{"product_id":"politics-aint-beanbag-john-c-pittenger-9781420837964","title":"Politics Ain't Beanbag","description":"This lively self-deprecating memoir traces the author's 45 year evolution from being an idealist, pure and simple, to being what he describes (borrowing a phrase from JFK) as an \"idealist without illusions\". He learns the hard way, from experience in a wide variety of governmental and party positions, that \"politics ain't beanbag\", as Finley Peter Dunne's Mr. Dooley once remarked. The stakes are high, and most of the actors are motivated chiefly by self-interest. To expect otherwise is naive. But, Pittenger says, his is not a counsel of despair; an \"idealist without illusions\" can have at least a marginal impact on public life if he or she understands the rules of the game. At the same time, Pittenger's memoir is a celebration of the satisfactions to be derived from a commitment to public life. His is a plea for young people, especially, to test the political waters. At a time of widespread disenchantment with the American political scene, he offers guarded encouragement to those who would follow in his footsteps, be they Democrats (as he is) or Reublicans.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e John C. Pittenger\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1420837966\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781420837964\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Authorhouse\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/31\/2005\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 260\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.85lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.59d","brand":"John C. Pittenger","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48622172700927,"sku":"9781420837964","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/politics-aint-beanbag-john-c-pittenger-9781420837964","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}