Believer: My Forty Years in Politics

(Paperback)

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The heart of Believer is devoted to David Axelrod's 20-year friendship with Obama, a warm partnership that inspired both men. As senior adviser to the president, Axelrod served during one of the most challenging periods in national history and worked at Obama's side as he battled an economic disaster, navigated America through two wars, and fought to reform health care, the financial sector and the grid-locked political institutions. This is a powerful and inspiring memoir filled with charm and candour from one of the best political strategists in recent history.

Reviews

New York Times Book Review (David Gergen):
"Would Barack Obama have been elected president without David Axelrod That question is less far-fetched than it may seem... what emerges is important: a portrait of political campaigning that is more like what we hope than what we fear, that rises above the machinations and muck... a stout defense--indeed, the best I have read--of the Obama years... Judging from his first book, Obama has the talent to write the best presidential memoir in modern tunes. It is worth waiting for. But for now, David Axelrod has written a highly readable, uplifting account of the candidate he loves--and, reassuringly, has shown politics can still be a calling, not a business."

The Los Angeles Times:
"Axelrod, liberated from the constraints of messaging, is warm and wry, loyal to Obama without being uncritical, and occasionally acid in his appraisals of others now-Secretary of State John Kerry, political consultant Mark Penn and former Sen. John Edwards will not be among this book's biggest fans. It helps that Axelrod can write. A journalist before he was a political consultant, his book is revealing... but best of all, it is well told the work of a capable, professional storyteller."

The Economist
"Mr Axelrod has uncommon insights to offer."

New York Times
"The three dominant characters in this political memoir by David Axelrod, one of the Democratic Partys best-known strategists, are Mr. Axelrod, his once-in-a-lifetime client Barack Obama and belief...Believer is a well-written and often moving account of how a committed liberal measures his principles against the bruising imperatives of high-stakes politics. And, it should be noted, there is ample juice in Mr. Axelrods literary steak."

Chicago Tribune:
For sure, political junkies will have trouble putting the book down. And much of Washington will be yanking "Believer" off the shelf and turning to the index to see how they were treatedif you're interested in how the sausage is made, you'll want to read this book.

DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN, author of The Bully Pulpit and Team of Rivals
Beautifully written with warmth, humor, and remarkable self-awareness, Believer is one of the finest political memoirs I have ever read. Through one memorable anecdote after another, Axelrod tells a revealing and moving story of his long and honorable career in public life. This is a thoroughly terrific book.

DEVAL PATRICK, governor of Massachusetts
In telling the vivid tales of his own forty years behind the curtain of modern politics, Axelrod reminds us that elections matter to those who dont engage as well as those who do, effectively challenging us all to get involved.

MIKE MURPHY, Republican strategist
David Axelrod has written a remarkable book, a deeply honest and unflinching memoir of his journey from cub journalist to political adviser to the President of the United States. From the boisterous wards of Chicago politics to the Oval Office, Believer takes you inside the political warriors life, with its larger-than-life personalities, exhilarating victories, and gut-wrenching defeats. For Axelrod, the goal is victory, but the enemy is cynicism. Anybody, Democrat or Republican, who loves politics should read this book.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, chief anchor of ABC News
David Axelrod was present at the creation of President Obamas political career. He reflects on their improbable journey with the faithfulness of a reporter, the ferocity of a political operative, and the passion of a true believer. A riveting read.

Author Bio

David Axelrod spent eight years as a reporter and columnist for the Chicago Tribune. As a political consultant, Axelrod has managed strategy for more than 150 local, state, and national campaigns. Axelrod most recently served as senior strategist to President Obama's successful reelection campaign. He served in that same role in then-Senator Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, before going on to serve in the White House as senior adviser to the president. After the 2012 campaign, Axelrod founded the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago.