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Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years
Remember when presidents spoke in complete sentences instead of in unhinged tweets? David Litt does. In his comic, coming-of-age memoir, he takes us back to the Obama years – and charts a path forward in the age of Trump.
More than any other presidency, Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House were defined by young people – twenty-somethings who didn’t have much experience in politics (or anything else, for that matter), yet suddenly found themselves in the most high-stakes office building on earth. David Litt was one of those twenty-somethings. After graduating from college in 2008, he went straight to the Obama campaign. In 2011, he became one of the youngest White House speechwriters in history. Until leaving the White House in 2016, he wrote on topics from healthcare to climate change to criminal justice reform. As President Obama’s go-to comedy writer, he also took the lead on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the so-called “State of the Union of jokes.”
Now, in this refreshingly honest memoir, Litt brings us inside Obamaworld. With a humorists’ eye for detail, he describes what it’s like to accidentally trigger an international incident or nearly set a president’s hair aflame. He answers questions you never knew you had: Which White House men’s room is the classiest? What do you do when the commander in chief gets your name wrong? Where should you never, under any circumstances, change clothes on Air Force One? With nearly a decade of stories to tell, Litt makes clear that politics is completely, hopelessly absurd.
But it’s also important. For all the moments of chaos, frustration, and yes, disillusionment, Litt remains a believer in the words that first drew him to the Obama campaign: “People who love this country can change it.” In telling his own story, Litt sheds fresh light on his former boss’s legacy. And he argues that, despite the current political climate, the politics championed by Barack Obama will outlive the presidency of Donald Trump.
Full of hilarious stories and told in a truly original voice, Thanks, Obama is an exciting debut about what it means – personally, professionally, and politically – to grow up.
More than any other presidency, Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House were defined by young people – twenty-somethings who didn’t have much experience in politics (or anything else, for that matter), yet suddenly found themselves in the most high-stakes office building on earth. David Litt was one of those twenty-somethings. After graduating from college in 2008, he went straight to the Obama campaign. In 2011, he became one of the youngest White House speechwriters in history. Until leaving the White House in 2016, he wrote on topics from healthcare to climate change to criminal justice reform. As President Obama’s go-to comedy writer, he also took the lead on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the so-called “State of the Union of jokes.”
Now, in this refreshingly honest memoir, Litt brings us inside Obamaworld. With a humorists’ eye for detail, he describes what it’s like to accidentally trigger an international incident or nearly set a president’s hair aflame. He answers questions you never knew you had: Which White House men’s room is the classiest? What do you do when the commander in chief gets your name wrong? Where should you never, under any circumstances, change clothes on Air Force One? With nearly a decade of stories to tell, Litt makes clear that politics is completely, hopelessly absurd.
But it’s also important. For all the moments of chaos, frustration, and yes, disillusionment, Litt remains a believer in the words that first drew him to the Obama campaign: “People who love this country can change it.” In telling his own story, Litt sheds fresh light on his former boss’s legacy. And he argues that, despite the current political climate, the politics championed by Barack Obama will outlive the presidency of Donald Trump.
Full of hilarious stories and told in a truly original voice, Thanks, Obama is an exciting debut about what it means – personally, professionally, and politically – to grow up.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2017
858 people are currently reading
7370 people want to read
About the author
David Litt
6 books389 followersDavid Litt entered the White House as a speechwriter in 2011, and left in 2016 as a senior presidential speechwriter and special assistant to the president. In addition to writing remarks for President Barack Obama on a wide range of domestic policy issues, David served as the lead joke writer for several White House Correspondents’ Dinner monologues. Since leaving government, David has written speeches, op-eds, and jokes for Fortune 100 CEOs, professional athletes, leading philanthropists, and prominent political figures.
His New York Times bestselling memoir, Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years, was published in 2017. His second book will be released on June 16, 2020. He is currently developing a sitcom for ABC based on his life in DC.
His New York Times bestselling memoir, Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years, was published in 2017. His second book will be released on June 16, 2020. He is currently developing a sitcom for ABC based on his life in DC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,086 reviews
September 26, 2017
I did not mean to rate my own book - and I can't figure how to unrate it. I do think it deserves five stars, but I mean really, wouldn't it be weird if I didn't?
October 9, 2019
Listen up, all you who suffer from Trump Overload Syndrome: this book is for you! Applied in small doses, it is guaranteed to bring relief, for it allows you to imagine a universe in which Obama is still president and all is right (almost) with the world.
Such fantasies are unhealthy, you say? We all live in Trumpworld now, you say? And “Denial” is not a river in Egypt? But if this is indeed Trumpworld, a place where “Nambia” has been proclaimed by our president to be a country in Africa, then how do you know for sure that Denial is not a river in Egypt? And if it be a river, I can think of no more charming vessel with which to navigate its tranquil waters than Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years by David Litt.
Who is David Litt? An Obama speech writer. Not the premier Obama speech writer who wrote the first inaugural and the “A More Perfect Union” Speech (that would be Jon Favreau), but one who specialized in his funnier speeches. Not Obama’s most famous funny speech, the Correspondent’s Dinner speech in 2011 where he humiliated Donald Trump (that would be Jon Lovett), but most of the later funny speeches, after Lovett left for Hollywood. (My favorite Obama joke of his comes from the Romney campaign period, when the Republicans were ridiculing Obama for having eaten dog when he was a boy in Indonesia: “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? A pit bull is delicious.”) But it wasn’t all funny speeches and presidential debate “zingers.” He wrote a lot of serious speeches too.
In Thanks, Obama, Litt—in his deprecatory, amusing fashion—tells of his early days as a starry-eyed “Obamabot” on the campaign trail, of his speech writing apprenticeship in the first term, and of his emergence as an accomplished craftsman in the second term. (His “perfect speech” was one Obama delivered to the NAACP on criminal justice reform a week after the Charleston shootings. “Any system that allows us to turn a blind eye to hopelessness and despair, that’s not a justice system, it’s an injustice system.”)
Of course, one of the good things about the book is that Litt gives us more than a few glimpses of the president himself. We see him as a thorough professional, demanding the best of himself and others. He can be distant, and critical, at times, but he is also a man who is collegial, forgiving, and gifted with a fine sense of humor.
Here’s a little glimpse of POTUS and an observation by Litt that reminds us of how un-Trumplike our last president was:
The joke that most worried me involved the political landscape postcampaign. “One thing Republicans can all agree on after 2012 is that they need to do a better job reaching out to minorities,” the script read. “Call me self-centered, but I can think of one minority they could start with.”
It was the kind of line we never would have written in the first term. No one could remember POTUS referring to himself as a”minority” before. But with the reelect behind him, President Obama was eager to push the envelope.
“That’s pretty good,” he chuckled. Just as he did a year earlier, when the subject was eating pit bulls, he even promised a personal touch.
I might add a little wave there. Maybe a ‘hello,’ or something.” How strange. There I was, sick with nervousness, and POTUS was having fun.
While I doubt President Obama looked forward to spending his Saturday night with the press corp, I always got the sense he enjoyed reading jokes. Unlike most politicians, President Obama missed being treated like a normal person. I once overheard him say that this why why he loved meeting babies: they had no idea who he was.
November 26, 2017
Kudos to this kid. There are so many ways this book could have gone wrong—overly snarky, carelessly written, or just too obliviously steeped in white-Ivy-League-dude privilege. Instead, everything went exactly right, in my opinion. I've got some background in political campaigns/political office myself, and even now (yes, even now) I still have a high level of idealism; I genuinely believe (some) elected officials truly want to make the world a better place, and I celebrate their victories and sometimes take their defeats too personally. David Litt understands and portrays those feelings very well, and when he talks about the moments when his idealism was brought back down to earth, I understood that feeling as well.
Beyond that, Thanks, Obama is very well written and articulate—there's nothing lazy or phoned in here, which I guess makes sense given how tirelessly speechwriters are used to working to get something right. It's a fantastic way to get up to speed on the big issues of the Obama administration and how they were handled (or not) by Congress, if that's something you still need clarity on. And it's funny. David Litt now works for Funny or Die, that's how funny he is. Really funny.
I thought it would be depressing to read about the Obama administration given the trainwreck we currently have in office, but the tone of this book is exactly right: realistic but still hopeful. If you need an antidote to the vast quantities of nonsense we're now dealing with here in the U.S., I can't recommend anything better than Thanks, Obama.
Beyond that, Thanks, Obama is very well written and articulate—there's nothing lazy or phoned in here, which I guess makes sense given how tirelessly speechwriters are used to working to get something right. It's a fantastic way to get up to speed on the big issues of the Obama administration and how they were handled (or not) by Congress, if that's something you still need clarity on. And it's funny. David Litt now works for Funny or Die, that's how funny he is. Really funny.
I thought it would be depressing to read about the Obama administration given the trainwreck we currently have in office, but the tone of this book is exactly right: realistic but still hopeful. If you need an antidote to the vast quantities of nonsense we're now dealing with here in the U.S., I can't recommend anything better than Thanks, Obama.
July 23, 2017
Does anyone else remember when the American presidency was focused and functional? You can agree or disagree with Barack Obama’s policies and philosophy, but it’s hard to deny that his White House did a pretty good job with organization and communication. David Litt was a part of that, at age 24. Litt was hired as a speechwriter, first for presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett--there were no other applicants--and eventually for President Obama. Litt’s memoir Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years covers his transition from a smitten, self-described “Obamabot” to a thoughtful, self-deprecating contributor to White House messaging. Litt wrote speeches on a wide array of topics because, as a junior staff member, he was assigned topics that no one else wanted. But Litt is funny, funny, funny, so he became especially valuable when Obama needed comedy material from time to time. Seeing how those bits of humor evolved is a fascinating thread in Thanks, Obama.
Litt’s memoir is an insightful look at how a competent White House operates. But because the place is operated by humans, there are some moments when the wheels come off. This is not a tell-all on Obama or anyone else in his administration, but Litt gives readers his hilarious take on how hard work sometimes doesn’t pay off, and how being in the presence of a president can make a person do things he wouldn’t otherwise do. For example, on one occasion Litt had to tell Obama that a favorite photo made him look too much like Hitler. Remember when the Healthcare.gov web site was rolled out, and it didn’t work? Litt’s panicked writing about that debacle was, for me, the funniest section of Thanks, Obama.
A lot of funny stuff happened during Litt’s time at the White House, but all of it was in service to a president who was serious about working for the American people. Reading this book is fun, and it makes me hope that we will soon have another president who values competence, understands organizational dynamics, and knows how to use the presidency for something other than personal aggrandizement.
Thanks to Ecco Press and HarperCollins for providing me with an advance copy of Thanks, Obama. I hope many people will look for and enjoy this book when it comes out in September 2017.
Litt’s memoir is an insightful look at how a competent White House operates. But because the place is operated by humans, there are some moments when the wheels come off. This is not a tell-all on Obama or anyone else in his administration, but Litt gives readers his hilarious take on how hard work sometimes doesn’t pay off, and how being in the presence of a president can make a person do things he wouldn’t otherwise do. For example, on one occasion Litt had to tell Obama that a favorite photo made him look too much like Hitler. Remember when the Healthcare.gov web site was rolled out, and it didn’t work? Litt’s panicked writing about that debacle was, for me, the funniest section of Thanks, Obama.
A lot of funny stuff happened during Litt’s time at the White House, but all of it was in service to a president who was serious about working for the American people. Reading this book is fun, and it makes me hope that we will soon have another president who values competence, understands organizational dynamics, and knows how to use the presidency for something other than personal aggrandizement.
Thanks to Ecco Press and HarperCollins for providing me with an advance copy of Thanks, Obama. I hope many people will look for and enjoy this book when it comes out in September 2017.
November 8, 2017
I reserve the 5 star rating for books I would undoubtedly read at least one more time, so the fact that I have no intention of reading this again and I'm still giving it 5 stars means something to me.
I almost literally devoured this book. I consumed it in every possible way, with the exception of tearing out the pages and eating them. I never wanted to step away from the pages and I'm rather upset the book ended.
This book was satisfying as hell. David Litt was a speech writer for President Obama. The man knows how to write. Add to that his unique perspective and unflinching opinions, and you've got a great book. On top of that, the dude is straight up HILARIOUS!
The content is what the synopsis says it is. If you are even slightly interested in reading this, just do it, because I personally found nothing to dislike about it. The entire thing was so damn enjoyable.
Now I'm going to add an excerpt that I think really captures the books essence, before I go overboard and keep gushing and telling you to read this book because it's so good.
"As a small avalanche fell from my hat onto my jacket, I thought of all the miles that had piled up over the past eight years. I had knocked on doors and driven naked. I had organized a county and scrubbed Janice Maier's table till it gleamed. I sang the Golden Girls theme song in the Oval. I watched a tiny man surf Jesse Jackson's coat. In a convention hall in Charlotte, I met a mom from Arizona who would never stop fighting for her little girl. I was disillusioned more times than I thought possible. I was reinspired more times than I could count. I navigated Healthcare.gov for a woman, the highest test of love. I helped break the Internet. I wrote one perfect speech. I found a salmon in the toilet and was caught half naked on Air Force One and told the president he looked like Hitler to his face. I was, I felt, more perfect than when I started."
I almost literally devoured this book. I consumed it in every possible way, with the exception of tearing out the pages and eating them. I never wanted to step away from the pages and I'm rather upset the book ended.
This book was satisfying as hell. David Litt was a speech writer for President Obama. The man knows how to write. Add to that his unique perspective and unflinching opinions, and you've got a great book. On top of that, the dude is straight up HILARIOUS!
The content is what the synopsis says it is. If you are even slightly interested in reading this, just do it, because I personally found nothing to dislike about it. The entire thing was so damn enjoyable.
Now I'm going to add an excerpt that I think really captures the books essence, before I go overboard and keep gushing and telling you to read this book because it's so good.
"As a small avalanche fell from my hat onto my jacket, I thought of all the miles that had piled up over the past eight years. I had knocked on doors and driven naked. I had organized a county and scrubbed Janice Maier's table till it gleamed. I sang the Golden Girls theme song in the Oval. I watched a tiny man surf Jesse Jackson's coat. In a convention hall in Charlotte, I met a mom from Arizona who would never stop fighting for her little girl. I was disillusioned more times than I thought possible. I was reinspired more times than I could count. I navigated Healthcare.gov for a woman, the highest test of love. I helped break the Internet. I wrote one perfect speech. I found a salmon in the toilet and was caught half naked on Air Force One and told the president he looked like Hitler to his face. I was, I felt, more perfect than when I started."
August 17, 2025
Much better than I expected. It was truly a little balm for the soul in the ugly political reality of the moment. This book was about working in an administration when you actually believed a President was working for the common good. The optimism and faith that spread throughout his staff. Most were true believers. Litt comes right out and tell you he was an Obama bot. He lost his botness after the first term, but not his idealism and admiration for the President. Plus, Litt is quite funny. In this case it means he did his job well. He was a speech writer who was sought out for his humor and youth. Surprisingly serious, yet humorous and poignant.
Quotes:
4+ Stars
Listened to Audible. Author narrated this expertly.
Quotes:
"It can be hard, at times, to distinguish between the absence of talent and the presence of destiny."
"The most sacred piece of Democratic orthodoxy was that government could improve people’s lives. The most sacred piece of Republican orthodoxy was that it could not."
"We were experiencing less violence than almost any generation in human history. But we were witnessing more violence than ever before."
"Barack Obama’s election was a triumph of hope. But his presidency was a triumph of persistence."
"Love is not a feeling. It transcends feelings. Love is what allows us to be disillusioned and to somehow still believe."
4+ Stars
Listened to Audible. Author narrated this expertly.
October 4, 2017
David Litt’s fantastic memoir Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years works in many different ways. The book is a laugh out loud series of highly comedic and spit-take inducing vignettes that you will spend hours retelling in less funny versions to supremely patient acquaintances and loved ones. It’s a demonstration on how vital idealistic, enthusiastic, and inspired people working in our government are to the progress of our country. It reveals a fascinating behind the scenes glimpse of the inner workings of the Obama administration. It is a stellar table leveler if one leg is shorter by an inch and 3/8 than the other three legs. And it works in outstanding fashion as a creepy spider crusher.
Recently out of college, David Litt sees freshman senator Barack Obama stumping on the campaign trail. He is immediately beguiled. The optimism and ambition of this presidential candidate speaks to him (we can really make a difference!) and Litt is soon beginning a wild journey spanning from the volunteer campaign offices in Ohio to two terms at the White House as a staff speechwriter.
David Litt is self depreciating and very funny. And look, even if you take the politics out—if you don’t use divisive comments like: this book would make even career politician Mitch McConnell emit the kind of screeching laugh (think: bat caught in a bug zapper) normally only heard only when taking health insurance away from young children. Or that: the pages in Thanks, Obama flew by faster than Speaker of the House Paul Ryan running a two-hour marathon. Or: this book even held the attention of Ted Cruz so that he stopped eating his boogers for several minutes. You are still left with a very relatable and timely story that both sides of the aisle can enjoy. Litt’s goofball antics are relatable —mainly as he is overwhelmed in the presence of the 44th President of the United States. He comes off as well-meaning, smart, and dedicated… and not at all sure how his foot got stuck in that bucket nor how to get it off tactfully. It is all genuinely hilarious and bound to have reader’s guffaws erupting like hot geysers from Old Faithful.
Recently out of college, David Litt sees freshman senator Barack Obama stumping on the campaign trail. He is immediately beguiled. The optimism and ambition of this presidential candidate speaks to him (we can really make a difference!) and Litt is soon beginning a wild journey spanning from the volunteer campaign offices in Ohio to two terms at the White House as a staff speechwriter.
David Litt is self depreciating and very funny. And look, even if you take the politics out—if you don’t use divisive comments like: this book would make even career politician Mitch McConnell emit the kind of screeching laugh (think: bat caught in a bug zapper) normally only heard only when taking health insurance away from young children. Or that: the pages in Thanks, Obama flew by faster than Speaker of the House Paul Ryan running a two-hour marathon. Or: this book even held the attention of Ted Cruz so that he stopped eating his boogers for several minutes. You are still left with a very relatable and timely story that both sides of the aisle can enjoy. Litt’s goofball antics are relatable —mainly as he is overwhelmed in the presence of the 44th President of the United States. He comes off as well-meaning, smart, and dedicated… and not at all sure how his foot got stuck in that bucket nor how to get it off tactfully. It is all genuinely hilarious and bound to have reader’s guffaws erupting like hot geysers from Old Faithful.
January 5, 2019
My first book of 2019!!! 4.5 stars!
I love finding new autobiographies about people that I've never heard of and reading them. I really enjoyed this story! David Litt did a great job in this book.
"More than any other presidency, Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House were defined by young people – twenty-somethings who didn’t have much experience in politics (or anything else, for that matter), yet suddenly found themselves in the most high-stakes office building on earth. David Litt was one of those twenty-somethings. After graduating from college in 2008, he went straight to the Obama campaign. In 2011, he became one of the youngest White House speechwriters in history. Until leaving the White House in 2016, he wrote on topics from healthcare to climate change to criminal justice reform. As President Obama’s go-to comedy writer, he also took the lead on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the so-called 'State of the Union of jokes.' Now, in this refreshingly honest memoir, Litt brings us inside Obamaworld. With a humorists’ eye for detail, he describes what it’s like to accidentally trigger an international incident or nearly set a president’s hair aflame. He answers questions you never knew you had: Which White House men’s room is the classiest? What do you do when the commander in chief gets your name wrong? Where should you never, under any circumstances, change clothes on Air Force One? With nearly a decade of stories to tell, Litt makes clear that politics is completely, hopelessly absurd. But it’s also important. For all the moments of chaos, frustration, and yes, disillusionment, Litt remains a believer in the words that first drew him to the Obama campaign: 'People who love this country can change it.' In telling his own story, Litt sheds fresh light on his former boss’s legacy. And he argues that, despite the current political climate, the politics championed by Barack Obama will outlive the presidency of Donald Trump."
I love finding new autobiographies about people that I've never heard of and reading them. I really enjoyed this story! David Litt did a great job in this book.
"More than any other presidency, Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House were defined by young people – twenty-somethings who didn’t have much experience in politics (or anything else, for that matter), yet suddenly found themselves in the most high-stakes office building on earth. David Litt was one of those twenty-somethings. After graduating from college in 2008, he went straight to the Obama campaign. In 2011, he became one of the youngest White House speechwriters in history. Until leaving the White House in 2016, he wrote on topics from healthcare to climate change to criminal justice reform. As President Obama’s go-to comedy writer, he also took the lead on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the so-called 'State of the Union of jokes.' Now, in this refreshingly honest memoir, Litt brings us inside Obamaworld. With a humorists’ eye for detail, he describes what it’s like to accidentally trigger an international incident or nearly set a president’s hair aflame. He answers questions you never knew you had: Which White House men’s room is the classiest? What do you do when the commander in chief gets your name wrong? Where should you never, under any circumstances, change clothes on Air Force One? With nearly a decade of stories to tell, Litt makes clear that politics is completely, hopelessly absurd. But it’s also important. For all the moments of chaos, frustration, and yes, disillusionment, Litt remains a believer in the words that first drew him to the Obama campaign: 'People who love this country can change it.' In telling his own story, Litt sheds fresh light on his former boss’s legacy. And he argues that, despite the current political climate, the politics championed by Barack Obama will outlive the presidency of Donald Trump."
February 28, 2018
"If only we could have a Glassdoor review for the White House's inner offices during Obama's two terms." Litt has got you covered, at least from his somewhat limited perspective. If it was this hard for Litt to be part of a team of speechwriters, imagine how the rest of the administration felt. And this was before social media exploded to today's levels. Yikes!
There is bias for Democrats and their ideals in here, but I would say it's at a tolerable level. It's not an aggressive promotion for absolute reverence, and Litt is quick to point out that working at the White House for him wasn't always magical. It's written in a way where he hopes you can understand what the entire experience meant to him, including the embarrassing lows and quibbling annoyances. It's also telling about how inner politics could potentially damage a public figure's image and how reputation often holds paramount importance, something that is becoming all too apparent today.
Surprisingly, I would recommend this book to Obama's detractors too. Mostly to give them an idea of how human Obama is to a lot of people, since I've heard many say that they "can't understand him at all" amongst other things. Even with Litt's gushing idolization early in, this book isn't a long lost love story of how it could have been between them. Nor is it a falling out. It's about how one nervously awkward youth is doing his best to impress another busy man who has many other things on his mind. And through the jokes, the angst, and the disappointment, the accomplishments feel all the more rewarding. It's like that one final in school you've been stressing and whining about for weeks, but then it's over in thirty minutes and you pass with flying colors. Unmistakable triumph.
While I would have liked more background history to certain events and I didn't laugh at all of his jokes, I did enjoy reading this book. The White House jargon dictionary entries were fantastic, and the ending especially made me smile. For people who have got their electronics handy, I highly recommend looking up the speeches that are mentioned in the book after you're done reading about them. Like Litt said at the start, YouTube is your friend.
Thank you very much, Litt, for all your hard work!
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
There is bias for Democrats and their ideals in here, but I would say it's at a tolerable level. It's not an aggressive promotion for absolute reverence, and Litt is quick to point out that working at the White House for him wasn't always magical. It's written in a way where he hopes you can understand what the entire experience meant to him, including the embarrassing lows and quibbling annoyances. It's also telling about how inner politics could potentially damage a public figure's image and how reputation often holds paramount importance, something that is becoming all too apparent today.
Surprisingly, I would recommend this book to Obama's detractors too. Mostly to give them an idea of how human Obama is to a lot of people, since I've heard many say that they "can't understand him at all" amongst other things. Even with Litt's gushing idolization early in, this book isn't a long lost love story of how it could have been between them. Nor is it a falling out. It's about how one nervously awkward youth is doing his best to impress another busy man who has many other things on his mind. And through the jokes, the angst, and the disappointment, the accomplishments feel all the more rewarding. It's like that one final in school you've been stressing and whining about for weeks, but then it's over in thirty minutes and you pass with flying colors. Unmistakable triumph.
While I would have liked more background history to certain events and I didn't laugh at all of his jokes, I did enjoy reading this book. The White House jargon dictionary entries were fantastic, and the ending especially made me smile. For people who have got their electronics handy, I highly recommend looking up the speeches that are mentioned in the book after you're done reading about them. Like Litt said at the start, YouTube is your friend.
Thank you very much, Litt, for all your hard work!
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
April 13, 2018
Remember having a good President?
December 19, 2017
My goodreads friend Julie recommended this to me, and I’m very glad that she did. I’ve belatedly gotten into podcasts—mostly for when I’m pottering around my room tending to my plants or doing a half-assed weekly clean—and the boys from Crooked Media have been a nice entrée into the genre. The most famous of these are Jon Favreau, Obama’s wunderkind head speech writer, and Jon Lovett, the consensus funniest speech writer in the room. But while these are probably the two most famous speechwriters, the youngest member of the team was the best known to me, a really great guy whom I got to know fairly well toward the end of undergrad: Kyle O’Connor.
Kyle gets mentioned 3-4 times in this book, the first time about 100 pages in. Kyle got scooped up by the Obama team while we were still in college, when his candidacy seemed like a longshot and where a junior speechwriting gig was probably a practical stepping stone rather than a career-altering decision. But we all know how unexpected and whirlwind the Obama 2008 campaign was. Kyle was busy during those years and we didn’t keep in the best of touch, but he gave us insights into this unknowable life through occasional emails and Instagrams from Air Force One.
Kyle is mentioned in the book really only as the person positioned right above the book’s author in terms of the hierarchy of speechwriters. He’s also probably not mentioned because—though certainly interpersonally funny—his main assets are probably earnestness, clarity of thought, ability to communicate effectively.
The closest I came to influencing political speechcraft was when I found myself on an email chain started by Kyle, soliciting our feedback on how to address the nation in the 2011 State of the Union address. Kyle asked about 5-6 of us for our thoughts on how to address gridlock. At the time, I was apoplectic over the Republicans’ obstructionism and equally upset with Obama’s very patient, arguably overindulgent extension of good will to them and willingness to compromise. We all know how these overtures were rewarded, but if there’s one thing this book really reveals between the slapstick, it’s what a good, fine man and politician President Obama was. Aside from all of the burdens he had to carry as the first Black president, he was also uncommonly deferential, optimistic, and decent toward a Republican party seemingly animated by nothing so universal as simmering racial resentment.
We all know the outcome, and history will tell whether decency and proper procedure will once again come to define our federal politics (though I’m not very optimistic). But reading this memoir in the midst of the Trump presidency, characterized by white victimhood, racist and xenophobic dog whistles, hollow braggadocio, inability to accept blame or responsibility, opaqueness of process, and eagerness to take credit for every positive while shirking or blaming others for every liability, I am thankful that we had eight years under a president who cared about good government and operated in good faith.
My response to Kyle in that email was that we should lay the blame for the economic miseries of the population on the Republicans, who had control of congress and thereby had far more control over the economy than did the president, who does not enact laws. In hindsight, I understand just how inappropriate this suggestion was; not only does the American public not really seem to understand that the president doesn’t control the economy, and can only do so to the extent Congress is willing to cooperate with him, but it would have been off-message in the extreme. And none of this is to say that Republicans deserve cooperation or the benefit of the doubt. But if we are presently witnessing the conflagration of American democracy, history will bear witness to who brought a fire extinguisher and who brought the gasoline. We very recently had a man in the Oval Office whose decency and good faith were inexhaustible, and we currently have a man whose piggishness, immaturity, and ineptitude defy credulity. May our next choice reflect the temperament of the person we feel better represents us as a people, and may President Obama’s legacy counsel us to make the wiser choice.
ETA: I almost forgot to mention what an asshole Harvey Weinstein comes across as in this book, and that's without him even sexually coercing the author! Litt must feel quite vindicated and good riddance to that monster.
Kyle gets mentioned 3-4 times in this book, the first time about 100 pages in. Kyle got scooped up by the Obama team while we were still in college, when his candidacy seemed like a longshot and where a junior speechwriting gig was probably a practical stepping stone rather than a career-altering decision. But we all know how unexpected and whirlwind the Obama 2008 campaign was. Kyle was busy during those years and we didn’t keep in the best of touch, but he gave us insights into this unknowable life through occasional emails and Instagrams from Air Force One.
Kyle is mentioned in the book really only as the person positioned right above the book’s author in terms of the hierarchy of speechwriters. He’s also probably not mentioned because—though certainly interpersonally funny—his main assets are probably earnestness, clarity of thought, ability to communicate effectively.
The closest I came to influencing political speechcraft was when I found myself on an email chain started by Kyle, soliciting our feedback on how to address the nation in the 2011 State of the Union address. Kyle asked about 5-6 of us for our thoughts on how to address gridlock. At the time, I was apoplectic over the Republicans’ obstructionism and equally upset with Obama’s very patient, arguably overindulgent extension of good will to them and willingness to compromise. We all know how these overtures were rewarded, but if there’s one thing this book really reveals between the slapstick, it’s what a good, fine man and politician President Obama was. Aside from all of the burdens he had to carry as the first Black president, he was also uncommonly deferential, optimistic, and decent toward a Republican party seemingly animated by nothing so universal as simmering racial resentment.
We all know the outcome, and history will tell whether decency and proper procedure will once again come to define our federal politics (though I’m not very optimistic). But reading this memoir in the midst of the Trump presidency, characterized by white victimhood, racist and xenophobic dog whistles, hollow braggadocio, inability to accept blame or responsibility, opaqueness of process, and eagerness to take credit for every positive while shirking or blaming others for every liability, I am thankful that we had eight years under a president who cared about good government and operated in good faith.
My response to Kyle in that email was that we should lay the blame for the economic miseries of the population on the Republicans, who had control of congress and thereby had far more control over the economy than did the president, who does not enact laws. In hindsight, I understand just how inappropriate this suggestion was; not only does the American public not really seem to understand that the president doesn’t control the economy, and can only do so to the extent Congress is willing to cooperate with him, but it would have been off-message in the extreme. And none of this is to say that Republicans deserve cooperation or the benefit of the doubt. But if we are presently witnessing the conflagration of American democracy, history will bear witness to who brought a fire extinguisher and who brought the gasoline. We very recently had a man in the Oval Office whose decency and good faith were inexhaustible, and we currently have a man whose piggishness, immaturity, and ineptitude defy credulity. May our next choice reflect the temperament of the person we feel better represents us as a people, and may President Obama’s legacy counsel us to make the wiser choice.
ETA: I almost forgot to mention what an asshole Harvey Weinstein comes across as in this book, and that's without him even sexually coercing the author! Litt must feel quite vindicated and good riddance to that monster.
November 14, 2017
I enjoyed this book, but maybe not as much as I had hoped. David Litt was a low level speechwriter for the Obama administration, at first just writing jokes and relatively unimportant speeches, but he worked his way up to writing the speeches for the Correspondents Dinner and some very consequential occasions. He has a very self deprecating way of writing, although at times he comes off as a bit of a jerk (how many times can he "borrow his roommate's car without permission?"). He shares the frustrations and the highs that go along with such a high pressure job. He started off very insecure about his ability to actually do the job and ended up a very confident speechwriter.
This book is like getting a backstage pass to the White House. You get a glimpse of how things are done and what it's like to work there. It's not all glamour. President Obama is portrayed as being very human, the responsibilities of the office weighing heavy on his shoulders, but still being able to make jokes. He does not suffer fools gladly, but he is a gentleman.
In the beginning of the book, I got a little tired of Litt's constant snark, but eventually I got used to it. It made him seem just a little too full of himself, even when he was trying to seem humble. He toned the snark down quite a bit later in the book as he was describing how hard they were working to establish Obama's legacy.
Probably the best passages are when he is describing when President Obama spoke at the church in Charleston and sang Amazing Grace, and when the SCOTUS affirmed the ACA again and legalized same-sex marriage. All in one week.
"In less than two days, Barack Obama had secured his place in history. No, the problems he faced were not solved forever. The Affordable Care Act was still under attack. Race was still a fault line. Discrimination against LGBT Americans remained far too real. But for now I lived in a country where health care was a right and not a privilege; where you could marry who you loved; where a black president could go to the heart of the old Confederacy and take us all, every color and creed, to church."
This paragraph alone is worth any flaws that the book may have.
A definite recommend.
This book is like getting a backstage pass to the White House. You get a glimpse of how things are done and what it's like to work there. It's not all glamour. President Obama is portrayed as being very human, the responsibilities of the office weighing heavy on his shoulders, but still being able to make jokes. He does not suffer fools gladly, but he is a gentleman.
In the beginning of the book, I got a little tired of Litt's constant snark, but eventually I got used to it. It made him seem just a little too full of himself, even when he was trying to seem humble. He toned the snark down quite a bit later in the book as he was describing how hard they were working to establish Obama's legacy.
Probably the best passages are when he is describing when President Obama spoke at the church in Charleston and sang Amazing Grace, and when the SCOTUS affirmed the ACA again and legalized same-sex marriage. All in one week.
"In less than two days, Barack Obama had secured his place in history. No, the problems he faced were not solved forever. The Affordable Care Act was still under attack. Race was still a fault line. Discrimination against LGBT Americans remained far too real. But for now I lived in a country where health care was a right and not a privilege; where you could marry who you loved; where a black president could go to the heart of the old Confederacy and take us all, every color and creed, to church."
This paragraph alone is worth any flaws that the book may have.
A definite recommend.
October 14, 2017
A must read for all who have been afraid to look at the news updates on their phone for the last nine months. I laughed, I cried. I felt nostalgic for a time I was proud of my country's leaders but left this book feeling more renewed and hopeful than melancholy.
Litt does a great job of showing the reader a side of the White House that has not been covered before. Somewhere in between The West Wing and Veep, he manages to show the absurdity of his experiences without losing the idealism that motivates him.
I would put this book right up there with President Obama's speech to the NAACP and the author's 2001 speech that won him 15s Lieutenant as the best things that David Litt has ever written.
Litt does a great job of showing the reader a side of the White House that has not been covered before. Somewhere in between The West Wing and Veep, he manages to show the absurdity of his experiences without losing the idealism that motivates him.
I would put this book right up there with President Obama's speech to the NAACP and the author's 2001 speech that won him 15s Lieutenant as the best things that David Litt has ever written.
October 11, 2017
I enjoyed the sneak peek into the inner-workings of the Obama presidential campaigns and the Obama White House, but I struggled to empathize with the author. Litt came off as a bit entitled and too "look at me!" at times throughout his twenty-something coming of age story. This was especially noticeable at the beginning when he mentioned on several occasions that he "borrowed" his roommate's car without asking and went rogue at an internship by disregarding the dress code and playing Minesweeper all day. It was hard to get invested in a person like this in real life, let alone in a memoir.
February 19, 2019
Native New Yorker David Litt was politically aware enough in college to volunteer for Barack Obama’s first Presidential campaign. Then he moved to Washington, D.C. and tried to get a job after graduation. After an internship, he networked himself into Obama’s White House as a speechwriter for Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to the President.
This also meant that he started as a junior junior speechwriter for President Obama. And as time progressed, Litt was working on mostly Obama speeches, including running the team that produced his last few Correspondents’ Dinner routines.
Litt has a humorous and self-deprecating writing style. He also focuses primarily on his work responsibilities, rather than his personal life during this time. Seeing the Obama White House through another lens is always interesting to me. After also reading Beck Dorey-Stein’s memoir, it’s clear that the Obama administration had plenty of young talent in house.
Life in Washington is high-intensity, with long days at the office and constant dings from the BlackBerry. But Litt makes it relatable too, talking about cafeterias, the senior staff gym, and parking closer as he gained seniority. He’s also quick to share his all-to-regular nervous gaffes.
My conclusions
For every heavy D.C.-related memoir or history, I need to read something like Litt’s memoir. The smart thinking and logical decisions that we took for granted once feel so nostalgic now. Litt does an admirable job of balancing his own star struck feelings with the growing competence he gains through the years he spends in White House communications.
I had the opportunity to hear Litt speak with Dorey-Stein last fall at an author event. His writing style is just as conversational as that event. And did I mention that he’s funny? Give this one a go if you need a break from today’s headlines.
For more reviews of memoirs and political books, please visit my book blog, TheBibliophage.com.
This also meant that he started as a junior junior speechwriter for President Obama. And as time progressed, Litt was working on mostly Obama speeches, including running the team that produced his last few Correspondents’ Dinner routines.
Litt has a humorous and self-deprecating writing style. He also focuses primarily on his work responsibilities, rather than his personal life during this time. Seeing the Obama White House through another lens is always interesting to me. After also reading Beck Dorey-Stein’s memoir, it’s clear that the Obama administration had plenty of young talent in house.
Life in Washington is high-intensity, with long days at the office and constant dings from the BlackBerry. But Litt makes it relatable too, talking about cafeterias, the senior staff gym, and parking closer as he gained seniority. He’s also quick to share his all-to-regular nervous gaffes.
My conclusions
For every heavy D.C.-related memoir or history, I need to read something like Litt’s memoir. The smart thinking and logical decisions that we took for granted once feel so nostalgic now. Litt does an admirable job of balancing his own star struck feelings with the growing competence he gains through the years he spends in White House communications.
I had the opportunity to hear Litt speak with Dorey-Stein last fall at an author event. His writing style is just as conversational as that event. And did I mention that he’s funny? Give this one a go if you need a break from today’s headlines.
For more reviews of memoirs and political books, please visit my book blog, TheBibliophage.com.
May 23, 2018
I don't often read books about politics but I really liked President Obama and I thought this would be interesting. I'm happy to say it was. David Litt was a young Ivy League graduate whose first job was a speechwriter in the Obama White House. He's a great writer, often quite funny and occasionally moving.
Of course, it makes me sad when I think of all the good things that Obama did that Trump is trying to undo. But after reading this book, I admired all this things President Obama accomplished in his eight years in office even more. I got goosebumps when I read the section about the eulogy he gave in Charleston, South Carolina after another mass shooting. Obama sang "Amazing Grace" at the end of his eulogy.
I highly recommend this book even if you're not a political junky. I was never bored reading it and since I'm not really that interested in politics, that is the highest praise I can give this memoir!
Of course, it makes me sad when I think of all the good things that Obama did that Trump is trying to undo. But after reading this book, I admired all this things President Obama accomplished in his eight years in office even more. I got goosebumps when I read the section about the eulogy he gave in Charleston, South Carolina after another mass shooting. Obama sang "Amazing Grace" at the end of his eulogy.
I highly recommend this book even if you're not a political junky. I was never bored reading it and since I'm not really that interested in politics, that is the highest praise I can give this memoir!
May 28, 2020
Those of you who know me (especially if you are in book clubs with me) know that I often cry at books and even more often cry about politics, so it should not be shocking that I spent the last 50 pages of this memoir full on sobbing. It is a remarkable thing to read stories about the hope and progress which permeated the Obama presidency when Donald Trump is likely six months away from being reelected. Nevertheless, "some accomplishments... are impossible to undo." Thanks, Obama. And thanks, Litt, for reminding me what it feels like to believe in government." Right after I finish this review, I am taping a notecard on my door which says "Am I doing enough good?" I am choosing service instead.
December 19, 2017
This review is the one that made me instantly hold this book at the library, so like, just go read that. Other people have more eloquently reviewed this book, but I'll give it a try: David Litt was one of the young speechwriters working for President Obama (in the same vein of the Pod Saves America crew, like Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett), specialising in comedy, and this book covers his career and his years in the White House.
It could have been excruciating: it could have been a white guy in his late 20s patting himself on the back and getting overly-schmaltzy about ~*history*~ and his place in it. But it's not. It's got the right level of self-deprecating self-awareness, the way Litt skewers himself, and even makes fun of the sort of self-important revisionism that occurs in many memoirs. Instead he's blunt and honest about his screw-ups, his impostor syndrome, being a terrified youth who was at first a too-idealistic Obamabot, then slowly becoming more realistic while still not giving up his kernel of hope and faith in his administration.
It's interesting getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how speeches are made, how the White House is run, and the background to some of the viral government videos and Correspondence Dinners that Litt had a part in. Plus Litt is genuinely funny -- I burst into hysterical giggles several times, like the description of his first time meeting the President:
And yet in addition to being tongue-in-cheek and funny, it's also poignant, in the hard-won victories and the causes that mattered to Obama's administration. This book is realistic about the fact that presidents are just human, they are never going to be perfect -- but we were truly lucky in the eight years that we had with this one. Revisiting the Obama presidency is extra-poignant now, in ye dark days of Trump, and it is oddly therapeutic to look back on a White House that was competent, well-intentioned, and cared about minorities, immigrants, the climate, and the LGBTQ community. I won't lie: I burst into tears twice during the closing chapters of this book.
But it ends with just the right note: oddly hopeful, oddly pragmatic, with an eye towards the future and the notion that it may be tough, but we will get through this.
It could have been excruciating: it could have been a white guy in his late 20s patting himself on the back and getting overly-schmaltzy about ~*history*~ and his place in it. But it's not. It's got the right level of self-deprecating self-awareness, the way Litt skewers himself, and even makes fun of the sort of self-important revisionism that occurs in many memoirs. Instead he's blunt and honest about his screw-ups, his impostor syndrome, being a terrified youth who was at first a too-idealistic Obamabot, then slowly becoming more realistic while still not giving up his kernel of hope and faith in his administration.
It's interesting getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how speeches are made, how the White House is run, and the background to some of the viral government videos and Correspondence Dinners that Litt had a part in. Plus Litt is genuinely funny -- I burst into hysterical giggles several times, like the description of his first time meeting the President:
The president was standing up, so we stood up. He sat down, so we sat down. He looked at the camera, but before he could begin taping, Hope stopped him. “Mr. President, this is David,” she said. “This is the first video he’s ever written for you.”
President Obama looked at me. “Hey, David,” he said. “How’s it going?”
I had exactly one thought in that moment. I did not realize we were going to have to answer questions. And I have no idea what happened next. I literally blacked out. I went home for Thanksgiving, and my family said, “Have you met Obama yet?” and I said, “Yeah,” and they said, “What did he say?” and I said, “How’s it going?” and they said, “What did you say?” and I said, “I don’t know, I blacked out.”
Silence. That disappointed look.
And yet in addition to being tongue-in-cheek and funny, it's also poignant, in the hard-won victories and the causes that mattered to Obama's administration. This book is realistic about the fact that presidents are just human, they are never going to be perfect -- but we were truly lucky in the eight years that we had with this one. Revisiting the Obama presidency is extra-poignant now, in ye dark days of Trump, and it is oddly therapeutic to look back on a White House that was competent, well-intentioned, and cared about minorities, immigrants, the climate, and the LGBTQ community. I won't lie: I burst into tears twice during the closing chapters of this book.
But it ends with just the right note: oddly hopeful, oddly pragmatic, with an eye towards the future and the notion that it may be tough, but we will get through this.
November 13, 2017
This was a fun and eye-opening behind the scenes look at Obama's presidency from the viewpoint of one of his speechwriters. One of my friends was a speechwriter for one of our former presidents so I thought I had an idea of what I might encounter in this book...but now I want her to read it so I can hear how their experiences compare.
Obama is a wonderful orator and so many good memories washed over me as Litt quoted some of his more memorable speeches, regardless of whether Litt himself contributed toward writing them. I was fascinated to learn more about the process of speechwriting and just how one starts in that career. Litt starts out as a starry-eyed optimistic campaigner and winds up a little more realistic, at times pessimistic, part of the speechwriting team. He doesn't pull any punches and sometimes this evolution was hard to read about, while being understandable.
If you, like me, supported Obama, you'll enjoy reading this book. While it dragged in places and at times focused too much on Litt's insecurities and perceived shortcomings, I liked learning more about different situations, like the process of writing jokes for the Correspondents Dinner or just how they handled the initial debacle known as the healthcare website. It reminded me of better times and, after the dumpster fire that 2017 has been, that counts for a lot.
Obama is a wonderful orator and so many good memories washed over me as Litt quoted some of his more memorable speeches, regardless of whether Litt himself contributed toward writing them. I was fascinated to learn more about the process of speechwriting and just how one starts in that career. Litt starts out as a starry-eyed optimistic campaigner and winds up a little more realistic, at times pessimistic, part of the speechwriting team. He doesn't pull any punches and sometimes this evolution was hard to read about, while being understandable.
If you, like me, supported Obama, you'll enjoy reading this book. While it dragged in places and at times focused too much on Litt's insecurities and perceived shortcomings, I liked learning more about different situations, like the process of writing jokes for the Correspondents Dinner or just how they handled the initial debacle known as the healthcare website. It reminded me of better times and, after the dumpster fire that 2017 has been, that counts for a lot.
September 17, 2017
A light hearted insider's guide to the Obama White House as seen by a speech writer. Although David Litt was usually working on the comedic aspects of the president's speeches, he was also part of the notable speech writing team which included Favreau and Lovett. Litt's admiration and respect for President Obama is limitless, yet his self-deprecating analysis is honest and insightful in pointing out what went wrong or what could have been better. This is a clever and entertaining memoir.
September 27, 2018
If you’re not a fan of the current administration, this book is like reading a lover letter from an ex who broke your heart. Some of it might make you smile, but overall you’ll be left feeling melancholy and confused about how everything ended so badly.
January 22, 2019
Yeah, I cried through the whole thing. When I wasn’t laughing, that is. God, I miss him so bad.
February 11, 2019
I enjoyed this one, it’s read by the author on audiobook and wasn’t at all what I expected. It’s a real behind the scenes look at what it’s like working in the White House for just a normal guy....and he’s quite funny. I found myself laughing and smiling to myself while listening to this look back at the past administration and all its highs and lows.
October 12, 2017
If you are picking up this book, I highly recommend getting it on audio. Litt narrates the book himself, and adds so much emotion and humour through his narration that the book takes on a whole other dimension.
If Hillary tells us What Happened in America during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, Thanks, Obama shows us what happened at the White House in the years leading up to the campaign, and what kind of legacy Obama leaves behind.
A very timely memoir about Litt's years in the White House as one of Obama's speech writers that also highlights the importance of hope, determination, and faith that there is still something left to save in America.
If Hillary tells us What Happened in America during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, Thanks, Obama shows us what happened at the White House in the years leading up to the campaign, and what kind of legacy Obama leaves behind.
A very timely memoir about Litt's years in the White House as one of Obama's speech writers that also highlights the importance of hope, determination, and faith that there is still something left to save in America.
June 26, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this look at Obama's presidency by then 20 something speechwriter David Litt. I laughed, I (once) cried and I looked forward to picking it up every evening. I especially appreciated Litt's honesty. He writes a lot about impostor syndrome, which I sometimes feel, and reveals his embarrassments and missteps. I'm glad I don't work in such a high pressure position. Most of all, I liked reading about the culture in the White House and Litt's summary of Obama's presidency: he didn't accomplish everything we hoped he would, but he helped bring about major changes to our culture that aren't easily reversed, including legalizing gay marriage and improving access to healthcare. I recommend this book for anyone interested in the former President or insider stories.
January 28, 2018
This was great - it's not a shock that a book written by a presidential speechwriter is well done. But what really struck me was how the trajectory of the author's experience in the Obama administration mirrored the ebbs and flows emotionally of many of the President's supporters. From overwhelming hope, to despair, to frustration, and then pride, this book does a great job of encapsulating an imperfect presidency that made an impact. Additionally, Litt's writing is pretty darn amusing and the book flies by.
September 22, 2017
I really enjoyed this laugh-out-loud funny memoir from former Obama speechwriter David Litt. It's an honest, and sometimes wistful, portrayal of the Obama presidency--its highs and its lows. Litt is self-deprecating and candid as he examines whether Obama lived up to his "hopey, changey" potential.
March 21, 2018
Oh how I needed the laughs I got from this. 👌🏻
July 8, 2020
Симпатично, забавно, местами даже информативно, но без божественных открытий. Воодушевленный юноша работает на президента и верит в светлое будущее, god bless America, вот это все. В свете наших последних событий читается буквально со слезами зависти на глазах.
October 17, 2017
One of the most enjoyable books I have read this year. The title, taken from a sarcastic remark by Sarah Palin, perfectly summing up the essence of those eight hopey, changey years a very young David Litts spent as speech writer in the Obama administration. This book is packed with information about practicalities and unusual facts, is fascinating, entertaining and written with humour. Detailed political discussion is avoided although certain important pieces of legislation and election strategies are touched on as they affect David's work and life.
The White House was most certainly not The West Wing, but the Obama Years had so many young people working there and trying very hard to make it a little like that ideal, filled with hope and enthusiasm. Then having to face a never ending battle to achieve against implacable opposition. Those tensions are not stressed or laboured but the frustration creeps through.
In contrast and balance there are David's nervous moments starting work among influential people, in America's ultimate powerhouse and not knowing quite what to do at first. Another time we share the horror as he wakes up to discover he has written one careless word and created an international incident. But he wins through and lives to experience the special treat of occasional travel in Air Force One, the one place where luxury and endless chocolate bars are to be found.
Do not expect many personal President Obama anecdotes, as among a large army of speechwriters and staffers very few actually get close to the President, or even work in The White House itself. David Litt read this audible version with genuine feeling and was the perfect narrator.
This book made me laugh often and left me a little sad, but appreciative to learn more about a special era and I will re-read in future. I recommend this particularly to all my own personal US friends, as although bittersweet just now, it may give you heart to work towards regaining what you have temporarily lost.
The White House was most certainly not The West Wing, but the Obama Years had so many young people working there and trying very hard to make it a little like that ideal, filled with hope and enthusiasm. Then having to face a never ending battle to achieve against implacable opposition. Those tensions are not stressed or laboured but the frustration creeps through.
In contrast and balance there are David's nervous moments starting work among influential people, in America's ultimate powerhouse and not knowing quite what to do at first. Another time we share the horror as he wakes up to discover he has written one careless word and created an international incident. But he wins through and lives to experience the special treat of occasional travel in Air Force One, the one place where luxury and endless chocolate bars are to be found.
Do not expect many personal President Obama anecdotes, as among a large army of speechwriters and staffers very few actually get close to the President, or even work in The White House itself. David Litt read this audible version with genuine feeling and was the perfect narrator.
This book made me laugh often and left me a little sad, but appreciative to learn more about a special era and I will re-read in future. I recommend this particularly to all my own personal US friends, as although bittersweet just now, it may give you heart to work towards regaining what you have temporarily lost.
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