Book · 1992 · Presidents
What It Takes
The Way to the White House
What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer has been mentioned in 6 episodes across 4 podcasts (3 episodes recommend it and 3 episodes discuss it), through . Most frequently brought up by Dan Pfeiffer (2 episodes), Josh Holmes (1 episode) and Saagar Enjeti (1 episode) on Pod Save America (2 episodes), The Book Review (2 episodes) and Lex Fridman Podcast (1 episode).
- episodes
- 6
- podcasts
- 4
- people
- 5
- episodes recommend it
- 3
It was in the 1988 election where richard bryn kramer wrote what it takes the all-time greatest political campaign book.
Questions about What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer
Who recommends What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer on podcasts?
Dan Pfeiffer (1 episode), Josh Holmes (1 episode) and Saagar Enjeti (1 episode) have recommended What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer on podcasts. In all, 5 people brought it up across 4 podcasts (3 people recommended it).
Which podcasts mention What It Takes the most?
Pod Save America (2 episodes), The Book Review (2 episodes), Lex Fridman Podcast (1 episode) and The Megyn Kelly Show (1 episode).
Is What It Takes recommended, or only discussed?
What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer was recommended in 3 episodes and discussed without a recommendation in 3 episodes, as of 2024-12-08.
What do people say about What It Takes?
Dan Pfeiffer on Pod Save America (2020-07-10): "It was in the 1988 election where richard bryn kramer wrote what it takes the all-time greatest political campaign book."
When was What It Takes last mentioned on a podcast?
What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer was last recommended on Lex Fridman Podcast by Saagar Enjeti on 2024-12-08.
What they say about it
- Covers the 1988 presidential election“in the 1988 election”4
- All-time greatest political campaign book“the all-time greatest political campaign book”2
The best things said about it
Book recommendation, it's called What It Takes. And it was written in 1988 and there's actually a long chapter on Joe Biden and about the plagiarism scandal.
Saagar Enjeti Lex Fridman Podcast · Dec 2024 I mean, when when Richard Ben Cramer profiled Joe Biden in the 1990 1988 race and what it takes. It's a great book, I love it. I recommend it to Smug, and now he recommends it to everybody else.
They're sort of like three books that have been read by every person who writes about American politics who covers Merah politics every politician is read Richard Ben Kramer is what it takes which the sort of the MOT the First's all of the inside the room like glorification of strategists like campaign trail books that are you know we.
Richard Ben Cramer's What It Takes, you know, that just gives you almost a mini biography of all of the candidates beginning during the primaries.
Where and when it comes up
Most episodes, by podcast
5 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer is a political journalism classic that follows multiple presidential candidates through the grueling primaries of the 1988 election. On the Lex Fridman Podcast, Saagar Enjeti recommended the book to provide historical context on Joe Biden's character and his early presidential campaign plagiarism scandal. Josh Holmes also recommended the book on The Megyn Kelly Show, praising the author's deep profiling of political figures. Dan Pfeiffer highlighted the work across multiple episodes of Pod Save America, calling it the ultimate campaign book and essential reading for anyone covering American politics because of its intimate look inside campaign rooms. On The Book Review, Amy Chozick and Jill Abramson discussed the book in relation to the evolution of campaign reporting, noting how the text offers mini-biographies that illuminate the backgrounds and internal motivations of the candidates. The speakers collectively underscored the book's unmatched status as a foundational text for understanding modern political campaigns and candidate psychology.
Every mention
Dan Pfeiffer It was in the 1988 election where richard bryn kramer wrote what it takes the all-time greatest political c… 2
“It was in the 1988 election where richard bryn kramer wrote what it takes the all-time greatest political campaign book”
“they're sort of like three books that have been read by every person who writes about American politics who covers Merah politics every politician is read Richard Ben Kramer is what it takes which the sort of the MOT the First's all of the inside the room like glorification of strategists like campaign trail books that are you know we”
Josh Holmes I mean, when when Richard Ben Cramer profiled Joe Biden in the 1990 1988 race and what it takes. It's a gre… 1
“I mean, when when Richard Ben Cramer profiled Joe Biden in the 1990 1988 race and what it takes. It's a great book, I love it. I recommend it to Smug, and now he recommends it to everybody else.”
Saagar Enjeti So, book recommendation, it's called "What It Takes." And it was written in 1988 and there's actually a lon… 1
“So, book recommendation, it's called "What It Takes." And it was written in 1988 and there's actually a long chapter on Joe Biden and about the plagiarism scandal.”
Amy Chozick and how you look at these books Richard Ben Kramer is what it takes about 88 and the boys on the bus and th… 1
“and how you look at these books Richard Ben Kramer is what it takes about 88 and the boys on the bus and there was this camaraderie with the candidate and and their AIDS and it's just changed”
Jill Abramson and that would be you know Richard Ben Kramer's what it takes you know that just gives you almost a mini bi… 1
“and that would be you know Richard Ben Kramer's what it takes you know that just gives you almost a mini biography of all of the candidates beginning during the primaries”
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I see What It Takes. Oh, I see my book right there. Oh, wow. books. Two over from What It Takes.”
“the plagiarism joke probably killed with the 50 swing voters who have read what it takes”
“Yeah the uh the plagiarism joke probably killed with the 50 swing voters who have read what it takes uh speaking of killing swing voters like what are your plagiarism”