A review by mrswhatsit8
Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives by Robert Draper
4.0
This in depth study of the 112th Congress - particularly the House of Representatives, and within that the large class of freshmen ushered in by the Tea Party movement during the midterms of President Obama's first term - has its flaws. Because Draper pursued many more Republican sources than Democrat, the story can feel imbalanced. Women are frequently written about dismissively, and there are sometimes matters of fact (how much would a thing cost? what did a person say?) where he chooses to present a "he said, he said" account rather than also offering factual analysis, which can be confusing if you don't remember every policy detail of 2010. Most of all, he is tracking a famously "do nothing" Congress so the narrative arc is a little lacking. In the end, for all the drama, not much ever really occurs.
That said, this is still a worthwhile read for its deep reporting. It's also a particularly interesting read now, as we welcome in a new large midterm freshman class to the House which also shifts the balance of power but can only do so much as "one half of one third" of the government. There are lessons to be learned about how institutions work, how legislation gets made, and why our system is broken. It is fascinating (and sometimes unnerving) to read about many of the characters who continue to be relevant in today's politics, and see one moment in their life frozen in time while having the benefit of eight more years of information. From Kevin McCarthy to Paul Ryan to Nancy Pelosi to Anthony Weiner, seeds of our current chaos can be seen in what they were doing then, and its helpful to reminded of the history as well as to be reminded, in some cases, how quickly things can change. It's a fairly easy read so if you're a watcher of politics - go for it.
That said, this is still a worthwhile read for its deep reporting. It's also a particularly interesting read now, as we welcome in a new large midterm freshman class to the House which also shifts the balance of power but can only do so much as "one half of one third" of the government. There are lessons to be learned about how institutions work, how legislation gets made, and why our system is broken. It is fascinating (and sometimes unnerving) to read about many of the characters who continue to be relevant in today's politics, and see one moment in their life frozen in time while having the benefit of eight more years of information. From Kevin McCarthy to Paul Ryan to Nancy Pelosi to Anthony Weiner, seeds of our current chaos can be seen in what they were doing then, and its helpful to reminded of the history as well as to be reminded, in some cases, how quickly things can change. It's a fairly easy read so if you're a watcher of politics - go for it.