Good book on the presidential campaign/election. This book is a ok read but is slow in a few places. This is one of many books on this subject, this entry is neither excellent or bad. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

I requesting this book because, as a political scientist, I was curious as to what a enlightened observer would say about the raucous election cycle of 2016. While I enjoyed the play-by-play structure of the book, that was about all that engaged me in the text. The author speaks of a Great Divide and then goes on to praise one party and pillory the other one, making one wonder whether such a skewed perspective isn't aiding the current contentious nature of politics. Also, such a one-sided perspective can blind you to significant insights that you gloss over in order to prove your point.

I will admit I gave up on the book early on, specifically when it described, in the first debate, the exchange between Sen. Rand Paul and Gov. Chris Christie, which he referred to as "meaningless snit". To make sure my memory served me correctly, I watched the replay of the debate and this was no minor dust-up. It was, however, a short, yet significant, debate about the nature of the Fourth Amendment in the Age of Terror. I asked myself if that was missed, what else would be ignored.

The author has a very personal and colorful style of writing. And it's clear he is no fan of the GOP. But when he is trying to explain the divide in America, it seems the author is suggesting it is between those who are smart and agree with him versus those who are foolish and do not. If this is the case, I am not sure this will help in the drive for a civil conversation on the matter.

And before one accuses me of being in favor of one side over the other, please note that I changed my party affiliation to Independent because of the shenanigans on both sides of the aisle in 2016. I hope, perhaps against hope, that the future will be bring less tension and more cooperation. I fear, however, that the Great Divide will only get wider.