by David Litt
First published 2017
David Litt opens the doors to the Obama administration through his years as a presidential speechwriter. He reveals the absurd reality behind political power: how a staffer can accidentally create international incidents, why you must never change clothes in certain areas of Air Force One, and which White House bathroom offers the most dignity. Litt navigates moments when the president mixes up his name and times when he nearly sets Obama's hair on fire. The author captures both the chaos and the significance of political work. Despite witnessing frustration and disillusionment firsthand, Litt maintains his faith in the idea that drove him to join Obama's campaign: citizens who care about America possess the power to transform it. Through personal anecdotes spanning nearly ten years, he illuminates Obama's presidential legacy while arguing that Obama's political vision will survive beyond the Trump era.
Genres: american, politics, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs
Vibes: fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, personal-anecdotes
Setting: Air Force One, White House
Period: Trump Era
310 pages · Hardcover · Ecco