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The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington (Hardcover) (精装)
by Robert D. Novak
| Category:
Biographies, Politics, Journalism |
| Market price: ¥ 298.00
MSL price:
¥ 278.00
[ Shop incentives ]
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
What a great book on politics, political journalism, TV political shows and the people behind the talking heads over the past 50 years. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 7 items |
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Wall Street Journal (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
Highly readable account of a remarkable journalistic career...A meaty book, full of delicious anecdotes. |
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Human Events (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
A book that anyone interested in politics or journalism ought to read...This is a book to savor. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
As a political "junkie", this is the type of book I love to read--about the daily machinations in politics. Mr Novak provides us with 50 years worth!! Great stories abound in this book, but the most surprising to me was the mendaciousness of that failed president, Jimmy Carter. I say surprising only due to the way he is deified by the leftist media.
Mr Novak lets all hang out--including his gambling and heavy drinking--but his most moving story was of his conversion to Catholicism.
In many ways I can empathize with Mr. Novak about being unfairly pilloried by the Washington establishment due to his conservative stances, and ironically some of his worst enemies in this book are Republicans.
Overall, this is a great read!!! |
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C. M Mills (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
Robert D. Novak will never be confused with Pollyanna! He is a tough, conservative, vituperative, combative and pugnacious reporter. Along with his fellow columnist Roland Evans he has served over 50 long years in the trenches of national politics in that la-la land called Washington DC. (or Disneyland East!). (Evans died a few years ago)
Regardless of the reader's political proclivities this is a very enjoyable, informative and disillusioning look at the leaders of our fair land. As one who disagrees often with the acerbic Mr. Novak I can recommend this book highly due to such qualities as:
Novak's ability to succinctly etch in a telling anecdote the character of the politician coming under his scrutiny. He rates Ronald Reagan highly and disdains such liberal chief executives as Jimmy Carter (who he calls a practiced lier); and his bete noire Bill Clinton. Whether you concur in his opinions the author does express himself in forceful prose.
Novak is an Illinoisan by birth;majored in English Literature at the University of Illinois; became a print reporter (most notably with the Wall Street Journal) and served as a conservative reporter on CNN for a quarter of a century. Novak appeared on such stalwart CNN shows as "Crossfire"; "The Evans-Novak Report" "Capital Gang" and other lesser programs. Novak details his battles with the "suits" at CNN and his disdain for liberal journalist. He has also had major feuds with such neocons as Bill Kristol.
Novak is honest in listing his many faults. He is moody, tempermental and often quick to take offense. The reporter has survived several scary incidents with cancer, broken hips and spinal menigitis. Novak was born a secular Jew but has converted to Roman Catholicism. I applaud his commitment to his newly discovered faith. Novak has been married twice and
he and his wife have a beautiful relatiionship. She has remained at his side despite his heavy drinking, late hours and long trips to cover politicians on the stump.
Novak's recent turn on the stage was due to his being involved in the Valerie Plame scandal. He was also let go from CNN after using a crude expletive in a debate with leftwinger James Carville.
Robert D. Novak has written one of the best insider looks at Washington that I have read. Even a political junkie can learn from this well done memoir by a political reporter who has earned his stripes. Whatever your opinion of Novak you have to admire his patriotism, faith and honesty in sharing his opinion. Highly recommended! |
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Charles A. Krohn (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
Novak gets into the weeds where the big fish hide. While its tempting to be transfixed by all the juicy episodes and back-stories, I tried to figure out the trends and cycles of the 50-year period covered in the narrative. Most of these I remember well, but hardly with the detail of the book. I have no idea how Novak recalls so much with such exquisite embellishment. My interest is mostly national security. It's fascinating to see the same arguments-and same hysteria-repeat, almost predictably. The message I take away from reading POD is that we spend extravagently, avoid serious thinking and absorb pain, almost with indifference. When wisdom collides with politics, it's easy to handicap the outcome. There are exceptions, but few. |
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William Mann (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
For purposes of journalistic integrity, I must disclose that I don't like Robert Novak. He seems to be a bitter, nasty person. His book is a different story. The Prince of Darkness is fascinating. Novak does a terrific job of giving us an easy to read inside look at much of Washington governement, politics and journalism from the late Eisenhower years to the present. The list of big stories that Novak covered, during that time, is impressive. His list of sources is impressive and disturbing. Impressive because so many high ranking political types fed him information. Disturbing because so many high ranking political types fed him information, not for attribution, and sought to secretly fight their political battles through his, and other columns. I never thought I would associate the word "fun," with Mr. Novak, but his book is fun to read. You don't need to like the author to like the book. |
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David W. Straight (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
Robert Novak is a throwback to a time when being civil to people you
disagreed with was the norm rather than the exception. In many ways this
is a very sad autobiography, since you can see the bleak contrasts to
the current standards where people with different viewpoints are regarded
as "the enemy", and being polite to the enemy is close to treason. But
those same contrasts also make this book essential reading: if there were
more Novaks on the left, right, and middle the country would be much
better off.
Novak is not hesitant to describe his own mistakes and shortcomings-
another stark contrast to most of the current politicians and pundits.
Time and again he relates how various people "used" him in underhanded
ways through carefully selected leaks. Leaks are like Oxycontin-
a drug that can be beneficial, but which can also be very harmful.
Novak, of course, survives on leaks-but he also acknowledges that you
can't criticize your leakers, any more than an addict can attack his
dealer, and I get the sense from the book that he's not entirely happy
with this arrangement-that it's a little bit as though people could buy
you off.
Novak is very candid about his warts, so to speak-smoking, drinking,
fighting, etc, and also very candid about the things that changed his
life, personally and politically, such as his conversion to Catholicism
and his epiphany vis-a-vis Ronald Reagan. Novak is astute, and accepts
that his initial judgements can be mistaken-other qualities lacking in
most politicians and pundits nowadays.
Of particular interest to me were the descriptions of his cable TV work.
Capital Gang was the only political show I could enjoy-and it was my
favorite TV show of any kind. The chemistry was excellent-as Novak
describes-and Novak could take being kidded and could laugh at himself.
There were always plenty of things I disagreed with him on, but the show
would not have been worthwhile without him. My favorite episode, which
most unfortunately is only lightly alluded to in the book, came when
Novak had (on live TV) goaded Mark Shields beyond endurance, and Shields
shouted at Novak "That's [cow manure]!". The Gang looked back and forth
at each other for what seemed like a minute and finally Pat Buchanan said,
plaintively "This is a family show". But that didn't affect the personal
relationship between Novak and Shields. Novak in the book describes other
shouting matches-Novak and Shields, Novak and Al Hunt, Novak and Evans,
etc. He looks candidly at himself in the book-he's not Mother Teresa.
One of the saddest and most disturbing parts of the book comes near the
end, where he is accused by neocons of wanting to see the US defeated and
of hating his country. Most of the accusers/fellow travellers (so to
speak) never served their country, as Novak did, and the attack on his
patriotism is a bizarre kind of Kafka-Stalin mix.
Overall, from this fine book-you'll find that Robert Novak is like your
favorite uncle. He at times drinks too much, smokes too much, gets into
fistfights, swears, and pontificates. But in spite of all that-maybe
because of all that-you love the cantankerous old fart! |
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1 Total 1 pages 7 items |
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