RLL

Unknown history comes alive

Revisado: 12-17-23

Rachel covers much of what she did in her podcast in this book, but with more detail and characters that come alive. The research is impeccable, and even the speculation is reasonable, inviting the reader to judge for themselves. Her tone and timbre are a delight for an audiobook. A rarity among books, I wish it were longer.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Refreshingly Irreverent Political Memoir

Revisado: 10-09-17

Political memoirs tend to be drab, plodding, and full of posturing. Whether or not you have fond memories of the Obama Administration, a view inside the machine is compelling. Politics can be cynical and political operatives are too often malicious. This is why I enjoyed peeking into this millennial’s journey from young skeptic to zealot to insider. Any political movement, from Occupy to Obamamania to the Tea Party to Trumpism, gains momentum on the backs of believers who break the political inertia holding back some or the feeling of disenfranchisement felt by others whose political leanings have been formed by the collapse of hope due to the immense weight of lofty unmet expectations. This book gives a glimpse into the ebbs and flows of the Obama era.

This isn’t hero worship. It’s simply a look at an idealist’s journey to the center of his perceived political earth, and the twists and turns getting there. You learn about the human side of the White House, from Obama’s sense of humor to the insecurities and outsized consequences of staff. You see the journey from wide-eyed worshiper to jaded insider to realistic and hopeful pragmatist.

If you want to understand the motivations, hopes, and fears that fueled the undeniably successful political eruption of 2008, and the unavoidable reality of Washington crashing against and eroding it in the wake, read this book.

The performance, by the author, is fantastic. Nobody understands the nuance of writing like a work's author, yet most have trouble pulling off a performance. This is not a problem for Litt, who is clearly comfortable behind a microphone.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 15 personas

A bit rah rah, but insightful

Revisado: 01-03-16

This book is well-written and insightful, though it comes off at times as taking a decidedly pro-Musk angle. The author accepts Musk's assertions a bit too easily, and dismisses his detractors without fully explaining his justifications.

If you want to understand Musk and his story with a biography that could well have been approved by Musk, this is a good bet.

If you're looking for objective analysis, look elsewhere. I enjoyed it and would recommend with that caveat.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña