The World as It Is

A Memoir of the Obama White House

By: Ben Rhodes

Narrated by: Mark Deakins, Ben Rhodes

From one of Barack Obama’s closest aides comes a revelatory behind-the-scenes account of his presidency—and how idealism can confront harsh reality and still survive—in the tradition of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.’s A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House.

For nearly ten years, Ben Rhodes saw almost everything that happened at the center of the Obama administration—first as a speechwriter, then as deputy national security advisor, and finally as a multipurpose aide and close collaborator. He started every morning in the Oval Office with the President’s Daily Briefing, traveled the world with Obama, and was at the center of some of the most consequential and controversial moments of the presidency. Now he tells the full story of his partnership—and, ultimately, friendship—with a man who also happened to be a historic president of the United States.

Rhodes was not your typical presidential confidant, and this is not your typical White House memoir. Rendered in vivid, novelistic detail by someone who was a writer before he was a staffer, this is a rare look inside the most poignant, tense, and consequential moments of the Obama presidency—waiting out the bin Laden raid in the Situation Room, responding to the Arab Spring, reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, leading secret negotiations with the Cuban government to normalize relations, and confronting the resurgence of nationalism and nativism that culminated in the election of Donald Trump.

In The World as It Is, Rhodes shows what it was like to be there—from the early days of the Obama campaign to the final hours of the presidency. It is a story populated by such characters as Susan Rice, Samantha Power, Hillary Clinton, Bob Gates, and—above all—Barack Obama, who comes to life on the page in moments of great urgency and disarming intimacy. This is the most vivid portrayal yet of Obama’s worldview and presidency, a chronicle of a political education by a writer of enormous talent, and an essential record of the forces that shaped the last decade.

Read by Mark Deakins. Prologue read by the author.

Advance praise for The World as It Is

“Ben Rhodes is one of the most brilliant minds and powerful storytellers I've ever known. In The World as It Is, he doesn't just bring you inside the room for key moments of Obama's presidency, he captivates you with the journey of an idealistic young staffer who becomes the president's closest friend and advisor—a journey that both cynics and believers will find riveting and hopeful.”—Jon Favreau

Great book

Great book it give me a inside look in Obama administration i love it !

Rhodes is a smart guy & a fantastic storyteller

Very well written book. The narrative comes naturally, like a novel, the reality of the events that take place are, at the same time, inspiring and frightening. It's a must read for any historian, political junkie or American who wants an inside baseball view of the inter-workings of the White House.

A beautiful view into Obama’s mind

Ben Rhodes is a gifted writer who balances well his own mind and experience with the portrayal of his boss. It was a really sympathetic look into how Obama saw the world as a head of state and as a leader (who seemed as graceful with his staff and confidants as he was with his critics).also one of the most cathartic accounts of the 2016 election I’ve heard.

Also the narrator’s Obama voice is SPOT ON without sounding like an “imitation”

A brilliant recounting of President Obama's presidency

Great retelling by a great servant of the American people. Thank You Ben. I'm sure the president appreciates your important help. Best wishes for you and your family. Wish someone like you was still on duty.

remarkable window into the inner workings of Obama

i am going to listen to it again in a couple of months. Great story about two remarkable men.