CONFIDENCE MEN Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President

Suskind’s several hundred hours of interviews with past and present Obama staff, as well as the president himself, helped create this exhaustive examination of the countervailing forces of the financial sector and the U.S. government. James Lurie’s relentless narration is gravelly, masculine, and capable, though his measured pace is monotonous and lacks any vocal characterization. Emphasis is placed on evaluating strategies, both those considered and those employed by the new president, along with his team, in handling the meltdown of the financial sector and the ensuing downturned economy. While the writing is articulate and polished, at moments the book reads like a spy novel—particularly as Lurie tantalizingly whispers the suspenseful content into one’s earbuds. Sadly, considering the exhaustive content, the narration style doesn’t work to focus the listener. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2011]