A bit too much of a Fear & Loathing wannabe, but insanely prophetic of the next 30 years in American politics. This description seems to fit a certain work or perspective rather accurately. It implies that while it may have aspirations similar to Hunter S. Thompson's famous style in "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas," it also has an uncanny ability to predict the political landscape in America for the next three decades. This could potentially be a remarkable feat, as accurately forecasting the twists and turns of politics is no easy task. It makes one wonder what specific aspects or trends this work or perspective has identified that are likely to shape the future of American politics. Will it be the rise of certain ideologies, the changing demographics of the electorate, or the impact of new technologies on the political process? Only time will tell, but it's clear that this piece has caught the attention of many due to its bold claims and potential significance.

This is my 3rd Michael Lewis book this year, but it is definitely my favorite.

We often tend to forget those candidates whose short-lived campaigns end up being just a footnote in the history books, years and decades later.

Michael Lewis has a remarkable way of bringing these forgotten stories to life. His detailed and engaging writing style makes it easy for the reader to immerse themselves in the events and understand the significance of these campaigns.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in politics, history, or just a good read. It offers a unique perspective on the world of politics and the people who strive to make a difference.

Whether you are a political junkie or just someone who enjoys a well-written story, this book is sure to captivate you from start to finish.

I was initially quite surprised when I started reading this particular piece.

However, as I delved further into it, I found that I didn't really like it. The style, the content, something just didn't click with me.

So, unfortunately, I had to give up on it.

But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate Michael Lewis as an author. In fact, I highly enjoy his other work. His ability to tell complex stories in an engaging and accessible way is truly remarkable.

Whether it's about finance, sports, or other topics, he has a unique talent for bringing the subject matter to life.

I'm sure there are many other great works by him that I'm yet to discover, and I look forward to exploring them in the future.

Michael Lewis is currently achieving great renown for writing books centered around money. Titles such as Moneyball, The Big Short, and most recently, Boomerang, have all been well-received. In fact, they are REALLY good works.

Now, this particular book, Trail Fever, delves into the 1996 presidential campaign. I was completely enthralled by it. The anecdotes from the campaign trail had me chuckling out loud on numerous occasions. His portrayal of the numerous Republican candidates vying for the position that would ultimately be filled by Bob Dole as the Republican challenger to Clinton's second term in office made me reflect deeply on the strikingly similar situation we find ourselves in today.

It was both enlightening, providing valuable insights, and yet cynical in its view. Overall, it was just an outstanding read that kept me engaged from start to finish.

An Elegy for the Past

I came across an interview with Tim Miller, the former GOP operative who has now turned author. He mentioned that a particular book was his favorite campaign book, and that piqued my interest, so I decided to pick it up.

I'm a fan of Mr. Lewis, and I have to say that the book was indeed a fun and easy read. As I delved into the pages that detailed the events of 1996 while living in 2022, it struck me how little we knew back then about what was to come. The absolute tribalism that exists between the parties today, and the complete death of even the pretense of bipartisanship, was unthinkable in 1996. Also, the rise of the religious right to the extent that it has taken over one party is a development that was not foreseen. In "Losers," one can observe how GOP politicians were treading a thin line on the issue of abortion, which is in stark contrast to the situation now. I vividly remember 1996 and how divided the country felt at that time, but looking back, I now find myself longing for those days.

It's almost as if we have lost something precious along the way, and reading about the past through this book has made me realize how much things have changed, and perhaps not always for the better.

Anybody other than Michael Lewis and this book would have been a complete drag. It is Lewis's unique writing style that sets this book apart. Combined with his extraordinary wit and remarkable knack of seeing through things, he has managed to make this book highly entertaining.

Essentially, it is a diary rather than a book with a structured narrative. In it, he describes his travels, experiences, and interviews with politicians during the 1996 presidential elections. For an American citizen and a keen follower of American politics, this book would无疑 be a more useful and engaging read. However, for the uninitiated, there are parts in the book that can get very boring and even seem to make no sense at all.

Nevertheless, it is still a nice read overall. Despite its flaws, it offers a unique perspective on the political scene of that time and provides some interesting insights into the minds of the politicians and the processes involved. It is a testament to Lewis's writing skills that he can make even a seemingly mundane topic like a political diary so engaging and enjoyable to read.

Superbly-written, this piece manages to be both deeply cynical and full of self-aware naiveté.

The characterisations of the titular (mostly) Republican losers of the 1996 presidential race are truly remarkable. They lay bare the absurdity of American politics 25 years ago with great clarity.

The falseness of the candidates is palpable. Genuine displays of emotion are as rare as hen's teeth. The ludicrous power battles seem almost comical in hindsight. And then there are the billionaires trying to buy their way into power, a practice that is as old as time but still manages to shock.

The failure of politics is a recurring theme throughout the piece. It's difficult now, especially for someone outside of the US, to picture some of the candidates. Their faces and names have faded from memory, but Lewis's interpretations of politics feel utterly fresh. He manages to capture the essence of a bygone era and make it relevant to today's readers.

Overall, this is a masterful piece of writing that offers a unique perspective on American politics. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the subject.

This might have been interesting when it was written.

However, as time has passed, it now feels very dated.

It's truly a pity because I firmly believe that Michael Lewis is a very good writer.

His ability to craft engaging stories and present complex ideas in an accessible manner is remarkable.

Perhaps the subject matter has simply become less relevant or the perspective has changed over the years.

Nevertheless, it doesn't diminish the fact that Lewis has produced many outstanding works that have had a significant impact.

Maybe with a fresh look or a different angle, this piece could be reimagined and made relevant once again.

Until then, we can still appreciate the talent and skill that Michael Lewis brings to his writing.

I found this book truly enthralling, in a way that I didn't anticipate from the very beginning. I had expected a book that delved deeply into the nitty-gritty minutiae of the 1996 Presidential campaign. Indeed, there is a somewhat week-by-week narrative about who went where and how the race unfolded. However, Michael Lewis makes it abundantly clear from the outset of the book that he ultimately regarded the race with a certain degree of disdain. This was largely because the politicians who ended up in the general election, namely Clinton and Dole, couldn't hold a candle to the eccentric candidates who competed in the primaries yet without much success.

Lewis is drawn to candidates such as Morry Taylor, Alan Keyes, and Ralph Nader. They占据了书中相当大的篇幅，尽管他们在选举中的得票数并不多。但他能够讲述的关于他们的故事却更加引人入胜，也不难理解为什么他想要花更多的时间在他们身上，而不是那些领先的候选人。

Also in that category and a really interesting figure in light of the current administration is Pat Buchanan. The passages in the book about Buchanan are almost impossible not to read with Donald Trump in mind. Many times, you could simply change the name and not even realize that you are reading about events that took place 20 years ago. In retrospect, a better understanding of who Buchanan was and the base he had 20 years ago would have been extremely helpful in understanding the Trump phenomenon over the past couple of years.

Ultimately, the politician who comes across the best in the book is John McCain. Clearly showcasing the maverick persona that still holds true today (as seen in the July 2017 health care vote), McCain is the one politician in the book who rises above the fray and recognizes that neither side deserves to be scorned simply for having political views that one disagrees with.

This book is truly a gold mine that has been sitting on my bookshelf for years, and yet I never bothered to open it. However, the very moment I turned to page one, I knew it was going to be an excellent read. Indeed, Lewis has never let me down.

His beautiful writing style, combined with a sense of cool and humor, and the interesting concept of spending an entire year documenting the campaign candidates in 1996, all come together splendidly in this book.

I'm really not familiar with most of the names in the book, except for Clinton. Back in 1996, I had no knowledge of American politics. But as I started reading, I was immediately captivated by some of the funny characters. Especially Taylor, who reminds me so much of Trump, being outspoken and having a rather simple approach to reforming the American government - by killing all lawyers and running it with real businessmen.

Moreover, there are numerous truly eye-opening details about how a campaign is conducted and how silly and fake the candidates can be. No wonder Trump is always talking about "fake this" and "fake that."

I read it at a pace of forty pages a day, and I truly think that I might want to read it again someday. It's a book that leaves a lasting impression and offers valuable insights into the world of politics and campaigning.

A great 50-page article that unfortunately goes on for another 250 pages. It contains great stuff about Steve Forbes robotically making his way through a buffet and the chaotic early days.

Then there are distractions after distractions. Some businessman nobody has thought of since 1996, Morry Taylor, runs a quixotic populist campaign that actually doesn't sound much like what we're suffering through now. He's basically a libertarian who truly lives up to the ideology. He believes women and gay people have the right to their own bodies, even if he wants the government to wither.

Lewis gets WAY too distracted by him and starts boasting about how his New Republic editors think he's spending too much time with Taylor, but he just can't help it. So the middle of the book bulges out of shape before he remembers he's supposed to be covering the election and not hero-worshipping this one guy. In Lewis's prime vision, this guy is the lone genius who gets what all the crowd-thinkers miss.

I could buy that narrative structure in, for example, Moneyball, The Blind Side, The Big Short, and the high-frequency-trading book. I can even see the argument for studying him here. But it's a pretty unsatisfactory book on the actual election. I'm re-reading The Boys on the Bus to see it done better, and I have What It Takes lined up.

Quite the time capsule.

This simple phrase holds a world of mystery and wonder. A time capsule is like a portal to the past, a container that preserves the essence of a particular era.

It could be a box filled with old photographs, letters, and mementos, or it could be a building, a city, or even a whole civilization.

When we discover a time capsule, we are given the opportunity to step back in time and experience the past as it was.

We can see how people lived, what they wore, what they ate, and what they believed.

Time capsules can also teach us about the evolution of society and culture, and how far we have come.

They remind us that the past is an important part of our present, and that we can learn from history to create a better future.

Whether it's a small personal time capsule or a large-scale historical discovery, each one is a precious treasure that enriches our understanding of the world.

So the next time you come across the phrase "quite the time capsule," take a moment to imagine the stories and secrets it might hold.

Who knows what wonders lie within?