Author(s): P.J. O'Rourke

Modern Thought

This election cycle was so absurd that celebrated political satirist, journalist, and die-hard Republican P. J. O'Rourke endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. How the Hell Did This Happen? is his essential take on the stranger-than-fiction (and stranger-than-fact) 2016 presidential election and its equally unbelievable aftermath.

Starting with the full cast of presidential candidates, P.J. analyzes his way through the debates and key primaries, campaign platforms (or lack thereof), and presidential style (or lack thereof) to show us how Donald J. Trump, a man whose "haircut makes Kim Jong-un laugh," happened to America. Along the way, P.J. offers a brief history of how our insane primary process evolved and offers up some fresh ideas for a better way to choose a president (part I: road trip ). After the results are tallied, P.J. reckons with our new age: "America is experiencing a change in the nature of leadership. We're getting rid of our leaders. And we're starting at the top." And in a new epilogue for the paperback edition, P.J. looks at Trump's first few months in office and tackles the next big question: "When the hell will this end?"