Customer Reviews: Read 66 more reviews...
 Very Moving. I felt the pages slobbering at me. August 14, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Although this book was written before he hit the bike rider in DC and drove off, Novak still manages to hold the reader's interest. As I recall the news story, he hit the bike rider so hard that the biker was sprawled against his windshield and slid off. Novak drove off and then claimed that he was not aware of what had happened. I believe that it is precisely this type of tenacity and audaciousness that has kept Novak at the top of his profession for these many years. The Valerie Plame thing is another one..when James Carville made a comment to him about his role in all of that, Novak simply disonnected his microphone and walked off the set mumbling that he doesn't have to put up with this sh*&. Simply brilliant. Oh yeah, and the trademark slobbering that skyrocketed him to fame and fortune on CNN. That's another factor in his being at the top of his profession - that superhuman ability to achieve any semblance of enunciation through the gallons of slobber in that bulldog mouth. It's a brilliant book by a brilliant slobbering man with a highly unpleasant and creepy demeanor who hit a guy with a car real hard and drove off and claimed he didn't know what happened. Very inspiring stuff.
 Novak, warts and all August 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In some ways "The Prince of Darkness" is a typical political memoir,
one more attempt to justify one's actions and one more attempt to
destroy or at least discredit one's enemies. This book is more than
that, and less than that. Novak covered national politics for over 50
years, so most of the book is about politics and politicians.
Novak worked for several newspapers, chains, syndicates, magazines,
stations, and networks. There is a lot of information about the
business of news and commentary in print and broadcast media, and
about competition and cooperation in journalism.
There is more than the usual amount of admission of error, both
personal failures and professional mistakes. There is a lot of history
reported here, but it is less than a complete history of most of the
events mentioned. Rather, it is just enough to provide context for
Novak's bragging about a scoop or complaining about someone's anger
over his analysis.
Novak is known as a conservative columnist, but the list of Republicans
that hated him is long. The list of those that Novak did not respect is
also long and includes members of both (all) parties. There is some
animosity over polices, but most often the cause of the friction was
lying, at least according to Novak.
In spite of his inclination to the right, Novak seems much more an
analyst than a cheerleader. He tells us his predictions of House and
Senate gains and losses and Electoral College totals for various
elections. I'm impressed by his accuracy.
Readers interested in particular historical events or particular people
get some help. The index seems pretty complete, but I'm just judging
by size. The quotes from the columns or broadcasts are identified by
date.
This is a controversial book. Since you are reading these reviews you
are probably trying to decide if you should read the book. As with
other controversial works, it pays to look at other reviews by the
reviewers with strong opinions, especially those expressed in
strong language.
I think readers from anywhere on the political spectrum can enjoy this
book and learn something from it. It is not just for political junkies.
I have to remind myself a few times each year to read a political book,
because I should pay more attention to the field. This one was time well
spent.
Great Memoir By a Great Journalist and Great American August 4, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Let's begin with total disclosure: I once worked for Mr. Novak, back in the 1980s when Ronald Reagan was president and DC was an exciting town.
I admired Mr. ovak then. I admire him now. He is one of the most dedicated professionals I have ever met. Then, I was a conservative and a Catholic. I have since returned to my liberal roots, and left the church (I am now an atheist) just as Mr. Novak was completing the journey that he had told me he was on even back then (he has since been baptized into the Catholic Church).
No matter. Mr. Novak was -- and still is, on this day that he announced his retirement -- the consummate journalist, the kind of reporter that I would have wanted to model my work on, had my life taken that turn.
This book is his autobiography. And while it seems that he has pulled no punches, neither has he been malicious or unfair. And you can be damn sure it hasn't been ghostwritten!
I know this isn't much of a review of the book. It is, instead, a homage to the man himself, a very good and decent reporter and a great American.
More Than 50 Years Of Inside Political Reporting August 1, 2008
I was looking forward to this read with considerable anticipation. I was not disappointed. I have followed the authors columns and watched many of his tv appearances from when he was a liberal-moderate back in the Rockefeller days and have happily observed his transformation over the years to a no holds bar conservative. This book offers the reader valuable behind the scene insights for virtually everything of significance that has happened politically during the last half century. A must read.
Don't Miss the Morsels! July 15, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
My measure of a fascinating book is how often I'm interrupting my wife to read her a paragraph or a page. Based on dozens of irritating interruptions this past month, my wife would agree that Novak's book met and exceeded my standards.
Bob Novak has penned a remarkable memoir spanning 50 years of political reporting in Washington, D.C. If you're over 50, you'll be amazed and alarmed at the political background info and revelations. (He names names and doesn't hold back on his strong, conservative opinions.) If you're under 50, I'd humbly suggest this be required reading--because it's possible you've missed the all-important context that only a 50-year in-the-trenches reporter/commentator can deliver. Though written a year ago, the book immediately sheds light--and context--on the current U.S. presidential campaign.
Novak comments on Reagan, "I came to understand that the presidency is a leadership position that has very little to do with management." On Bob Dole: "Dole was a hopeless micromanager, inappropriate for a presidential candidate and indeed for a president." Ross Perot and Jimmy Carter fared no better on the management-o-meter. Albeit in my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit, I argue that leadership and management cannot be separated, Novak, in fact, demonstrates a very savvy insight into all things leadership.
Novak also reveals his extraordinary access to "senior administration officials" at the highest levels--and what motivates Democrats and Republicans alike to leak such info. It will surprise you--and discourage you. You may also want to re-think the expectations you have regarding the loyalty of your own team members at your workplace.
There's minimal gray area in Novak's historical travelogue. When Vice President Al Gore reneges on a verbal commitment to Novak, it's not forgotten. Lack of integrity always causes relational damage, as was the case with MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews. (By the way, and for balance, I also recommend Matthew's book, Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success.)
Ten years ago, following a four-year investigative journey from his Jewish roots to the Christian faith, a college student challenged him, "Mr. Novak, life is short, but eternity is forever." He writes, "I became convinced that the Holy Spirit was speaking through this Syracuse student." He embraced Christ and was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick's in Washington, D.C. in 1998.
Warning: it's 662 pages long. Guarantee: you'll wish it was 1,000 pages. And yes, I read every page. While the chapter titles make it easy to scan, don't--you'll miss the morsels. It gets my highest recommendation.
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