By that virtue, this book advertised as Rhodes’ memoir was more recognisable as an intimate and humane look at the intricacies of White House decision making.

The life of Ben Rhodes, from his job on the campaign trail to the last goodbye at the White House, was rarely independent of the presidential career of Barack Obama. But it also shows us what it means to hold the pen, and to write the words that change our world

It is an essential record of the last decade. This is the most vivid portrayal yet of Obama’s presidency. Rhodes puts us in the room at the most tense and poignant moments in recent history: starting every morning with Obama in the Daily Briefing waiting out the bin Laden raid in the Situation Room reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran leading secret negotiations with the Cuban government confronting the resurgence of nationalism that led to the election of Donald Trump. Chosen for his original perspective and gift with language, his role was to help shape the nation’s hopes and sense of itself.įor nearly ten years, Rhodes was at the centre of the Obama Administration – first as a speechwriter, then a policymaker, and finally a multi-purpose aide and close collaborator. The World As It Is tells the full story of what it means to work alongside a radical leader of how idealism can confront reality and survive of how the White House really functions and of what it is to have a partnership, and ultimately a friendship, with a historic president.Ī young writer and Washington outsider, Ben Rhodes was plucked from obscurity aged 29. This is a book about two people making the most important decisions in the world. I lingered over the last line, feeling unusually emotional about a non-fiction book and feeling unduly sad that The world as it is belonged to the library, not to me.

Others are harder to leave behind this was one such book. There are some books which are relatively easy to close the back cover on.

The world as it is ben rhodes