Shattered by Jonathan Allen & Amie Parnes Summary
Overview of Shattered
Shattered reveals the stunning dysfunction inside Hillary Clinton's failed 2016 campaign. This #1 NYT Bestseller had CNN's Chris Cillizza declaring it "redefines the word 'juicy'" while exposing why a political establishment lost touch with America. How did the "inevitable" presidency collapse?
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Key takeaways
The Glass Ceiling Remains: Hillary's Failed Presidential Bid
The year was 2014, and Hillary Clinton seemed unstoppable. With her impressive resume spanning First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State, she had methodically prepared for her second presidential run for six years. The Clintons had constructed a formidable political machine, rewarding allies and punishing enemies. Yet beneath this veneer of inevitability lurked a fundamental problem: Hillary struggled to articulate why she wanted the presidency. This lack of clear vision would combine with internal fighting, strategic errors, and external forces to create what her team ruefully called their campaign mantra: "We're not allowed to have nice things." Hillary's 2016 campaign faced a structural paradox: those closest to her didn't understand politics, while political professionals didn't know her well. This created constant power struggles between trusted aides trying to prove their political acumen and campaign veterans jockeying for closer access. When speechwriter Dan Schwerin struggled to craft a compelling vision for her Roosevelt Island campaign kickoff, the campaign recruited Obama's wordsmith Jon Favreau, who eventually quit in frustration, delivering a parting assessment that the speech lacked a central rationale for her candidacy. As one aide bluntly observed: "I would have had a reason for running, or I wouldn't have run."
The Mook Machine: Analytics Over Instinct
Private Emails, Public Scrutiny
Finding Her Footing: October's Perfect Storm
Winning the Nomination, Losing the Connection
Data-Driven to Defeat: Missing the Populist Wave
The October Surprise That Never Ended
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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