John C. O'Brien III

Political Management and Communications Consultant

What more is there to know about me?
Short Bio

Besides reading, I enjoy mental puzzles and games, martial arts, intelligent debate over political issues, and, of course, spending time with my wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters.

To learn more . . .

My Reading List

 

Current

 

Atlas Shrugged (Unabridged)

by Ayn Rand (Audible.com audiobook)

 

I can't believe it took me this long to get to it.

A Patriot's History of the United States (Unabridged)
by Larry Schweikart and Michael Patrick Allen (Audible.com audiobook)

A refreshing look at American history that pulls no punches. It adds back all the great stuff taken out by the political correctness crowd but it doesn't whitewash U.S. failings either.  

Armey's Axiom's: 40 Hard-Earned Truths from Politics, Faith, and Life
by Former Majority Leader Dick Armey

A collection of wisdom from a his life and times. Very entertaining and insightful.  

Future

Alexander Hamilton (Unabridged)

by Ron Chernow (Audible.com audiobook)

 

Another Audible.com audiobook. I am looking forward to learning about this brilliant, driven man.

Economics in One Lesson (Unabridged)
by Henry Hazlitt (Audible.com audiobook)

A classic of concise, clear economic explication.

 

Past

Freedomnomics (Unabridged)

by John Lott (Audible.com audiobook)

A nice counterpunch to Leavitt's all too popular Freakonomics. Lott's studies and research demonstrate why markets, not government, are the best instruments to control our economy.

 

Clausewitz on Strategy: Inspiration and Insight from a Master Strategist

by Tiha von Ghyczy, Christopher Bassford, and Bolko von Oetinger

I'm looking forward to their interpretation of Carl von.

Sun Tzu Was a Sissy: Conquer Your Enemies, Promote Your Friends, and Wage the Real Art of War
 by Stanley Bing

I can't believe he missed the "Tsissy" joke for the title. Oh, well, we'll see how it goes from there.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to use New Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing, & Online Media to Reach Your Buyers Directly

by David Meerman Scott

 

New Media tips and tricks from a pro.

 

Election 2004: How Bush Won and What You Can Expect in the Future

by Evan Thomas, Eleanor Clift, and Staff of Newsweek

 

An analysis of the election from the Left leaning Newsweek. Interesting information even if biased.

 

The Thumpin': How Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats Learned to Be Ruthless and Ended the Republican Revolution

by Naftali Bendavid

 

See my Amazon.com review here .

 

Rules for Radicals

by Saul Alinsky

 

Once you see past the radical left-wing ideology, this is solid information about the organization and leadership of grassroots movements.

 

Guards! Guards!

by Terry Pratchett

 

Rereading this, my favorite of the Discworld series, always helps me unwind and recenter myself after a long day.

 

Thinking Strategically: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life

by Avinash K. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff

 

A great resource for planning ahead and making the most out of every situation.

 

Somebody's Got to Say It

by radio talk show host and reformed lawyer Neal Boortz

 

His latest libertarian diatribe against statism, collectivism, liberalism, and other freedom restricting tendencies. Pure gold.

 

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

by Malcolm Gladwell

 

Interesting theory on how and why some ideas take off and why others don’t. Important reading for people in marketing, politics, public relations, public affairs, and grassroots organizing.

 

Applebee's America: How Successful Political, Business, and Religious Leaders Connect with the New American Community

by Ron Fournier, Douglas B. Sosnik, and Matthew J. Dowd

 

Written by "a former Clinton aide, one of the masterminds behind the2004 Bush-Cheney campaign and a senior Associated Press political correspondent," this book is another "everyone is reading it” tome about bringing people into the political process and reaching them in their communities.

 

The Way to Win: Taking the White House is 2008

by Mark Halperin and John Harris.

 

The book every politico in the country is reading or has read in the last few months. A pretty good recitation of the strategies Bush, Clinton, and Rove used to win the WH in their elections. Fairly fair and balanced approach to the subject.

 

Tell Newt to Shut Up: How Reality Gagged the Gingrich Revolution

by David Maraniss and Michael Weisskopf

 

Biased? Yes. But still enlightening about how Bill Clinton could charm even Republican stalwarts like Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey during the budget battles of 1995.

 

Buck Wild: How Republicans Broke the Bank and Became the Party of Big Government

by Stephen A. Slivinski

 

Written by a budget expert at the CATO Institute, this is a great review of why Republicans need to return to their fiscal conservative roots.