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From the Corner of the Oval cover art

From the Corner of the Oval

Written by: Beck Dorey-Stein
Narrated by: Beck Dorey-Stein
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Publisher's Summary

New York Times best seller

What if you lived out the drama of your 20s on Air Force One?

"[This] breezy page turner is essentially Bridget Jones goes to the White House." (The New York Times)

Recommended Reading: theSkimm • Today • Entertainment Weekly • Refinery29 • Bustle • PopSugar • Vanity Fair • The New York Times Editors’ Choice • Paste

In 2012, Beck Dorey-Stein is working five part-time jobs and just scraping by when a posting on Craigslist lands her, improbably, in the Oval Office as one of Barack Obama's stenographers. The ultimate DC outsider, she joins the elite team who accompany the president wherever he goes, recorder and mic in hand. On whirlwind trips across time zones, Beck forges friendships with a dynamic group of fellow travelers - young men and women who, like her, leave their real lives behind to hop aboard Air Force One in service of the president.

As she learns to navigate White House protocols and more than once runs afoul of the hierarchy, Beck becomes romantically entangled with a consummate DC insider, and suddenly the political becomes all too personal.

Against a backdrop of glamour, drama, and intrigue, this is the story of a young woman learning what truly matters, and, in the process, discovering her voice.

“Who knew the West Wing could be so sexy? Beck Dorey-Stein’s unparalleled access is obvious on every page, along with her knife-sharp humor. I tore through the entire book on a four-hour flight and loved reading all about the brilliant yet hard-partying people who once surrounded the leader of the free world. Lots of books claim to give real insider glimpses, but this one actually delivers.” (Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears Prada)

“Dorey-Stein...writes with wit and self-deprecating humor.” (The Wall Street Journal)

“Addictively readable... Dorey-Stein’s spunk and her sparkling, crackling prose had me cheering for her through each adventure... She never loses her starry-eyed optimism, her pinch-me wonderment, her Working Girl pluck.” (Paul Begala, The New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice)

©2018 Beck Dorey-Stein (P)2018 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“Who knew the West Wing could be so sexy? Beck Dorey-Stein’s unparalleled access is obvious on every page, along with her knife-sharp humor. I tore through the entire book on a four-hour flight and loved reading all about the brilliant yet hard-partying people who once surrounded the leader of the free world. Lots of books claim to give real insider glimpses, but this one actually delivers.” (Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears Prada)

“If you’ve ever felt like you were out of your element, in over your head, or working without a net, you will love this book. Beck Dorey-Stein reveals an endlessly fascinating perspective on power and history in the making. This memoir is funny, fast-paced, and so emotionally true that it hurts.” (Piper Kerman, author of Orange Is the New Black)

“History lesson meets soap opera. In this poignant, brutally honest, and often-funny work of self-reflection, Dorey-Stein pulls no punches and tells all she learned from and about the president who ‘taught me to look up.’” (Booklist)

“A few weeks ago, what I always fear will happen actually did happen. I’d been reading Beck Dorey-Stein’s engrossing memoir, From the Corner of the Oval, out July 10, on my commute home. ‘Huh,’ I thought, as I looked up from my book and saw a slightly unfamiliar landscape whir by. ‘This train ride seems longer than usual.’ And it was. I had been so absorbed in Dorey-Stein’s insider recollections of the Obama White House that I’d missed my stop entirely.” (Refinery29, Best New Books For July 2018)

What listeners say about From the Corner of the Oval

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    3 out of 5 stars
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disappointing White House stories

More a story of young woman agonizing about her life while dating inappropriate guy than White House insider. I was expecting it to be similar to Who Though This Was A Good Idea, but wasn't even close So if you haven't already, read that instead.

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  • Overall
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Best Book I've Listened to in a Long Time

I heard about this book from the Skimm and instantly knew I had to read it. I was skeptical at first because I've tried reading and listening to memoir's before and end up stopping after the first few chapters but this book was different. From the first chapter, I was drawn into Becks world and I couldn't stop listening until it was finished. Beck Dorey Stein knows how to write a beautiful captivating story. I loved the moments she shared with the president and her drive to push through all the negative things in life. I saw myself in her and I'm so glad she shared her experiences and didn't hide them because they weren't particularly happy. I would recommend this book to everyone! Seriously read it or buy the audiobook you won't regret it!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting but sad. Lots of cursing.

It’s interesting to hear behind the scenes experiences. But I would have thought working with 44, Beck would grown in self confidence to stop being used and stop cheating. I expected more about 45 than a few sentences.

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Ugh

Simply put, I didn’t care about anyone in the story. Definite pick me vibes. Not poorly written but overall annoying

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