Having finished my re-reading of Atlas Shrugged this afternoon, during a rather slow period on the markets, I am now able to get onto one of my all time favourite books!

Every US Presidential Election year I like to read Richard Ben Cramer's masterpiece called "What It Takes", about the 1988 US Presidential Election.

I strongly recommend all SOLO-ists read this book as it is jolly splendid.

In it he follows Gary Hart, Joe Biden, Michael Dukakis, Richard Gephardt, Bob Dole and George Bush..(no, the other one) ..throughout their lives and as they seek the 1988 nomination for their respective parties.

It is by far the most candid book about Presidential Candidates in history....and even more amazing when you read Cramer's disclaimer that everyone was given a draft copy of the content mentioning themselves and was able to edit or challenge what he had written, and indeed, publication was delayed for six months to allow responses...and considering each chap should, rightly, be horrified at what is written about them (I know I would be) you would have to conclude its underlying accuracy.

So yes, read the hilarious biographies of Gephardt and Dukakis (portraying them both as nerdy misfits), 'honest' biography of Hart (that he was rooting every female he could for years), 'Sympathetic' biographies of Biden and Dole (as splendid chaps outwitted by bad timing, circumstances and more ruthless opponents), and a 'sad' portrayal of Bush (that he was basically out of his depth but happy enough to endure any humiliation in life so long as he became President)...as it is quite an eye opener!

1988 was the first Presidential election I followed. Despite being a boy at the time it was a delight to read TIME magazine and television and newspapers to follow the campaign/s closely and I was delighted when this book came out....and the one overriding feeling I get when reading it is what a lost opportunity 1988 was.

Communism was on its last legs, Reagan had established a new standard and a new World was opening up...and we ended up with George Bush ...rather like the Fountainhead coming to life, but in politics.

If we could turn back time it should have been either Gary Hart or Bob Dole...(I supported Dole at the time)...who at least had some idea of what they were doing, but at least the American voters were sensible enough to reject Dukakis...gosh...what a disaster that would have been!

So yes chaps...pop down to your local library and get a copy, it is well worth it.

(P.S one of the most hilarious parts is where the current President Bush is mentioned, accompanying his father to a baseball game, and his appalling behaviour..ha ha)