MixedThe Chicago TribuneMayer unmasks this generation's big-league political funders, who operate with little or no public scrutiny. She expands her earlier reporting for The New Yorker. In addition to several hundred author interviews, the book's nearly 1,000 end notes mostly acknowledge secondary sources — books and articles by other trackers of big money in politics. She presents her case soberly and comprehensively. But her matter-of-fact style may not suffice as big money in politics moves into the spotlight...Certainly, material can be found on the money-in-politics beat for similarly great story-telling. But Mayer isn't there yet.
Jay Winik
PanChicago TribuneCertain historical topics — including FDR and World War II — have generated virtual libraries of books and articles. The work goes on, but readers of new material have a right to expect either fresh evidence or a novel argument supported by existing evidence. Winik offers neither.
