Preview
  • This Country

  • My Life in Politics and History
  • By: Chris Matthews
  • Narrated by: Chris Matthews
  • Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (164 ratings)

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This Country

By: Chris Matthews
Narrated by: Chris Matthews
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Publisher's summary

A “quintessentially American” (Policy Magazine) memoir of politics and history from Chris Matthews, New York Times best-selling author and long-time host of MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.

In This Country, Chris Matthews “has written a love letter to his country” (Joy Reid, host of The ReidOut and author of The Man Who Sold America), offering a panoramic portrait of post-World War II America through the story of his remarkable life and career. It is a story of risk and adventure, of self-reliance and service, of loyalty and friendship. It is a story driven by an abiding faith in our country.

Raised in a large Irish-Catholic family in Philadelphia at a time when kids hid under their desks in atomic war drills, Chris’s life etched a pattern: Take a leap, live an adventure, then learn what it means. As a young Peace Corps graduate, Chris moved to DC and began knocking on doors on Capitol Hill. With dreams of becoming what Ted Sorensen had been for Jack Kennedy, Chris landed as a staffer to Utah Senator Frank Moss, where his eyes were opened to the game of big-league politics.

In the 1970s, Matthews mounted a campaign for Congress as a Democratic maverick running against Philadelphia’s old political machine. He didn’t win the most votes, but his grit put him on the path to a top job in the White House. As a speechwriter for President Carter, Matthews witnessed the triumphs and tragedies of that administration; from the diplomatic brilliance of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty to the disaster of the Iran hostage crisis. After Carter’s defeat, Chris became chief of staff to legendary Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, a perch that gave him an on-the-job PhD in American politics during the Reagan years.

Chris than leapt to the other side of the political matrix as a columnist and reporter. For the San Francisco Examiner, he covered the fall of the Berlin Wall, the first all-races election in South Africa, the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, and every American presidency from Reagan to George W. Bush. Chris would go on to pioneer cable news with a fast-paced, no-nonsense television program. His show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, would become a political institution for twenty years.

As Chris charts his political odyssey, he paints an animated picture of a nation searching for its soul. He reflects with grace and wisdom, showcasing the grand arc of the American story through one life dedicated to its politics.

©2021 Christopher J. Matthews. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.
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What listeners say about This Country

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A great read!

As a regular Hardball viewer for years, I enjoyed hearing Chris Matthews tell his story.

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Thank you Chris Matthews

I was always tuned into "Hardball' for the latest political news!
Hearing his voice again is always engaging and oddly comforting in
this time of outrageous media voices. Matthews knows his stuff and
he lived the life, from the bottom to the top. This was one of those
'true' voices that I could not stop listening, enjoyed every minute.
I am of Matthews' generation, so hearing his life story was as if I was
sitting with a friend, exchanging stories. This is just great.

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loved Chris's story what an exciting life

loved it, great knowledge that spanned a lifetime for Chris. Would love to meet him.

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Outstanding!

Written & read perfectly. I will continue to refer to it as a reference for research in politics. Thank you Chris Matthews!

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This is a wonderful book

I have been a faithful viewer of Hardball for the last 20 years. I was very sad when it went off the air. Chris Matthews is a wonderful story teller. This book tells it all. I could not put it down. If you don’t read or listen to any other political memoir please listen to or read this one. You will not be disappointed. The extra bonus is that Chris narrates it himself. I loved this book.

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Excellent

This was well done and was very interesting. Chris is an honest messenger, very real!

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A Must Read

A wonderful political history book shared by the articulate, wise, and eloquent Citizen, Chris Matthews.

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A passionate American story well delivered

Chris’s curiosity is inspirational. His combination of tenacity & luck illustrates that showing up combined with putting yourself out there is how you give luck a chance to happen.

A true patriot and gifted storyteller, seeing politics through his eyes is fabulous journey!

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Great listen …

I’ve missed hearing Chris Matthews’ voice. How great to hear it as he told this wonderful story!

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refreshingly authentic

After being an avid viewer of Hardball, it was great to learn more about Chris Matthews. And having him narrate the book was extra special. Interesting to see the arc of Matthews' life and how he weaved in and out of Washington and the media world.

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3 people found this helpful