Al Franken, Giant of the Senate
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Narrated by:
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Al Franken
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By:
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Al Franken
About this listen
From the best-selling author - the story of an award-winning comedian who decided to run for office and then discovered why award-winning comedians tend not to do that.
Al Franken, Giant of the Senate is a book about an unlikely campaign that had an even more improbable ending: the closest outcome in history and an unprecedented eight-month recount saga, which is pretty funny in retrospect. It's a book about what happens when the nation's foremost progressive satirist gets a chance to serve in the United States Senate and, defying the low expectations of the pundit class, actually turns out to be good at it. It's a book about our deeply polarized, frequently depressing, occasionally inspiring political culture, written from inside the belly of the beast. In this candid personal memoir, the honorable gentleman from Minnesota takes his army of loyal fans along with him from Saturday Night Live to the campaign trail, inside the halls of Congress, and behind the scenes of some of the most dramatic and/or hilarious moments of his new career in politics.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2017 Al Franken (P)2017 Hachette AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Opinionated talk show host and columnist Michael Smerconish has been chronicling local, state, and national events for the Philadelphia Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer for more than 15 years. He has sounded off on topics as diverse as the hunt for Osama bin Laden and what the color of your Christmas lights says about you. In this collection of 100 of his most memorable columns, Smerconish reflects on American political life with his characteristic feistiness.
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All about Smerc and who cares about the victims
- By Mark J. Rosen on 12-10-20
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Unhinged
- An Insider's Account of the Trump White House
- By: Omarosa Manigault Newman
- Narrated by: Omarosa Manigault Newman
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Few have been a member of Donald Trump’s inner orbit longer than Omarosa Manigault Newman. Their relationship has spanned 15 years - through four television shows, a presidential campaign, and a year by his side in the most chaotic, outrageous White House in history. But that relationship has come to a decisive and definitive end, and Omarosa is finally ready to share her side of the story in this explosive, jaw-dropping account.
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Take if for what it's worth...
- By Clay on 08-14-18
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The Promise
- President Obama, Year One
- By: Jonathan Alter
- Narrated by: Jonathan Alter
- Length: 20 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Barack Obama’s inauguration as president on January 20, 2009, inspired the world. But the great promise of “Change We Can Believe In” was immediately tested by the threat of another Great Depression, a worsening war in Afghanistan, and an entrenched and deeply partisan system of business as usual in Washington. Despite all the coverage, the backstory of Obama’s historic first year in office has until now remained a mystery.
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Tiresome
- By Matthew on 05-21-10
By: Jonathan Alter
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All Things Possible
- Setbacks and Success in Politics and Life
- By: Andrew M. Cuomo
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 14 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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In this full and frank memoir - a personal story of duty, family, justice, politics and resilience - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reflects on his rise, fall, and rise in politics, and recounts his defining personal and political moments and tough but necessary lessons he has learned along the way.
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I Love This Book AND the Guvnor (Governor, I Know)
- By Igi M. on 09-02-20
By: Andrew M. Cuomo
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In Trump We Trust
- E Pluribus Awesome! (That Was the Easy Part) and Is Fighting for US
- By: Ann Coulter
- Narrated by: Ann Coulter
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Donald Trump isn't a politician - he's a one-man wrecking ball against our dysfunctional and corrupt establishment. We're about to see the deluxe version of the left's favorite theme: Vote for us, or we'll call you stupid. It's the working class against the smirking class. Now Ann Coulter, with her unique insight, candor, and sense of humor, makes the definitive case for why we should all join his revolution.
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Doesn't deliver on it's promises.
- By Greg Hill on 08-24-16
By: Ann Coulter
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Collision 2012
- Obama vs. Romney and the Future of Elections in America
- By: Dan Balz
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
- Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Four years ago, a bright young presidential candidate named Barack Obama campaigned on a theme of hope and change, and made history. Today, he finds himself in another bitter, divisive presidential race but without the buzzwords. Instead, an embattled president struggles with a dysfunctionally divided Congress, a controversial healthcare bill, a decade-long war, and a stagnant economy.
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Fascinating. Couldn't stop listening.
- By Gregory E Benoit on 07-24-16
By: Dan Balz
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Write It When I'm Gone
- Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford
- By: Thomas M. DeFrank
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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In an extraordinary series of private interviews, conducted over 16 years with the stipulation that they not be released until after Gerald Ford's death, the 38th president of the United States reveals a profoundly different side of himself: funny, reflective, gossipy, strikingly candid, and the stuff of headlines.
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An easy historical listen...
- By Darrell Rupe on 05-26-08
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Under Fire
- Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House
- By: April Ryan, Tamron Hall - foreword
- Narrated by: Janina Edwards
- Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Veteran White House reporter April Ryan thought she had seen everything in her two decades as a White House correspondent. And then came the Trump administration. In Under Fire, Ryan takes us inside the confusion and chaos of the Trump White House to understand how she and other reporters adjusted to the new normal. She takes us inside the policy debates, the revolving door of personnel appointments, and what it is like when she, as a reporter asking difficult questions, finds herself in the spotlight, becoming part of the story.
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- By Deborah on 09-03-18
By: April Ryan, and others
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The Speechwriter
- A Brief Education in Politics
- By: Barton Swaim
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Everyone knows this kind of politician: a charismatic maverick who goes up against the system and its ways, but thinks he doesn't have to live by the rules. Using his experience as a speechwriter, Barton Swaim tells the story of a band of believers who attach themselves to this sort of ambitious narcissist.
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A well-written complainers guide
- By Kindle Customer on 08-03-15
By: Barton Swaim
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What listeners say about Al Franken, Giant of the Senate
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Rebecca
- 06-09-17
Giant of the Senate
Informs as it entertains in his inimitable Franken style.
What I love about this book is that Senator Franken is bursting with exuberant love for people. For Minnesotans, for Americans. for his wife, his children, his friends and even some of his adversaries.
I really love his sense of outrage at the "Lying Liars", his fear and worry in the face of Trump's election, and his final note of hope.
I have a daughter, son in law, and two grandchildren a sister and a brother in law in Minnesota, and I'm just as happy as can be that their senator cares so much about them.
The other thing I love about this book is that I learned a lot about what a senator DOES. I laughed a lot of course, because Al Franken is a very funny man, but I also learned a great deal.
This book is hot of the press and speaks to current events but I have no doubt that people reading this book in twenty years will find it equally fascinating as a look inside an American head at a time when the country appears to have gone bat sh*t crazy. I'm reassured to think that those readers will judge us less harshly after reading Giant of the Senate.
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26 people found this helpful
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- G
- 08-13-17
Worth a listen regardless of political leanings
Great story and well written- Well worth a listen regardless of whether you are a democrat or republican
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11 people found this helpful
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- Cariola
- 06-16-17
Little Giant
I've always liked Al Franken--both his comedic talent and his work in the Senate--but this is the first of his books that I've read. To a great extent, it's biographical. There's a little about his parents and his early life, how he met his wife Frannie, the birth of his first child, and so forth, but most of the book is focused on his decision to run for the Senate, his first campaign, his adjustment to the political life in DC, and his relationships with his colleagues in Washington. (Who would have guessed that he is friends with Jeff Sessions and that Sessions' wife knitted his first grandchild's favorite blanket?) Of course, there's a good bit of humor thrown in (the episode of a campaign stop at a Native American ritual where he was told NOT to dance is hilarious), but much of the account is honest and straightforward. Franken comes across as a caring man who truly want to honor the memory of his friend Paul Wellstone by doing his best for the people of Minnesota. It's pretty up-to-date: Franken describes going to the Trump inauguration and his conflicts with Jess Sessions, Betsy DeVos, and others in confirmation hearings. He doesn't touch on the most recent White House "scandals," although he does at one point refer to Trump "becoming what we all feared he would be."
I listened to the audio version, read by Franken himself--probably the best option.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Michal
- 06-02-17
binge listening
Any additional comments?
A perfect listen. A great american and a great storyteller. An ethical politician who cares about the life experience of his constituents. I've laughed out loud a few times.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Nolan R.
- 06-03-17
Highest Recommendation
This book on audible is the only way to listen. It's like listening to Sen Frankin tell you a story. The story makes you connect with him and leaves you inspired.
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2 people found this helpful
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- qnofrogs
- 06-17-17
Truly a Giant of the Senate
No one narrates Al's work better than Al. I listened to this whole the Comey hearing and threats to fire Mueller and the ADoJ have been pouring out of the WH twitter feed. I feel better for having listened to this book. There are smart people in government who are honest and who have integrity.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Ray Heacox
- 06-17-17
Don't buy book buy audiobook
There is no way it is the same book if you don't hear Senator Franken read it! If nuance is part of great humor and satire then you need to hear it from the horses mouth.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Addicted to Amazon
- 07-02-17
This is a refreshing look at politics from the inside
Although the author is a democratic senator, this book keeps perspective on the difference between disagreements over policy and character bashing.
Its a very enlightening book into how the debate works from a true outsider, a SNL comedian.
While he has his own strong views, he shares them as just that, HIS view point.
However, most of the book is spent enlightening the reader on how the government works behind the scenes. Its very good.
During this dark time in politics, a book like this is a refresh glimpse of hope that the adults will prevail and start working together again.
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- Nancy K
- 07-04-17
Profound clarity, inspiration, and irony…
When I finished listening to this audio book, I started over and listened to it a second time. Brilliant and every way. I hope he runs in 2020, because I cannot think of a better Presidential candidate than Al Franken. Provided, of course, we still have a country by then...
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- R. Schechter
- 06-27-17
Franken At His Best
Just as I'm tempted to throw in the towel on American democracy, Al Franken provides a glimmer of hope with this memoir.
This book is written with the same comic flair as his earlier works. It covers his entire career in comedy, with plenty of insight into the workings of Saturday Night Live, where he spent 15 years. He also gives a fascinating behind the scenes view of getting elected to and serving in the U.S. Senate, with vivid character portrayals along the way.
If you're feeling depressed about the state of American politics, this book is the antidote!
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1 person found this helpful