Mitch, Please!: How Mitch McConnell Sold Out Kentucky

by Matt Jones, Chris Tomlin (With)

The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller about how Mitch McConnell has been bad for Kentucky—and why he needs to be voted out of office from the founder of Kentucky Sports Radio and attorney Matt Jones.

They say all politics is local. In 2020, Mitch McConnell will have served five full terms as a US Senator. Thirty years. The Senate Majority leader’s power is as undeniable as it is infuriating, and the people of Kentucky have had enough. Led by Matt Jones, they (and they alone) have the power to oust him from office.

How did Jones, a local boy turned attorney turned sports radio host come to shine the brightest light on McConnell’s ineptitude? Simple—he knows Kentucky inside and out, and has used the state’s love of sports as an entry point for showcasing how McConnell has failed his fellow citizens both economically and socially for three decades.

Entertaining, maddening, yet ultimately inspiring, these stories from Kentuckians in each of its 120 counties illustrate the Senate Majority leader’s stunning shortcomings. “Jones employs a sharp, political scalpel eviscerating McConnell…[and this book is] an effective combination of description and vivisection” ( Kirkus Reviews ). Jones brings his trademark wit and wisdom throughout the book, while also offering a beautiful portrait of a state with arguably the most untapped potential in our country.

Ultimately, the white-hot hatred for McConnell on the coasts is just white noise. Only the people of Kentucky can remove him from office. Here, Matt Jones demonstrates he has the influence, charisma, and institutional knowledge to lead the charge. He and his fellow Kentuckians have had enough—and they’re ready for a fight.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Travel, Audiobook, Autobiography, Journalism, Biography

512 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2020

About the author

Matthew Harper Jones is an American attorney, businessman, radio host, and the owner and founder of Kentucky Sports Radio in Lexington, Kentucky.

Reviews

[Sabion · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, if you are not from Kentucky, this may be more Bluegrass than you were expecting, but for me, a proud Kentuckian, this travelogue/political rant is on point. Matt and Chris take a trip across the state asking people in each of Kentucky's 120 counties "What has Mitch McConnell done for you." And in the end, they come to the conclusion that Senator McConnell has done surprising little for the everyday people of the state.

But Mitch Please is not just a political rant. I loved all the stories of hope and happiness from all corners of the state. I feel more connected to my neighbors from Pikeville to Paducah. I think anyone connected to the state should read this tome and consider just how big Kentucky is and how much our neighbors mean to us.

And finally thank you KSR for all the hours of joy you have given all you fans in the Big Blue Nation.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I saw this book on my state's (Rhode Island) online library system and grabbed it immediately, thinking it would be a 100 page joke-fest. It isn't. It's a mix of travelogue and political commentary and the halves don't equal a whole. (Jones is a popular media host in Kentucky and the book details his travels throughout the state to speak with residents of each county to get their take on Mitch McConnell as Jones himself explores a potential senatorial run against McConnell.)

Jones writes well, is occasionally funny, and he seems like a very decent guy but the premise of traveling to all 120 counties (not a typo) and finding something to say about each diminishes the interesting and insightful things he has to say. The book is overly long, has too much generic filler and ends with a whimper.

The McConnell material becomes repetitive quickly. There are only so many ways you can say he puts politics before people; is greedy, power-hungry & vindictive; is in the back pocket of big business; and on and on. There's more but it's all in the same unflattering vein. (I don't question these assertions in any way.)

Residents of Kentucky may enjoy the snippets from each county but the book largely fails as a travelogue. (I haven't read many travel books but I recall enjoying "Great Plains" by Ian Frazier.)

I hope Matt Jones will continue writing because I think he has the talent and the ability to write a very good book if he narrows his focus.

[Cody Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, has known U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell for four decades. He’s known him for so long that he, and a more-reasonable McConnell, were even political allies early on. But his view has changed during McConnell’s tenure in the Senate, as he told fellow Democrats at a 2013 dinner: “I can be really brief tonight and just say — Mitch McConnell sucks.” As a Kentuckian, I can vouch for this.
Addison Mitchell McConnell Jr. is the second Kentuckian to lead his party in the Senate, the longest-serving U.S. senator for Kentucky in history, and he is also the longest-serving leader of U.S. Senate Republicans in history. Yet, for a man who supposedly represents the people of Kentucky, he has done everything but that and in many instances he has actually acted against what would have been in their best interests. And by employing a sharp political scalpel, administering a tendentious but effective combination of description and vivisection, Jones eviscerates McConnell at every turn. Presenting a perfect case study as to why there must be term limits on all of our public servants.
Visiting all of Kentucky’s 120 counties, and speaking with a wide array of locals—from right to left—Jones and his companion, Chris Tomlin, who mostly contributes snarky footnotes and humorous barbs, find themselves uniformly welcome on their travels (except, oddly enough, in one church); and by the end even manage to strike up a friendship with the “tracker” whom McConnell’s team sent to follow them around in search of career ending improprieties. But, if you’re worried about this being partisan hackery, don’t be. Even Republicans can learn how their standard bearer forgot about the people that elected him at the expense of the state he now represents.
What struck me most about the book however, was it’s format. Yes, its social commentary; yes, it’s a unique travelogue, but it’s also a profoundly personal reflection of one mans decision on whether or not he should enter into a life of public service. And I related to this aspect of the book, more so than any other, simply because, much like the author, I too have struggled with this same decision. Although, unlike Jones, I ultimately decided to take the plunge into the corrupt cesspool that is Kentucky politics, once vying for a seat on Whitesburg’s City Council.
Though he’s no literary match for chroniclers like Calvin Trillin, Jones does have a quite remarkable ability to evoke place, to bring to life a whole world in a single unexpected image, to pull a perfect sentence out the air with the ease of a child netting a butterfly. His style, though un-fancy, is a style which conveys much enthusiasm and passion. Even if he struggles, terribly, at times trying to find new things to say about each location. But, to be fair, how many writers have been able to take a place and weave a thousand details and feelings and moments into a single near-definitive portrait?
Yet, beyond all of the obvious anecdotal and political dimensions, the real story here is the story of Kentucky itself, and any American who seeks to understand places like Kentucky, in addition to our atrocious senator, should give this book a chance. It’s a rare occurrence to come across such an important political book as this one, that is both easy to read and full of good natured humor. And I applaud the authors for providing us with the opportunity to celebrate our great state with it’s many quirky characters and forgotten stories or, in my case never before known stories, as each bears witness to how politics, as so many of us as like to ignore it, is directly intertwined with everyday life.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mitch McConnell consistently has the lowest home-state approval rating of any member of the US Senate. Why do his fellow Kentuckians dislike him so much, and how does somebody with approval ratings that low keep getting elected? Matt Jones traveled to all 120 counties to find out.

Maybe I'm biased because I'm a fan of Jones' radio show, but I loved this book. His tour through the state - especially the history of some of the counties and the way he highlighted what made them all unique - was great.

He tries to tie each county to something about McConnell. Sometimes it's a stretch, but usually it works. Chris Tomlin's comedic footnotes are a mixed bag. But this will likely be one of my favorite books of the year.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise, this book is so much more than what I was expecting. Oddly enough, this book does not make me dislike Mitch McConnell any more than I have for 35 years. Mitch really is the politician that our country would have been better off without.

I have been a student of Henry Clay since I was in grade school (a damn long time ago); I can say with certainty ... "Mitch, you are no Henry Clay."

What this book does do is reaffirm my love for Kentucky and affords me a whole lot more reasons to love Kentucky more. Well written, entertaining, thought provoking, educational ... what more could you ask of a book.

Thanks Matt and Chris.

[Aaron Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mitch McConnell has systematically undermined our political system for 36 years and has done absolutely nothing for the state of Kentucky nor the country at large other than sowing gridlock and division. This book is an easy read that dives into his history the right way, by talking with actual Kentuckians from all sides of the political spectrum to understand his impact (and in the most desperate of situations, lack-thereof). Anyone who wants to know why nothing progresses in our democracy today should read this. Working through this book will give you insight into Washington, evangelical delusion with Donald Trump, and far too many bad jokes about our disgraceful majority leader. It’s worth every penny.

More importantly though, to me at least, is that Matt and Chris are writing a love letter to our home state. Kentucky is special but much maligned from anyone who has not spent time there. You can make fun of our accents, our sometimes irrational love of basketball, or call us a myriad of condescending terms, but we love our home. Unfortunately, politicians and the country at large focus their interests on the coasts and urban areas and forget places like Jackson, Falmouth, and Possum Trot — but it’s time for that to change.

[Books, Brews, and Tunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best books on politics, the south, and life in America post-NAFTA you'll ever read. Put down Hillbilly Elegy and read this masterpiece.

[Namrata Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly entertaining and educational but got repetitive. I got to learn more about Mitch McConnell’s history and politics sprinkled throughout learning about the lives of ordinary Kentuckians. The footnotes were hilarious (written by Matt Jones’ friend and colleague Chris Tomlin). I never thought I’d ever be looking forward to reading footnotes. Each (short) chapter covers a county and starts off describing someone Matt meets in his journey. We learn about how people in Kentucky are impacted by anything and everything - out of control carp, China, big business, ACA, taxes, gun rights, abortion, Church, immigrants, farms, universities, etc. Halfway through the book, I started skimming the first page of every chapter until Jones got more into the meat of his visit and how it relates to McConnell. I didn’t feel like I missed anything. One can read only so many feel-good meets in a row.

It’s a shame he didn’t end up running for office. Would be great for someone to dethrone McConnell and his dark money machine soon... better late than never. Overall, entertaining way to learn about Kentucky and its rich culture and history plus Mitch.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entry in the genre of book by candidate running for office. Normally, a good one is three stars at best but I bumped this one up to four because of two reasons. First, I enjoyed the narrative frame; a travelogue to all 120 KY counties. When I was a graduate student at UK I had a professor say of all the states he had lived in KY was unique because it operated and thought of itself as a confederation of local counties instead of one state. It’s true and all that local pride is on display in the characters that Matt and Chris encounter. It is a fun ride to roll into the next county, find someone to talk to, and note the local flavor. Repeat. When the locals give their take on “the state of the world” , however, the book veers into hearsay territory. That’s a brittle frame to hang policy arguments onto but can be quite amusing to read.

Second, (and also spoiler alert) the shocking plot twist at the end when Matt decided not to run. What audacity! To not run after writing a campaign book. That’s good comedy.

We have a great Commonwealth here (not a state) and this book is as thorough a tour as you can get from an author with genuine affection for it. Raise a glass of bourbon.

[Amy Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* If you are a Kentuckian, you know that we have a gorgeous state, 120 very diverse counties, a powerhouse sports radio show in KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio), and a very frustrating list of sell-out politicians who don’t care about their state, only the power of their positions. None of those tainted politicians is more powerful and damaging to our democracy AND Commonwealth than Senator Mitch McConnell; and, if you want concrete evidence of that fact, then this book is a must-read to understand how local, state, and national politicians can help or damage local communities and/or states for years to come. While also a lighthearted travel tome of visiting all 120 counties of the Kentucky commonwealth, with Matt Jones, the book’s author and host of KSR, and his funny footnote friend, Chris Tomlin, it is also an insightful look at the devastating impact Mitch McConnell has had on all 120 of those counties; either by direct decision-making, or, so often, by blatantly ignoring the needs of his fellow Kentuckians and their hurting communities. As Matt Jones, a former lawyer, business-savvy entrepreneur, and local celebrity embarked on a tour of Kentucky to consider his chances of defeating the long-standing senator and hopefully having a positive impact on his beloved state, he and his side-kick shared their travels in this thoughtful, and often very funny, book. You MUST companion-read with the audio version to enjoy their accents and Chris’ hilarious footnotes. A must-read for all Kentuckians, and all Americans, who care about our shared democracy!

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every state deserves a book like this since every state has been held back by corruption, incompetence, and/or selfishness it inexplicably chooses to re-elect. It is a county-by-county tour of Kentucky, including its people, culture, quirks, and political climate, with an eye for how McConnell has left his state out to dry while widespread inertia, apathy and politics, and his own disgusting tactics, hunger for power and moral compromise, have kept him in office. The author, who considered running against McConnell, has spent his whole life there and writes respectfully and with awareness but is also a radio personality, which made for a great audiobook, especially with the addition of his witty friend reading his own comical footnotes.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I am a HUGE KSR fan and probably wouldn’t have read this book otherwise. The anecdotes about the people and places of Kentucky make this book. The repetitive rhetoric of Mitch McConnell being the root of all evil gets old. I’m not defending McConnell, but I didn’t need to be told that he is corrupt 3,246 times (that number is a very rough estimate). Chris Tomlin’s commentary in the form of footnotes had me laughing out loud. I would love to read another book by Jones and Tomlin, but hopefully it won’t be a political one.

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish.

The book is bland, repetitive, and obvious. If you give a book a title like this, it needs humor and punch. This has neither.

This is a very calculated attempt to validate a candidates "Kentuckiness" and out people who dislike Mitch McConnell in an attempt to normalize both. Not worth your time.

[Bookewyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Kentucky! Vote #moscowmitch OUT.

[Paige Kilian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Witty and informative.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope every Kentuckian reads Matt’s book. Surely they would not vote Mitch back into office if they knew what Matt discovered, county by county. Beyond the politics, this book is a love letter to the state of Kentucky and it definitely makes me want to visit more of the places beyond the I75 corridor. Thanks, Matthew!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part memoir, part Kentucky travel guide, and a scathing indictment of the corruption of power. Read this especially if you’re wondering how MM was elected again.

[Laryssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual style, but worth a read

What strikes me about Mitch Please is that it is somehow a man’s personal reflection on whether or not he should step up to the political stage, a social commentary, and also just a really interesting travel log, all at the same time. When I first started reading it, I found myself wondering if going county by county through the state of Kentucky would really pan out for the entire book (it did), but by the end, I had accepted/grown accustomed to the rhythm to it and found a lot of gems. I laughed, I highlighted things I did not know and wanted to read up more on, and marked some places to visit.

This probably won’t be as interesting to a person that doesn’t live in or know Kentucky, but in some ways I wish people outside of Kentucky would read this book. As a native of this Commonwealth (Johnson County origin), it can be really frustrating to see how Kentuckians are portrayed in mass media, if they are portrayed at all. Matt Jones gives people another lens with which to see this state.

Throughout, Matt Jones also tries to point out the flaws and issues with Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s long time Senator. Sometimes, in his effort to make a connection between what he’s experiencing in his travels and the problems with McConnell, the connections are a little strained and far-fetched, which is perhaps a limitation on the style of the book. Overall, though, his method is pretty solid.

The political views in this book are obvious and contrary to many, but in a time where we all need to come together and learn how to talk through our differences and still find common ground (i.e., not discuss with the aim to change the other’s mind, but to understand their view), Mitch Please provides rich discussion fodder for Kentuckians and perhaps all US citizens.

[Robert Kerrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT READ!!! Very Informative





This is a must read for every citizen of the Commonwealth. The material in this book is thoroughly documented. Our votes should be based on our politicians serving our needs. It is purely evident that Senator McConnell is not in office to take care of K Kentucky's needs. It is a shame that Matt could not see his way clear to run for office. Read the book and it will open your eyes as to why this happened. It is a fantastic read. The only thing I didn't like was that the footnotes were in t h back of the book. I read on Kindle and it made it impossible to view the footnotes. If I had it to do over I would have bought a hard copy.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Jones’ first book is difficult to pin down. This is part travelogue, part political commentary and part personal “diary” of a potential run for office. As a native Kentuckian I could appreciate the trip through all 120 of Kentucky’s counties. I enjoyed Chris Tomlin’s commentary via the footnotes, his humor helps smooth over Jones’ brashness or long winded-ness.

However, this book at times lacks a singular focus and tends to drag in areas.

[Barrett Gough · Rating 2 out of 5]

The conceit of this book is interesting enough, I suppose, but Matt Jones has far more in common with JD Vance than anyone honestly cares to admit.

[Justin Tapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mitch, Please! How Mitch McConnell Sold out Kentucky (and America, too) by Matt Jones and Chris Tomlin

I enjoy reading out-of-copyright travel memoirs written by Americans abroad in the 19th and early 20th centuries, once a popular genre. This book is a close modern equivalent I've found; Jones makes similar first-impression observations about all 120 Kentucky counties like any foreign tourist might. But instead of asking locals about, say, nearby gold deposits, he asks them about Mitch McConnell, and finds locals just as hesitant to reveal answers.

It’s hard to write a really engaging account of 120 counties as even just devoting 2-3 pages to each makes it a longer book than most will read. (The book could have done without any of the footnotes, which are exclusively his co-author’s attempts to be funny.) I grew up in Central Kentucky and have had family and connections scattered throughout the state, so I have had the fortune to see much of it and Jones brings to my attention changes in places I haven’t visited since childhood. I got to know something about all 120 counties during a sting with a Commonwealth government policy job, and I can vouch for the cultural differences that can be seen just crossing a county line.

Jones’ interactions with the locals, the unique county cultures, and the local stories are mostly interesting (albeit containing some factual errors). The compilation of 34 years of the unsavory dealmaking of Mitch McConnell, as well has his importance to, and absence from, Kentucky also supplements the book. What a difference it makes to a state when someone engages in largely 34 years of ignoring large swathes of it, taking it for granted. Much of it reads like Thomas Frank’s What’s the Matter with Kansas (whom Jones never references), showing how rural Kentuckians vote against their own interests, such as Medicaid. Jones puts forth a persuasive thesis, allegedly convincing to large Democratic donors and even to Party kingmaker Sen. Chuck Schumer, that a widely known local Democrat with roots and knowledge of the entire state must be put forward to unseat McConnell, and he’s uniquely positioned for that role.

Jones correctly diagnoses the problem: “(T)he Democratic Party has completely abandoned rural America in both words and deed. Social justice, minority rights, environmentalism, gun control…become the entirety of the Democratic Party platform…Religion, patriotism, and other values that matter to rural Americans are often secondary issues in liberal circles, and many Kentuckians feel they aren’t an important part of Democratic platforms…If given the choice between a Democratic establishment that mocks or ignores them and a party that appeals to them directly, they will choose the devil that validates their importance every time” (p. 331-332). He also notes that it would almost certainly take a pro-life Democratic candidate (like Rocky Atkins) to win Kentucky, something the Democratic party would never stomach.

(Spoiler alert) I liked this book while also finding it disappointing and anticlimactic. Ultimately, Jones decides not to be that guy and is relieved. But there can be no chinks in McConnell’s armor if nobody tries, and Jones builds the whole book up as a call for heroes but decides not to even try himself. McConnell certainly took Jones’ threat seriously, assigning a tracker to follow him and his girlfriend, filing a lawsuit over the book and over Jones’ sports talk radio show over a perceived unfair political advantage. A dirty maneuver that would have resulted in Matt being silenced indefinitely waiting for the hamstrung FEC to make a ruling. Democratic competitor Amy McGrath also piled on, using influence to have Jones removed from a local television show he’d created before he’d come close to making any decisions on whether to run. In the end, Jones likes his talk radio show instead, and McConnell was quite safe in the 2020 election.

Jones is clearly smart, he has a law degree from a good school and has successfully built a wide-reaching business and platform. He also has connections, I appreciated his visits to various legends of Democratic politics in the Commonwealth. Perhaps my favorite chapter was his interview with David Williams, who has dealt with his ego and the damage it caused to his marriage and personal life when he was once a political power broker of the Kentucky Senate.

But besides his (and Tomlin’s) trivial factual errors, he also showed lack of detailed policy knowledge and clearly defined political positions. He has to be a little bit of a narcissist-- anyone who is on the radio every day and selling his own personal brand for a living. In the end, he decided to be a back-bencher and stay out of the arena. To me, this decision has severely weakened his credibility in talking about politics at all.

I recommend this book to fellow Kentuckians, particularly those who may work in state or local government. Three stars.

[David Baer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler alert: Matt Jones didn’t run for office in 2020, so in at least one sense, reading this book is a little bit of a let-down. Jones travelled through all 120 counties of Kentucky, and writes of these travels in the book, giving the majority of the book a stream-of-consciousness quality that reflects kinship and compassion for the various types of Kentuckians he meets along the way, but that also diffuses the central argument of the book into an impressionistic cloud.

The book provides some examples in support of the argument promised by the title, but I found that these mostly came in the closing chapter, where Jones describes the sequence of events and his thought process in deciding not to run against McConnell.

Overall, one does not acquire a clear understanding of Jones’ political stance. He is not a fan of Donald Trump, but says that he understands why people voted for him. His credibility plummeted in my mind when I read this passage:

In 2020 there is a Christian voting base who will vote for Trump and those who support him, such as Mitch McConnell, regardless. Many believe his leadership is even predestined by God, with some going so far as to hold that Trump is the imperfect being sent by God to do his work on Earth. It is an unbelievable whitewash of essentially everything in Donald Trump’s entire life. When an editorial in a publication called “Christianity Today” dared to suggest that defending Trump wasn’t defending Christian behavior, with examples as to why, many of its readers chose Trump over the Christian magazine. How is it that Donald Trump, with his myriad personal flaws, is seen as God’s warrior, but Barack Obama, who is a lifelong church-going Christian, is regarded with such disdain? The main reason is social policy. Trump’s personal transgressions are all ignored because of his stated positions – all of which, I’ll note, he flipped just before running for President – on abortion, gay marriage, and other social issues.

I mean, really? You, Matt Jones, really believe that Trump voters are voting on social policy? That the bedrock cult-of-personality support is coming from a principled position on those cited issues? That it’s immaterial that Obama was Black and that Trump built his coalition on racist lies about his illegitimacy for office? Jones would surely consider me a condescending liberal who typifies the way, he says, that the Democratic Party ignores the majority of people in Kentucky, because I believe that a majority of Trump voters, though not all of them, are voting for white supremacy, whether they explicitly understand that or not.

Jones reserves his most pointed commentary against McConnell for the last chapter and epilogue, which makes the preceding nine chapters something of a long preamble for the reader. I think this book would be a worthwhile and perhaps enjoyable read for people from Kentucky, but, especially in light of Jones’ decision to eschew a political run, it lacks relevance for a national audience.

[Michael Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times this feels like three books in one. There is the travelogue in which Matt Jones visits all 120 counties in Kentucky and gives a bit of insight on their history and culture. Then there is the critical political history of Senator Mitch McConnell. and finally the book is also a fish-out-of-water story of a man exploring the idea of running for office and realizing what that entails in Modern America.

I'm not sure this book appeals to readers outside the very narrow demographic that is Kentucky liberals and Democrats who also like sports and listen to Matt Jones on Kentucky Sports Radio. But that's a shame because in this book is a truly inspired and effective political voice, and a roadmap to success.

Matt Jones and his coauthor Chris Tomlin offer a funny, informative, and entertaining tour through Kentucky that, in my opinion as a Kentuckian, paints an honest picture of life and politics here.

Equally interesting are the tales of Matt Jones and his sort-of but not really attempt to run for Senate. We get a perspective on modern politics rarely heard since books like this are never written by the people who won office.

If you're not from Kentucky , this book will give you insight on life here in a way few books can. If you are but not a fan of Matt Jones or his politics, I'd still encourage you to give it a shot. Jones is loud and boisterous, but he's not provocative. If you can handle a few jokes at Mitch McConnell's expense, you might learn something or even enjoy it.

[Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part of this book was the focus on the state of Kentucky. I've always loved my state and knew there was so much in Kentucky worth celebrating and Matt & Chris do a great job of shining a light on those things. They also shine a light on the needs of the state, but they do it in an almost positive way. The people they talk to are not hopeless, they understand the issues surrounding them, but there are so many people in Kentucky working to make their county's better.

I am also opening to do a road trip of our state and this book will be the travel guide I use.

The political side to the book is also very intriguing. I thoroughly enjoyed getting an inside look on how our political system work on both the Democrat and the Republican side. I think Matt does a good job showing how Mitch really has let down Kentucky, but to be honest his talks about Mitch began to drag on a little towards the end. This book really could be about election and political funding reform instead of get Mitch out of office.

My ultimate complaint about this book is that it reveals a lot of problems about our political system and our Senator, but it doesn't give a solution. Personally, I feel that if you are going to continually tell me about a problem throughout your book then I at least need some answers on how to fix the problem. It's easy to point out problems, the solutions are the difficult part.

[Scooter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an avid follower of KSR and an occasional listener to the show, so I knew this book would alternate between ridiculous and serious. I was excited to read it and learn about other counties in my beloved Commonwealth (I tallied, and YES, Matt and Chris visited all 120 counties.) Many of the accounts struck me as poignant and made me proud to share this Commonwealth with so many wonderful people.

CAUTION: Those who know of Matt know of his strong opinions and candid nature. It;'s not always easy to read this book, and I imagine the authors do come off as self-righteous and moralistic at times. Though they hammer the point home, the main theme of asking ordinary Kentuckians what Senator McConnell has done for them is an important question. The authors certainly run out of ways to say that the villain they speak of has let us down time and time again, but it's still a question worth pondering.

My main goal in reading this book was to understand a little about other regions of the state and I wanted to be entertained. Matt and Chris accomplished both of these goals for me. I do worry how this will attract and keep the interest of non-Kentuckians and non-KSR listeners, but for both of those crowds this is a worthwhile book. We could all stand to learn a little about each other and see that while someone might consistently vote against us, that does not make them an enemy.

[Sugar Flower Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading if you are not from Kentucky. Matt Jones did his home work. Mitch McConnell was well researched. He read every book he could get his hands on regarding Mitch McConnell. He traveled to all 120 counties grass root interviewing of Kentucky citizens. The added humor contributed by Mr, Tomlinson was witty and very funny. Kentucky is more than bourbon, horses and drugs. Kentucky is diverse by geographical location. Economically, racially, politically, culturally which are inhabited of the state will determine your views on any issue. However, most Kentuckians agree on one thing that they love their state. It’s beautiful. It’s diverse in every way. The less diverse of the area the more view changes, One common factor no matter where you live Kentuckians want to thrive. Another strong common agreement with a major part of the state is the issue of guns and babies. I won’t even touch religion diversity. Critical thinking changes with availability of the internet. A large area of Kentucky still has poor cell services and no internet available.

[Lane Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 9 year listener to KSR, I feel as if I’ve grown to know Matt and the crew. And during the years I’ve heard Matt speak about politics and his desire to impact our state through his and the show’s endeavors. From their help in Martin County, to the thousands raised for charity with Ryan’s inability to putt, and the raising money for the family of Jared Lorenzen after this passing. They’ve shown that this state, OUR state, is worth fighting and advocating for. This show and it’s hosts have been with me through graduating college, finding and marrying the love of my life, and has always been a source of comfort during hard personal or professional times. For that, I’ll always be thankful.

This book embodies all that Matt Jones stands for. I appreciate and respect his love for Kentucky and wish more of our leaders, and residents, shared his views for the Commonwealth.

Thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do for Kentucky and I very much look forward to your next book.

[Leslie Ferrari · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I am not from Kentucky, I have visited and have friends there. Living outside of Washington, DC, I am quite familiar with Moscow Mitch and the damage he has done to the country.

The book, read by the authors, was entertaining. I found the tidbits about each county quite interesting. Hailing from coal country (SW Pennsylvania), I particularly appreciated the attention given to the plight of the coal workers. The McConnell bashing, while deserved, became tedious. The author was considering a run for the Senate on the Democratic ticket, but decided against it.

Sadly, I think the book will assist McConnell's reelection. The author paints the Democratic candidate, Amy McGrath as a typical politican with the support of the national scene. It appears to me that he decided McConnell can't be beaten this year, so he is setting himself up for a run 6 years from now. If McGrath loses, he can remind people that he said that only he could beat Mitch. If she should win, he has written enough about her to have a solid campaign aginst her in 6 years.

[Kirsten Jaworski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Matt Jones for several years and a hater of Mitch for even longer. This book was a wonderful look at Kentucky, the destruction Mitch has had, and how one explores a run for Senate.

Being from Louisville, you’re often an outsider of Kentucky. Things are just different there. When I moved to Lexington, I truly realized that. Jones does a great job of showcasing his love of Kentucky by exploring all 120 counties.

As an educator, I loved all the legislation that was discussed. While I knew some of it, I learned a lot. I think it is important as it showcases that our Senators have tremendous impact on our lives and we should be informed voters.

Lastly, I loved how Jones gave us an inside look into the process of considering a run. It was fascinating to hear about how the DNC works. The dirty moves that politicians on both sides employ to hurt their opponents were frustrating, but important to know as a voter.

Give this book a read. You’ll learn more than expected.

P.S. I’m still sad Matt didn’t run, but I respect his reasons for not running.