📖 Overview
Throw Them All Out exposes insider trading and financial dealings among members of Congress and other political figures in Washington D.C. Author Peter Schweizer presents research and documentation about how politicians leverage their positions and inside knowledge for personal financial gain.
The book examines specific cases across party lines where elected officials made investment decisions that coincided with legislative actions or confidential government information. Through analysis of financial disclosure forms, stock trades, and legislative records, it traces patterns of suspicious market activity tied to major policy decisions and economic events.
Schweizer details the legal framework that allows Congress members to engage in trading practices that would be criminal for ordinary citizens. He outlines how politicians on key committees receive briefings and participate in decisions that can affect entire market sectors.
At its core, this work raises fundamental questions about power, privilege and the relationship between public service and private enrichment in American democracy. The investigation challenges assumptions about oversight and accountability at the highest levels of government.
👀 Reviews
Readers found the book's documentation of congressional insider trading and self-enrichment compelling, though some noted the writing style can be dry and repetitive. Many appreciated the detailed research into specific congressional deals and investments, with supporting evidence from public records.
Liked:
- Clear examples of politicians' questionable financial activities
- Well-researched with extensive sources
- Exposes practices across both political parties
- Led to passage of the STOCK Act
Disliked:
- Writing becomes repetitive
- Focus mostly on Democrat examples despite claiming bipartisan coverage
- Some readers wanted more proposed solutions
- Technical financial terminology can be dense
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.6/5 (641 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,124 ratings)
Notable reader comment: "Important information but reads like a research paper rather than narrative nonfiction. Still worth reading to understand how congressional privilege works." - Goodreads reviewer
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This Town by Mark Leibovich The book exposes the interconnected relationships between media, lobbyists, and politicians in Washington D.C. and their impact on policy decisions.
Capitol Punishment by Jack Abramoff A former lobbyist provides an inside account of corruption, money flow, and influence-trading in Washington politics.
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🤔 Interesting facts
🔍 The book exposed how members of Congress were legally allowed to trade stocks based on non-public information they received through their official duties—a practice that was later restricted by the STOCK Act of 2012.
📚 After the book's publication and a subsequent "60 Minutes" segment based on its findings, congressional approval ratings dropped to 9%, the lowest ever recorded at that time.
💼 Author Peter Schweizer serves as the president of the Government Accountability Institute and has written for numerous publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Foreign Affairs.
⚖️ The revelations in the book showed that both Republican and Democratic lawmakers achieved investment returns that significantly outperformed the market average and professional investors.
🏛️ The book's findings documented how members of Congress made profitable investments in companies shortly before those companies received large government contracts or beneficial legislation.