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It Shouldn't Be This Hard to Serve Your Country
- Our Broken Government and the Plight of Veterans
- Narrated by: Daniel Thomas May, David Shulkin
- Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins
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Publisher's summary
The former VA secretary describes his fight to save health care from politics and money - and how it was ultimately derailed by a small group of unelected officials with influence in the Trump White House.
Known in health care circles for his ability to fix ailing hospitals, Dr. David Shulkin was originally brought into government by President Obama, in an attempt to save the broken Department of Veterans Affairs. When President Trump made him VA secretary, Dr. Shulkin was as shocked as anyone.
Yet this surprise was trivial compared to what Shulkin encountered as the VA secretary: a team of political appointees devoted to stopping anyone - including the secretary himself - who stood in the way of privatizing the organization and implementing their agenda. In this uninhibited memoir, Shulkin opens up about why the government has long struggled to get good medical care to military veterans and the plan he had for how to address these problems. This is a book about the commitment we make to the people who risk their lives for our country, how and why we've failed to honor it, and why the new administration may be taking us in the wrong direction.
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Critic reviews
"From the moment David Shulkin was appointed secretary of the VA, Trump's corporate henchmen put a target on his back to achieve their aim of shutting down the VA hospital system. Shulkin, the highest-ranking person to serve in both the Obama and Trump administrations, provides play-by-play detail of his tumultuous tenure and spells out the ongoing threats to the VA. A harrowing and important story." (Andy Slavitt, former acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
"A painful-to-swallow story of a political environment gone toxic. And as Dr. Shulkin points out, the casualty isn't the loss of another government servant-it's our veterans." (General (ret.) Stanley McChrystal)
"This is a very important book. I hope Americans who care about our veterans will take the time to read it. The title of the book says it all, but what's inside is a compelling story - a cautionary tale for all citizens who care about recruiting talented people to serve our government." (Bob Kerrey, former senator, former governor of Nebraska, and recipient of the Medal of Honor)
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Story
In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency - a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.
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Color me grateful.
- By Angela on 11-19-20
By: Barack Obama
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Targeted
- The Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower's Inside Story of How Big Data, Trump, and Facebook Broke Democracy and How It Can Happen Again
- By: Brittany Kaiser
- Narrated by: Brittany Kaiser
- Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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In this explosive memoir, a political consultant and technology whistleblower reveals the disturbing truth about the multi-billion-dollar data industry, revealing to the public how companies are getting richer using our personal information and exposing how Cambridge Analytica exploited weaknesses in privacy laws to help elect Donald Trump - and how this could easily happen again in the 2020 presidential election.
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Heavy on Kaiser, Light on Cambridge Analytica’s Data Operations
- By Morgan H Hoban on 11-05-19
By: Brittany Kaiser
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Landslide
- The Unmaking of the President, 1984-1988
- By: Jane Mayer, Doyle McManus
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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The explosive tale of the unraveling of an American president. For six years, Ronald Reagan seemed invincible. But behind the glowing image of success was an administration courting disaster. In this spellbinding book, two top Washington reporters trace the origins of the Iran-Contra affair and the unraveling of the Reagan presidency, taking us deep inside a white house that cared more for stagecraft than statecraft and that mistook a landslide reelection for an unlimited mandate.
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Great reporting
- By daisey on 09-03-23
By: Jane Mayer, and others
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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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Courage Under Fire
- The Definitive Account from Inside the Capitol on January 6th
- By: Steven A. Sund
- Narrated by: Steven A. Sund
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Steven A. Sund, one of only ten men in history to hold the title of Chief of the US Capitol Police, has coordinated dozens of National Special Security Events, responded to numerous critical incidents and active shooter events, and has protected every living US president. But nothing could have prepared him for the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
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Ray Epps
- By fair & balanced on 06-25-23
By: Steven A. Sund
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Life Inside the Bubble
- Why a Top-Ranked Secret Service Agent Walked Away from It All
- By: Dan Bongino
- Narrated by: Mark F. Smith
- Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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He swore to take a bullet for the President and left it all behind to take a bullet for the American people. Why would a successful, twelve-year Secret Service agent resign his position in the prime of his career to run for political office against all the odds? New York Times bestseller, Life Inside the Bubble is an intimate look at life inside the presidential "bubble," a haze of staffers, consultants, cronies, acolytes, bureaucrats and lobbyists that creates the "alternate reality" in which monumental policy decisions are made.
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Tales from a whining baby!
- By Amazon Customer on 10-07-20
By: Dan Bongino
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The Man Who Ran Washington
- The Life and Times of James A. Baker III
- By: Peter Baker, Susan Glasser
- Narrated by: Michael Quinlan
- Length: 26 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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For a quarter-century, from the end of Watergate to the aftermath of the Cold War, no Republican won the presidency without his help or ran the White House without his advice. James Addison Baker III was the indispensable man for four presidents because he understood better than anyone how to make Washington work at a time when America was shaping events around the world. The Man Who Ran Washington is a pause-resisting portrait of a power broker who influenced America's destiny for generations.
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We Need Baker Now More Than Ever
- By @Gazi2a on 01-08-21
By: Peter Baker, and others
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Sinking in the Swamp
- How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington
- By: Lachlan Markay, Asawin Suebsaeng
- Narrated by: Holter Graham
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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An eyewitness account of Donald Trump's clown car of lieutenants and lackeys who have polluted the corridors of power with their unprecedented awfulness. Two of Washington's most meddlesome reporters take listeners on a deep dive into the murky underworld of President Trump's Washington, dishing the hilarious and frightening dirt on the charlatans, conspiracy theorists, ideologues, and run-of-the-mill con artists who have infected the highest echelons of American political power.
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Fascinating writing!
- By CBesserman on 02-28-20
By: Lachlan Markay, and others
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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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31 Days
- The Crisis That Gave Us the Government We Have Today
- By: Barry Werth
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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In 31 Days, Barry Werth takes listeners inside the White House during the tumultuous days following Nixon's resignation and the swearing-in of America's "accidental president", Gerald Ford. The congressional hearings, Nixon's increasing paranoia, and, finally, the devastating revelations of the White House tapes had torn the country apart. Within the White House and the Republican Party, Nixon's resignation produced new fissures and battle lines and new opportunities for political advancement.
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The politics of 1974
- By D. Littman on 11-27-06
By: Barry Werth
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A Woman in Charge
- The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton
- By: Carl Bernstein
- Narrated by: Dick Rodstein
- Length: 24 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Carl Bernstein's stunning portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton shows us, as nothing else has, the true trajectory of her life and career, with its zigzag bursts of risks taken and safety sought. Marshaling all the skills and energy that propelled his history-making Pulitzer Prize reporting on Watergate, Bernstein gives us the most detailed, sophisticated, comprehensive, and revealing account of Hilary Rodham Clinton yet.
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in depth and well-written
- By Katherine on 07-20-07
By: Carl Bernstein
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The Gatekeepers
- How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency
- By: Chris Whipple
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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The chiefs of staff, often referred to as "the gatekeepers", wield tremendous power in Washington and beyond; they decide who is allowed to see the president, negotiate with Congress to push POTUS's agenda, and - most crucially - enjoy unparalleled access to the leader of the free world. Through extensive, intimate interviews with 18 living chiefs (including Reince Priebus) and two former presidents, award-winning journalist and producer Chris Whipple pulls back the curtain on this unique fraternity. In doing so, he revises our understanding of presidential history.
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Interesting, but lacking in political objectivity
- By Stephen Watson on 09-04-17
By: Chris Whipple
What listeners say about It Shouldn't Be This Hard to Serve Your Country
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- CEvans
- 11-01-19
Wish there were more leaders like him
Great book with lots of insight into the VA system and the important role the VA plays for our nation's heros.
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- BC
- 11-24-19
Provides Additional Insight
Very enlightening about what is happening behind the scenes. The author not only provides an understanding of what occurred within VA during his tenure but also clarification of how the current administration works. It sounds like what is happening is a gang or mafia mentality. This explains why there is such high turnover and so many infilled positions. Toxic environments are difficult enough but when paired with the scrutiny of the public eye, it is overwhelming.
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- MonaLesa
- 10-26-19
Every VA Employee should read/listen to this book.
This is a powerful witness to the passion and commitment for all who work for the VA have to our nations' Veterans.
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- Mindphreak
- 01-05-20
Great insights into the VA and Trump administration
This book is for anyone interested in current politics and the chaos of running US government during the Trump administration.
If you are a current or past VA employee, veteran, of anyone affiliated with VA or federal government service, you will appreciate this book. Dr. Shulkin does a great job of describing the challenges of this enormous bureaucracy. He also gives you a taste of how easy it is to build controversy against someone and become black balled in Washington.
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- dmckain
- 01-22-21
Great look into the broken VHA System
This gives a great insight in the concerns of why the VHA is such a broken system. It will get you to realize it starts at the top and works its way down. Why is it so hard to serve our veterans. This is a good example of why we should not favor government run health care because this is a good example of why.
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- JudgeJoe
- 12-15-19
Great book and a very important topic!
Captivating, intriguing, insightful, and wonderfully narrated. This book highlights the political nuances of serving in one of our nation's highest cabinet level agency positions.
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- Cera
- 07-14-22
A+
This book is full of historical gems and at certain points it felt like an action thriller.
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- Wayne Thompson
- 11-05-19
Chilling account of the mechanics involved in the attempts to privatize the VA
This book was and enlightening window into the positioning and tactics of the Washington elite in their attempts to move the veterans administration towards private medical care institutions and destabilizing this all too important branch of government. I was attracted to this account because it was written by a scientist a person who is well skilled in the arts of critical thinking and as such I knew I could get an unbiased account the incidents.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Eamonn P. Hobbs
- 02-20-20
Excellent and a must read!
Dr. Shulkin provides us with a fascinating look into the inner workings of public service at the highest levels under the last two administrations. The many challenges he faced in his passionate pursuit of helping veterans provide food for thought for us all. Thank you Dr. Shulkin for your service!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 05-23-20
Toxic Environment in VA facilities
Finger-pointing and reporting other workers for things that have nothing to do with competence at work is an unfortunate reality. Agree with the secretary that far too many people walking around monitoring The few that actually do the work serving veterans. This is poor stewardship of our taxpayer dollars.
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