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The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington
vBulletin Book Store > vBulletin books beginning with P
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The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington |
Author: Robert D. Novak
Published: 2007-07-10 |
List price: $29.95
Our price: $19.77
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As of: December 03rd, 2008 04:49:12 PM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Fascinating Look Behind the Scenes
This was a wonderful book. For a political junkie it is an absolute must read. The behind the scenes look at politics and reporting was fascinating. The tidbits of history and inside look at the systems of power make this book irresistible. If I had read this book as a freshman in college or as a high school senior it would have changed the course of my life; I would have become a reporter. Mr. Novak writes about his incredible career as a Washington reporter and balances this part of the book with stories about his own life including his relationships, drinking and religion. Really, a highly recommended book.
 Very Moving. I felt the pages slobbering at me.
Although this book was written before he hit the bike rider in DC and drove off, Novak still manages to hold the reader's interest. As I recall the news story, he hit the bike rider so hard that the biker was sprawled against his windshield and slid off. Novak drove off and then claimed that he was not aware of what had happened. Some medical professionals have speculated that his brain tumor may have had something to do with the accident. But I like to believe that was just Novak being Novak. I believe that it is precisely this audaciousness that has kept Novak at the top of his profession for these many years. The Valerie Plame thing is another one..when James Carville made a comment to him about his role in all of that, Novak simply disonnected his microphone and walked off the set mumbling that he doesn't have to put up with this sh*. Simply brilliant. Oh yeah, and the trademark slobbering that skyrocketed him to fame and fortune on CNN. That's another factor in his being at the top of his profession - that superhuman ability to achieve any semblance of enunciation through the gallons of slobber in that bulldog mouth. It's a brilliant book by a brilliant slobbering man with a highly unpleasant and creepy demeanor who hit a guy with a car real hard and drove off and claimed he didn't know what happened. Very inspiring stuff.
Novak, warts and all
br /In some ways "The Prince of Darkness" is a typical political memoir,
br /one more attempt to justify one's actions and one more attempt to
br /destroy or at least discredit one's enemies. This book is more than
br /that, and less than that. Novak covered national politics for over 50
br /years, so most of the book is about politics and politicians.
br /Novak worked for several newspapers, chains, syndicates, magazines,
br /stations, and networks. There is a lot of information about the
br /business of news and commentary in print and broadcast media, and
br /about competition and cooperation in journalism.
br /
br /There is more than the usual amount of admission of error, both
br /personal failures and professional mistakes. There is a lot of history
br /reported here, but it is less than a complete history of most of the
br /events mentioned. Rather, it is just enough to provide context for
br /Novak's bragging about a scoop or complaining about someone's anger
br /over his analysis.
br /
br /Novak is known as a conservative columnist, but the list of Republicans
br /that hated him is long. The list of those that Novak did not respect is
br /also long and includes members of both (all) parties. There is some
br /animosity over polices, but most often the cause of the friction was
br /lying, at least according to Novak.
br /
br /In spite of his inclination to the right, Novak seems much more an
br /analyst than a cheerleader. He tells us his predictions of House and
br /Senate gains and losses and Electoral College totals for various
br /elections. I'm impressed by his accuracy.
br /
br /Readers interested in particular historical events or particular people
br /get some help. The index seems pretty complete, but I'm just judging
br /by size. The quotes from the columns or broadcasts are identified by
br /date.
br /
br /This is a controversial book. Since you are reading these reviews you
br /are probably trying to decide if you should read the book. As with
br /other controversial works, it pays to look at other reviews by the
br /reviewers with strong opinions, especially those expressed in
br /strong language.
br /
br /I think readers from anywhere on the political spectrum can enjoy this
br /book and learn something from it. It is not just for political junkies.
br /I have to remind myself a few times each year to read a political book,
br /because I should pay more attention to the field. This one was time well
br /spent.
br /
Great Memoir By a Great Journalist and Great American
Let's begin with total disclosure: I once worked for Mr. Novak, back in the 1980s when Ronald Reagan was president and DC was an exciting town.
br /
br /I admired Mr. Novak then. I admire him now. He is one of the most dedicated professionals I have ever met. Then, I was a conservative and a Catholic. I have since returned to my liberal roots, and left the church (I am now an atheist) just as Mr. Novak was completing the journey that he had told me he was on even back then (he has since been baptized into the Catholic Church).
br /
br /No matter. Mr. Novak was -- and still is, on this day that he announced his retirement -- the consummate journalist, the kind of reporter that I would have wanted to model my work on, had my life taken that turn.
br /
br /This book is his autobiography. And while it seems that he has pulled no punches, neither has he been malicious or unfair. And you can be damn sure it hasn't been ghostwritten!
br /
br /I know this isn't much of a review of the book. It is, instead, a homage to the man himself, a very good and decent reporter and a great American.
More Than 50 Years Of Inside Political Reporting
I was looking forward to this read with considerable anticipation. I was not disappointed. I have followed the authors columns and watched many of his tv appearances from when he was a liberal-moderate back in the Rockefeller days and have happily observed his transformation over the years to a no holds bar conservative. This book offers the reader valuable behind the scene insights for virtually everything of significance that has happened politically during the last half century. A must read.
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