The Scorpion

Bob Woodward has published a book every two years since the Watergate scandal, for a total of 24 books spanning almost every administration from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump. His unique genre of Washington journalism, based on "deep background" scenes and a "hard background" of information from unnamed sources, has become a familiar and predictable staple in the political world.

Woodward's approach, characterized by his persistent pursuit of presidential secrets and his knack for extracting information from sources, has often led to dramatic revelations and even political changes. Despite the controversies surrounding his work, such as the lack of analysis, reliance on sources, and the potential for damaging scoops, Woodward's books have remained bestsellers and provide a contemporaneous record of a time when presidential power seemed almost unbridled.

As he approaches the end of his career, Woodward finds himself navigating the challenges of writing a memoir, a genre that demands a willingness to explore one's own dark corners and failures—a task that proves difficult for the man who has built his reputation on uncovering the secrets of others.