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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
A freak look behind the curtain of Presidents in the Situation Room with particular attention from JFK to now.
The book is great, but reading it a week before the next inauguration might not have been the best choice. Either way, a good read for the collection.
The book is great, but reading it a week before the next inauguration might not have been the best choice. Either way, a good read for the collection.
George Stephanopoulos takes us on an exclusive inside look of the Situation Room, one of the most infamous rooms in the White House. Established during President John F. Kennedy’s administration, the Situation Room was created to enhance communication and streamline the sharing of information with the President and other key staff. It operates 24/7, serving as a centralized hub for intelligence gathering and sharing, as well as a space for the highest-ranking official to make the most difficult decisions. As Stephanopoulos aptly describes, “the decisions made in the Situation Room are inherently the most challenging ones to make, because any easy solution would have already been found by someone at a lower level.”
Stephanopoulos delves into how Presidents have responded to crises by utilizing or neglecting the Situation Room. It’s an intriguing read, offering insights into how each administration has approached leveraging the Situation Room to stay informed and make the most difficult decisions. Examples include managing the aftermath of 9/11, executing missions to eliminate terrorists, and managing the pandemic.
I was particularly drawn to this book in light of the upcoming Inauguration, eager to gain an inside look at how a President manages a crisis. Throughout history, there have been many great leaders who have made the most of the Situation Room. However, during the Trump administration, it was often overlooked or even disregarded.
“This book examines crisis management in the modern presidency. During the Trump administration, the President was the crisis to be managed.”
The interviews within the novel provide a vivid portrayal of life within the Situation Room and the various challenges faced under different administrations. We can only hope that the Situation Room will remain apolitical and driven by its original mission during Trump’s second administration, as it served as a stronghold of truth during his first. Time will tell, and history will undoubtedly be made.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
Honestly, author was not good. Really boring book. Kept getting close to something interesting, but would then switch over to something else. Pacing was also super off. Failed attempt at trying to read nonfiction.
informative
slow-paced
Really enjoyed this read. GS walks through the founding and typical operations of the White House situation room, focusing specifically on its role in major US events since JFK. He focuses on one or two aspects of each president since JFK and keeps the story moving.
Having recently and tragically finished my absolute favorite TV show Madam Secretary, I have been subconsciously on the lookout for related pieces of media. This fit the bill - a government procedural drama kind of thing. And it was excellent. The book’s informal tone makes it very easy to read. Interspersed are transcriptions of interviews, pictures, and quotes, all of which give the Sit Room a very real and human quality. Each chapter focuses on a different president, their approach to the Sit Room, and at least one tale of large-scale crisis management. It’s interesting how the presidents’ approaches to the Sit Room kind of also characterize their whole approach to the presidency as well. The book also highlights career public servants, the people in the shadows who are the reason anything and everything works and gets done. Overall, an insightful and worthwhile read, unburdened by indecipherable government jargon and granting an undertone of humanity to the presidential figures that so often seem larger than life.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
A book better served by audiobook. Really informative yet not too heavy to read. Love how the book was set up as well