Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

You cannot love your country only when you win.

Not rolling over. fuck you, make me.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Rupert, come get your orange boy, you petrified old dinosaur turd.

We will not go back.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Come on, man.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Be a wild strawberry.

Fundamental belief of white supremacy: white people are presumed innocent, minorities are presumed guilty.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

“Alexa, change the president.”

You are here: Home / Books / GIVEAWAY: Chris Hayes’ Twilight of the Elites

GIVEAWAY: Chris Hayes’ Twilight of the Elites

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chris hayes twilight paperback

Thanks to the generosity of Crown Publishing, I have a paperback copy of Chris Hayes’ Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy for some fortunate member of the BJ commentor community.

Your comment here will be your entry. Only one entry per commentor, please, because if you post more than one I’ll have to eliminate you from the pool. Doesn’t have to be a “good” comment—Pick me or Mine or Yes is fine, if you’re not feeling inspired. Newbies welcome (although, as per usual, if you haven’t commented here before WordPress will hold your comment for ‘moderation’ until one of the frontpagers approves it, so do NOT disqualify yourself with a string of why?why?why! follow-ups).

Around this time tomorrow evening, Tuesday, I’ll use a random-number generator, and the person whose comment matches that random number wins the book.

Any questions, you can either put them in your ONE comment, or email me at AnneLaurie @ verizon.net (click on my name in the ‘Contact’ list to the right for a direct link).

Good luck, and—GO!

Reader Interactions

373Comments

  2. 2.

    dance around in your bones

    I’d love to read this book because Chris Hayes is awesome, but also because John Cole was reading it while Boss Cat was making biscuits on his chest. Double awesome!

  8. 8.

    R. Johnston

    I like kittens and pie, but if I can’t have those things right now then this book seems like a good choice.

  9. 9.

    Pogonip

    Pick me! Pick me! Picking pogonips pips good luck to the lucky pogonip picker. Pick me! Tunch would want it that way! Pick me!

    Kthnxbai.

  10. 10.

    ronin122

    faslkfjlasdkfjasldkfjdsjfdsf

    I presume a random type is a sufficient entry? *shrugs*

  13. 13.

    Burt Hutt

    “Christopher” Hayes? How very formal.

    I shall consider it a grave injustice if I don’t win this freebie.

  24. 24.

    RL

    Been on a Zappa kick lately, and love this quote:

    “There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.”

    Frank Zappa

  26. 26.

    wmd

    I’m entering. Win or lose Cole needs to put Boss jump video up soon. We’ve been teased, now it’s time to be pleased.

  28. 28.

    Dolly Llama

    @RL: The best FZ quote of all: “Music is the decoration of time.”

    Now, on this book: Gimme, gimme, gimme.

  34. 34.

    MGB

    Oh great random number generator, generate this number so that I might not have to pay directly for a book.

  35. 35.

    Tara the Antisocial Social Worker

    That’s the book about the sparkly politician vampires, right?

  37. 37.

    Pooh

    There’s a great panel with Hayes and TNC discussing this banging around somewhere.

  42. 42.

    22over7

    I have nothing clever to say tonight, but could use something new to read. Team Boss!

  44. 44.

    Wrye

    Anne Laurie: best front-pager ever, or merely best of 2013? Discuss. Make sure to post more than one comment.

  50. 50.

    melissaD

    Chris Hayes looks like my son, to the point that when S needed new glasses, I knew he would shy away from the style CH wears just because of the similarity.

  54. 54.

    Uncle Ebeneezer

    Cool. I remember the interview he did with TNC back when the book came out. Sounded very interesting. I want!

  56. 56.

    Omnes Omnibus

    If I win, give it to someone who is having a rough time – job loss, death in family, etc.

    I just want the fun of winning.

  66. 66.

    joes527

    I don’t get all the enthusiasm. Isn’t the premises of the book that our betters aren’t what they used to be?

    meh.

  68. 68.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Since this is a one comment thread, and the others are getting long, can I use my one comment to request an open thread?

  76. 76.

    Misterpuff

    TANSTAAFT – There ain’t no such thing as a free Tunch……unless I win the book!

  81. 81.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Imma entering my comment, but if I know my FYWP (and I think I do), this is going to get fucked up real quick-like.

  89. 89.

    Sibling Nonspecific Firearm of Random Adjective Followed by a Noun That Describes a Mental State (fka AWS)

    As much as this sounds like an extremely depressing read, this is my ballot.

  91. 91.

    lefthanded compliment

    I like the Wagnerian overtones of the book’s title; perhaps Götterdämn’emall would make an appropriate subtitle.

  93. 93.

    PaulW

    As a librarian I can just order a copy on hold from the shelves. I will, however, take any winning lotto tickets you might have.

  95. 95.

    Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony

    As an elite (depending on how you define the term), I need to know just how much time I have left.

  97. 97.

    Eric U.

    @schrodinger’s cat: if the sequence sampled by a random number generator has self correlation of any significance on the frequency represented by the number of replies in this thread, then it’s a pretty pathetic random number generator. In any event, if it doesn’t pick me, it’s rigged

  99. 99.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    Usually I just want to WIN!, but in this case I’d like to read the book. I will pass it around the Juicetariat, however. First come, first served; no pushing or shoving please.

  102. 102.

    HeartlandLiberal

    Is it the twilight of the elites? Or are we headed for the world envisioned in “Continuum”, series I just watched episode one of on Netflix, in which by 2076 the corporations literally have taken over the governments completely, and are now running the planet? The band of “rebels” sentenced to death instead escaped into the past. 2012. Where the story is taking place.

    Perhaps twilight for the elite is the dawn of a revolution? Is that what it is going to take?

    The problem is, revolutions tend to sometimes get very, very messy.

  114. 114.

    BruceFromOhio

    Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy I sort of read as
    Twilight of the Elites: America After Our Patience With These Gaia-Damned Fools Finally Runs Out

  118. 118.

    Princess Leia

    How appropriate that a book on Meritocracy should be selected at random! I’m in.

  123. 123.

    AlchemicalAmoeba

    I totally want this so I can sit down and pretend Chris is still hosting Up.

  134. 134.

    srv

    I do not want to win this book.

    As much as I respect his great work, every book of his I read just depresses me more.

  135. 135.

    ArchTeryx

    I’d be quite happy to enter this lottery. Heard wonderful things about the book and its definitely off-the-beaten-path precepts.

  151. 151.

    MomSense

    I think I should win the book since I have hosted the author’s brother at my house when during the campaign days and because I would really like my boys to read the book so we can discuss it together and I think winning the book would make it that much cooler for them.

  152. 152.

    Ed Drone

    Well, I sort of think the title is possibly too hopeful, but the book can’t hurt, so I’ll take it if it comes my way.

    Ed (pseudonym here) Drone

  157. 157.

    Starlit

    Doesn’t “elite” mean the entitlement of the wealthy mediocre?

    Does that ever end?

    Please, educate me, random number generator! I promise to share pithy quotes, if given the opportunity.

  158. 158.

    The prophet Nostradumbass

    I already have the hardcover of this volume, so if I win I will donate a copy to my local library.

  160. 160.

    Scout211

    Should I post early? Late? Middle?

    Does a high number or low number have a better chance for a win?

    What are the odds?

    Where is 538 when I need him?

  161. 161.

    Wes F. in Morris

    Legislatire (n.) – a governing body so incompetent and corrupt you cannot believe it actually exists.

    (Thought I should at least attempt to make the comment funny. Failed miserably.)

    WF

  162. 162.

    Mary in Ohio

    Pick me! This month’s book money has gone to vet bills for our newest rescue pet.

  170. 170.

    chmatl

    Have the Kindle version already. Would love to have a signed paperback copy. Pick me, please!

  180. 180.

    kideni

    please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please

  181. 181.

    MikeInSewickley

    I hope “Twilight of the Elites” isn’t just a book title.

    I hope it turns out to be a fulfilled prophecy.

    …and winning a book isn’t a bad deal either.

  183. 183.

    grape_crush

    My thumbs are weird and confusing. They twitched when things went boom. They twitched when the Hot Boob-ula Chick would walk in the slo-mo.

    They twitched when I ran out of the most delicious ice cream Bon Bons even chewed by a man (me).

    So, for this “R.I.P.D.” I had epileptic thumbs. Pointing every direction but up.

    Tell your eyes to wait for “The Conjuring” or “The Smurfs 2.” I kid about the Smurfs. I would rather be shot in the face and eaten by weasels.

    I speak the truth.

  187. 187.

    Snowwy

    I don’t read anything like enough nonfiction. This would be a great place to start back…

  188. 188.

    Csbella

    A few years ago Rachel Maddow I called him “lamb chop” on her show. There’s lots of Chris H love out there ❤

  199. 199.

    leinie (iPad mini)

    It’s on the list to read, so yeah, I’ll enter. Signed copy would e cool.

  200. 200.

    leinie (iPad mini)

    It’s on the list to read, so yeah, I’ll enter. Signed copy would e cool.

  201. 201.

    leinie (iPad mini)

    It’s on the list to read, so yeah, I’ll enter. Signed copy would be cool.

  207. 207.

    Russell M

    must haves the precious. gives me the precious and all you balloon juices will stay safe.

    miss chris on weekend mornings I do.

  209. 209.

    divF

    Straight* Monte Carlo methods are the last refuge of the incompetent. (Apologies to the good Doctor Asimov).

    *i.e. without importance sampling or other variance reduction techniques.

  210. 210.

    Citizen_X

    Give me the book and nobody gets hurt.

    Okay, don’t give me the book and nobody gets hurt then, either, but still.

  211. 211.

    patroclus

    Chris Hayes is an unmitigated douchebag and the only thing that could possibly change my mind is if I got a chance to read his book for free because I’m certainly not going to buy it.

  215. 215.

    Elizabelle

    I think that I shall never see
    a more deserving non-elite than me.

    Hardly.

    The book, please.

  217. 217.

    slhanlon

    I am still waiting to receive the last book I won from this blog, oh so many months ago.

  226. 226.

    Bill Tucker

    Please pick me. I’m sick in Cambodia, and I need something to read.

    And yes, you doubters, I really am in Cambodia, and I really am sick. And although there are bookstores here, they won’t have this one for a long time, if ever.

  235. 235.

    FunkyEntropy

    De-lurking once again so that I can throw my name in the hat.

    And maybe put in a name suggestion or two as well. Fuzzface/Fuzzers/McFuzz? Tibbers? Romeo (on account of his dashing good looks and affectionate nature) might work.

  244. 244.

    Schlemizel

    this comment = every dollar I put into the lotto, a pleasant thought with no reward

  246. 246.

    bemused

    Want this book. Chris Hayes is not only wicked smart but seems to be a genuinely nice guy with his feet firmly planted in reality, attributes rarely seen in media talking heads. Chris is one of the few I would actually like to meet in person.

  249. 249.

    abo gato

    Me too, me too! Chris Hayes seems like someone who would be awesome to have over for dinner.

  255. 255.

    henqiguai

    I hit the little “Submit” button and I get an error. Not my fault (yeah yeah yeah; forgot to enter a name and email stuff). Still want a shot at that book, ’cause I’ve been debating getting the thing, anyway. And besides, free is good.

  264. 264.

    SFAW

    This comment intentionally left blank..

    On a more serious something-or-other note: if I spoof-post as every other commenter in this thread, do I win by default (by eliminating the competition)?

    And … what about Naomi?

  276. 276.

    Rex Everything

    I want the book!

    PS: I’ve decided to stop using the term Obot. It seems to bother my opponents, to a degree that Firebagger does not bother me, and I don’t want to antagonize anyone; I was using the term for brevity not abuse. So anyways, from now on I will refer to them as “24-Hour Party People.”

  283. 283.

    Dave Stephenson

    Don’t sweat the name of your cat. I have three (one for over a decade), and names for cats really don’t matter (mine don’t come when I call, so to hell with them). Unfortunately, I’ve found that once you pick one, it sticks (I had a cat once that had been named “Squeak”, and as hard as I tried to rename him “Curtis”, “Squeak” it was). I usually just use their formal names when others are around so I don’t sound to creepy, and resort to “pet names” and baby talk when we’re alone. Don’t tell anyone.

  289. 289.

    Karla

    I’ve been meaning to buy this, but the last time I went to the book store I bought a book about pruning instead. My winning this could make that fate instead of just absentmindedness.

    By the way, what do people think about Drift by Rachel Maddow? This is probably not the thread to ask that.

  294. 294.

    Nutella

    Pick me!

    And here’s another take on ‘meritocracy’ in the programming business.

    A meritocracy is a system for centralizing authority in the hands of those who already have it, and ensuring that authority is only distributed to others like them or those who aren’t but are willing to play by their rules.

  303. 303.

    StringOnAStick

    I’d love a copy, but if I don’t win it I’ll just go buy one, so either way, I’m good.

  312. 312.

    quasar

    pick me!!! I want it more then anyone else. Ill give it a good home, and call it a rescue!

  313. 313.

    LongHairedWeirdo

    Any questions, you can either put them in your ONE comment

    Ooh! Can I ask a question so disturbingly creepy and personal and over-the-top that you take it as a joke, and get a good laugh out of it, since this would be the worst possible time to ask such a creepy, personal question?

    Oh, damn, I used my question up.

  316. 316.

    rollSound

    I wish to thank the kind folks at Balloon Juice for this fine prize. The actual thanking will occur, of course, when the prize is received.

  319. 319.

    carbon dated

    “It is needless to spend much time in exposing the folly of hereditary right; if there are any so weak as to believe it, let them promiscuously worship the Ass and the Lion, and welcome. I shall neither copy their humility, nor disturb their devotion.” ~ Thomas Paine

  320. 320.

    Wiesman

    Random Number Generators are a crutch. You can do this yourself. Just pick a random number. Like…. 320. That’s a good one.

  327. 327.

    Karal Taylor

    A bibliophile, teaching tolerance and English teacher, not to mention my love of cats ( I brought three with me when I traveled from California to the East Coast, including Zelda who lived to the age of 21) almost more than anything else
    except my son who lives and plays jazz in Harlem, I would love to have a copy of Chris Hayes’ book….

  331. 331.

    Ahasuerus

    Gryffyn butt and yeti head,
    Unicorn heart completely bled,
    Demon horn and angel wing,
    Wizard wand and Nazgul ring,
    Bastard babe of eldritch spawn,
    Chose my entry, random com!

  340. 340.

    tulip

    ooh… pick me. :) Come on random.com 339! Or whatever my true number is once double posts are eliminated.

  342. 342.

    JC

    I’m a huge fan of Shock Doctrine, The Working Poor, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, and others along those lines. I would love Chris Hayes’ new one.

  344. 344.

    Nancy

    I’m looking for a chance to improve my mind for free. And if I win, I’ll tell you all about the best parts in future comments.

  347. 347.

    seaboogie

    Pick me because I was fired today, and I need one more good thing to happen to show me that the universe is on my side!

  348. 348.

    agorabum

    There is nothing random, for the Great Spaghetti Monster controls all with its noodly appendage. Forsooth, it’s meatballs of divinity even guided Chris Hayes, as if Melpomene and Clio (greek names for the inspiration guided by the FSM in times of old, before the revelation of First Pirate)

  353. 353.

    2liberal

    i just spent a bunch of kindle money so i would like a copy gratis. after reading, i will donate to local humanist society or maybe the library

  358. 358.

    HinTN

    Seems like I’ll be down in the tail of the distribution, where random numbers never seen to fall, no matter the mathematical proof to the contrary. Sigh

  373. 373.

    TH

    Read the book from the library, so I’m not as needy as others. One thing I like about the book is that Hayes recognizes that meritocracy is just an excuse for increasing inequality and that it leads to ever more egregious forms, like what we have now.

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