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The Capitol Hill Playbook
- A Machiavellian Guide for Young Political Professionals
- Narrated by: David Deboy
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
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The Capitol Hill Playbook
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Summary
A step-by-step roadmap to success for the millions of aides, staffers, and interns in politics throughout the country.
In presenting the ideal skills, abilities, and qualities of a successful politico, The Capitol Hill Playbook speaks to today’s generation of staffers like no other book before it. Weaving together Renaissance-era political philosophies and contemporary illustrations, Nicholas Balthazar enlists the help of Niccolò Machiavelli, author of the venerable political treatise The Prince, and Baldassare Castiglione, author of The Book of the Courtier - the authoritative account of Renaissance court life - to demonstrate two models of political life and their applicability today.
Balthazar offers listeners a path between these two methods, exploring the mechanics of working for elected officials but also discussing the philosophies behind contemporary political work. The Capitol Hill Playbook answers all the questions a newly hired staffer might want to ask:
- Why do politicians run for office?
- Why is devotion so important in politics?
- Why must a staffer be a good communicator?
- Why are friendships such an essential and elusive part of political life?
- How do you win a political knife fight?
- Why should a political staffer never wear a bow tie to the office?
- And more!
A provocative and informative listen, The Capitol Hill Playbook will be indispensible to any political aspirant and, with an intriguing look back to the Renaissance, reveals how politics today has both changed and remained the same through the centuries.
Editor reviews
Narrator David Deboy has an approachable voice which adds lightness to this step-by-step guide that combines the cutthroat philosophies of Niccolò Macchiavelli and the courtly lessons of Baldassare Castiglione. Nicholas Balthazar uses these two models of political life to demonstrate the mechanics of working for elected officials and, more importantly, shows listeners a workable middle ground.
This guide also contains answers to questions like why political staffers need to be good communicators and why they must never wear a bow tie to the office.
Deboy touches on controversial topics and common-sense knowledge alike with equal aplomb, delivering a polished performance that listeners will enjoy.