The Wilderness: Deep Inside the Republican Party's Combative, Contentious, Chaotic Quest to Take Back the White House

Following their defeat in the 2012 presidential election, the Republican Party began wandering a political wilderness, looking for a prophet who could lead them into the promised land in 2016. Drawing on over 300 interviews with the current GOP candidates, Coppins, senior political writer at BuzzFeed News, provides a dizzying, brilliant guide to the behind-the-scenes chaos, along with fully drawn portraits of the men and women who would be president. Jeb Bush, for example, shows a lifelong tendency to ignore the rules and use blunt force to get what he wants. Bobby Jindal transforms from a wonkish technocrat into a "Christian culture warrior and small-government absolutist." Carly Fiorina might have swapped places with Sarah Palin as the party's female candidate of choice, but must strive to avoid being seen by the party establishment as "playing the gender card." Rand Paul clashes with his father, Ron, over ideology. Donald Trump emerges as a showman, willing to speak his mind on any issue. As this book trenchantly shows, the Republican Party is still searching for a way out of the wilderness. Coppins is a superb guide for voters seeking clarity about the ideas and styles of the current Republican candidates. (Jan.)