The Briefing: Politics, The Press, and The President

by Sean Spicer

NOW A NATIONAL BESTSELLER!

Wall Street Journal Bestseller

USA Today Bestseller

Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller

Conservative Book Club Bestseller

“One of the best reads of 2018." — Sean Hannity

"The book is well worth your time." — Megyn Kelly

"A story told with both heart and knowledge. Really good, go get it!" — President Donald J. Trump

No job is more of a pressure cooker than being a White House press secretary…especially in this White House.

For more than two decades, Sean Spicer had been a respected political insider, working as a campaign and communications strategist. But in December 2016, he got the call of a lifetime. President-elect Donald J. Trump had chosen him to be the White House press secretary. And life hasn’t been the same since. When he accepted the job, Spicer was far from a household name. But then he walked into the bright lights of the briefing room, and the cameras started rolling. His every word was scrutinized. Every movement was parodied. Every detail became a meme. And that’s just the public side. Behind the scenes, things were almost as difficult in an administration plagued by leaks that frustrated and angered both Spicer and the president. Not to mention the extraordinary pressures on Spicer’s family and his faith. Now, in his provocative and enlightening political memoir, The Briefing , Spicer reveals the truth behind some of the biggest news stories of our time, and he offers a glimpse into what it’s like to stand at the press secretary’s podium—and how he got there. The Briefing is the first insider account written by someone who worked on the Trump campaign, with the Trump transition team, and in the Trump White House—and has seen Donald Trump rallying voters, building an administration, and making crucial policy decisions. Spicer’s riveting and personal account makes The Briefing the must-read political memoir of the year.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, History, Government

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Sean Michael Spicer is an American political aide who served as White House Press Secretary and as acting White House Communications Director under President Donald Trump in 2017.

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 1 out of 5]

I yield around 50%. Lost interest in all the alternative facts being spewed, amazing he'd go and praise the man who dumped him like a rock.

I really don't care, do u?

[Bruce Crown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zero stars. Would I like to give it zero stars, but then wouldn’t I dare to give it more than it deserves if I had woulded it? But then, what would the career Republicans think of my use of would over wouldn't; Then wouldn't I dare to clarify? Then I would.

The gall of marketing and printing this novel says something about the publisher. Having read the published excerpts; Spicer's "memoir" is nothing more than a rationalizing puff-piece meant to pat himself on the back and siphon sympathy from those he has lied to every day for 182 days. This would be laughable if he had not been advancing a foreign adversary's goals in threatening our democracy for a form of corporate fascism. Moreover, he seems to think that his "memoir" can and will compete with Comey's A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership.

Naturally it does nothing of the sort. It is endless drivel and propaganda that simultaneously rationalizes and justifies Spicer's lies day after day. There is always a reason for this mistake. There is always an explanation for this bold-faced lie. There is always a justification for this manipulation, this disrespect to the first amendment. We are meant to sympathize with him and understand his "misery." How do we accomplish this exactly? When he chose to go out there and spew lies because he loved the money and/or is a partisan hack? Was it too soul-crushing to simply acknowledge rising hate crimes by white-supremacists/Neo-Nazis?

Are we supposed to ignore lie after lie in support of a compromised and illegitimate president? Where must our sympathy lie as human beings? With the children being abused in ICE detention centres, or with a press-secretary's regret long after elapsed payment demands manifested for his Faustian deal?

Is it even possible to count the innumerable lies? Lies told with such confidence and disdain for the First Amendment? And now, he expects those same First Amendments defenders to support his decision to "speak out?" Essentially we are supposed to accept that he was simply doing what he was told. Where have we heard that before?

The entire novel is a farce, too shameful to even sort into the fiction genre; a fiction where Spicer has a conscience and felt the crushing misery of somehow choosing the position of being the White House Press Secretary, and one where he did it with honour and dignity. A fiction where he is an American hero for resigning because he couldn't take it anymore. A fiction where his actions have no consequences and people have forgotten his complicity. What alternative facts.

He is attempting to accomplish two simple things here: (1) salvage his career by attempting to walk back that complicity in what has been slowly turning into a Kafkaesque, fascist nightmare; (2) make some money off the poor idiots that will swallow his hogwash. One of the printed reviews is by Sean Hannity; he purports this book as the "must read book of the year." Perhaps you can request it from your prison cell, Hannity.

Unironically, the other review is by illegitimate and compromised president Donald J Trump telling us to really go and get it [this book]. How presidential, how elegant; may I recommend Nineteen Eighty-Four or Fahrenheit 451 instead, Mister Minority President?

[Lori Hodges · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a Never Trumper. I cannot express how much I loath that horrible human being. That being said, I have always thought that although Sean Spicer worked for Trump, he seemed to me to be a relatively decent human being. I wanted to read a book in his own words to see if my impression of the man was true.

I do still believe Spicer is a decent human being and this book shows it in how many times he commends others or tries to lift people up. I cannot reconcile, however, how someone who is decent and deeply religious could so admire a man like Trump. His book gushes over the man which was the hardest part about reading this book. Maybe with his good nature he just cannot see anyone as horrific as Trump. Maybe he just can’t bring himself to believe it. Or he forgives it. I find this his greatest weakness.

[Preacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative book,gives details on how fake the media is,how it outright lies about things and refuses to fix their lies,the harassment his family went through,his faith in god was inspiring for sure. I gained a new respect for Sean because I always thought of him as arrogant and annoying but he comes across as a nice guy who was doing what he always wanted to do. Wish him well in the future.

[Tony Boskovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy and fascinating read. Mr. Spicer gives insight into how Donald Trump won the election and, if you pay close attention, what it is like to work with him. The most valuable insight the book gives is how the media has changed in today’s digital world, and how what we read today in what are considered the most trustworthy sources are less so than we think.

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sean Spicer is definitely partisan and makes no apologies for that. I found this book, though, to be more objective than I would have thought. His experiences and insights give a fascinating look at the inner workings of political campaigns and a glimpse at how the current presidential administration communicates with the press and the public.

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relatively quick and easy read. It was interesting to see the other side of Spicer. Not the one who was mocked virtually every day, but how he thinks and what he believes. He's still very rah rah Trump, which surprised me.

[Chase Olson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unsurprisingly, the book was written on a fourth grade level with elementary prose and narration. I was surprised at his description of Donald Trump as "a unicorn, riding a unicorn over a rainbow" and his choice to include low resolution selfies in a long picture section.

[Kathleen Yeagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calm and collected

Sean explains so much about the inner workings of the White House. It is as if you are there with him. This book focuses on looking at the areas of agreement and how politically, policy is important. Very informative. God bless those who truly serve and their families in this vicious political environment. God bless us all.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading memoirs from those who have served in the White House, no matter their political affiliation. Sean Spicer was very honest in his evaluation of his successes and failures—perhaps even too harsh in his self-criticism. The book very effectively portrays what it is like to work as Trump’s press secretary. Best wishes to him in his new, saner endeavors.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book and I enjoyed seeing inside the Press Secretary position in the White House. I would very much like to shake Sean Spicer's hand. He did a good and steady job working with such a bunch of mad and self centered people in the White House press room.

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to admit that Mr. Spicer got me lost completely … Usually epitaphs like his prolonged pamphlet glorifying President Trump, are written in memory of a person who has already died (or has completed his or her post) to commemorate their achievements. Buttering up his former boss and justifying his every action with intensity and passion rather unusual in the contemporary world of politics (outside of political regimes), made me lean towards a much different title for his book: “A Diary of Trump’s Loyal Puppet.”

Before I started reading Sean Spicer’s book “The Briefing: Politics, The press, and the President” I promised myself to be objective, but right from the beginning, I found this task almost impossible to achieve considering that the author himself was biased. Moreover, his tone in the book indicates that he cannot stop himself from constantly yelling and lecturing his readers on their behavior and their beliefs, forgetting that it is not a Press Conference at the White House and his audience has a much higher level of sensitivity and intelligence … to say the least.

It didn’t even come as a surprise to me that Spicer’s book is a very acute reflection of Trump’s tactics:
- stick to positive
- avoid negative
- lie when necessary (Bushism: the ends justify the means)
- scratch off morality (Stalinism: morality is reserved for bourgeoisie)

Sean Spicer very smoothly navigates through the entire Trump’s campaign, election process and decision making describing events, which directly benefited Trump. But, he remained quiet about some controversial issues that shocked public opinion, like: mocking a handicapped journalist on national TV, or belittling Muslim family of slain US Soldier, Khizir Khan. I would be much more interested to hear about Spicer’s point of view on his immoral behavior than reviewing the timeline of Trump’s presidential campaign, which I have watched from the day it has officially began to the very end… literally …

Speaking of morality … Mentioning ones family in a publication is very noble, but at the same time it can turn to be a very risky move. At the beginning of the book, Sean Spicer talks about his parent’s struggle throughout their life, emphasizing his admiration for the code of ethics and principles his father lived by regardless of the circumstances. And then in the next few chapters he has the audacity to lie to his readers about the size of the inauguration crowd, which according to Spicer: “was the largest ever.” When you stand in front of millions of people on national TV and lie for another liar against your best judgment, it could’ve pleased Trump, but it is rather unlikely that notoriously “bending the truth” would make your father proud.

Language in the book more eloquent than his bosses poor vocabulary, but his synonyms describing Trump are beyond grotesque:
- Trump is an Energizer Bunny
- Trump was like an inflatable ball in a swimming pool ☺
- Trump is a unicorn, riding a unicorn over a rainbow ☺ ☺ ☺

Last, but not least, aside from Spicer’s aggressive, lecturing tone, inaccuracies in regards to names and dates and his decision to “alternate facts and the truth” – the most unbearable part in the book was his whining about media’s interference with his private life. I am sorry, but wouldn’t someone in the position of the White House Press Secretary with a prior experience as the Communications Director for the Republican National Committee know the price for being a public figure? Ironically, Spicer’s new gig as a host of a talk show with a tentative title of “Sean Spicer’s Common Ground,” in which the former spokesman for President Trump plans on interviewing notable people in an informal setting is just another proof that nothing Spicer says should be taken at face value.

Alicia

P.S.
From the America F1rst Action SUPERPAC website https://www.a1apac.org/about/ - a murky website insisting on no affiliation with any candidates or candidates’ committees with only one follower – TRUMP – and no information on anyone involved. But it has a request for donations.
SEAN SPICER’S NEW TRUMP-WORLD GIG. Spicer is the new senior adviser and spokesman for America First Action, the Trump aligned super PAC. Spicer will appear and speak Monday night at the super PAC’s summit at the Trump Hotel. He will continue to consult for other entities, as well, through his newly created firm, Rigwil LLC (which is a desperate attempt to follow – at least financially – Bill Clinton’s footsteps) https://seanspicer.com/about/

[V.F. Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting stories and intriguing facts

The author relates some of his life stories and his life as a press secretary. However for me most fascinating part was to read how micro targeting impacted the presidential election. These folks had their act together in getting their desired results. Amazing little known facts.

[Liz Sergent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always admired Sean Spicer, after reading his book I admire him more! A look into the Trump White House along with Spicers background made for an interesting read. I loved the insight about incoming Scaramucci along with SNL skit reaction. Great read!

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Briefing: Politics, the Press, and the President" is an inside glimpse into the man behind the podium, hundreds of memes, and (in my opinion) wildly entertaining SNL skit featuring one of my favorite comedic actors, Melissa McCarthy.

In this brief (haha, no pun intended) and easily readable memoir, Sean Spicer shows readers who he really is - a guy with big dreams from a working-class background in New England who hustled to achieve his dream of working in politics in Washington. He's defined by his faith, his service and love of country, his love of family, and his belief in the Republican Party. Spicer's memoir helped to humanize him, make him relatable. He was just a guy trying to do the best that he could for himself, his country, and his family. I can get behind that.

Spicer also tried to humanize Donald Trump, showing him in a light that not many people see (for whatever reason). Spicer's Trump is loyal, compassionate, empathetic, and has policies and ideas that will strengthen America. Well, except for that time Trump stole Spicer's tie. Spicer's Trump didn't jive with the impression I have Donald Trump based on his interviews, actions/inactions, and tweets so I found it most interesting to see this other side of him that doesn't always seem to come through when he's in the hot seat of an interview or typing tweets in the early morning hours.

The content was interesting, engaging even. Sure, it was a bit "shots fired" from time to time as Spicer called out journalists by name and put their offenses, as perceived by him, on blast in print, which seemed to be a bit of poetic justice for Spicer. Yet, overall Spicer managed to strike the right tone of engaging and educating readers to convey who he is and what the Republican Party and Donald Trump stand for.

What got me, though? The writing.

Spicer is a communications guy, although even he admits he is better suited for communications strategy over the actual communications, so I expected a bit better writing. The writing was simplistic and often lacked solid transitions from one part to the next, leaving me scrambling back a page or two to get my place again. The time jumping was also a bit much, no matter how many line breaks and asterisks you use.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. It was an impulse buy as something to read in between required grad school textbooks. I was pleasantly surprised.

This wasn’t the first political memoir I’ve read, but it might be one of the best.

I think it’s safe to assume that all political memoirs have the same primary purpose: to paint the subject in a good light, to recover credibility, and to put the trash and nonsense in the past. In that sense, it’s sort of cathartic, for the writer and the audience.

But another purpose, one would expect, is to score easy political points. This book has some of that, but in a good way.

It would’ve been easy for Spicer to do what some others in this genre — particularly others from the Trump administration — have done and play to the media narrative. But he declined. And I can’t help but respect that. And that respect carries over into general sentiments he expresses about the media, our nation, and democracy today.

[Jennifer Lukoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written interesting read, especially for folks who have worked in communications.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to read of Spicer's experience in the White House. Must have been a disappointment to liberals that it wasn't a Trump bashing tell all

[Aryssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost surprisingly well done. The chronology could have used some...chronology but the insight into Spicer’s preWH work and campaign data stuff in 2016 was really interesting.

[Dav · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too biased. There is some details of the White House machinations.

[Pam Cipkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. I really enjoyed this. I suppose I’m being a little snarky and biased with the “surprisingly,” but I felt this truly was a balanced account, despite a few Republican rah-rahs here and there. Spicer really was a punching bag and didn’t deserve a lot of the flack he got. His side of the story is interesting without being sensational, and he comes across as a warm and funny individual—a nice guy you’d like to have living on your block. It’s interesting to hear his inside view of what was going on within this administration. He has a lot to say about the media, too, and it deserves a listen. Check your preconceived notions at the door and give this one a fair shot, whether you’re Republican, Democrat, or none of the above.

[Gregg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an autobiography. This is not a memoir (e.g. limited to a particular time period), or a compilation of press secretaries’ experiences. I’m not particularly enamored with an autobiography of a forty-something that had questionable job performance in a quasi-interesting White House role for 7-months.

This book came across more as “I’m going to say what I want to say and I won’t be interrupted,” than a genuine product aimed to move public discourse forward. The fact that this book was written, and written so soon after he left office is telling. Anytime a lifelong political operative that never held elected office writes a book I’m skeptical of the purpose, quality, and voracity—this is no exception.

But he is a Patriots fan.

[Ralph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I heartedly agree with the thoughtful review provided by Alicia Devero (see below). However, I will give it two stars. Spicer is unabashedly a Republican Party supporter and he admits that, because of this, he will support whoever the party nominates regardless of possible disagreements on specific issues. It is worth reading - if you are a devout Trumper, you’ll cheer just about everything in this book; if you are a non-Trumper, you’ll be gnashing your teeth on reading just about every page.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sean takes responsibility for all of his mistakes and some that belong to others, namely the President. He's a good soldier. He comes across as self-deprecating and humble and it doesn't seem forced. Reading his retelling of events we all experienced through the lens of the press, you do get the sense that the press may have been guilty of distorting the truth in their creating of a narrative about candidate Trump, he could never win, and then president Trump, he is an unfit bungler, that may have elements of truth but not the whole story. Of course the book does not address questions that I would like addressed. Why did Sean Spicer, who seems a perfectly decent person, tie his wagon to Trump's populist wagon? Does he share the President's views on trade, immigration, and so on? He does come across as someone who supports Trump, but is that just because he was looking for professional success and Trump came calling? Interestingly, he provides a closing quote from the Christian Bible as his last words. "'Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips" Psalm 141:3, NIV"' There may well be a story here that he is choosing not to tell, and if Trump is really as dangerous as many people feel, then he is guilty of a really horrible crime here of not being candid about what he witnessed in the White House. On the other hand, if he is giving an honest account, there is a lot to think about. I'm glad I read it.

[Cathy Biggers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into his stint as Press Secretary and roles in the Trump campaign as well. Appreciate Mr. Spicer's service and ability to maintain an even keel spiritually.

[Alex Andrasik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, Sean. Nobody cares about how much sailing means to you. Get to the good parts faster next time. Also, fewer major typos.

Seriously, this book is hilariously bad. Lives up to his rep.

[Hapzydeco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though no longer the press secretary, Sean Spicer still appears to be an apologist for President Trump. Expected a different backgrounder.

[Sam Chirco · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very touching experience that showed what Sean had to go through to serve our country! Sometimes war is not the only place where there are hard times or enemies. Sean is a very religious person that tried to do the right thing and try to see the good in all!

[Jerome Maida · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent behind-the scenes look at Sean Spicer's time as press Spokesman for candidate and now-President Donald Trump. While okay for political junkies, Spicer's Everyman appeal and loyalty - two admirable qualities in him as a person - make for a rather bland book. Some of his humor comes across as "dad humor", much of what he talks about are incidents he has gone into detail on before and his sense of loyalty prevents him from really giving us any juicy info on president Trump, Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus or anyone else.
Even one of his biggest moments in the book - his decision to resign after being told Anthony Scaramucci was being promoted to Communications Director - elicits no anger OR light. WHY was that the "final straw?
There are some nice tidbits here, like how Spicer fought to have more than the legacy media - like the Associated press - dominate press conferences. At one point, he wanted to expand the number of reporters with access to the briefings to over 200 - there are currently about 50 - to reflect the different voices that now exist, however it was tougher than he thought it would be to implement and eventually wasn't . These are some cool moments and when you add then to short, tender moments with his dad, it becomes a cool read.
A cool read, but not an absolutely necessary one.

[William Shaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Done!

Compelling, behind the scenes look at Trumps success. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Well done, Sean Spicer, period