The Art of the Political Putdown: The Greatest Comebacks, Ripostes, and Retorts in History, (Hardcover)

This amusing book is filled with hundreds of well-written stories about amazing ripostes, burns, and comebacks from well-known politicians. Many are a response to a straightforward insult where the insult-ed turns the comment back around on the insult-er. The book is divided into chapters arranged chronologically, beginning in ancient Rome. The anecdotes are each explained concisely and clearly so a prior understanding of the circumstance isn't necessary. Included are responses from luminaries like Abraham Lincoln, who Stephen Douglass called "two-faced" in a debate. "I leave it to my audience," Lincoln replied. "If I had another face, would I wear this one?" The book is over 200 pages, well-researched, and extends up to the current time. One of the final retorts is from AOC, in a tweet alongside a Fox News graphic of "Radical New Democratic Ideas" -- all of which sound like laudable goals. "Oh no!" she replied. "They discovered our vast conspiracy to take care of children and save the planet." This is both an eye-opening look at the power of eloquence, an insightful commentary on political science, and a funny book of historical jokes well worth remembering.