Richard Ben Cramer passed away yesterday. If you'd like share your memories of discovering and reading WHAT IT TAKES, have at it in the comments. And thanks for reading.
I read WHAT IT TAKES in ten days, a hundred pages each sitting. It was that hard to put it down.
You knew it was good from the first sentence, but you knew it was great at those four words: "Disaster in the making." It really sailed from there. The Bobster, swinging and singing; the versatile Rich Gephardt; the laconic Gary Hart, serious and brilliant; regular Michael Dukakis; the pal of pals, George Herbert Walker Bush, so "Not Like That"; and JOE. BIDEN. Who had dreamed, loved, lost, and knew that life goes on.
He was a good friend, although I haven't seen him in years. I'm heartbroken. After reading "What It Takes" again, I was planning on looking him up during my next trip to Maryland. Now I can't. The world lost a great writer and a wonderful person. Now I want someone to put together all the articles he wrote over the years - some/many were priceless.
Greatest political book ever. Changed my whole perspective on power and politics. RIP RBC.
ReplyDeleteI read WHAT IT TAKES in ten days, a hundred pages each sitting. It was that hard to put it down.
ReplyDeleteYou knew it was good from the first sentence, but you knew it was great at those four words: "Disaster in the making." It really sailed from there. The Bobster, swinging and singing; the versatile Rich Gephardt; the laconic Gary Hart, serious and brilliant; regular Michael Dukakis; the pal of pals, George Herbert Walker Bush, so "Not Like That"; and JOE. BIDEN. Who had dreamed, loved, lost, and knew that life goes on.
Thank you, Richard.
Read it to "teach" myself about journalism. It's more of an epic novel than journalism and I loved every word.
ReplyDeleteHe was a good friend, although I haven't seen him in years. I'm heartbroken. After reading "What It Takes" again, I was planning on looking him up during my next trip to Maryland. Now I can't. The world lost a great writer and a wonderful person. Now I want someone to put together all the articles he wrote over the years - some/many were priceless.
ReplyDelete