Where Power Stops cover art

Where Power Stops

The Making and Unmaking of Presidents and Prime Ministers

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Where Power Stops

By: David Runciman
Narrated by: David Runciman
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About this listen

Lyndon Baines Johnson, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, Theresa May, and Donald Trump: each had different motivations, methods, and paths, but they all sought the highest office.

And yet when they reached their goal, they often found that the power they had imagined was illusory. Their sweeping visions of reform faltered. They faced bureaucratic obstructions, but often the biggest obstruction was their own character.

However, their personalities could help them as much as hurt them. Arguably the most successful of them, LBJ showed little indication that he supported what he is best known for - the Civil Rights Act - but his grit, resolve, and brute political skill saw him bend Congress to his will.

David Runciman tackles the limitations of high office and how the personal histories of those who achieved the very pinnacles of power helped to define their successes and failures in office. These portraits show what characters are most effective in these offices. Could this be a blueprint for good and effective leadership in an age lacking good leaders?

©2019 David Runciman (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK Americas Europe Great Britain Politics & Activism Politics & Government Presidents & Heads of State United States World
All stars
Most relevant
Came to David Runciman from his excellent Talking Politics podcast. The book is well written, well read and both intriguing and enlightening in its dissection of the egos, motives and madness of the major politicians of the last fifty years.

Excellent political analysis

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Insightful, funny, pensive - Runciman convers the gamut loud political analysis and what it means to have and lose power. A must read for anyone interested in current Western political thought.

Runciman Delivers Again

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More blokey than his last, this is less rigourous and more half-baked. Good listen though.

Your mate david runciman gives his takes

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