{"product_id":"2940170745630","title":"The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon","description":"Even compared to his fellow founders, George Washington stands tall. Our first president has long been considered a stoic hero, holding himself above the rough-and-tumble politics of his day. Now John Ferling peers behind that image, carefully burnished by Washington himself, to show us a leader who was not only not above politics but a canny infighter-a master of persuasion, manipulation, and deniability.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the War of Independence, Washington used his skills to steer the Continental Army through crises that would have broken less determined men; he squeezed out rival generals and defused dissent from those below him. Ending the war as a national hero, Washington \"allowed\" himself to be pressed into the presidency, guiding the nation with the same brilliantly maintained pose of selfless public interest. In short, Washington deftly screened a burning ambition behind his image of republican virtue-but that image, maintained not without cost, made him just the leader the overmatched army, and then the shaky young nation, desperately needed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFerling argues that not only was Washington one of America's most adroit politicians-the proof of his genius is that he is no longer thought of as a politician at all.","brand":"Tantor Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47100709667056,"sku":"2940170745630","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940170745630_p0.jpg?v=1763817133","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940170745630","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}