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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
I listened to this book and the audio clips were such a great addition to the story.
Really surprised how much I enjoyed The Situation Room by George Stephanopoulos. The books highlights crisis events from the time of JFK through Biden, with on hand commentary from each administration's staff. The middle drags a bit but hearing from the Sit Room staff how they handled events like the Kennedy assassination, the Cold War, Vietnam, 9/11, the raid on Osama Bin Laden, and Jan 6th was a wild ride. Recommend to anyone looking for a non-fiction read.
informative
fast-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
informative
tense
fast-paced
Very well-written history from the creation of the Situation room in Kennedy’s administration to the present day use in the Biden administration. While it is natural to think the book would center around the presidents, it was more about the common staffer who worked diligently to support the office of the president. It is well-researched and stays on topic, even though it would be easy to venture off. It made me what to learn more about the inner workings of the White House and the thousands of people who keep it ticking.
There were specific notes I took about Obama during the Bin Laden Raid that stood out to me, esepcially given the use of the Situtation Room and a comparison to other presidents. Obama's decision with the raid was methodical, respected history, and was prepared. He took in all the viewpoints and acted decisively. He utilized the Situation Room in the most efficient, productive way possible.
There were specific notes I took about Obama during the Bin Laden Raid that stood out to me, esepcially given the use of the Situtation Room and a comparison to other presidents. Obama's decision with the raid was methodical, respected history, and was prepared. He took in all the viewpoints and acted decisively. He utilized the Situation Room in the most efficient, productive way possible.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was an interesting look at a part of the White House I’ve heard referenced frequently during crises, but otherwise knew very little about. The book traces the history of the Situation Room and the way it’s changed and developed over the years, from JFK through Biden, focusing on a crisis in the Sit Room during each presidency. It was fascinating to see the vastly different ways each president approached/interacted with the room and its staff, and I learned new-to-me historical details and nuances with each chapter. At times, I found it hard to keep track of the sheer number of people involved, having to flip back and forth for reminders of names and their positions/roles. I kind of wanted a list of characters for each section! But this in itself was a reminder of the sheer volume of dedicated public servants who work tirelessly to serve our country and the office of the Presidency (rather than the person in the role). Although the Trump section was unsurprisingly difficult and disturbing to read, I came away from this reading with an unexpected new respect for Bush Sr. (both for his role in the Sit Room after Reagan’s assassination attempt and during his presidency).
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced