All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Summary: The most devastating politicial detective story of the century as told by the two Washington Post reporters who broke the Watergate scandal.
Stranger ‘Cause It’s Not Fiction
I learned more than I knew about the Watergate scandal from the book. Since I knew next to nothing about it, that meant that every page gave me something new. However, it was hard for me to keep the names straight while reading the story. Man, there are so many names!!!! Even with the confusing names, I enjoyed watching the story unfold. Although I knew how the story turns out in the end (because … history), I was still on the edge of my seat and nose deep learning about how these reporters were going to not only uncover the truth, but how they were going to convince others that the stories were true. It is crazy how naive the country was to actually believe it’s possible for all this dirt to be done without the president’s knowledge. You can’t be the CEO and not know what the people serving under you are doing. Either you’re in on it, or you’re not observant enough to be an effective boss. I don’t know which is worse, but neither are a good look.
Overall Opinion
The book definitely didn’t blow me away with information, but it was somewhat enlightening in the fact that it literally showed me how history repeats itself. The White House battling with the media and challenging freedom of the press. (Check!) Politicians using coded racist and xenophobic language with little to no consequences. (Check!) Corruption thanks to people who want power for the sake of it with no plans to actually serve the people. (Check!)
Although I would not say All the President’s Men is one of my favorite reads, I do think it is important for us to learn about what has happened in the past because it affects both our present and our future. Reading All the President’s Men is essential reading for folks like me who were not alive during Watergate. Rating: Carpe Librum