West Wingers: Stories from the Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside the Obama White House

by Gautam Raghavan Narrated by Gautam Raghavan, Michael Strautmanis, Brad Jenkins, Various

Overview

The Obama White House staff invites us behind-the-scenes of history for a deeply personal and moving look at the presidency and how a president's staff can change the nation

When we elect a president, we elect with them an entire team that will join them in the West Wing to help run the country. Each of these staffers has a story to tell, and in*West Wingers, Barack Obama's White House staff reveals how these extraordinary citizens shape the presidency and the nation.

In these moving and revealing personal stories, eighteen Obama staffers bring us deep inside the presidency, offering intimate accounts of how they made it to the White House, what they witnessed, and what they accomplished there. In each one we see the human face of government, staffers devoting themselves to the issues that have defined their lives. We hear from a married gay staffer pushing the president towards marriage equality; a senior aide working to implement the Affordable Care Act while battling Stage IV cancer; a hijab-wearing Muslim adviser accompanying the President to a mosque. From the triumphs of Obamacare and marriage equality to the tragedy of the Charleston shooting, this book tells the history of the Obama presidency through the men and women who worked tirelessly to support his vision for America. More than just a history though,*West Wingers*is an inspiring call to arms for public service, a manifesto for the power of committed public servants to make real change, and a powerful testament to what true diversity, inclusivity, and progress can look like in America.


Audiobook Table of Contents:

Evolution, by Gautam Raghavan, read by the author
Becoming a Man, by Michael Strautmanis, read by the author
Imagine Joey Lucas, by Leah Katz-Hernandez, read by Kyla Garcia
Laughing Between Two Ferns, by Brad Jenkins, read by the author
Amazing Grace, by Heather Foster, read by the author
Worth It, by Cecilia Muñoz, read by the author
Go Toward the Good, by Hope Hall, read by the author
Big F'ing Deal, by Michael J. Robertson, read by the author
Alaska, by Raina Thele, read by the author
A Call to Action, by Lynn Rosenthal, read by the author
Behind the Mahogany Doors, by Bill Yosses, read by the author
Full Circle, by Darienne Page, read by the author
Imposter, by Deesha Dyer, read by the author
September 12, by Ned Price, read by the author
Sí Se Puede, by Julie Chavez Rodriguez, read by the author
Right Where We Belong, by Rumana Ahmed, read by the author
Fiery Latinas, by Stephanie Valencia, read by the author
Before We Were Us, by Aneesh Raman, read by the author

With a preface and additional sections read by author Gautam Raghavan

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

10/01/2018
Former West Wing staffer Raghavan brings together an engaging and at times uplifting collection of firsthand accounts from all levels of the White House staff during the Obama administration. Contributors include a seasoned political operative who served as the President’s domestic policy advisor, the White House pastry chef, and the West Wing receptionist. These heartfelt and earnest essays often track the staffers’ unlikely paths to the White House, such as that of the White House social secretary, who started as an “older, nontraditional community college student” and then won a coveted internship. Other pieces focus on the administration’s losses and wins, such as passing immigration reform and ill-fated military operations, showing the rewards and frustrations of life in the White House. A few key moments of the Obama presidency, such as the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, are discussed multiple times, but each narrative adds another perspective. As one contributor recalls, “President Obama chose individuals with deep empathy and diverse upbringings that brought unique perspectives into his White House.” This memorable collection of essays, which shares those diverse and empathetic perspectives on behind-the-scenes events, will appeal to those who remember the Obama administration fondly. Agent: Cindy Uh, Thompson Literary. (Sept.)

From the Publisher

West Wingers is exceptional because of the people in it: ordinary citizens who did extraordinary work and always put the American people first. We have so much to learn from their stories.”–President Biden

“There is no calling higher than public service. West Wingers brings us inspiring stories of women and men who unselfishly answered that call, remarkable citizens who worked for President Barack Obama to shape a better future for all Americans. These deeply moving stories offer more than a fascinating view into the window of history: they show us how hope becomes real, sustainable change."–Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to President Obama

"These gifted thinkers will lead us to a better place. They will make a major contribution to our future—as a nation, as a people—with what they have learned working for President Obama. We all should be inspired by their involvement, their passion, and their work. Their contribution to our nation will inspire our young people to dream dreams, to be hopeful, and to never give up or give in."–Congressman John Lewis

"There are few things more enthralling than a backstage seat in the White House, and West Wingers brings together a powerful group of Obama administration insiders to shine a spotlight on what it really takes to fight for social change."–Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B (with Sheryl Sandberg)

“These are essential American stories. Through diverse voices sharing their amazing experiences working to move our country forward, West Wingers creates an inspiring roadmap to a better future." –Sheryl Sandberg, New York Times bestselling author of Lean In and Option B (with Adam Grant)

“West Wingers gives us exactly what our country needs right now: a model for compassionate leadership and a commitment to making life better for all Americans regardless of race, class, or religion.” –Van Jones, Host of The Van Jones Show and New York Times bestselling author of Beyond the Messy Truth

“It’s hard to truly understand how special the Obama White House was without having been there, but West Wingers gets you as close as humanly possible. You may not have previously known the names of the amazing team contributing to this book, but you should. Our kids should. Their stories will leave you inspired and hopeful for our future."–Kal Penn, actor and former Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

"West Wingers is not a typical partisan political book. It’s a peek behind the curtain at the highs and lows and the joys and disappointments of working for the President of the United States. It’s impossible to read without seeing the humanity in this diverse group of voices. Each fascinating chapter tells a piece of American History from a different and often overlooked perspective."–Kate Andersen Brower, New York Times bestselling author of First in Line, First Women and The Residence

“I loved West Wingers! It’s an Obama-era version of The West Wing, featuring a cast of do-gooders, wonks, idealists and change-makers that Aaron Sorkin never could have dreamt up. It’s a fascinating behind-the-curtain glimpse at a band of absurdly dedicated, mostly unknown and unsung true believers. Not least, it’s a postcard from a galaxy far away: a White House mostly devoid of lying, back-stabbing, leaking or high drama.” -Chris Whipple, New York Times bestselling author of The Gatekeepers

"A welcome contrast to the current dismal state of the White House.” –Kirkus

"Heartfelt and earnest . . . [A] memorable collection of essays, which shares those diverse and empathetic perspectives on behind-the-scenes events." –Publishers Weekly

"It’s fascinating to relive President Obama’s time in office through the eyes of the team that helped him run the country." -Hello Giggles

Kirkus Reviews

2018-06-27
A collection of inside stories from Barack Obama's White House.Raghavan's first publication highlights his work as Obama's Office of Public Engagement liaison to the LGBTQ community, a position that brought him into contact with the people who really made the administration one of inclusion and brotherhood. "I can't speak for other White House staffs," writes the editor, "but many of us who worked in the Obama White House came from well outside the circles of wealth, access, and privilege. That's especially true for people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, veterans, women [and] people with disabilities." Each of the volume's contributors personifies Obama's philosophy that we're all our brothers' keepers. The life-changing effect of being sought out by the president or his staff comes through clearly, but actually working there could be overwhelming. The long hours and constant pressure were exhausting, and not all could take the burden for two terms. The days were alternately crushingly disappointing and extraordinarily joyful. Stephanie Valencia, who worked on Obama's 2008 campaign and then in the OPE, writes about her thrill at the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. There are names many readers will know—e.g., Cecilia Muñoz and Julie Chavez Rodriguez, granddaughter of Cesar Chavez—but most are the anonymous dedicated people working 18-hour days for their country. The presidential videographer's story of Obama's speech at the site of the 2015 Charleston shooting brings us right to the church, singing "Amazing Grace" with him. The president's staff was mostly successful in balancing the needs of the communities they represented with the president's agenda. These people dealt with Muslim issues, tribal problems, racial conflict, marriage equality, the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, and much more. Overall, the collection covers a wide swath of characters, including a West Wing receptionist who was deaf and even the pastry chef.A quick, readable, and often moving book—and a welcome contrast to the current dismal state of the White House.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169471151
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	09/25/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Evolution
(Continues…)

---

Excerpted from "West Wingers"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Gautam Raghavan.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Videos