An Off-Kilter Look at the 2016 Election

O'Rourke, P. J.  How the Hell Did This Happen?: The Election of 2016.  New York: Atlantic
          Monthly Press, 2017.  ISBN: 9798-0-8021-2619-1

How the Hell Did This Happen? is only the latest treatise dealing with politicians that P. J. O'Rourke has inflicted upon the willing reading public. In the past he has skewered Congress, politicians, and Republicans, but this time he aimed carefully at making sense of the 2016 U.S. Election cycle.  And what he found out surprised him (and us)!

P. J. O'Rourke composed much of How the Hell Did This Happen? during the election cycle and the book reads that way.  The focus jumps from one topic/group of candidates/concept to another with no rational rhyme or reason present.  Looking back over the book as he was trying to make sense out of the contents of book and the 2016 Election, he realized that there was no rational continuity.  He had thought that the monumental Clinton would be out in the electoral desert surrounded by Republican "Gaza gerbils" fighting over who would run.  While he was prepared for surprises, he was not prepared for what those surprises turned out to be.  Strange and weird candidates, sudden sweeping changes in polls, Bernie Sanders, political gaffs, and bizarre behavior.  It makes a voter hum/sing the Capitol Steps song "Brand New Pair of Candidates" before it all comes crashing down.

P. J. O'Rourke enjoyed writing the book and the reader is likely to enjoy at least parts of the book.  Highly recommended are the Author's Note, the Preamble (especially the opening paragraph), the descriptions of the candidates (rabid squirrels anyone?), and especially "The Letter to Myself in 1968" where P. J. wishes time travel or at least communication to the past existed so as to fix the situation early!  If you are trying to figure out what just happened, How the Hell Did This Happen? is a place to start.