Politics: Observations and Arguments, 1966-2004 [Paperback]

Hendrik Hertzberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 2005

Here at last are Hendrik Hertzberg’s most significant, hilarious, and devastating dispatches from the American scene he has chronicled for four decades with an uncanny blend of moral seriousness, high spirits, and perfect rhetorical pitch. Arranged thematically, each section contains the choicest, most illuminating pieces from his body of work and begins with a new piece of writing that frames the subject at hand. A tour of the defining moments of American life from the mid-’60s to the mid- ’00s, Politics is at once the story of American life from LBJ to GWB and a testament to the power of the written word.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

These are rich times for writers of Hendrik Hertzberg's political persuasion. The stalwart political commentator has plenty of qualified company on the left when it comes to critiquing the conservative revolution, notably Lewis Lapham, William Greider, and Paul Krugman. But the former New Republic editor and current New Yorker executive editor has a voice that is particularly suitable for an on-the-outs observer. Hertzberg seems almost delighted to pinpoint hypocrisy, inconsistency, greed, and masked cynicism. At his best, he makes indignation fun. Politics gathers dozens of Hertzberg's editorials and essays in one hefty volume, organizing them in loose subdivisions ("The Wayward Media," "Wedge Issues," "2000 + 9/11"). The former Jimmy Carter speechwriter isn't above lancing those on the left who fail to match their ideals with their actions, but, naturally, he's at his best when scrutinizing those on the right. The Reagan and Bush II administrations proved to be particularly inspirational. Keen, pithy, and daring (if not always right; in 1988, he ruefully forecasted a Dan Quayle administration), Hertzberg ranks with the finest political writers of his era. The proof is in this wide-ranging and smartly edited compilation. --Steven Stolder --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Hertzberg's name is instantly recognizable to readers of the New Yorker, where he often writes the lead commentary on the week's political fallout. Drawing on nearly 40 years' worth of material, this collection sums up a career that has included stints editing the New Republic and speechwriting for Jimmy Carter, and offers some surprises: a baby boomer's reminiscences on the 20th anniversary of Woodstock are expected, as are repeated forays into electoral reform, but a 1972 John Lennon profile and a probe of the origins of the classic New York tabloid headline, FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD find the politics in pop culture. A long stretch of material deals with his coverage of the 1988 election, including a reflection on the possibility of Dan Quayle becoming president that leads into a discussion of disengaged leadership. And there's plenty of direct criticism of George W. Bush and his handling of the war on terror, in the context of Hertzberg's longstanding dissatisfaction with neoconservatives and self-appointed protectors of "Judeo-Christian" values. Taken as a whole, the articles show a consistent concern for a classical liberalism in which sober reasoning rests on equal footing with sly humor, but even articles from 2000 feel distant given the pace of current events.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 720 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); First Edition edition (June 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143035533
• ISBN-13: 978-0143035534
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,199,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humane, articulate, wise, July 20, 2004

By 

R. Stanton "rjs19" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Politics: Observations and Arguments, 1966-2004 (Hardcover)

Hendrik Hertzberg is the most humane and articulate voice I've heard in the mainstream media in this decade. I wanted to stand up and salute, or cheer, or cry, or something, after hearing an hour-long interview with him on NPR. His writing, like his speaking, radiates kindness, humanity, wisdom, thoughtfulness: unlike almost any other writer analyzing U.S. politics (an automatically divisive subject), Hertzberg is unfailingly courteous, even solicitous, immensely and sincerely respectful of the reader, and above all, kind; yet his critique is razor-sharp and perfectly articulated. This is a writer who knows what words mean, and always uses exactly the right words to express what he means to say.

In short, if you read only one non-fiction book this year, let it be this one; Hertzberg will lift you up, he will restore your faith in humanity, and he will remind you of what the English language can do when it's properly employed.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Collection of Columns, July 16, 2004

By 

Mark Phillips (Marin, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Politics: Observations and Arguments, 1966-2004 (Hardcover)

The right wing review that preceded this one tells far more about the reviewer than about this perceptive, sensitive, sometimes brilliant collection of essays. Apart from his political acuity, Hertzberg's observations on other aspects of American culture, such as his wonderful piece on the experience of police at a post 911 Bruce Springsteen concert are exceptional. Yes, Hertzberg has a liberal bias and he makes moral judgements, most of them ones which are sympatico with our professed best American values. Even if you were to read only half of the columns in this book, you would get more than your money's worth.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decades of Insightful and Incisive Prose, September 22, 2004

By 

Lukas Jackson (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Politics: Observations and Arguments, 1966-2004 (Hardcover)

Hertzberg has to be the preeminent political writer of our time. His writing is always witty and urbane, but also packs a political punch. Thankfully, he doesn't delve into the depths like many political writers at the moment. Instead, he relies on the facts and his wit to make his points, and respects the intelligence of his readers. If you are not familiar with his work, I urge you to pick up a recent issue of "The New Yorker" and read his pieces in "The Talk of the Town" section.

This book is an impressive archive of Hertzberg's writing over the past 40 years. Most of the book consists of his writing in the 1980s for "The New Republic" and his more recent pieces for "The New Yorker." While his writing has always been impressive, I found that it become more cogent, direct and "punchy" as time went on. His articles are organized into a variety of sections, from "Enough About the Sixties" (the hippies and classic rock), "Great Men," (articles on Carter, Reagan, and RFK), to "Judeo-Christians," "Wingers," "Wedge Issues," and "The Wayward Media."

I found "The Ghost in the Machine" section on proportional representation especially interesting. Not only would such a system do away with pointless anachronisms like the electoral college, but it would obviously be more democratic and representative. Unfortunately, we will most likely never see such a system because it is too threatening to the Powers That Be-- namely, the two major political parties. Sadly, we are much more likely to see a constitutional amendment so that a specific Viennese weightlifter can be President.

This book is a treasure trove of wit and wisdom, and I learned a great deal about recent political history reading it. I urge you to add this invaluable resource to your library.