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This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral-Plus, Plenty of Valet Parking!-in America's Gilded Capital Hardcover – July 16, 2013

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Mark Leibovich (Author)
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Mark Leibovich (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars 970 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Blue Rider Press; First Edition edition (July 16, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0399161309
  • ISBN-13: 978-0399161308
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (970 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsExcellent insight into how Washington REALLY runs
By D. Graves on July 16, 2013
Format: Hardcover
This is not an in-depth investigation into Washington corruption; it is, rather, a panoramic view of the culture of Washington, the fertile soil in which the corruption grows and flourishes. Presented in a lively, humorous manner, it is rather enjoyable to read. So much so that one tends to lose sight of the fact that these are people - Washington insiders, that is - who enrich themselves with money taxpayers are forced to send to the government. You get the sense that these people always have a smirk on their faces, laughing at the stupid people - everyone outside of the Beltway - who support their little aristocracy upon the Potomac ('The Club', as it's referred to). The author, Mark Leibovich, doesn't draw conclusions for us, he presents the rather corrupt underbelly of Washington - politicians and their minions as they really are - and let's us decide just how bad it really is.

The remarkable aspect of the book is the author's ability to not take sides, politically: most books on politics end up offending readers from one side or the other but here both sides are equally hoisted on their own petards. Democrats may outnumber Republicans but only because Leibovich is writing about the last several years, with much of the book centered upon the 2012 elections. But, as a New York Times reporter, the author certainly isn't anti-liberal, by any means; he's simply giving an honest account of what he has seen behind the curtains.

That honesty, however, has its limits and this is my main criticism of the book. Leibovich shies away from exposing true corruption and seems to want to be friends with these people.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsBrisk, Entertaining, Maddening Inside View of Permanent Washington
By Heather K. Michon on July 20, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Reading Mark Leibovich's "This Town," the image that kept coming to mind was a bunch of ant colonies that over the generations had merged together into one enormous super-colony. No longer competing for resources, they grow fat and complacent as they go about their oh-so-industrious lives. In nature, it would be at this point that something other force would invade - a colony of bigger, badder ants, or some sort of parasitic mite - and do them all in. Fortunately for the denizens of Washington DC, that doesn't seem to be on the horizon for This Town.

Like all dishy political books, most of Leibovich's best anecdotes were leaked before the book was even on the shelves, but there's still plenty of good stuff in there. And by "good stuff," I mean outrageous, maddening, excessive and just plain silly stuff. As Alex Pareene wrote for Salon.com, if you already hate Washington, this book will help you hate it with more specificity.

It's a difficult book to categorize. It's not satire or a polemic. Leibovich doesn't seem to have an ax to grind, and most certainly doesn't make any recommendations for change. In essence, this is a very well-written anthropological study of a specific tribe, with its own culture, language and social mores - with the author playing the part of the anthropologist...observing, slightly bemused, but unwilling to judge. He's willing to let his readers do that for themselves.
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4.0 out of 5 starsOur Nation's Capitol Makes Vegas Seem Classy
By Jay on July 19, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
For taxpayers, Leibovich's book brings into focus how indifferent our elected officials are to those of us who elected them.
Still, if you can set aside a so-this-is-how-my-tax-dollars-are-spent mentality, you should find the book witty, gossipy and informative - though not surprising. You must see the politicos and hangers-on as the preening pretenders that most of them are. There are few statesmen and women among this crowd and few genuine leaders - from the voter's point of view. Even when they say they are not making deals, they are. I have heard there's no longer a big social scene in D.C., a la the Reagan years, but apparently there is.

I am put off that the author has commercialized his relationships - no matter how shallow they are - but I am a political junkie so I downloaded the book on my Kindle anyway. It confirms what many of us have observed for years: media are more intent on protecting treasured sources than reporting the truth. Sometimes media ignore nasty stories about their favorite news sources. Whether it's Clinton, Petraeus or someone like Anthony Weiner, media love to tear down public figures (it sells)but celebrate their so-called comebacks (it sells). This book also confirms that those who have gotten caught with hands in the cookie jar or on private parts of a much younger woman, were usually already knee-deep in their misdeeds. Lesson for us: forgiving is fine, but we should probably not reelect these people - and we don't have to admire them either. It's fun to just laugh at them.
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5.0 out of 5 starsSnappy, funny writing that keeps you reading
By Leslie N. Patino on July 16, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
From the start of "This Town," Mark Leibovich demonstrates his considerable writing skills and his insider's knowledge of Washington. The tales he tells so well confirm his nod to local literary tradition which at times compares D.C. to a high school. I'm betting that at this moment there are plenty of folks in D.C. devouring the book which came out today. ("What did he say about me? What did he say about my friends and the people I'm not friends with?")

The thing is Leibovich does it in such snappy, funny writing that he keeps you reading. He throws out phrases like "peacocking policitians," "garaged yard signs" and "pundit catnip." He breezily refers to insiders by nicknames like "the Tamster," "the Macker" and "the Money Honey." My favorite was that shortly before Romney became the 2012 Republican candidate, voters realized "that they were on the verge of nominating Thurston Howell III."

While Leibovich drops plenty of names, his book isn't just a 400-page version of a tabloid magazine. He has covered his beat (Washington) well and for a long time. No doubt some readers will be disheartened at the cynical and out-for-me attitude of most of the individuals Leibovich describes. Honestly, though, didn't we all pretty much know that already? Others will probably be disappointed that he didn't dish more dirty. But did you really expect the man to go there if he wants to keep his job and his connections?

The book is the solid, well-written result of years of experience. After a while though, it became one more story piled on top of another about smart people with tremendous abilities who almost always succumb to the narcissistic culture of Washington. Leibovich is too smart to offer any suggestions of how we can change it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsGreat for Politicos

This is a fun read--but with two codicils:
1) You have to be pretty up on Washington politics, including being at least clued into its social scene. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Bmore
4.0 out of 5 starsFun Overview of Modern DC Culture (Review by Ryan Mease)

This is a well-written gossip rag. It's delightfully bipartisan and does a good job at its stated goal—capturing the present-day culture of Washington, D. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Ryan Mease
5.0 out of 5 starsLots of Gossip and Dried Boogers

I haven't read this yet, but a brief glance through the pages looks really interesting as the book is full of behind-the-scenes portraits of political big shots. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Cheshire Plays Chess
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great book! Thanks

Published 2 months ago by Fancynancy
2.0 out of 5 starsGo to the library if you must read this

I thought this would be an interesting back-stage tale of DC intrigue, but it's just a way for Leibovich to earn money on book sales. Save your cash.

Published 3 months ago by Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

A good read with biting but funny moments.

Published 3 months ago by D. L. Young
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

an edifying read

Published 3 months ago by william rowland
2.0 out of 5 starsRepetative and not as salacious as the author seems to think

For some reason Mark feels compelled to say "This Town" throughout the text, often several times per page. I felt this was heavy handed and distracting. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Jason Hornbuckle
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very good reading material.

Published 3 months ago by Allen J. McIlvain
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Excellent book!

Published 4 months ago by kerry l.

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