Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus Hardcover – January 17, 2017

This book collects Taibbi’s essays from the 2016 presidential campaign. They reflect his excellent reporting and sense of humor, but they are dated. Many predict outcomes that didn’t come to pass, which is at least honest but leaves us wondering just how insightful he is. He’s added an update on the election and some events afterwards, and that material is still up-to-date six months later - a long time in this presidency, it seems.Some campaign reporting lasts for years, but these stories didn’t. I’d rather see him write a book looking back, where he reflects on what he got wrong, and why.

The first out the gate book about the 2016 election (except for those that were written before Election Day - shame on you Maureen Dowd), the author covers the election from the R side of the tracks. A great companion book to "Shattered", which I read at the same time. In the absence of White or Witcover/Germond, and with every campaign reporter now writing a book (instead of one great author covering the entire campaign), we'll have to settle for one-sided coverage of election events, and we could do worse that having this author provide the coverage.

Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi delivers a masterful and cuttingly insightful appraisal of the 2016 presidential campaign. His personal observations from the year-long campaign trail, compiled from his regular reports made for the magazine, level a humorous, witty yet tragic concern and on-target criticisms of all involved: the candidates of both parties and their staff, the news media (both real and fake), the president elect and his predecessor, and even the electorate are all held culpable in what is obviously an abomination of our nation. Without coming off as an "I told you so", Matt prefaces the book with excerpts from a previous publication "The Great Derangement" where 10 years earlier he clearly recognized the emergence of a white nationalism and the demise of the established political establishment where spectacle matters over substance, and any shared reality was dissolving. I found this book riveting, infuriating, entertaining, but most of all informing. It should be seen perhaps as an obituary for politics as past, and a primer for the future. This is one book I would hope is spared in any future book burnings!

I’ve tired of these reports from the campaign trail circa 2016, since I know and am suffering through the ultimate results. However, Insane Clown President offers greater insight, a balanced view of campaign activities (did they win or did we lose?) and even a few chuckles. Believe me, I’m not finding the election’s outcome terribly amusing, but at a time like this we all need something to laugh about.

I didn't realize it was a day to day diary of the campaign; I already knew about the campaign. However it was very interesting and I read it all the way through. Matt Taibbi is a very good writer.

Not exactly even handed, but it is clear there is plenty of blame to go around. The role of the press in the 2016 election circus is deeply examined. Although Orange Julius doesn't come off in complimentary terms, this is by no means exclusively a Trump bashing exercise. Some repetition is evident since this is compiled from articles written during the campaign.

A series of Rolling Stone articles by the author starting with "Trump has no Chance" to capitulation as he sees the win coming. Clearly liberal, the book does have balance as he tries to understand Trump's appeal. Overall, a great look at our election system which he is quite discouraged with stating that advertisers and the media are in on the voting dance. Very worthwhile election read.

A little dated now, but it was still an interesting read. Taibbi had the guy pegged, and I just wish the American people had realized what a jerk we elected as President.

This book is enticing, revealing and upsetting at the same time. I could not put it down. Read it within a 2-day period. A must read for those who are still in disbelief over the Trump election and are trying to answer the questions: Why? How come? What now and What's next? An excellent review of the 2016 election circus from a well-versed and brilliant writer. A must read for those who want an honest day-by-day look at how a democratic event got outrageously perverted.

Matt Taibbi provides an interesting and disturbing insight into being a part of Donald Trump's campaign as press. He speaks of being among those used by Trump as props and focus of his disdain. He also speaks of Trump's history and personality. This is a great read for anyone interested in politics, recent American politics, and the person of Donald Trump.

Matt Taibbi traces the 2016 US Presidential campaign and with remarkable honesty, reveals his own shock at a result that seemingly only time will tell how irreversible the change in the American (but not only American) politic a Trump Presidency represents. There are a few hints at the influence that we are only now coming to understand of the impact of malign fake news. But Taibbi's cautions for would-be leaders will hopefully always be more important than real or imagined conspiracies: without the compassion and a message that connects to a broad base of electors, this really is the end of democracy.

An interesting account of the 2016 presidential race that is let down by the authors personal feelings about Donald Trump. Too much hype, not enough serious discourse, the author spends whole chapters on who he would cast to play the various electoral candidates in a movie, and a drinking game he played at one point... It really feels like he had to fill a page count, but if you skip over the filler its still a worthwhile read

Matt Taibbi is one of the smartest journalists around today. He's not only a very readable, talented (and side-splittingly hilarious) writer, but his analysis is original, deep, a spot-on. He can distill modern American politics and economic issues down to their core, in a witty, engaging way.