Homo Politicus: The Strange and Scary Tribes that Run Our Government

by Dana Milbank

Washington’s most acerbic (and feared) columnist, the Washington Post ’s Dana Milbank, skewers the peculiar and alien tribal culture of politics.

Deep within the forbidding land encircled by the Washington Beltway lives the tribe known as Homo politicus . Their ways are strange, even repulsive, to civilized human beings; their arcane rites often impenetrable; their language coded and obscure. Violating their complex taboos can lead to sudden, harsh, and irrevocable punishment. Normal Americans have long feared Homo politicus, with good reason. But fearless anthropologist Dana Milbank has spent many years immersed in the dark heart of Washington, D.C., and has produced this indispensable portrait of a bizarre culture whose tribal ways are as hilarious as they are outrageous.
Milbank’s anthropological lens is highly illuminating, whether examining the mating rituals of Homo politicus (which have little to do with traditional concepts of romantic love), demonstrating how status is displayed in the Beltway’s rigid caste system (such as displaying a wooden egg from the White House Easter Egg Roll) or detailing the precise ritual sequence of human sacrifice whenever a scandal erupts (the human sacrificed does not have to be the guiltiest party, just the lower ranked).
Milbank’s lacerating wit mows down the pompous, the stupid, and the corrupt among Democrats, Republicans, reporters, and bureaucrats by naming names. Every appalling anecdote in this book is, alas, true.

Genres: Politics, Humor, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Government, Satire, Political Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 26, 2007

About the author

Dana Timothy Milbank is an American political reporter and columnist for The Washington Post.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, as Milbank always is. Essentially a repackaging of the interesting and newsworthy political headlines of the last decade, through the lens of anthropological themes. Sometimes forced, but usually incisive, funny, and sprinkled with anecdotes you hadn't heard before.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't as funny as I had anticipated it would be...honestly, some of the stories of the function of American government are really frightening. Still, if you're interested in the inner workings of Washington DC, this is a decent read.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some books are timeless. Others have an unforeseen event occur that makes them unpalateable. And still others have sell-by dates pretty close to when they were published, simply by virtue of their nature. This one was definitely a case of the last of those options. I got this one a while ago, and I really should have read it then, but it got pushed back really far in my queue. As a result, it is now totally out-of-date. That's not to say it's poorly written. Milbank's reasonably funny, and I got quite a few laughs out of it. But I wasn't really able to enjoy it to its fullest as much as I would have if I'd read it earlier. There are a couple other quibbles I have. Chapter 5's theme was a joke that was, in my opinion, in rather poor taste, but that's mostly because I'm very sensitive to mental health stigma. Still, I understand that humorists need to be able to reach into these areas every so often, and the stories on their own were interesting enough that Milbank didn't feel the need to harp on the theme too much after his opening paragraphs, something I'm grateful for.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am trying to ascertain whether I might have enjoyed this one a bit more had I listened to or read it eight or nine years ago, and in the end I think not. Yes, there are a few humorous turns of phrase that put the peccadilloes of the Washington political class in a humorous light. However, by and large I started cringing at some of the over-the-top metaphors that expressed little more than sarcasm and cynicism. I suppose Milbank, by virtue of having had to put up with the crap of the class of which he writes, has earned some right to unload on them, but that style of writing ends up working less well for me in book form.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dana is a funny writer, but also informative. I like the information she provides, but this book is less an anthropological study and more a personal commentary by the author with some educated findings thrown in for good measure. She provides multiple stories of politicos to press home her points, which are funny, but come across as partisan for the most part. Since I share her politics, however, it seems, I am enjoying the book.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Dana Milbank and enjoy his regular column in the Post (imagine Jon Stewart with a little more insider knowledge).

This book is mostly a recounting of the political events of the past 8 years. Seeing them all recounted in one place makes one realize what a weird period it has been--and not just for the administration/GOP, Milbank recounts the Democrats less than stellar (though funny moments). The glossary at the end of the book alone is worth 4 stars sample: "I wil continue to do the people's business" Translation I will be indicted by the end of the week. "When we have something to report we will let you know." Translation We know the answer but we really don't want to tell you. "It has always been my policy..." translation I am about to announce a major flip/flp.

Milbank's theme of examining Washington politics as a if he were studying a tribe is funny at the beginning, but some may find returning to the idea a little redundant and annoying after awhile, but it does not diminish the book's humor and insight.

[Karran Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homo Politicus is a non-fiction novel about the Washington D.C culture and the satire of D.C politics. The book looks at many political figures such as George W Bush, Dick Cheney, and Howard Dean, and makes satire out of them. The book also goes over the bizarre culture and themes between recurring events.

Homo Politicus could have been improved by instead focusing allot on satire it could have gone over certain themes more clearly instead of focusing too much on satire.

What I really loved about this book is that it was an eye opener to D.C politics and showed the rather stupidity in politicians than what politicians should be defined as. The book's satire sections and memoirs from the author were really left to interpretation for the reader, which was nice and refreshing for an outsider.

[Mark Valentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's a contemporary roast on every politician in the Beltway.

The controlling trope is that the machinations of politicians fit into an anthropological community resembling a tribal society. For all the sophistication of Washington, D. C., politicians, they all have corrupt, arrogant, hypocritical, vain, misguided, selfish, blinded, irrational, hopeless, pathetic, small, and wasted lives. They are to be the most pitied.

Milbank picks on both sides of the aisle, although for the last 30 years it has been the Republicans who have provided more examples of all the vices listed above. Milbank writes about them all with the sense of pun, of irony, and of satire. It is good to read because of the black humor, although it will be dated material soon.

[Len · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Dana Millbank's appearances on Countdown with Keith Olbermann and figured this book would be a fun read -- I was right. He basically looks at the culture of Washington from an outsiders perspective -- as if he's a cultural anthropologist and "Potomac Man" is a rare species. Indeed, they are!

Very funny and scary at the same time. It's also very balanced with wackos on both sides of the aisle. Millbank tells the inside stories of Washington, often going well beyond what we typically read about in the mainstream media.

Enjoyable, especially if you think politics is stupid -- here's proof!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The creative approach of using an anthropological lens to look at the workings of Washington's government - policy makers, news makers, and hangers-on. The often daft rituals are matched with equally colorful disclosure in this document. Many demographics will have little to no tolerance for this book, but if you have an acquired taste for the processed human-ness (animality) and in-humanity (politics) of operations on the Potomac Beltway, and want insider stories delivered as if over drinks at the Old Ebbitt Grill, here it is. 'Homo Politicus: The Strange and Scary Tribes that Run Our Government,' is an humorous and insightful analysis of the DC power relations.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, I could wax poetic on this book for hours. The whole setup is amazing, with the semi-fake ethnography. It soothes this wannabe, almost anthropologist's heart. The nutty situations described in here are both hilarious and heartbreaking, tending towards the hilarious strictly from a "laugh or cry" perspective. I spent more time going "oh, my God..." and slapping my forehead in shame at our political system than with probably any other book I've read. Truly a great work. One of my best impulse buys ever!

[Nklein98 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read because Milbank's humor is so dry and yet pointed. Telling the stories of the incredible behaviors of our politicians as an anthropological study was great. Both parties receive equal treatment for their outrageous acts, so Milbank can't be accused of partisanship. The ending was disappointing and at times, I lost track of the point he was trying to make. However, it was nice to read this kind of book amidst the modern political books that only serve to frighten and depress me when learning about what is really going on in our political system.

[Stuart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of reminds me of the difference between a SNL skit and a full blown screenplay. Alternately, it's the stuff of high school or college essays. What starts out as a fun premise and structure to puncture the overinflated egos of the Potomac basin just drags on too long and has to be dragged to the finish line.

Milbank is a fun read in the Post, but the format is exhausted by the middle of the 3rd chapter. And this despite my general agreement with all of his observations.

[Don]

Some good gossip with Wikipedia style anthropologic research. The conceit is that "Homo Politicus", the environs of Washington politics are similar to various tribespeople around the world and through history. I guess the author didn't have the confidence in his gossip and the anthropology feels like an add-on. In Anthro-101 or whatever it was called when I took it in 1969, we read about the strange tribe called the Nacirema. Oh wait...it was America spelled backwards.

[Melinda Abney Kaiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny for political junkies like me, probably wouldn't interest those not already intrigued by the idiocies constantly occurring within the Beltway.

Many of these stories I had heard before, but Milbank puts his own sly spin on them to make them even more outrageously ridiculous. Milbank tries to be an equal-opportunity skewer-er, but his left-leaning bias comes through anyway, although that wasn't a problem for left-leaning me.

[Dee]

It could've been a bit funnier, but sometimes truth is too weird to be funny. In treating those "inside the Beltway" like a tribe being studied for an anthropology book, Milbank makes these strange people far easier to understand and reminded me that, no matter what they may say or vote for/against, deep down they are all the same.

[Bill Dauster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although occasionally clever or humorous, the book piles the rehashing of one scandal upon another to the point of monotony. Heaven forefend that a casual read might take its faux reporting as an accurate characterization of how our government really works. Cynicism has its place at the table, but not as the main dish at every meal.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fairly entertaining and full of great stories. My favorite part was the glossery at the end. The what they say translated into what they really mean. "I will continue to work to do the people's business" translated "I am about to be indicted".

[kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe i should also but this under haunting - or maybe just sickened. The behavours of the homo politicus is appalling. However, what is worse is that we the people continue to put up with it. We truly need reform at the highest levels rather than laws made for the highest bidders.

[Uncle · Rating 4 out of 5]

MilBank knows The Beltway...in this book he gets a little over wrought with social anthropologist humor...trying to show how tribes work and their history.... that gets to be a distraction. But Milbank knows the whose, whats and hows..... ir did... his rep might be sullied more recently.

[Jenifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

So Dana Milbank is an affront to objective journalism. So what? This book is kinda funny, in a really gross, icky kind of way.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supposed to be funny, but really SAD book about how the politicians that we elect to represent us do everything but.

[Linda]

What elevates "Homo Politicus" above the level of mimicry are Milbank's bone-dry phrasing and keen instinct for the finishing stroke. by Janet Maslin of New York Times

[Benjamin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read 10 pages. Stopped. So boring if you know anything at all about politics. What a snoozer.

[Matt Ferraguto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as strong as Smashmouth.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes, but Milbank tries too hard to be funny, re-hashing old stories that anyone who watches the news already knows.

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our country is run by a circus. I always liked the circus. That's probably why I like DC.

[Sheik · Rating 5 out of 5]

just how corrupt and inept is our congress? it's ALL here!

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as funny as I'd hoped, but it makes one think.

[Aran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth is stranger than fiction, and the author's wit makes it all the more enjoyable.