RenegadeJust finished listening to the unabridged version of Richard Wolffe’s Renegade from Audible a couple of weeks ago. I’d give it a B+. A lot of unique bits that probably won’t be covered in other books, due to the access Wolffe was given without being a part of the campaign. The personal moments with David Axelrod at the beginning, Obama’s inside handling of the “Israel issue” and Joe Lieberman, and the VP selection were the highlights.

On the other hand,  some parts – particularly the end and some of the biographical background – drag on for too long and seem repetitious. And the “renegade” designation – that isn’t just used in the title – seemed like hyperbole. Obama comes off as a thoughtful and pragmatic, and only radical insofar as he doesn’t approach issues with the perspective of a beltway insider. The overstatement makes Wolffe come off a bit too deferential.

If you’re looking for a political thrills, The Audacity to Win, which is next on my political playlist, seems much more promising. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, more ponderous insight into the psychology of a campaign and candidate, you’ll probably enjoy Renegade.