Rating: 
Summary: The Act's Getting Old
Review: Carville and Begala are entertaining, bold, and outspoken.So what else is new? While these two never fail to amuse, and do have solid and valuable advice from the trenches of the political world, there is very little here that cannot be found in Carville's earlier books, with greater relevance and greater passion. This latest offering seems forced, as if the two -- not attached to any campaigns at the moment (does Carville even have a job anymore?) -- were trying to cash in on what's left of their Clinton-era celebrity. The effort to use campaign experience as business expertise is awkward and doesn't quite work.
Rating: 
Summary: A great combination of wisdom and wit
Review: Carville and Begala have written a wise and witty book that presents essential rules for success in the real world. Their rules apply far beyond the world of politics. While there are amusing and instructive stories from past political campaigns, the authors link these stories to success in the world of business by including compelling stories about such business leaders as Southwest Airlines' Herb Kelleher. The book's relevance is also not bound by partisanship. (I found Newt Gingrich's "Law of Field Mice and Antelope" to be one of the book's more instructive passages.) Buy the book -- enjoy it and learn how you can compete and win in life!
Rating:
Summary: Advice for life & recipes
Review: Look these guys won and they keep winning. If you are on a mission, if your life or your business means something then you will find this book helpful. You will find that Begala and Carville are your biggest cheerleaders. After you've picked the fight that you plan to win, the authors help keep you focused on tactics that speak to your message, keep you open and rally the troops. Perhaps the title suggests that the book is about apologies and recent political history. It's not. It's not history rehashed. This book is for doers, people moving ahead and how they get the rest of us to travel with them. 5 stars and plan to take notes.
Rating:
Summary: Great Lessons for All
Review: This book by political consultants James Carville and Paul Begala is fun but also extremely valuable to anyone in a leadership position. For public officials and corporate execs, this book provides insights on how to deal with the everyday PR issues and moments of crisis you are sure to face. It is filled with lessons, advice, and anecdotes. Most important the book drives home several key central points: always be open, honest and aggressive when dealing in the public arena. I think those who are whining about this book either don't understand its purpose or are just trying to be negative toward the authors. Buy and read it; buy others and give to any of your friends who have to make decisions - they will benefit from it, regardless of their gender, party affiliation, or political philosophy.
Rating:
Summary: Set aside any partisan bias..
Review: ....you may have and buy this book. If you're in business, work at a non-profit or dabble in politics, this book gives you the basics to deal with virtually any situation you may encounter. It's good solid advice written in a way that's easy to understand and apply to real life!
Rating:
Summary: Great Advice and Good Fun
Review: So, you were expecting a non-partisan, dispassionate treatise on poltical strategy? Are you nuts? Anyone who has ever seen James Carville and/or Paul Begala -- and that will include just about everyone on the planet who has a TV and a pulse -- knows they're both partisan and passionate. And so is this book. These guys don't tone down their views, pull their punches or sugar coat their advise. What they do is tell it like it is. They lay out simple but important lessons, illustrated with on-point (not to mention amusing) anecdotes. And they do it in a way that makes the book practical and fun for people who live and breath politics -- and for people who actually have lives. So if you agree with them, you should buy this book; you'll love the shots they take at their opponents. And if you think they're the two most mis-guided miscreants on the planet you should buy this book; you'll love the shots they take at themselves. Either way, you'll get great advice from a couple of guys who've won some and lost some and lived to tell the tale. And best of all, it's a heck of a good read.
Rating:
Summary: dry, predictable advice
Review: After my friend and I watched the movie "The Piano" while we were in medical school, he said to me -- I don't get why this story was worth telling (or something to that effect). Same analysis can be made here. Carville and Begala have made a living at making loud, spun remarks and the writing in this book lacks warmth, their attempt at humor is poor in taste, and their advice is wholly predictable.
Rating:
Summary: So simple because it's so smart
Review: You don't have to care about politics to really like this hugely entertaining book - all you have to care about is focusing on accomplishing your goals and winning. True, some of the advice they offer is common sense, but rarely has common sense been so much fun! There's a reason these two have won victory after victory (some of the anecdotes that illustrate their points are priceless!) - they have their heads on straight, they are very smart, very generous and luckily, very funny. It's not surprising that the wrong-wing zealots froth at the mouth (Why call them 'right' wing when they're wrong?) over Carville and Begala: They constantly lose to them. Well, let them go suck on their VERY sour grapes. The rest of the world should buy this book and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The Winner's Handbook!
Review: This extremely fast moving and entertaining book (you will laugh out loud) will energize your approach towards achieving your own life goals by helping you develop a game plan. It is loaded with terrific anecdotes and lessons from real-life political and business situations which serve to illustrate how others have endured extreme hardships and overcome them to acheive great accomplishments. Paul Begala and James Carville bring razor-like clarity to the importance of focusing on the big picture, aligning daily actions towards the end-game and developing strategies and tactics to overcome the inevitable travails along the way. There are very many take-away jewels in this book and if you take the time to read it - it just may make a difference in your life. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a dream and needs a roadmap to show them the way.
Rating:
Summary: You Have To Read This Book!
Review: Nothing you will ever read will be as useful to you in building, saving or sustaining a career in business or government. The authors deal out sound, sensible advice with humor, wit and spectacular anecdotes. The gossip alone is worth the price of the book. (And you'll also get some tasty recipes!) Don't be misled by the authors political coloration. Conservative get equal space and equal treatment and are likely to learn even more than are liberals. I bought this book for myself and loved it so much that I have ordered 16 additional copies for friends and business associates. It will certainly improve your career life and perhaps even your love life. What's more, it is chuck full of stories you can dine out on for months.
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