Welcome to Litsy!

I loved this so much!

Funny, smart, interesting, educational (for a political dufus such as myself, anyway) and - yup! - hopeful.

Things cannot possibly still be the same as they were in the pre-pandemic, pre-Trump White House but I truly appreciated this story, which felt like a delightful visit with a successful and humble and witty friend with a cool job.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

X

This memoir is so good! Written by a speechwriter for former President Obama, it explores the interesting and anecdotal tales of the bright years that were the Obama administration. The audiobook is narrated by the author himself, and he is HILARIOUS. It‘s an excellent listen while I‘m waiting in the school pick-up line.❤️🎧❤️

The secret to solving big problems, I learned, is knowing which little problems to ignore.

My latest progress on #nonfiction2020 bingo. Maybe, just maybe I‘ll get a bingo by the end of the year. If not, it was fun trying & I learned a ton! Are you going to do another card for next year @Riveted_Reader_Melissa ?

Kicking off my #voteearlyreadathon which was a total cover pick because I love a good red pen. #readwithmrbook

This is probably my favorite of the Obama staffer memoirs I‘ve read. It‘s definitely the funniest. This is what came to mind for today‘s #Thankful prompt.

#WordsofOctober

I enjoyed this look at what it was like to work in Obama‘s White House. Litt was a speechwriter and his humor made this book fun, which a lot of political memoirs aren‘t. Of course, he was serious when he needed to be, and I love the ending. It was also a quick read, which is always a plus for me! Thanks for the rec @MallenNC 😊

#popsugar2020 - a fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader

🎶It‘s the mooost wonderful tiiime of the year...🎵

President Obama put out his list of favorite books of 2019!

I learned some history. There was humor and upon finishing as well as when I read Michelle‘s Becoming I realized I almost made these two into saint-like beings.

I‘m thankful for recorded books that allow me to work and read. I dyed sock yarn today.

As I sat outside to post this the deer parade began. The twin fawns we‘re out of the frame.

#friyayintro @howjessreads

1. David Litt‘s memoir about Obama‘s White House
2. Hanging out with our grandson now that‘s he‘s home from college for summer
3. After our trip, I‘d say French but really, I can‘t choose ... 🤷🏼‍♀️
4. I have 17, although three have passed away
5. Heading over to the hashtag to find posts!

You‘re 24 years old, and your boss‘s boss is the leader of the free world. You make a bunch of gaffes in his presence, but still manage to get promoted to his senior speechwriting staff. Along with key to the fancy gym. And then you write a memoir about it, including narrating the audiobook quite well too. This was a great Obama admin memoir—recommended!

Full review www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2019
#nfbuddyread @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

New audiobook—back to my Obama-era memoir choices. Litt is funny and self-deprecating.

#nfbuddyread

I enjoyed this one, it‘s read by the author on audiobook and wasn‘t at all what I expected. It‘s a real behind the scenes look at what it‘s like working in the White House for just a normal guy....and he‘s quite funny. I found myself laughing and smiling to myself while listening to this look back at the past administration and all its highs and lows.

#NFBuddyRead
#Nonfiction2019

No wonder I fell like I‘m in constant whiplash lately, the current administrations tactics are completely the opposite. The sky is falling, the sky is falling, freak out, freak out!
#NFBuddyRead

LOL! This made me laugh, because I think we‘ve all had these discussions after years of ingesting Survivor and The Walking Dead, etc.

#NFBuddyRead

I like it.

#NFBuddyRead

I breezed through this one over the weekend, and finished it late last night...but I thought I‘d post a few quotes before I sit down to review it.

#NFBuddyRead

Our bookworm former President has a reading list for you! ❤️📚

This is ny 3rd Obama staffer memoir and by far my favorite so far. It's funny, yet informative, and doesn't delve too deeply into personal life stuff like other memoirs of this vein. Very fun on audio, he reads it himself and has good comedic timing. It's on hoopla so go check it out!

Made it to #MidtownScholarBookstore to hear Beck Dorey-Stein and David Litt talk about their books and life as White House staffers under Obama. #memoir #politics #authorevent

Not a great book, but very funny in many parts and I needed the realistic optimism that this book reminded me of! #nonfiction #imissobama

It was nice to revisit a time when I respected our president. This was a fun way to see the Obama white house, through the eyes of a speech writer. I did find that the book dragged a bit at times. It did lift my spirits and reminded me that progress is one step forward and two back...I am looking forward to our next step forward

I have been on a historical fiction bing...time for something completely different.

Obama‘s summer reading list. 😍. Adding all these to my TBR

It was good. Some of it wasn‘t that entertaining, other parts were great. I laughed out loud (which is rare for me) and I got teary eyed. It was an interesting insider look at being a speechwriter and young.

⭐️⭐️⭐️A light political memoir from an Obama speech writer. He shared some interesting anecdotes like this interaction with Luther/Keegan Michael Key. Learned a lot about speech writers. Sometimes his insecurities where annoying but all in all a nice read.

I really enjoyed this - I learned what a WH speechwriter really does, and there were a great number of Obama anecdotes. They weren't sugar-coated but still made me nostalgic for the times when our POTUS actually cared deeply about the effect his words and actions had on the world, on people. Litt has a great story to tell, and the audio was 👍🏼

#audiobook #presidentialstaffmemoir #politics #funny #insightful

Just started this on my drive to work and I've already laughed. This is gonna be good. (And man I love these Obama staffer memoirs. Reminds me of better days.)

💙😂🔊

#Obama #WhiteHousememoir #audiobook #Libby #currentlyreading #funny

“The old saying goes that you should fake it till you make it, but I think a more accurate saying would be ‘Fake it because you have no choice.‘”
-Thanks, Obama by David Litt

This was fun...anyone exhausted by the current political climate will get some relief (comic and otherwise) from revisiting several significant chapters of the Obama administration as told through the POV of a junior speechwriter. They have a lasting inside joke where Obama, while either in a meeting or on location for a speech, will randomly ask David, “So, are we funny?”

I laughed out loud a few times. Sighed in frustration A LOT. Needed this.

Oh how I wish we could end the “us vs. them” mentality. Oh how I thought we were headed in the right direction. 😩

While there were a few interesting anecdotes I was largely underwhelmed by this one. I might have enjoyed it more in print because I honestly found Litt annoying in the audio version.

Be right back, currently rolling on the floor laughing. 😆

#HumpDayPost

1. See above. For all the beer drinkers out there I recommend Rogue Dead Guy. It‘s been a favorite since I could legally buy my own beer 😏

2. Just started Gilmore Girls over (for 2nd time)

3. YES (tagged). Some political comic relief w/ focus on Obama which I desperately needed.

4. Glimpse at the weather above. ❄️🌩💦💨

5. No tattoos. I‘ve been pierced a dozen times (face & ears) but only retained 4.

Oh the inclusion Obama‘s election elicited. 🙏🏻💗😄

“So often in America, these differences were dividing lines, but here in Hartford lay the promise of something better, personified not by our candidate l, but by us. We were proud of who we were and where we came from.”

It was great to be back in ObamaWorld, even if it was for only a brief moment. The sneak peek inside the lower echelons of the Obama administration was nice, but this was otherwise a bit of a lackluster read.

Going straight to my next book, as I will be hanging out at the ice rink snack bar for quite a while, since I can‘t join M on the rink because of twitchy knee issues.

Exciting Friday night plans. 😂😂😂 But it‘s exactly where I want to be! #itscoldoutside #booksandwine

1. A light-hearted memoir by one of Obama‘s junior speech writers.
2. Swedish fish, if we‘re talking non-chocolate candy. Otherwise, dark choc sea salt caramels.
3. I‘m on the cusp between Gen X and Millenial, the micro-gen known as Xennials.
4. American Girl (I‘m hanging out in my daughter‘s room 😂)
5. Yoga, reading, and maybe a date night.

#HumpDayPost #CatsofLitsy

“All I had, really, was an envelope. It arrived in early January, oozing exclusivity and class.”

I received one of those envelopes, too! I kept the invite, pictured above, and it was definitely one of the coolest pieces of mail I ever received. Just as going to the 2012 Inauguration and Inaugural Ball ranks pretty high on the “highlights of my life” list! 😃❤️😃❤️

Keeping this book close at hand during tonight‘s SOTU. 🤢

I happen to have both the #audiobook and hardcover of my #currentread checked out from the library right now. It is a cold but sunny day, so I decided to take a 1/2 hour walk in a nearby lakefront park on my way home today. #audiowalk

Really enjoying this one so far! As a 2012 OFA campaign volunteer (I even got to go to the inauguration!), it‘s like hanging out with an old friend.

First book finished of #24in48. I always thought that I'd love every thing that came out of the Obama White House, but this has proven that is not the case. Litt's memoir just didn't grab me.

A fun and humourous listen. I would recommend to fans of the West Wing TV show who want some Obama nostalgia and some behind the scenes info. Litt offers a self-deprecating view of life as a White House speechwriter, and how it isn't like the West Wing show, but did have its perks, and times that were not so perky. I enjoyed it!

Picked up a nice #bookhaul at the library today!

But this does not bode well for making much progress in February on #MountTBR. 😂😂

#CatsofLitsy

I have to go to a leadership conference from 9-4 today. Feels fitting that this would be my next AM read. ❤️

Litt is hilarious. I loved reading about his rise as a speechwriter in the Obama White House and his self deprecating anecdotes. It was really funny, not too heavy on policy, and uplifting. It was nice diversion from Litt's game of "How much worse is America since I last checked my phone?" Great, patriotic read?!

#NuYear #CallOutTheDogs

I'm not sure if there are any parameters with the #5in2018 or just 5 you commit to reading but here you go. This helps with my goal of catching up on BOTM. Thanks @RebelReader for the tag. I tag @LeahBergen @cobwebmoth and @LauraBeth if you haven't already done it.

This book was wonderful. David Litt was a speechwriter for Obama. He takes you through his journey of seeing one of Obama‘s early speeches to working with him throughout the eight years. It is hilarious at times but will depress you with how much has changed. This book felt ultimately patriotic. It‘s a pick.