Litt winningly details his ascent from campaign volunteer, flushed with the passion of early infatuation, to world-weary member of Barack Obama's senior speechwriting staff. While it has all the trappings of a coming-of-age tale set inside the Beltway, Litt's aims are grander. The speechwriter is not just a speechwriter; the speech is never just a speech…"On some level, every White House staffer is an alchemist," [Litt] writes…"You arrive at the building full of faith in miracles, striving to craft something flawless and shiny from the leaden scraps of real-world events." Thanks, Obama is similarly alchemical, wringing comedy, pathos and a nation's hope out of one man's stumble through the halls of power. While the first half of the book is enjoyable, the second half is masterly, rising to a crescendo that is as rousing as, well, a particularly inspiring campaign speech.
Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years
Narrated by David Litt
David LittUnabridged — 9 hours, 28 minutes
Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years
Narrated by David Litt
David LittUnabridged — 9 hours, 28 minutes
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Overview
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Remember when presidents spoke in complete sentences instead of in unhinged tweets? 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 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.
Editorial Reviews
07/31/2017
In this entertaining memoir, Litt recounts becoming, in 2011, one of eight speechwriters for President Obama. Two years later, he held the title “special assistant to the president” and was Obama’s go-to guy for funny lines, with an ever-larger role in the president’s remarks for the annual Correspondents’ Dinner. His career culminated in 2015 with the famous Correspondents’ Dinner featuring “Obama’s Anger Translator,” Keegan-Michael Key’s sketch-comedy character. Litt’s tale shares a starry-eyed sensibility and gratification in personal good fortune—in his case, landing a dream job soon after graduating from Yale—with other accounts published by former Obama staffers. However, he manages to come off as not (too) privileged or self-important, candidly recollecting some of his biggest gaffes as a White House speechwriter (for instance, gravely offending the government and people of Kenya with a single, thoughtlessly written line.) He also does an excellent job describing the genesis and performance of several of Obama’s most powerful speeches, including one made following the Charleston church shootings in 2015: “Then, without warning, he paused, looked down, and shook his head.... Then, softly, the most powerful person on earth began to sing.” Veering between tragedy and comedy, between self-doubt and hubris, Litt vividly recreates a period during which he saw his words sometimes become the words of a nation. (Sept.)
Litt is a funny and skillful storyteller… While the first half of the book is enjoyable, the second half is masterly, rising to a crescendo that is as rousing as, well, a particularly inspiring campaign speech.” — New York Times Book Review
“Graceful, instructive, wry speechwriter memoirs like Litt’s are the exception rather than the norm. . . . Thanks, Obama will join the ranks of lasting works about the texture of political life, and of coming-of-age accounts by staffers who grow up personally and politically at the same time.” — The Atlantic
“His time [in the White House] was as ‘hopey changey’ as advertised—with a little bit of absurdity and humor added into the mix.” — Elle, Best of the Month
“Serve[s] as a more devastating indictment of the current administration than a campaign-style book ever could . . . limber, funny and illuminating.” — New Republic
“Highly entertaining . . . much more than a scrapbook of Beltway gossip and Obama idolatry.” — Pacific Standard
“Irresistibly charming . . . Litt minted his star converting world affairs into jokes. The translation of satire back to sincerity is trickier to pull off, and lands with its own undeniable grace.” — Slate
“Litt is a skilled storyteller with a keen sense of humor and unique experiences and insight to draw upon.” — Bustle
“Litt also offers both humor and optimism, two things many of us sorely need these days.” — Bustle, Best of the Month
“What Litt understands and what Thanks, Obama makes clear may very soon be forgotten: The finest presidential speeches can heal the nation.” — Paste Magazine
“A thoughtful and funny account of life as a minnow surrounded by Washington’s self-important whales . . . ranks with other classics from former White House speechwriters, such as Peggy Noonan’s What I Saw at the Revolution.” — USA Today, *** 1/2
“Funny and unexpectedly moving . . . a powerful reminder that true fulfillment can come from wielding even the smallest bit of influence on behalf of those who have none.” — Washington Monthly
“A fast, funny ride through the halls of power.” — Kirkus
“Veering between tragedy and comedy, between self-doubt and hubris, Litt vividly recreates a period during which he saw his words sometimes become the words of a nation.” — Publishers Weekly
“By turns moving and hilarious, David Litt’s rollicking account of his journey from campaign field grunt to presidential speechwriter is an irresistible read.” — David Axelrod, former Senior Advisor to Barack Obama and author of Believer: My Forty Years in Politics
“David Litt has done the impossible: written a smart, insightful, and funny White House memoir you don’t have to be a political junkie to love. Even better, he takes us back to a saner more compassionate time when our president liked to read.” — Judd Apatow
“Terrific—part first-hand story about being inspired by a cultural icon, part how-to manual for getting involved in politics and making change. Thanks, Obama is a hysterical, pithy, and heartfelt trip down memory lane. And boy, do we need it.” — Keegan-Michael Key
“David Litt is brilliant. I’ve gotten to witness firsthand some of the work he did for President Obama at past White House Correspondents Dinners and it’s always intelligent, razor sharp and hilarious.” — Billy Eichner
“An outstanding, hilarious, and precise memoir . . . I laughed again and again. This is an excellent account of what it felt like to work for the Second to Last President of The United States.” — John Mulaney, co-creator and star of Oh, Hello
“Don’t be fooled by the self-deprecating narrator, this portrait of a young speechwriter is filled with wit, wisdom, and a loving touch. David’s labors remind of us a not-so-distant past when words mattered. If I was a simpleton and a book critic, I’d say thumbs up.” — Matt Walsh, HBO’s Veep
“David Litt is a natural storyteller and an absolute joy.” — Tig Notaro, author of I’m Just a Person
“Thanks, Obama is a wonderful book for the same reasons David Litt’s speeches for the White House were wonderful: it’s well-written, it’s funny, it tells us exactly what we’re curious about, and. . . it reminds us that a great president galvanizes not only his staff but his country.” — Anne Fadiman, author of Ex Libris
“Funny and warm, David Litt knows how to make people laugh regardless of their political affiliation.” — Mike Birbiglia, author of Sleepwalk With Me: And Other Painfully True Stories
“A magnificent memoir on the Obama presidency. You’ll walk away with another kind of hope that’s needed now more than ever: the belief that a government can actually do some good.” — Adam Grant, author of Originals and coauthor of Option B
“A talented (and very funny) speechwriter, David will make you laugh. He’ll make you miss Obama more than you do already. Most of all, he’ll renew your faith in the politics of hope.” — Stephanie Cutter, former deputy campaign manager for Barack Obama
Serve[s] as a more devastating indictment of the current administration than a campaign-style book ever could . . . limber, funny and illuminating.
What Litt understands and what Thanks, Obama makes clear may very soon be forgotten: The finest presidential speeches can heal the nation.
Litt is a funny and skillful storyteller… While the first half of the book is enjoyable, the second half is masterly, rising to a crescendo that is as rousing as, well, a particularly inspiring campaign speech.
Irresistibly charming . . . Litt minted his star converting world affairs into jokes. The translation of satire back to sincerity is trickier to pull off, and lands with its own undeniable grace.
A thoughtful and funny account of life as a minnow surrounded by Washington’s self-important whales . . . ranks with other classics from former White House speechwriters, such as Peggy Noonan’s What I Saw at the Revolution.
Litt also offers both humor and optimism, two things many of us sorely need these days.
Litt is a skilled storyteller with a keen sense of humor and unique experiences and insight to draw upon.
His time [in the White House] was as ‘hopey changey’ as advertised—with a little bit of absurdity and humor added into the mix.
Graceful, instructive, wry speechwriter memoirs like Litt’s are the exception rather than the norm. . . . Thanks, Obama will join the ranks of lasting works about the texture of political life, and of coming-of-age accounts by staffers who grow up personally and politically at the same time.
Highly entertaining . . . much more than a scrapbook of Beltway gossip and Obama idolatry.
Funny and warm, David Litt knows how to make people laugh regardless of their political affiliation.
David Litt has done the impossible: written a smart, insightful, and funny White House memoir you don’t have to be a political junkie to love. Even better, he takes us back to a saner more compassionate time when our president liked to read.
Terrific—part first-hand story about being inspired by a cultural icon, part how-to manual for getting involved in politics and making change. Thanks, Obama is a hysterical, pithy, and heartfelt trip down memory lane. And boy, do we need it.
David Litt is brilliant. I’ve gotten to witness firsthand some of the work he did for President Obama at past White House Correspondents Dinners and it’s always intelligent, razor sharp and hilarious.
Don’t be fooled by the self-deprecating narrator, this portrait of a young speechwriter is filled with wit, wisdom, and a loving touch. David’s labors remind of us a not-so-distant past when words mattered. If I was a simpleton and a book critic, I’d say thumbs up.
Funny and unexpectedly moving . . . a powerful reminder that true fulfillment can come from wielding even the smallest bit of influence on behalf of those who have none.
By turns moving and hilarious, David Litt’s rollicking account of his journey from campaign field grunt to presidential speechwriter is an irresistible read.
An outstanding, hilarious, and precise memoir . . . I laughed again and again. This is an excellent account of what it felt like to work for the Second to Last President of The United States.
A magnificent memoir on the Obama presidency. You’ll walk away with another kind of hope that’s needed now more than ever: the belief that a government can actually do some good.
David Litt is a natural storyteller and an absolute joy.
Thanks, Obama is a wonderful book for the same reasons David Litt’s speeches for the White House were wonderful: it’s well-written, it’s funny, it tells us exactly what we’re curious about, and. . . it reminds us that a great president galvanizes not only his staff but his country.
A talented (and very funny) speechwriter, David will make you laugh. He’ll make you miss Obama more than you do already. Most of all, he’ll renew your faith in the politics of hope.
A thoughtful and funny account of life as a minnow surrounded by Washington’s self-important whales . . . ranks with other classics from former White House speechwriters, such as Peggy Noonan’s What I Saw at the Revolution.
Irresistibly charming . . . Litt minted his star converting world affairs into jokes. The translation of satire back to sincerity is trickier to pull off, and lands with its own undeniable grace.
09/01/2017
Litt (head writer/producer, Funny or Die, Washington, DC office) served from 2011 to 2016 as special assistant and senior speechwriter to President Barack Obama, a job that included the serious business of writing jokes for the president. "Lips," as he was nicknamed by Obama, shares that one funny line results from 25 bad ones. Inspired by Obama's call for national unity and progressivism, Litt became an "Obamabot" volunteer during the 2008 campaign. Writing jokes and presidential remarks is high-pressure work, and as Litt vividly shows, a wrong word or phrase could lead to exile from the political cauldron. This book includes its share of humor, notably how Litt was caught in his underwear aboard Air Force One, but it's best for its coming-of-age themes that show the twentysomething author maturing against a backdrop of debate over the Affordable Care Act, the rise of ISIS, the divisiveness of race, and the defeat of the Democrats in the 2014 midterm elections. Litt's personal journey takes him from a college slacker to a highly regarded wordsmith who skillfully conveyed the president's goals and policies. VERDICT This perceptive and sharp-witted memoir will be enjoyed by political junkies and those interested in presidential speechwriting. See Mark Katz's Clinton & Me for another take on presidential joke writing. [See Prepub Alert, 3/8/17.]—Karl Helicher, formerly with Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA
2017-07-17
President Barack Obama's speechwriter offers his take on an extraordinary tenure inside the White House.There's an interesting subcategory of memoirs emerging from the Obama years. Unlike the heavy hitters from the Cabinet, we're hearing from the young professionals who propelled the senator to power and bore witness to his legacy. They also happen to be some of the funniest workplace comedies on the shelves. In a memoir following closely on the heels of former Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco's book, Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? (2017), Litt, one of the youngest speechwriters in the history of the White House, delivers a fast, funny ride through the halls of power. Haunted by the specter of Sarah Palin ("So, how's that whole hopey, changey thing workin' out for ya?"), the author offers a stark contrast in leadership between then and now. Working first for senior adviser Valerie Jarrett before becoming senior presidential speechwriter, Litt admits his impressions were colored by The West Wing: "Like every Democrat under the age of thirty-five, I was raised, in part, by Aaron Sorkin." He reveals what it's like to write four White House Correspondents' Association dinner speeches for the president, and he chronicles some strange encounters with the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Harvey Weinstein, and the comedy duo Key & Peele. But for every White House men's room anecdote or gee-whiz moment ("Air Force One is exactly as cool as you would expect"), Litt offers piercing assessments of the nature of our politics. "Gridlock is an accident, an inconvenience," he writes. "What happened on Capitol Hill was a strategy, and its architect was Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell." His final thoughts, written as the next administration begins its reign, are telling: "But here, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is the single most valuable lesson I learned in public service: There are no grown-ups, at least not in the way I imagined as a kid." President Obama's running question to Litt was, "so, are we funny?" Yes, they are—and insightful, too.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940170239191 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins |
| Publication date: | 09/19/2017 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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