Outsider in the House (Hardcover)

~ Bernie Sanders (Author), Huck Gutman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Bernie Sanders of Vermont uses the story of his 1996 reelection campaign to paint the picture of what it's like to be the first Independent elected to the House of Representatives in 40 years and the only one ever elected to four consecutive terms. Outsider in the House provides a good look at such recent political skirmishes as the Gulf War, NAFTA, and health care reform. In his concluding chapter, Sanders puts forward explicit proposals for tackling such issues as bridging the gap between rich and poor (develop a truly progressive tax code, he says); campaign reform (establish automatic voter registration, end soft money, cap total election expenditures and provide free TV time for political ads); and balancing the budget (drastically cut defense and corporate welfare).

From Library Journal

What's it like to be the odd-man out in Congress? Sanders, the first independent elected to the House in 40 years, sheds some light on running for and serving in the House. Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, from 1981 to 1989, Sanders won his first term in 1990, identifying himself as a progressive. Using his 1996 reelection campaign as the framework for the book, Sanders bounces around in time to present a very personal account of his political life. His thoughts on major political figures, such as Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, are often quite blunt, and at times he delivers some cheap shots at his Republican and Democratic colleagues. Sanders exposes the reader to his Socialist/Progressive positions on all kinds of issues, from bovine growth hormone to NAFTA. Sanders is a dedicated representative, but he should stick to writing legislation. Readers looking for a balanced treatment of Congressional politics might consult Ronald D. Elving's Conflict and Compromise (S. & S., 1995) and Steven Waldman's The Bill (LJ 2/1/95).?Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes Univ., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 244 pages
• Publisher: Verso (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859848710
• ISBN-13: 978-1859848715
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,116,259 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, even for non-socialists, December 31, 2004

By	J. D. Seagraves (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Outsider in the House (Paperback)

As a former congressional candidate, I have read numerous books on the subject of congressional campaigns, and this is by far the best. Mr. Sanders chronicles his ascent from pitiful protest candidacies with the socialist Liberty Union Party of Vermont, where he often got just 1 percent of the vote, all the way to his eventual victory as mayor of Burlington and election to the U.S. House of Representatives. This quick, fun, and informative read has it all - the actual campaign strategy and logistics, what it's like to raise money, the human and family costs of running for office, and of course, what it's like to actually legislate in D.C. The fact that Mr. Sanders is an independent makes the book particularly interesting. The one thing I was disappointed with, however, was the fact that the self-ascribed socialist did not spend even one word describing what he thinks "socialism" is. Other than that, this is a perfect book, even for the non-socialist lover of politics (and third-party/independent politics in particular) such as myself.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enlightening, October 25, 1998

By A Customer

Sanders does a few wonderful things in this book - first off, he shows what socialists truly believe - I now realize that, while I don't agree with them, I got a false impression of their views from the mass media. The book also gives a detailed account of how hard it is to make it as a third party candidate in America, and does so without becoming dull at any points. Finally, Sanders covers a wide range in issues in this book. Overall, very interesting for anyone even remotely interested in American politics.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book by the only Independent in the Congress!, July 1, 1997

By A Customer

OUTSIDER IN THE HOUSE is an interesting and intriguing book by the only Independent in the Hosue of Representatives, and the only Independent *ever* elected to four consecutive terms! How did formerly conservative Vermont elect a democratic socialist as its Representative in the House? This book will tell you. How did Bernie Sanders first get elected Mayor of Vermont's largest city? What did he tell Bill Clinton when they met? What does it feel like to see your Congressional colleagues gutting welfare? What is the 52-member Progressive Ccaucus, and why did Bernie Sanders help found it? This book answers all these questions in a fast-paced narrative which weaves together Sanders'most recent re-election campaign (targeted by the Republican leadership, the NRA, and corporate America, he managed to win by 23 points!), his fights on Capitol Hill, and a brief history of the most successful progressive political movement in modern America. And if that is not enough, the book concludes with a clear-eyed look at America's major problems -- and presents reasonable ways of addressing each of them. Highly recommended. [Of course, you might consider that this review was written by the book's co-author, Huck Gutman....] Still, I think you will like it, and be energized by reading it. Our purpose in writing it, after all, was to give people hope: it is really possible to take on the corporate powers and big money interests, and beat them at the electoral game.