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Max Lauf

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The Spot: The Rise of Political Advertising on Television

by Edwin Diamond

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Reading for the 2nd time

read in October 2013

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Max Lauf said: " Okay, so I'm reading this a second time, because the first time I read it I was mostly drunk. I'm still mostly drunk! But reading it two times while drunk is better than one time while drunk. Right?

Why is this book rated so low? The dudes who wrote i Okay, so I'm reading this a second time, because the first time I read it I was mostly drunk. I'm still mostly drunk! But reading it two times while drunk is better than one time while drunk. Right?

Why is this book rated so low? The dudes who wrote it are veteran journalists, and their comprehensiveness in securing interviews with survivors of the 20th century spot wars, and researching the recorded history where principals could not be located or were dead, is astounding.

There are even shot-by-shot descriptions of political ads that would make a 300-level film professor -- at least, and I can say this for certain because I've TA'd for several, who also taught at the doctoral level -- nod their head in approval. Shit is comprehensive and interdisciplinary.

If you don't rate this book five stars ... Well, in my estimation, you're judging it on what you perceive at its politics. Which, like: Dude, seriously? This book is totally apolitical. Though both writers are staffers at "LAMESTREAM LIBTARD MEDIA" outlets -- Diamond at the New York Times, and Bates at The Guardian -- if there's anything pejorative in this book about any party, it stems from that party's gaffes in re signing off on a misguided campaign. Both authors are ridiculously impartial.

And the people who shot those campaigns are there to be all, "Oh, dude, it was all about the money ..." and tell you their honest thoughts, decades and bottles of bourbon later. Diamond and Bates really know how to suck up to a source.

Which is where this book has the most value, and I think its authors would agree: When you objectively evaluate a bipartisan war in a text, any political judgement comes from the reader's snap-evaluation of what each party did and when and whatever. If you disagree with anything in this book, it's with your own hesitance at your own political beliefs.

So yeah ... As a mostly-former journalist and a registered Green, disillusioned with even that party's line, I can safely say that there totally isn't any bipartisan nonsense here. I have Right-Lib friends who agree. So ... suck it.

This book is the shizzzzz. With all those Zs. They've been earned. ...more "

Jun 05, 2014 04:51PM · see review