Spoiling for a Fight: The Rise of Eliot Spitzer

by Brooke A. Masters

"Compelling, suspenseful, and deeply reported . . . Masters gives a dramatic inside account of the fight between Spitzer and the titans of finance."—Newsday

Few politicians have burst onto the American scene with as much impact as Eliot Spitzer. As New York's attorney general, he exposed wrongdoing by stock analysts, mutual fund managers, and insurance brokers, and investigated corporations that have misled or defrauded ordinary investors and consumers. And as the next governor of New York, Spitzer is now a rising star on the national political scene.

No reporter has had better or more complete behind-the-scenes access to Spitzer than Brooke A. Masters, who covered him for four years at The Washington Post. Spoiling for a Fight is her dramatic and revealing portrait of the politician who has brought down some of the biggest names in American finance and has set his sights on higher office. And in a new afterword, she chronicles his ascension to New York's highest office and assesses his future political prospects.

Genres: Biography, Politics, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED the fact that I was in the penultimate chapter -- and I love being able to use that word there :) -- of this book when this scandal broke. It was like, well of course, I'm ready for the ending.

A well-written book about a great and interesting man. Some good balance about his negative sides (which she puts into a good context, which is that these characteristics are largely the extension of his good sides). I have been interested in him for awhile and this gave me a much fuller and nuanced picture of him. Helped me rethink my perspectives on him as well. Even pre-prostitution...

[Jon]

Spitzer is one of a new generation of young, progressive, reformist politicians who gives me hope for the future. (Others are Barack Obama, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, and Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker) He did awesome things for consumers in his years as New York Attorney General, and it seems to me he could be running for President or Vice-President at some point. A political blog I like suggested this book for those who want to learn more about Spitzer, and I do.

[Dana Vincent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some might say what's the point of reading this for we know how this story ends. Agree. And even though the writer is too much in love with her subject, interesting reading for anyone with an interest in corporate malfeasance, federalism and hubris.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my review on my book blog.

[Lisa Bodner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written, before the big scandal. I'm waiting for the rest of the story.