Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game

by Chris Matthews

Book Overview

How politics is played by one who knows the game...host of MSNBC's Hardball, Chris Matthews.

Chris Matthews has spent a quarter century on the playing field of American politics--from right-hand man of Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill to host of NBC's highest rated cable talk show Hardball. In this revised and updated edition of his political classic, he offers fascinating new stories of raw ambition, brutal rivalry, and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684845598
• ISBN13: 9780684845593
• Release Date: November 1999
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

How To Win Friends and Influence People - - Hardball style !

This book has often been described as Machiavelli for the '90s and beyond. One might even joke the cynical side of Dale Carnegie's "How To Win Friend's and Influence People" - - A brilliant story teller, Chris Matthews has written a book that to this day if actually read transcends his controversial personality and is an indepth study of how people get ahead... its not just a book for politicians - - everyone should read it - - whether viewed as a study of greed, or a guide to how to get ahead in life, Matthews makes some brilliant observations - - learned from a wide variety of political personae on all sides of the ideological coin, and proving the one thing that every political ideologue in Washington has in common - - a modus of operendi relating to their success based on their ability to pull people's strings. - - In essence, Hardball is a study of just this - - the art of pulling people's strings by understanding what makes them tick, incuring favor, indebting them to you (often by having *them* do *you* favor !) and playing by certain rules. - - People politics are key to the game of life in any field (whether or not you like the game.)On his TV show, Chris Matthews comes across as a cranky anti-intellectual motor mouth - - one who can have 7 guests, and not a single one will get a word in likewise... The myth of Chris Matthews is best characterized by SNL's Darell Hammond's routine where he's always cutting people off with that hillarious, "Yeah... yeah... yeah... yeah.. shut up !"In fact, it was through SNL that I actually began tuning into Chris's show - - and I actually took a liking to him... Rather than finding him to be "anti-intellectual", I found him "anti-rhetoric" - - On the surface it sounds like he's hostile, rude and won't let his guests get in a word likewise, but if you listen in closely, what he does is not allow his guests (who are ALL in the P.R. game some way or another) to lay on their carefully rehearsed soundbits... He listens when they shoot straight, but all hell breaks lose when they start to launch into the same diatribe that they delivered on "Meet The Press" - - when he questions them, rather than eliciting the rhetoric talk show hosts are expected to do, he often lays their own rhetoric on them and cuts them off when they go for their carefully rehearsed speeches. - - After reading this book, it seems clear that Chris Matthews isn't Darell Hammond's cranky old big mouth... the truth is, he knows the game and is having fun throwing side pitches - - in reality, few will fluster or break down and cry (most simply resort to doing little other than repeating themselves over an over), but I think being able to outmouth any powerhouse with a big ceeeeeeegar is somewhat of a fete in itself. Incidentally, despite the rumors, its hillarious to find out that he was actuall Tip O'Neil's right hand man, and practically learned the game from the old Democratic sage of Capitol Hill ! ! !Long after Chris's stint a

A Handbook like no other.

For anyone interested in politics, this is a must read. It outlines the basic strategies for any political enviroment and gives clear examples of their implementation. Want to win points at work? Read this book. Want to understand what politicians mean when they give cryptic answers? This is the secret decoder ring. Chris Matthews is one of the best political journalists out there and in this book, he makes the secret halls of Washinton, just a bit more accessible.

"An Excellent Political Primer"

The promotional copy gives an excellent overview of thebook:"Chris Matthews has spent a quarter century on the playingfield of American politics--from righthand man of Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill to host of NBC's highest rated cable talk show "Hardball." In this revised and updated edition of his political classic, he offers fascinating new stories of raw ambition, brutal rivalry, and exquisite seduction and reveals the inside rules that govern the game of power."The introduction begins with an interesting anecdote: "I was standing one day in the Democratic cloakroom, that narrow hideaway just off the floor of the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol. The room is equipped with a snack bar, banks of telephone booths and two rows of worn leather couches with pillows so that members can take afternoon naps. It was lunchtime and the smell of steaming hot dogs filled the air. A small crowd of congressmen, escaping the Capitol's chandeliered formality, were lined up munching sandwiches at the stainless-steel lunch counter. The talk, as always, was of politics. Quietly, I confided to one of the members that I was writing a book about the rules of politics, including all the tricks I had overheard in the off-the-record hideaways like this. He look at me, a crease of pain crossing his forehead, and said with dead seriousness, 'Why do you want to go and give them away?'" (p. 17)I own and have read both editions of this book (1988 and 1999). I must confess that when I first read the story above, I interpreted the comment about giving away the political tricks as a concern by a loyal party member that Democratic secrets would possibly be compromised to the benefit of the Republican party. But, after reading the 1999 edition of this book, and also after having watched a lot of "Hardball" episodes on cable, I have changed my opinion about the meaning of the concern. It just may be that the individual was actually more concerned about what the public would think if they had detailed knowledge of how politicians operate--and that's actually the compelling reason why the public should read this book!I agree with the general consensus of this review forum, that any aspiring politician can read this book and learn the basics of how Washington operates. There is some good advice given, such as chapter seven, which is titled "Leave No Shot Unanswered." Matthews writes, "A sad rule of thumb is that most people believe that if any shot goes unanswered it must be true." (p. 125) But, I would also suggest that some of these methods are not worthy of respect.Did you know that recessions are "timed" by politicians? It says, "Did you ever notice that swings in the economy nearly correspond to the political calendar? Recessions usually occur in the first year after a president wins an election. Recoveries are timed to reach full vigor as the country is poised for a new political season. A president knows that he must complete his term on an economic upswing. If he is goin

A Book that Gets More Interesting the More You Read

Chris Matthews combines insights gleaned from both experience and his knowledge of political history to write a truly engrossing battle plan for how to be successful in politics or just about any vocation. Matthew's voluminous store of events, stories and insider vignettes from 20th century politics adds weight to the strategic insights he dispenses in what is really a fun and engaging book. You'll be amazed and fascinated at the tales Matthews tells and how he is able to weave those into a coherent narrative dealing with what makes for a successful politician, which lessons are translatable into just about any walk of life. Matthews' writing style makes this book all the more enjoyable. You'll find it hard to put down and what you learn from it will stick with you for a long time.

Share it with friends, hide it from your enemies

What a book! I wasn't crazy about Chris Matthews before reading the book, but now who cares? I think it would be hard to find another book so packed with meaningful tips on how to play the political game and excellent examples of people using those strategies in brilliant ways. But this is definitely not a book only for those into politics. Although nearly all the examples are political in nature, the point is well made that this is information we can all use in our daily interactions with people. Read this more than once, highlight it, cherish it. Share it with your friends, but keep it from your enemies! What a book!!