| The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics MP3 - CD Edition Contributor(s): Swaim, Barton (Author), Yen, Jonathan (Narrated by) |
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ISBN: 1494564351 ISBN-13: 9781494564353 Publisher: Tantor Audio OUR PRICE: $22.49 Product Type: MP3 CD - Other Formats Published: July 2015 * Not available - Not in print at this time * |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Biography & Autobiography | Political - Political Science | American Government - State - Biography & Autobiography | Personal Memoirs |
| Dewey: B |
| Physical Information: 0.6" H x 5.3" W x 7.4" (0.20 lbs) |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - South Atlantic - Cultural Region - Southeast U.S. - Geographic Orientation - South Carolina |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Everyone knows this kind of politician: a charismatic maverick who goes up against the system and its ways, but thinks he doesn't have to live by the rules. Using his experience as a speechwriter, Barton Swaim tells the story of a band of believers who attach themselves to this sort of ambitious narcissist-what makes them invest in these leaders, how these leaders do provide moments of inspiration, and then how they let them down. The Speechwriter is a funny and candid introduction to the world of politics, where press statements are purposefully nonsensical, grammatical errors are intentional, and better copy means more words. Through his three years in the office of a controversial governor, Swaim paints a portrait of a man so principled he'd rather sweat than use state money to pay for air conditioning, so oblivious he'd wear the same stained shirt for two weeks, so egotistical he'd belittle his staffers to make himself feel better, and so self-absorbed he never once apologized to his staff for making his administration the laughing stock of the country. On the surface, this is the story of South Carolina governor Mark Sanford's rise and fall. But in the end, it's an account of the very human staffers who go into politics out of conviction and learn to survive a broken heart. |
Contributor Bio(s): Swaim, Barton: - Barton Swaim writes regularly for the Wall Street Journal and the Times Literary Supplement. From 2007 to 2010, he worked for Mark Sanford, South Carolina's governor, as a communications officer and speechwriter. He lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with his family.Yen, Jonathan: - Jonathan Yen was inspired by the Golden Age of Radio, and while the gold was gone by the time he got there, he's carried that inspiration through to commercial work, voice acting, and stage productions. From vintage Howard Fast science fiction to naturalist Paul Rosolie's true adventures in the Amazon, Jonathan loves to tell a good story. |