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nina_rod's review
3.0
I bought this book in 2018 because I love Obama. He’s on the cover and the woman writing the book worked with Obama first in the US Senate then his campaign for President and finally at the White House. It took many years (6) to finally read it! What took so long? During the Trump years, did this book even seem relevant? Would the nostalgia make me cry?
I finally picked it up to read because of the Extreme Reader Challenge. I needed a category that in the title had one of the 5 Ws: Who, What, When, Where or Why. I looked through my bookshelves and saw this book!
The political operative and I had the same path. We both studied political science and interned in Congress, her for Bernie Sanders and me for my local Hawaii Congressman at the time. And no, I didn’t fuck hum. Smile. We also both started college in 1994.
Early on, I found I didn’t have what it takes to work in politics. But I always wondered. Well, enter this book. She says her hair turned all white from the stress. I still have my natural hair color. She also grinded her teeth so much from the stress she cracked a tooth in the middle of the night and woke up with a mouthful of blood. She also couldn’t sleep unless it was with Ambien or Tylenol PM. Yikes! I’m good!
The book was confusing because it was a collection of stories not in a timeline but skipping around to her time in the White House, working on his campaign, interning for Bernie, working for Senator Kerry, working for Senator Obama, etc.
pjgoebel's review
5.0
I thought this was so honest and so far from my experience, I enjoyed the writing! Was from Live Well Anyway podcast.
sam_hildebrandt's review
4.0
Awesome stories! Great lessons! I really appreciated the organization of the book: the stories were connected through themes, but you never knew what was coming next! I could "hear" her voice through the book, and I feel like Alyssa is my best friend.
ellyrarg's review
3.0
Some of this book was great (the cat stories, the White House insight, the photos at the back), some of it… was not (the non linear aspect, the self-deprecating-ness of it all, the never ending nicknames that make it hard to remember whose who, the really blasé retelling of huge/serious moments) and sure, it’s her book to tell how she pleases, but I really struggled to keep reading. In fact, a lot of the stories she shared didn’t hit home until I saw the photos, which made them more real and gave more weight to her reminiscing.
I’m glad she did a good job, and I’m glad she was the first woman to hold the office she did at the White House, and that many things worked out for her, but my goodness, it was read that required a lot of work to get through.
I’m glad she did a good job, and I’m glad she was the first woman to hold the office she did at the White House, and that many things worked out for her, but my goodness, it was read that required a lot of work to get through.
tiffanywang29's review
5.0
So honest, really really inspiring. Random fact: I didn't realize the chapters were organized into good traits to have until she mentioned it even though it's literally in the title :/
auroraboringallofus's review
5.0
I loved this book. It's sort of an ode to preparation, intelligence, curiosity, confidence, and humility. It's an inside look at what it takes to run massive undertakings like Hurricane relief and first days of presidencies -- and a reminder that real people are managing all this and still attempting to lead lives of their own. This book was such fun to read and very interesting.
krisloveskihei's review
3.0
Good airplane read in that I read it cover to cover on a 5 hour flight (with time for a nap). It provides a glimpse into the crazy busy life of a White House advisor but really doesn’t provide any deep insights. Was hoping to get more of a view into the inner workings of the Obama administration.