Advance Praise:
“David Litt has done the impossible: written a smart, insightful, and funny White House memoir you don't have to be a political junkie to love. Even better, he takes us back to a saner more compassionate time when our president liked to read.”—Judd Apatow, Comedian, Film/Television Producer, Writer, Director and Actor
“By turns moving and hilarious, David Litt's rollicking account of his journey from campaign field grunt to presidential speechwriter is an irresistible read.”
—David Axelrod, former Senior Advisor to Barack Obama and author of Believer: My Forty Years in Politics
“A talented (and very funny) speechwriter, David will make you laugh. He'll make you miss Obama more than you do already. Most of all, he'll renew your faith in the politics of hope.”
—Stephanie Cutter, former deputy campaign manager for Barack Obama
“David Litt is brilliant. I’ve gotten to witness firsthand some of the work he did for President Obama at past White House Correspondents Dinners and it’s always intelligent, razor sharp and hilarious.”
— Billy Eichner, Funny Or Die's Billy on the Street
“Terrific—part first-hand story about being inspired by a cultural icon, part how-to manual for getting involved in politics and making change. Thanks Obama is a hysterical, pithy, and heartfelt trip down memory lane. And boy do we need it.”
—Keegan-Michael Key, Comedy Central's Key and Peele
“An outstanding, hilarious, and precise memoir by an outstanding, hilarious, and precise man. Reading David Litt's book, I experienced the hallways and bathrooms of the White House, I heard the air go out of the room when David had to correct the most powerful people in Washington, and I laughed again and again. This is an excellent account of what it felt like to work for the Second to Last President of The United States.”
—John Mulaney, co-creater and star of Oh, Hello
“A magnificent memoir on the Obama presidency by his jokewriter-turned-speechwriter. You'll laugh out loud while learning some valuable lessons about how to communicate. You'll experience a sudden boost in confidence stemming from the realization that if David Litt can land an important White House job—and not get fired from that job—there's hope for all of us yet. And you'll walk away with another kind of hope that's needed now more than ever: the belief that a government can actually do some good.”
—Adam Grant, author of Originals and co-author of Option B
“Thanks, Obama is a wonderful book for the same reasons David Litt’s speeches for the White House were wonderful: it’s well-written, it’s funny, it tells us exactly what we’re curious about, and (because there’s true devotion amidst the humor) it reminds us that a great president galvanizes not only his staff but his country.”
—Anne Fadiman, author of Ex Libris
“Funny and warm, David Litt knows how to make people laugh regardless of their political affiliation.”
—Mike Birbiglia, author of Sleepwalk With Me: And Other Painfully True Stories
“Inspiring—don't be fooled by the self-deprecating narrator, this portrait of a young speech writer is filled with massive wit, hard earned wisdom, and a loving touch. David's labors, along with those of his co-workers, are to be celebrated for they remind of us a not so distant past when words mattered. If I was a simpleton and a book critic, I'd say thumbs up for all these words.”
—Matt Walsh, HBO’s Veep
“David Litt is a natural storyteller and an absolute joy.”
—Tig Notaro, author of I’m Just a Person