A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAn Esquire Best Book of 2017Remember when presidents spoke in complete sentences instead of in unhinged tweets? Former Obama speechwriter David Litt does. In his comic, coming-of-age memoir, he takes us back to the Obama years – and charts a path forward in the age of Trump. More than any other presidency, Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House were defined by …
More than any other presidency, Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House were defined by young people – twenty-somethings who didn’t have much experience in politics (or anything else, for that matter), yet suddenly found themselves in the most high-stakes office building on earth. David Litt was one of those twenty-somethings. After graduating from college in 2008, he went straight to the Obama campaign. In 2011, he became one of the youngest White House speechwriters in history. Until leaving the White House in 2016, he wrote on topics from healthcare to climate change to criminal justice reform. As President Obama’s go-to comedy writer, he also took the lead on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the so-called “State of the Union of jokes.”
Now, in this refreshingly honest memoir, Litt brings us inside Obamaworld. With a humorists’ eye for detail, he describes what it’s like to accidentally trigger an international incident or nearly set a president’s hair aflame. He answers questions you never knew you had: Which White House men’s room is the classiest? What do you do when the commander in chief gets your name wrong? Where should you never, under any circumstances, change clothes on Air Force One? With nearly a decade of stories to tell, Litt makes clear that politics is completely, hopelessly absurd.
But it’s also important. For all the moments of chaos, frustration, and yes, disillusionment, Litt remains a believer in the words that first drew him to the Obama campaign: “People who love this country can change it.” In telling his own story, Litt sheds fresh light on his former boss’s legacy. And he argues that, despite the current political climate, the politics championed by Barack Obama will outlive the presidency of Donald Trump.
Full of hilarious stories and told in a truly original voice, Thanks, Obama is an exciting debut about what it means – personally, professionally, and politically – to grow up.
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I thought this would be a worshipful depiction of Former President Obama but was pleasantly surprised. The author managed to show the wonderful human side of his former boss while giving us a peek behind the curtain that covers the inner workings of the white house.
Even if you don’t agree with his politics, this is an interesting peek into what goes on behind the scenes.
Great insight into his world as president.
Good snap shots of the West Wing as it really is.
If you’ve been nostalgic for Obama’s time in the White House, read this. I learned much more about Obama, and the complex system of governing from the White House. There are so many unsung heroes behind the achievements of a good president. When failures occur, those behind the scenes heroes suffer along with their boss. They all have my highest respect and admiration.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I really enjoyed this book. Even though I am a huge supporter of former President Obama, and trust me I loved to read snippets that included him within this book, I really enjoyed learning more about the behind the scenes activities in and around the White House. I learned a lot in regards to how speeches were researched, created, written, and implemented. Mr. Litt was hilarious and I found myself bursting out laughing numerous times. He has that dry, sarcastic type of whit that I really identify with.
This is an excellent book and I am glad I decided to purchase it. I will definitely read it again.
Great for presidential history: behind the scenes accounts of Vice Presidents and Presidents. Even some new information I wasn’t aware of
I liked it because it presented a different aspect of working and life in President Obama’s White House
In a light-hearted way, the author takes us through his time as a disciple of Barack Obama. I say disciple because he first worked as a volunteer for the Obama campaign in Ohio for six months (helping the President win the state and the White House) before securing a job two years after the President took office as a speechwriter. Initially, Litt handled modest assignments (i.e., the White House Correspondents Dinner speech), but as other speechwriters departed and he gained more experience, Litt gradually assumed greater responsibilities.
I would have liked reading more about the process the author went through in preparing speeches for the President, as well as his role in assisting others prepare major speeches that Obama delivered during his tenure in office.
The author is effective at communicating the passion of everyone who works at the White House has for the cause they are part of. Rising poll numbers for the president are cheered, whole declining numbers generate concern that the President will not be re-elected.
Litt also effectively conveys the high burnout rate of those who work in the White House. The hours are long, the expectations high, and the pressure for results is immense. It is rare for anyone to last all eight years of a two-term presidency.
“Thanks. Obama” by David Litt is one of the best books I’ve read in the last five years. Probably because my reaction to Obama’s candidacy and his election was so similar to my own. David Litt’s personal journey as President Obama’s speechwriter was emotional, honest and very enlightening as to just how much speechwriters do for a political officeholder, but Litt also shows clearly Obama’s intelligence and his integrity and deep feeling for American ideals. Truly, a beautiful book to read right now in this disheartening time of Donald Trumpism.
Extremely well written inside view of the Obama White House. The contrast between then and now is truly scary.
Enjoyed the humor and perspective from this witty journalist.