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No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner Audiobook
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(3.03) - 106 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
He was named by The Atlantic Monthly "the most sought-after strategist in the Democratic party." He was targeted by National Review as the Democratic Party's "poet goon." From his unique perspective, Robert Shrum gives us an epic and personal story of the struggle for power in America during the past four decades.
With wit and humor, rare candor, and a wealth of detail, Shrum vividly recounts the real personalities and real forces that shaped the outcome of the closest and most important elections of our time. We are there with him in the back rooms, on the planes, and in the motorcades with Ted Kennedy, Al Gore, John Kerry, John Edwards, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Shrum reveals the manipulations and limitations of old and new forms of political persuasion, from the historic and sometimes controversial speeches he wrote to the negative ads he created for national and statewide candidates, from prepping presidential nominees for critical debates to the deployment of the new political weapon, the Internet.
He lifts the curtain on decisive moments. Did John Kerry and John Edwards actually believe in the Iraq war they voted for? What was the real reason the Kerry campaign didn't respond faster to the Swift Boat attacks? Why didn't Al Gore let Bill Clinton campaign all-out in 2000? How did Clinton get through the first perilous week of the Lewinsky scandal?
This is a provocative journey through recent history: George McGovern's antiwar campaign of 1972, the improbable rise of Jimmy Carter, Senate campaigns that made historic breakthroughs and shaped the presidential contests of the future, the gifts that made Bill Clinton a great politician—and the circumstances and calculations that kept him from being a great president.
As strategist, adviser, and often friend to the leaders he enlisted with, Shrum shows them as they are, with their strengths and human weaknesses—as well as his own.
Assailed as a populist who pushed the Democratic Party (in a phrase he coined) "to stand for the people, not the powerful," Shrum argues that unlike Republicans from Reagan on, Democrats fall short, politically or in office, when they trim their convictions and walk away from fundamental issues—like universal health coverage.
This is one of the most fascinating books ever written about the victories and defeats, the causes and candidates, the "flawed heroes" that drive the high drama of American politics.
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"If you are into Democratic politics and learning about what goes on behind closed doors in campaigns, this is a very interesting read. I like him on Meet the Press so got the book. I emailed him at NYU just for kicks to tell him I liked the book and he wrote me back a nice thank you. "
— Melissa (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“[Shrum] writes with real experience…No Excuses is catnip for the politically inclined.”
— New York Times -
[Shrum] writes with real experience…. No Excuses is catnip for the politically inclined.
— The New York Times -
“A big, wonderfully readable tale certain to delight.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Unsurprisingly…Shrum writes with eloquence and passion; more unexpected is his disarming candor…A provocative and entertaining behind-the-scenes look at American politics.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“An enlightening and amusing look at American politics by a consummate insider.”
— Booklist -
“This is one of the very best political memoirs I have ever read. Never before have we seen such a penetrating view of the inside drama, tensions, and foibles of campaigns…and campaigners.”
— Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals -
“Bob Shrum’s masterpiece of a memoir is a rare chance for his lucky readers to have their cake and eat it, too. [It] is a sweeping narrative of nearly two generations of American politics by a key player.”
— Tom Oliphant
No Excuses Listener Reviews
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" Shrum lies: he starts making excuses only a few pages in. But the subject matter is so enjoyable it does not matter. What a career. "
— JRB, 10/12/2013 -
" Great inside look of campaigning. Must read for political-minded individuals. "
— Kirk, 3/26/2013 -
" It's a dense read, especially if you're not a political junkie, but I really enjoyed reading about the campaigns of the past thirty or so years, of which Scrum was a huge part. Also gave my my first exposure to Ted Kennedy's 1980 DNC speech, which if you've never read is a must-read. "
— Zach, 2/26/2012 -
" strain your credulity at how pathetic politicians can be "
— marcali, 1/21/2012 -
" If you are into Democratic politics and learning about what goes on behind closed doors in campaigns, this is a very interesting read. I like him on Meet the Press so got the book. I emailed him at NYU just for kicks to tell him I liked the book and he wrote me back a nice thank you. "
— Melissa, 9/26/2011 -
" Shrummy really gives you a behind the scenes look at some intriguing political races of the last 40 years. He always seems to be pretty objective on the talk shows and the book reflects that as well. Very quick and flowing read. "
— Emiliano, 9/25/2011 -
" when this book was released, the "controversy" was that Shrum was calling John Edwards a creep--fancy that! a truly great insiders' book, and a quick read to boot... "
— Corey, 11/14/2010 -
" I couldn't get past the first 100 pages. It's well written but entirely tooo detailed. I want to try and finish the book but I don't have the time. It took me one week to read 71 pages.....something I can read during the span of my metro ride home. You must be hard-core politiki to read this book. "
— Janet, 11/4/2010 -
" A great behind the scenes book by Democratic political consultant Robert Shrum. Mr. Shrum was nice enough to respond to an email I sent him telling him how much I enjoyed the book. "
— Jerry, 10/28/2010 -
" You bore me Shrummy. Maybe that's why you lost all those elections. "
— James, 9/11/2010 -
" It's not perfect, and there are plenty of excuses, but I wish all political memoirs could be this useful. Great read. "
— Brandon, 4/4/2010 -
" You bore me Shrummy. Maybe that's why you lost all those elections. "
— James, 1/13/2010 -
" It's not perfect, and there are plenty of excuses, but I wish all political memoirs could be this useful. Great read. "
— Brandon, 8/30/2009 -
" Shrum lies: he starts making excuses only a few pages in. But the subject matter is so enjoyable it does not matter. What a career. "
— JRB, 1/5/2009 -
" It's a dense read, especially if you're not a political junkie, but I really enjoyed reading about the campaigns of the past thirty or so years, of which Scrum was a huge part. Also gave my my first exposure to Ted Kennedy's 1980 DNC speech, which if you've never read is a must-read. "
— Zach, 8/22/2008 -
" Shrummy really gives you a behind the scenes look at some intriguing political races of the last 40 years. He always seems to be pretty objective on the talk shows and the book reflects that as well. Very quick and flowing read. "
— Emiliano, 4/16/2008 -
" strain your credulity at how pathetic politicians can be "
— marcali, 3/19/2008
About Robert Shrum
Robert Shrum has been a major force in American politics for more than three decades. He was involved in Democratic presidential campaigns from 1972 to 2004, most recently as senior strategist to Al Gore and John Kerry. He has helped elect more than thirty US senators, ten governors, and the mayors of major American cities. He lives on Cape Cod and serves as a senior fellow at New York University.
About Michael Prichard
Michael Prichard is a Los Angeles-based actor who has played several thousand characters during his career, over one hundred of them in theater and film. He is primarily heard as an audiobook narrator, having recorded well over five hundred full-length books. His numerous awards and accolades include an Audie Award for Tears in the Darkness by Michael Norman and Elizabeth M. Norman and six AudioFile Earphones Awards. He was named a Top Ten Golden Voice by SmartMoney magazine. He holds an MFA in theater from the University of Southern California.