Comments (15)

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?

and Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House
What did you think about this title?
1 to 15 of 15 items
Feb 03, 2022
1. Profanity abounds: f_ck, sh_t (excrement). And her use of all CAPS! Where's the editor? It's a lollipop diary. 2. Every once in a while she'd lapse into the job duties. 3. Gee, What made me think I'd learn about Him from his photo on…
Aug 14, 2021churchstreader rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I liked this book, liked Mastromonaco, and value the kind of storytelling she offers her readers here, but didn't like the nonchronological organization. The themes organizing the chapters were pretty trite. Wish that I could have…
Apr 06, 2019
Imagine how funny this book must be to the living relatives of the victims in Honduras, Ukraine and elsewhere. Especially in Syria, when the Pentagon, at the direction of the Obama Administration, disbursed $500 million to train so-called…
Jun 03, 2018MplsTA rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Such a good read I finished it in two nights. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes life of a travel scheduler for Sen. Obama and then when she joined his staff in the WH. I especially liked her descriptions of the trips they took world wide and…
Dec 29, 2017pmaison rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
2.5 - 3 stars Given the list of Alyssa Mastromonaco's weighty White House responsibilities during the Obama admin., the storyline she recounts here devolves into one-too-many 'dear diary' anecdotes. I cut her slack because maybe she's…
Oct 23, 2017dani_lacey rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A quick read that provided some fun anecdotes, but was at times underwhelming. Alyssa Mastromonaco ran the White House during the Obama years and it's clear that she has a deep passion for what she does. But, while I'd hoped to learn more…
Oct 12, 2017ArapahoeBridget rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
A breezy, interesting story that reads a bit like Mindy Kaling's memoirs mashed up with The West Wing.
Aug 30, 2017
Garbage. Totally unworthy of reading. The writer tricked readers by her former job title, yet pity she has nothing to say in her writing. Skip it!
Aug 29, 2017PimaLib_NormS rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
“Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?” by former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Alyssa Mastromonaco with Lauren Oyler, is an amusing read about the author’s life, especially the years she spent as a staffer for John Kerry and Barack…
Aug 28, 2017bobgrant rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Very interesting and also horrifying at the same time. The author is pretty arrogant but also has no trouble telling stories on herself. But to read this, in this day and age, and discover the breath-taking squandering of money and…
Jul 26, 2017KatTheGreat rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I really wanted to love this book, and maybe my hopes were set too high - I have to admit that I found it to be fairly sophomoric and lacking depth. While there are some nice moments, the entire books comes off as anecdotal; and I…
Jul 16, 2017Indoorcamping rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Probably the best book I've read for a long, long time. Just made me so proud to be an American, where adorable young women like this exist and can succeed. Her story is hilarious, the writing is addicting, and the way it makes you feel as…
Jul 04, 2017lilypad_1 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I thought this was a book about the Obama administration but it was about the authors career. So I got over my disappointment and enjoyed her personality but wished I had been able to read this when I was in my twenties and thirties. Good…
Apr 19, 2017
Heard the author in an interview on Terry Gross's Fresh Air - - she sounded typical of the mediocrities which abounded in the Obama Administration. She believed President Obama to be a grand fellow, and actually suggested the Timothy…
Apr 05, 2017
Ms. Mastromonaco gave a great interview on the "Make Me Smart" podcast. Definitely want to read this now.