Disclaimer: I'm writing this review a good nine months after I finished reading the book, due to procrastination and general laziness.

I almost thought of putting this on the "humour" shelf. It examines the eccentric, the absurd, and the normal people (who are also crazy, for the record) in the context of the 1996 election campaign. This book is what occurs when you dispatch a reporter to cover a campaign but then let him roam wherever he pleases, rather than shadowing the front runners. Lewis' journey begins conventionally enough, with him following the leaders in the Republican primaries. However, it quickly veers off course as he realizes that the winners are often stage managed, dull, and insincere. It's the losers who are more captivating, and this realization promptly leads him deep into the details. Much of the book chronicles the campaigns of these characters, with occasional excursions to attempt to understand their backgrounds or supporters.

It is well-written throughout and fascinating at times, as one would anticipate from Michael Lewis. But that's precisely the issue, as it's also rather lengthier than it perhaps should be, as one would expect from him. I truly relished many of his random digressions. However, the book (by design) lacks direction or focus, and at times it strays a bit too far into the minutiae (or at least into details that I'm less interested in). There are also passages where he rather strongly reveals his own biases against the Republican party and against religion. Which is okay - he's entitled to have his opinions. But particularly, I didn't really appreciate his at times dismissive and derogatory remarks on religion and religious people.

I've rated this book three stars. The book offers very interesting insights into how the political machinery operates, especially the stage managed risk aversion of front runners and the oddity of how our political sausages are made. I found this book particularly interesting in light of Trump's ascent to power, which was underway as I was reading it. Trump is the fringe candidate who refuses to abide by the rules, the very kind of candidate that Lewis was most intrigued by, but who this time wasn't the loser. Lewis by no means predicted Trump, but he surely noted that the mainstream candidates failed to engage with real people, and Trump is the logical outcome of the forces at work even then. That being said, it's a long book and you need to endure some dull periods between the interesting anecdotes. Add to that the fact that I found some of his comments and characterizations offensive, and I've rated it three stars.

Lewis is truly at his best in this particular work. His performance is nothing short of outstanding.

He展现出了极高的专业素养和独特的魅力，每一个细节都处理得恰到好处。然而，令人遗憾的是，这样一部优秀的作品却没有得到应有的更多关注。

It seems that it has been overlooked in the vast sea of similar works. This is a great pity as it has the potential to reach a much wider audience and receive the recognition it truly deserves.

Perhaps it is due to lack of proper promotion or simply the overcrowded market. Nevertheless, we should not let this remarkable piece of work go unnoticed.

We should make an effort to discover and appreciate the beauty and value it holds.

Great behind the scenes look at the 1996 GOP primary.

This offers a fascinating peek into the inner workings and strategies that were taking place during that crucial time.

We get to see the candidates jockeying for position, the intense rivalries, and the backroom deals that were being made.

The political landscape was complex, with various issues and personalities vying for attention.

From the early stages of the campaign to the final showdown, every moment was filled with drama and excitement.

This behind the scenes look helps us to better understand the context and significance of the 1996 GOP primary.

It gives us a new perspective on the events that unfolded and the impact they had on the future of the Republican Party.

Overall, it's a captivating and informative look at a pivotal moment in American political history.