The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down Audiobook

" Only thing I can say about John Edwards is "bastard". "

" I was surprised by how detailed this book was and the span of time it covered. I thought it was just going to be about Edwards' last presidential campaign and the affair and craziness, but it started when Andrew Young first met John Edwards, when he was running for the Senate. It spanned the Senator's whole political career, basically. The beginning, when Young was helping Edwards campaign and then working for him once he was elected Senator, gave me flashbacks of the four months I worked for a US Congressman, which was the worst job I've ever had and four months of total misery. So I'd say it's a pretty accurate reflection of life in a political office. Young seems like he was a "true believer" and basically devoted his life to the Senator, which makes his actions in the affair and cover-up more understandable, if not reasonable. The surprise of the book really isn't John Edwards or his affair (politicians do dumb shit all the time), it's Elizabeth Edwards, who is portrayed very differently here than her squeaky clean, long-suffering cancer survivor image in the media. "

" John Edward's is a sleeze bag! "

" It's no wonder that politicians aren't trusted. It takes money to win an election and with it comes elitism, a sense of entitlement, and the belief that the rules don't apply. These characteristics are displayed in this book describing the downfall of yet another candidate seeking the power and prestige of high office. "

" Fascinating to read about politics from an insider. "

" Dislike all characters who are involved in this Edwards/Rielle mess, including the author himself. One positive thing the book offers is the insider stories, the only reason I keep on turning the page until the end. The corrupting power of money and fame! May all watch; none is immune. "

" I gave this 3 stars, because I'm a political junkie and it kept my interest...but as someone who despises everything they stand for........I felt like I needed to take a shower everytime I finished a chapter....because all these people are scum of the earth... None of this surprised me however.........It does not take a genius to be able to see through these people...and the Edwards were about as transparent as you could get....What is surprising is the media is so used to pedaling liberal propaganda that they practically ignored the whole thing...the man whom almost became the v.p...and could have been the democrat nominee. Where are all the people that rallied behind this scum now....have they crawled out of their holes??....Oh yeah ...they are all pundits on tv carrying the presidents water now..or they already have positions in the administration...or they are in hollywood keeping their mouths shut hoping nobody figures out the hundreds of thousands of dollars they gave to this idiot....Arrogant, power hungry, lying thieves and crooks. Andrew Young made me just as sick as Edwards and Elizabeth...he can try to play the victim but the fact is that he got payed to play....and he didn't want to play anymore when he stopped getting payed. I'm glad I'm done reading it. "

" If you're a fan of John Edwards, don't read this book. It will totally bum you out. It paints a picture of a politician who betrays his wife, friends, and anyone who stands in the way of what he wants. "Scummy," is the word that comes to mind. "

" Atrociously written, rambling, warped by bias, recrimination and explanation for insane behavior, but nevertheless interesting in its revelation of the perceptions and behavior of those closest to Edwards when he went crazy "

" Felt this was an interesting look inside, loved the juicy bits, but clearly Young has an agenda (playing the victim) where any sane person would have GOTTEN THE HELL OUT. "

" Fast read. 300 pages. Very interesting. "

" Must read for all politicos. Well written narrative about an extremely gifted and tragically flawed man. Though the author certainly has reason to be biased in his story, it is a great read nonetheless. "

" I love a good scandal, but this book is tedious. "

" Very poorly written - don't waste your time. "

" Not great literature, but a great look at the hubris and sense of entitlement that I fear all politicians possess. "

" Nothing like a good old fashioned smut book! Loved it, although incredibly surprised by the depth of ignorance all around. Good read. "

" I have to say that I loved this book. I know it's only one side of the coin, but the sheer hubris involved in the coverup is worthy of the purchase. How to make a politician. Who knew it was so paint by numbers. And dirtier than we even thought. A.MA.ZING. "

" No surprises. Interesting how easily one can get caught up in a web of deception. "

" It's like a 200+ issue of US Weekly/People. "

" I am ashamed (ironically, in a guilty pleasure sort of way) to say that I throughly enjoyed this book. I like Andrew Young. I can't, though, for the life of me figure out why he stuck around to endure being used by the Edwards' family. "

" Amazing what money and power can do. "

" Another dirtbag politician? No surprise there. Another pitiful, betrayed "insider" trying to cash-in with a tell-all? No surprise there. "

" A pretty good read for political junkies. "

" I felt kind of dirty just reading this book, yet it was fascinating to read how power and adoration quickly transformed John Edwards into a monster. I'm so glad he was exposed for the sham he was. "

" This book is not very artfully written, but entertaining in a tabloid kind of way. I didn't have much sympathy for the main character, Andrew Young, since he kept digging himself a deeper and deeper hole by not standing up for himself. "

" I felt guilty reading this book because it involved political scandal that was like a train wreck: I couldn't look away even though I felt I should. Worth a read, but made me think, "Mother of God, what is with all these people?" "

" It took at least halfway through the book to get to the scandal that the book was written about. "

" Edwards is a slime bag. Andrew Young is a pathetic human and most likely his motivation is greed. Fascinating story! "

" A real life guilty pleasure read. No idea how much of this book is true. Mr. Young tries very hard to illicit sympathy from the reader. He did not succeed in getting my sympathy. "

" Would not take it as the Gospel of John Edwards according to Andrew Young,it is really self-serving at times, but it was interesting to get a peek into the birth of the scandal. "