The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House

By: Chuck Todd

Narrated by: Chuck Todd

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A nuanced, behind-the-scenes, and analytical narrative of President Obama's White House tenure, by NBC's award-winning Chief White House Correspondent.

Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008 partly because he was a Washington outsider. But when he got to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, that distinction turned out to be double-edged. While he'd been a brilliant campaign politician, working inside the system as president turned out to be much more of a challenge than Obama had ever imagined.

In The Stranger, NBC Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd draws upon his unprecedented inner-circle sources to create a gripping account of Obama's tumultuous White House years. In doing so, not only does Todd give us the most revealing portrait yet of this fascinating president and his struggles, but illuminates what "Obamism" really is, what the president stands for, and how his decisions have changed - and will change - American politics for generations.

©2014 Chuck Todd (P)2014 Harper Audio

More of a chronicle than insightful about Obama.

The content does not live up to the title. I was hoping to learn a lot more about the President's relationship with Congress, but as with other books by Chuck Todd, there is a heavy dose of chronicling events that the informed reader probably already knows.

Nothing Groundbreaking

It was ok. Not much that you don't already know. Just a rehash of the Obama presidency so far, done by Chuck Todd in that Chuck Todd style. I would say, if you're a political junkie and a Chuck Todd fan it's worth a listen.

Excellent Background

This is a very excellent written narrated story. It gives you so much background and insight on the man, the legacy, the policy and everything in between.

great book for political history lovers!

A very detailed and engaging book that looks at the wild ups and downs of the Obama presidency. ChuckTodd spares no detail, favorable or unfavorable, in his quest to uncover the enigma that is President Obama; Someone who held such enormously high promise, inspired such amazing hope, yet could not deliver on the reality of that hope. The book itself reads like a dramatic novel, rather than a history book, so I really think you will enjoy it!

Obama Revealed...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you want to know more about the way Obama manages his decisions this book will bring some light to it.

What did you like best about this story?

The amount of detail. At points probably too much but I won't take it away since for some readers is useful.

What does Chuck Todd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Clearly he is passionate about his own story and it conveys.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The few occasions when Obama gets personal. They did not move me but showed a different side of the President.

Any additional comments?

Good summary of one of the most important moments in American History: President's Obama Presidency.

It was okay

It kept a rather erratic course often times movie from present to extreme past without any sense of structure.

Truth be told

This was a good history lesson from a Washington insider. Very detailed and informative. A bit of a critical slant on a presidency that was very impactful to many communities, positive or negatively mostly depending on your community. Which makes me wonder, how much of an insider was Chuck Todd and how dismissed did he feel the President was towards he and his colleagues. I would have preferred more of a balance. Can't help to thunk if he was writing this during the current presidency, what would be viewed differently. Overall the book helped me see why our country is not ever going to improve without the young new energy standing their ground

A grreat perpective of the Obama the presidency,

Chuck Todd presents President Obama, in a very objective way, allowing the reader to understand a rather complex human being.

Too full of author's prejudices

Too full of author's prejudices. Mr. Todd believes he is writing a journalistic, even handed review of the President's performance. However, it is tainted by his now open biases.

(Note: I read most of the book before beginning the audio version. Why, you ask, would I purchase the audio version? Purchased audio first and was leant a hard copy for a flight.)

I prefer to listen to books by their authors, and this is a great narration.

Does not scratch the Game Change itch.

Would you recommend The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House to your friends? Why or why not?

Not really. It's about 3 times as long as necessary. He goes into incredible detail about basic history that anyone paying attention for the last 6 years already knows. However, when he does get to the good stuff, he clearly has a lot of interesting and useful information to impart. He was there for a lot of this stuff, and has talked to everyone else who was there when he wasn't.

It feels like he wrote it for historians or students 100+ years from now who won't be already familiar with the major news stories of the very recent past.

Also, the structure of the book is a little baffling. It's kind of chronological, and kind of organized by topic, but he can't seem to commit to either approach. He needed a ruthless editor.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He clearly only read through it once, stumbling a few times a chapter, or mispronouncing something. I'm sure he makes a great TV interviewer, but he's clearly not a professional voice actor. Someone already familiar with his work and style might appreciate that more.

Any additional comments?

Overall worth it, but still disappointing. Then again, I'm going to finish it, so maybe my criticisms aren't all that well founded.