Rating: 
Summary: Packed with Knowledge
Review: Politics is a grass roots, slug-it-out fight with a winner and a loser and no prizes for second place. Every step is a battle because so much is at stake. Authors and veteran political consultants James Carville and Paul Begala, who were notably pivotal on the Clinton campaigns, cleverly explain what makes a winning campaign work and what gets a politician elected. They also present the flip side and honestly explain why campaigns, including some of theirs, fail. The account is made richer by their knowledge of memorable historic elections, their references to using campaign concepts in business management and a few good recipes. Conversational, loose, opinionated and frank, this book is entertaining and instructive, with clear explanations of carefully distilled ideas and plenty of insider war stories. The authors may harbor some warmth for the Democrats, but that doesn't tame them as they skewer and critique both parties. We recommend this book to executives and professionals as a fun, extended metaphor on winning that includes some practical rules and sharp storytelling.
Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Business-Strategy Book
Review: This book is not just about politics. It is chock full of winning strategies, personal stories, political stories, and "five simple rules of great communicating." If you are in sales, management, college, or just want to know secrets in communicating, you need to read this book. It provides great insight from two political strategists who know what it takes to win. Be prepared to take notes, it is well worth your time!
Rating:
Summary: Easy and interesting book to read!!!!
Review: I thought that this book was excellent and funny. The authors did a great job explaining all the rules and they relate it to every aspects of their real life job and experience. I was suprised to read about Lincoln who had failed several times before ended up being the President. If Lincoln can do it, you can do it too. Don't give up, just play your cards right!!
Rating:
Summary: Hate to read but I read this in 1 day!
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone. I guess even for me I learned stuff. I may have a different opinion but it really makes you think about what you believe in, and why you believe the way you do. If you're liberal then you will probably agree with just about everything in the book, and if you like Bill Clinton you will hear alot about him. The book kept my interest and it had several good points even though I didn't agree with everything.
Rating:
Summary: Not a Carville Fan? You will Still Enjoy This Book!
Review: Here we go again with Carville opening his big mouth. But guess what, this time he actually has something worth listening to. This is an extremely good book. The stories and how they relate to the rules in the book are very engaging. Anyone that has to make important business decisions or even life decisions should benefit from this easy to read book. This is worth reading no matter what your political affiliation. There are important steps for learning when you need to Buck Up and when you need to Suck Up.... And when you need to Keep trying when you foul up!
Rating:
Summary: How can you lose?
Review: Share their politics? Doesn't really matter. These guys wrote the book on campaigning and risk taking...and this is it!A terrific combination of humor and practical advice, I would recommend this book just as a casual read. But it's more than that.
Rating:
Summary: BEST ENTERTAINMENT FOR YOUR MONEY
Review: Boy, am I glad that I bought this book at the Memphis airport bookstore, just before my nine (yes 9!)- hour flight to Budapest. What a great read. The time just flew by -- no pun intended. Everyone knows James Carville and Paul Begala were the strategic brains behind Clinton-Gore winning the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections for the Democratic Party. What this book reveals is how very many times each of them had failed long before their names became synonymous with winning in politics. For the record: Carville has won more political campaigns than anyone else in history. Now, Carville and Begala tell all about winning and losing in both politics and also in life in their best selling, "Buck Up, Suck Up .... And Come Back When You Foul [sic] Up". The reason I had just written, " ... Foul [sic] Up" is that no doubt, judging by their gritty, direct and adult entertaining writing (and speaking) style, the last three letters of the last four-letter word in the book's title had to be changed by their publisher from -uck to -oul! The Introduction sets the tone and refreshingly humble approach to writing a book on how to succeed by intelligently bustin' your [rear] in a highly competitive world: "We aren't attempting to rewrite Machiavelli or Sun-tzu; no one will be studying this book five hundred years from now. But we do hope that we can give you practical, applicable strategies that will help you close a deal, land an account, get a raise, earn a promotion, win an election. And, most of all, beat your competition." Using specific examples from the lives and political campaigns of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, both senior and junior George Bushes, and Newt Gingrich, Carville and Begala explain exactly why each of them succeeded and failed in politics and life. That's a tall order but they did it ... and did it well with good humor and with even-handed respect, even when it may not have been warranted. Perhaps most important, the book clearly and emphatically defines objectives, strategy and tactics for winning, within its twelve chapters having titles such as: "Rule 1: Don't Quit. Don't Ever Quit;" " Rule 2: Kiss Ass;" and " Rule 3: Kick Ass." In their concluding chapter, "Rule 12: Know What To Do When You Win," Carville and Begala use Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" to explain how risk taking is vital for success. At the box office, Spielberg had scored big, winning with his Hollywood blockbusters such as "Jaws," the Indiana Jones series, and sci-fi "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "E.T." Then Spielberg took the riskiest plunge of his life by making the film, "Schindler's List." This brought him intense criticism from both the political left and also the right. Carville and Begala's point is that after someone succeeds because of taking risks, to keep going they must keep taking bigger risks to keep succeeding. That's what you do when you win. To top it all off, the authors conclude with a recipe called "Paul Begala's Boy's French Toast" that used to be named "Daddy's French Toast" at the Carville-Matalin household. Both the Carville-Matalins and Begalas believe in celebrating with their kids on Sunday mornings by eating this special breakfast. And so ends a terrifically useful and entertaining book.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining & Useful...
Review: From the masters of doing what it takes to win... I may not (okay, I don't) agree with their politics, or even the way they present themselves in defense of the indefensible, but I bought the book anyway. Actually, I got it at one of those wholesale clubs, and so it really did not set me back much. "Buck Up, Suck Up..." is a small book, ... there is still enough good information to make it worthwhile, and it will only cost you an evening to read it. I judge a business book by the number of pages that eventually contain yellow highlighter... This one is mostly white, but there are a few tid-bits that make up. Interestingly enough, Newt Gingrich is one of the three celebrity quotes on the back cover, Bill Clinton and the ubiquitous Tom Peters are the others. Newt is also quoted within the book, and his lesson is well worth the price of entry. With regards to advice one would do well to heed Carville and Begala's pithy instruction manual. These guys understand the need to proactively "frame the debate" on your own terms, and above all else, stay on topic... (remember, "it's the economy, stupid"?) So, even though I give the book three stars, there are some worthwhile lessons... dig them out and then donate the book to your favorite used book store and you'll never have to look at James' bald head ever again!
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