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The World as It Is
- A Memoir of the Obama White House
- Narrated by: Ben Rhodes, Mark Deakins
- Length: 15 hrs and 45 mins
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Publisher's Summary
From one of Obama’s closest aides comes a revelatory, behind-the-scenes account of his presidency - and how idealism can confront harsh reality and still survive - in the tradition of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.’s A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House.
For nearly 10 years, Ben Rhodes saw almost everything that happened at the center of the Obama administration - first as a speechwriter, then as deputy national security advisor, and finally as a multipurpose aide and close collaborator. He started every morning in the Oval Office with the President’s Daily Brief, traveled the world with Obama, and was at the center of some of the most consequential and controversial moments of the presidency. Now, he tells the full story of his partnership - and, ultimately, friendship - with a man who also happened to be a historic president of the United States.
Rhodes was not your typical presidential confidant, and this is not your typical White House memoir. Rendered in vivid, novelistic detail by someone who was a writer before he was a staffer, this is a rare look inside the most poignant, tense, and consequential moments of the Obama presidency - waiting out the bin Laden raid in the Situation Room, responding to the Arab Spring, reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, leading secret negotiations with the Cuban government to normalize relations, and confronting the resurgence of nationalism and nativism that culminated in the election of Donald Trump.
In The World as It Is, Rhodes shows what it was like to be there - from the early days of the Obama campaign to the final hours of the presidency. It is a story populated by such characters as Susan Rice, Samantha Power, Hillary Clinton, Bob Gates, and - above all - Barack Obama, who comes to life in moments of great urgency and disarming intimacy. This is the most vivid portrayal yet of Obama’s worldview and presidency, a chronicle of a political education by a writer of enormous talent, and an essential record of the forces that shaped the last decade.
Read by Mark Deakins. Prologue read by the author.
What the critics say
"Ben Rhodes, who served Barack Obama as a foreign policy adviser and speechwriter from beginning to end, has written a book that reflects the president he served - intelligent, amiable, compelling and principled. And there is something more: The World as It Is is a classic coming-of-age story, about the journey from idealism to realism, told with candor and immediacy.... His achievement is rare for a political memoir: He has written a humane and honorable book." (Joe Klein, The New York Times Book Review)
"In The World as It Is, Rhodes shows no trace of the disillusionment that gave George Stephanopoulos's tale of Bill Clinton its bitter, gossipy flavor, or of the light irony that came to inflect Peggy Noonan's adoration of Ronald Reagan. More than any other White House memoirist, Rhodes is a creature of the man he served.... This is the closest view of Obama we're likely to get until he publishes his own memoir." (George Packer, The New Yorker)
"Ben Rhodes is one of the most brilliant minds and powerful storytellers I've ever known. In The World as It Is, he doesn't just bring you inside the room for the key moments of Obama's presidency, he captivates you with the journey of an idealistic young staffer who becomes the president's close friend and advisor - a journey that both cynics and believers will find riveting and hopeful." (Jon Favreau)
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What listeners say about The World as It Is
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kevin K.
- 2018-08-28
A thought provoking experience.
provides unique perspective and gives an appreciation for all who work behind the scenes to make the presidential term successful.
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- Steve Cosby
- 2019-07-05
Great story, great insight, even better narration
An enthralling peek behind the curtain of life in the top office of the country. A fantastically written story that gives so much context to decisions made on policy and current events. Gives just enough of the background minutiae of policy making to make it interesting and not dry for a minute.
Fantastic narration by Mark Deakins as well
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- Regina
- 2019-12-01
worth listening
I was emotionally drawn to the riveting and compelling narrative that is both inspiring and grounding. Excellent work by Ben Rhodes!
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- Nawar N
- 2019-02-25
Fascinating!
Fascinating insight into the Obama White House and the demands of the office. I could not put the book down.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2018-06-18
Really interesting listen!
Would have been nice to hear Rhodes narrate the book, but Deakins was good.
Puts into perspective how many things happened during the Obama administration.
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- Stephanie Coulson
- 2018-09-12
Gripping narrative, fantastic narration
Beautifully written narrative of the Obama presidency interwoven with Rhodes' own personal journey. I only wish that it was longer.
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- Gramercy
- 2019-04-26
J'ai adoré !
J'ai adoré la perspective unique de Ben. Témoin unique d'une présidence historique. J'ai particulièrement apprécié le récit de la négociation avec le gouvernement cubain. Je recommande fortement !
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