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Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
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Showdown at Gucci Gulch: Lawmakers, Lobbyists, and the Unlikely Triumph of Tax Reform Paperback – April 12, 1988

by Alan Murray (Author), Jeffrey Birnbaum (Introduction)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 82 ratings
See all formats and editions
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 was the single most sweeping change in the history of America's income tax. It was also the best political and economic story of its time. Here, in the anecdotal style of The Making of the President, two Wall Street Journal reporters provide the first complete picture of how this tax revolution went from an improbable dream to a widely hailed reality.
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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    April 12, 1988
  5. Dimensions
    6.1 x 0.9 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0394758110
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0394758114
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Even the hordes of Americans whose eyes glaze at the sight of a tax table will enjoy this remarkably lively account." -- The New York Times Book Review

"A riveting account of the political Process that produced the new [tax reform] law."

-- Fortune

"Messrs. Birnbaum and Murray... have written a splendidly readable book about America's recent tax reform." -- The Economist

"Showdown is a classic of its genre....It is illuminating and systematic enough to become a staple in political science courses, yet entertaining enough to be read this summer on the beach." -- Washington Post Book World

"Showdown at Gucci Gulch reads like a thriller, which it is, with a remarkable cast of characters and a payoff in billions."

-- David S. Broder, chief political reporter and columnist, Washington Post

From the Publisher

"Riveting...Showdown is a classic of its genre." -Washington Post Book World
"A superb piece of reporting on one of the most important pieces of legislation in years....A great case study of the political process." --The Washington Post
"Showdown at Gucci Gulch is likely to become the standard narrative of tax reform for years to come."--The Boston Globe

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Reprint edition (April 12, 1988)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0394758110
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0394758114
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 0.9 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 82 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Jeffrey H. Birnbaum

    Jeffrey H. Birnbaum

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  2. Alan S. Murray

    Alan S. Murray

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
82 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very good, outstanding, and interesting. They also find it insightful, informative, and brilliant. Readers describe the writing style as well-written.

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ReadabilityInsightWriting style
5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very good, outstanding, and relevant 24 years later. They also say it's an interesting read for a tax geek at heart.

"Great book, if you're interested in learning about how our government works and how much the president has very little do to with laws being created...." Read more

"...It's a very good read if you're looking to understand politics at the time...." Read more

"needed for project so I needed it quick. gets kinda boring but overall good book. Recommended to anyone who likes politics." Read more

"Outstanding and still relevant 24 years later..." Read more

4 customers mention "Insight"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very insightful, informative, and brilliant. They say it's a detailed account of how our government operates. Readers also mention the story is inspiring and gripping.

"Well written and detailed account of how our government operates." Read more

"Showdown at Gucci Gulch is a brilliant expose of the lawmaking process in Washington...." Read more

"This was a detailed, informative book that remains relevant despite the passage of time...." Read more

"Very insightful and relevant for today as well. Inspiring tale told in a gripping manner. Look forward to reading a similar tale of 2017 tax reform" Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style well-written and detailed.

"Well written and detailed account of how our government operates." Read more

"...The writing is fresh, clear and incisive." Read more

"Good history, well written in simple language & understandable for the layman." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Nancy
5.0 out of 5 stars A LITTLE OLD, BUT STILL APPLICABLE
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
Well written and detailed account of how our government operates.
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Eric E. Haas
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding and still relevant 24 years later
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book documents the process/drama behind the astonishingly comprehensive mid-1980s overhaul of the US Income Tax system.

The goals were to:
- Simplify the tax system.
- Reduce marginal rates.
- Broaden the tax base.

Those goals were accomplished. What is especially interesting reading this now (2012) is that our country really needs a similar effort to take place.

To see our current dysfunctional congress arguing these issues, you might imagine that nothing resembling this is possible. But this book proves that it IS possible. It happened. It is quite interesting to find out exactly how.
4 people found this helpful
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Vinny
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great book, if you're interested in learning about how our government works and how much the president has very little do to with laws being created. This book is not dry or boring, trust me, I'm not a reader
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Showdown at Gucci Gulch is a brilliant expose of the lawmaking process in Washington
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
Showdown at Gucci Gulch is a brilliant expose of the lawmaking process in Washington. While the backroom deals and the outcomes are there, it is nowhere near what we have today with open and legal bribing of lawmakers but it does show how it all become so corrupt under the Reagan administration. We owe the dystopian society we are living in today to the unhanded deals that began in this administration.
2 people found this helpful
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Z
5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
This was a detailed, informative book that remains relevant despite the passage of time. It helped me understand the tradeoffs that cause legislation be so convoluted - even one intended to simplify the tax code.

A couple of minor objections - I found the text somewhat repetitive, and the authors tried a bit to hard to convey the drama. Despite those objections, however, I highly recommend this book.
2 people found this helpful
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Ess Pie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for understanding '86 tax reform and how policy is made.
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
It's a must-read if you want to understand 1986 tax reform.
It's also a must-read if you want to understand how policy is made in Washington.
It's a very good read if you're looking to understand politics at the time.

Those who're rating the book 3 or below are likely not interested in any of the 3 items.
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jBay
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read for the tax geek at heart
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2013
Verified Purchase
If you ever wanted to know how 1986 tax reform came about, this is the book to read. I haven't finished the book, but it is definitely worth your while especially if you began your tax career after 1986 and you were too young to understand what was going on anyway.
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Harold J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent journalistic coverage of how Congress should function.
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book illustrates how Congress should work in the interest of the nation.
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