American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge to Redemption

I will preface this by saying I am a huge politics junkie, and follow the elections like a hawk. I felt like I had a firm grasp of Christie, and this book made me realize how little I actually knew. Matt Katz seems to have been at the right place at the right time early on in Christie's career, and we get a front row seat to the making of one of our generation's most polarizing politicians. The book is surprisingly balanced (I say surprisingly because Katz is a correspondent for NPR, although you wouldn't know it from reading the book), and reads like a thrilling novel. In this book, Katz does for politics, what Capote did for crime. Great insight, wonderful character building, and an riveting read. I didn't leave becoming a huge Christie supported, nor a Christie hater, but I definitely have way more of an understanding of this complex and unflinching character.

Katz does a marvelous job presenting a wart-and-all view of the governor of New Jersey, failed presidential candidate and Donald Trump groupie Chris Christie..in his well-researched and beautifully written book, you get the good and the bad, and a civics lesson with the dirty politics that sadly characterizes my home state...Christie gave Katz two interviews, which certainly helped his balanced presentation...highly recommended

First the disclosure: I grew up in Jersey, in the town next to Livingston, where Christie grew up. The author constantly refers to the gangster-style of interaction practiced by everyone from Jersey. Mr. Katz does himself a disservice with such shorthand. That being said, his characterization of Jersey's political structure is spot on. Let us not forget the string of Newark mayors who faced prosecution (Addonizio convicted of coruption/taking kickbacks, Gibson for tax evasion, Sharpe James for fraud). But, then, can any other state claim innocence? Clearly, Mr. Katz has a bias. But the facts are powerful: Christie walked away from the real issues in Camden, working deals with Jersey's political bosses (yes, they are real); Christie clobbered the unions, especially the Teacher's unions, "balancing" the budget by refusing to contribute to the legally mandated pension plans. And much more. Of course, Mr. Katz is really trying to paint Christie as the architect of the GW bridge fiasco. Is there a smoking gun/memo? Nothing pointing directly to Christie. But did Christie foster an organization that allowed such low-level shabbiness? Apparently yes. Now just imagine Christie as the President. Gadzooks! What was so disheartening was how Christie campaigned for Prez and NO one dug into his real performance as Governor.

Just when you thought you knew Chris Christie, comes this eye-opener of a book. Amazingly well-researched and expertly written, "American Governor" will have your jaw on the floor. Names you vaguely heard of come to life and all the pieces of Christie's life come together in an easy-to-read, factual account. Even for a mostly non-political person, this book was a terrific read. Highly recommended. If you enjoyed the "Jersey Sting" book, you will love this one too.

The title should have been my first clue. This account of a failed governor and egomaniac states the numerous lies, dirty tricks, misrepresentations, and flat out nasty that is Chris Christie. And yet one gets the suspicion that the author has an autographed poster hanging in his bedroom. "Christie cried" after being lied to by his top aides about Bridgegate. Anyone from NJ would share just how laughable that scenario is. Three stars are for the writer's easy to read style. File this under hard-hitting bromance. Oh, and the lanes are closed on the Bridge to Redemption.

As a native of Long Island who grew up in Baldwin, New York and later moved to Newtown, Connecticut, I can relate to the Chris Christie attitude. After all, he does make you think that he's the "Half Sicilian-American dockworker next-door" with his unique, New York/Northern New Jersey "charm"! However, that is where it stops. I've only read the first section of the book so far; I'm at the part where he gets himself elected conservative "moderate" law and order Republican governor of a solid Blue State called New Jersey. Prior to that he was the US Attorney for the state of New Jersey; a position he finagled his way into with much help from President-Dictator in Chief George W. Bush, and yes, one of the biggest butt wipes the United States ever had for its Attorney General. John Ashcroft. Having learned of Matt Katz Book after doing a search to learn the TRUTH behind whether Chris Christie REALLY KNEW anything about those lane closures Rachel Maddow made me aware of on the General Electric-Universal-Crapcast-NBC owned MSM. To which my ears were instantly tuned in. After all I will always be from the Northeast and don't plan on dying for too much longer in Las Crucifixion, New Mexico! In the book Chris made a sarcastic remark to the former reporter, Matt Katz; "In fact I placed those cones there myself, Matt." Sometimes I wonder; that said, I cannot wait to read the rest of this book!!!

A very thorough and well presented look not only at Chris Christie, but also the workings of NJ politics. The in depth chronology of Bridgegate was well presented and detailed. I only wish that Mr. Katz had done a similar deep dive into Sandy relief. I would highly recommend the book. It should be required reading in political science classes.

Loved the book. Loved the author. Loved Christie - despite the flaws. Some laugh out loud moments, and some things here that are hard to swallow. A hugely entertaining and worthwhile read.