A journalist for The Atlantic tells the inside story of how the embattled Democratic party, seeking a direction for its future during the Trump years, successfully regained the White House.
Though many of the high points will be familiar to anyone who follows politics, the work offers an engaging fly-on-the-wall narrative of the Democrats who attempted to replace President Donald Trump ... a riveting account of how the unlikeliest candidate, Joe Biden, pulled off an upset against a group of talented rivals in the primaries and then Trump in the November election ... Certain scenes jump off the page ...Readers will wish that Dovere hadn’t moved so quickly away from the grass roots that coalesced to stop the Trump juggernaut ... The biggest missing element is Trump himself. To be sure, the former president appears throughout the pages. But not nearly enough ... Too often, Dovere downplays the way that the coronavirus devastated not just traditional campaign tactics but all of our lives.
Dovere’s first book is informed and granular, filled with up-close quotes and lacerating observations, a must-read for newsrooms and political junkies. It captures Biden’s post-2016 ascent and the conflicts within his party. Donald Trump weighs on the narrative but is not its focal point. Pride of place goes to Biden and Obama. They are plenty interesting ... Battle for the Soul provides ample warning and plenty of food for thought.
... an incisive and deeply reported portrait of the Democratic Party in exile during the Trump presidency, and the confluence of events that brought Joe Biden to victory in 2020 ... Turning to the 2020 primaries, Dovere offers sharp assessments of each candidate ... Though somewhat baggy, Dovere’s narrative is littered with rich characterizations, wry humor, and impressive insider access. Political junkies will savor this satisfying deep dive.
