Book Review: “Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President” by Ron Suskind

Ron Suskind’s a good writer, but he’s also in love with Barack Obama. Well, maybe not in love, but he’s certainly not an objective or dispassionate observer. Even while he’s observing that Obama may not have been ready for the Presidency, he’s lavishing praise on the politician.

I read as long as I could, but after a third of the book fawning over Obama without really examining what was going on, I started to tire. Barack Obama is no villain as he’s been portrayed by many, but neither is he a semi-deity or Olympian hero. Further, much of the material that Suskind covers is not new, having been reported in other sources. If you’ve read nothing else about the last few years, it’s not a bad way to become familiar with some of the major players, and it’s not horrible writing. But if you’re looking for in-depth analysis and reporting, there are better books out there. “Too big to fail” is a good place to start.

I may come back to it later, but right now, it feels repetitive.  Meanwhile, life’s too short to read books that duplicate what you’ve already read. I’m moving on to a new book tonight.

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