet I really wouldn't want people seeing Washington as a place that should stay this way. Read more

Published 24 months ago by Nexus Hexus

Good Read

Matthews presents his background and tells us why and how he developed the ability to see through the political ups and downs of the day.

Published 24 months ago by Dr. Sol M. Wald

Chris has a good head

and this is reflected in this very insightful and practical book for those involved in politics and very informative for those observing that world. Read more

Published on December 15, 2012 by Aron Mueller

garbage

when will this gasbag empty out? He is an excellent indicator of ALL that is wrong with American media. If his views were just a little different he would be on fox news. Read more

Published on January 9, 2009 by Daniel Bombarger

I would give this a zero if I could

Basically, if you believe that being deceptive, lying, avoiding truth are good methods of dealing with your family, work associates and friends, this is the book for you. Read more

Published on September 24, 2008 by Amazon Customer

Matthews effectively brings yakkety-yak to written page

You know that non-stop, mind-numbing yakkety-yakkety-yakkety-yak that emanates from your MSNBC during prime-time and causes your ears to bleed and your stomach contents to be... Read more

Published on August 28, 2008 by gsundar

Chris Matthews=DORKBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is a beautiful sacred thing.This guy tries to say life is a campaign.Getting jobs,girls etc.Make everything a campaign.He constantly uses the example of the Clintons. Read more

Published on August 7, 2008 by Richard L. Hulsebus

A good book for voters, insiders and presidential candidates

Thirty-two Amazon reviewers have preceded me, so I'll blame Chris Matthews himself. The reader-friendliness of this book allowed me to pick it up for a few pages at a time, then... Read more

Published on May 6, 2008 by Steve Emerine

good read, even if you're not into politics

This book is one of Matthews' better books, in my opinion. It's a good, fast paced read - even if you are not involved into politics. Read more

Published on April 15, 2008 by M. E. Mccaffrey