Game Change

By John Heilemann & Mark Halperin

A behind the scenes look at the presidential campaign, detailing the primary bids of Obama, Clinton, and Edwards and of John McCain. A peak into the private lives of these public persons with all the nasty little warts revealed.

I liked reading about the stuff that doesn't usually make the news. About the squabbles, the deals, the posturing, the truth behind the pretty picture. Honestly, if people knew this kind of information about candidates before an election no one would ever vote for them because they are just like the rest of us, with all our faults and all our stupidity. They must really be fabulous salesmen to convince the public that they should be our leaders.
My favorite quotes from the book are from John McCain. From the book:

He [McCain] was disgusted by Republicans in Congress and talk radio gasbags such as Rush Limbaugh who bashed immigrants. "They're going to destroy the fucking party," he would say.
As McCain's town hall meetings devolved into shouting matches over immigration, the candidate let his frustration show through. He called Lindsey Graham in despair. Listen to these people, McCain said. Why would I want to be the leader of a party of such assholes?

It was worth reading the whole book just to get to that line. You gotta love it.