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The World as It Is summary
A Memoir of the Obama White House
29 mins
Brief summary
'The World as It Is' by Ben Rhodes is a memoir of his 10 years as Barack Obama's foreign policy advisor. It offers an inside perspective of the historic events that shaped America's foreign policy, including the Arab Spring, Iran Deal and the rise of Trump.
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The World as It Is
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Obama did things differently from other presidential candidates, offering change and a fresh approach.
When Barack Obama first ran for the presidency, in 2007, he represented something new. For starters, he had opposed the Iraq war when almost everyone else supported it. To many, he seemed like a beacon of hope. He used words that sounded moral, and authentic, at a time when Washington politics seemed anything but.
Obama fought his campaign with a promise of change. From a foreign-policy perspective, that meant doing things that went against the grain of establishment thinking.
For instance, Obama called for diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. The Washington political class saw this – or anything that deviated from instinctive “toughness” toward Iran – as a blunder, despite the fact that Iran was quietly progressing its nuclear program. But Obama doubled down, responding to criticisms of his foreign policy by saying, in a nod to the disastrous Iraq war, that he wouldn’t be lectured by people who had supported the greatest foreign-policy mistake of his lifetime.
In most presidential campaigns, foreign policy is a minor issue, with few votes in it beyond veterans and key ethnic constituencies. But Obama’s campaign wanted to do more. Conscious of the higher expectations placed on an African-American candidate, Obama wanted to prove his ability to handle international diplomacy and the demands of being commander-in-chief. To do this, he embarked on a campaign tour of crucial European nations and the Middle East – an unusually long detour from the standard presidential campaign trail.
A key piece of the tour would be a speech in Berlin, delivered on the site of two iconic speeches from American presidential history – Kennedy’s famous “Ich bin ein Berliner!” speech and Reagan’s speech, “Tear down this wall.”
The speech almost ended in disaster, however. Just hours before Obama spoke, the author pondered a crucial line in the speech’s ending that referred to the German word for “community of fate,” Schicksalsgemeinschaft. Double-checking with a translator, he discovered that the word had been the title of a well-known speech by Adolf Hitler!
The line was changed, just in time. And the speech – given to an enormous, cheering crowd – was a huge success. More than his actual words, which emphasized globalism over nationalism, the image of an African-American candidate addressing vast crowds on a historic stage was a powerful one.
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What is The World as It Is about?
The World as It Is (2018) is a deeply personal look at the Obama presidency, written by a man who not only worked closely with the forty-fourth president, but also became his friend. Taking us on a behind-the-scenes tour of Obama’s presidency, from his first campaign to Trump’s inauguration, these blinks also chronicle the author’s personal journey from fresh-faced staffer to hardened national security operator.
The World as It Is Review
The World as It Is (2018) by Ben Rhodes takes readers behind the scenes of American politics and foreign policy during the Obama administration. Here's why this book is a must-read:
- Rich in personal anecdotes and insights, it provides a rare glimpse into the intimate workings of the White House and the challenges faced on the global stage.
- Thought-provoking and candid, it offers a nuanced perspective on the complexities of modern diplomacy and gives a deeper understanding of the decisions made during that time.
- With its compelling storytelling and vivid descriptions, the book keeps readers engaged, shedding light on the inner workings of power and politics.
Best quote from The World as It Is
...for all the pain and polarization of the last decade, we stuck with it, and we got bin Laden.
—Ben Rhodes
Who should read The World as It Is?
- History and politics buffs
- Anyone interested in an inside look at the highest levels of government
- People who want a better understanding of the state of US politics today
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The World as It Is FAQs
What is the main message of The World as It Is?
The main message of The World as It Is is a behind-the-scenes look at Barack Obama's presidency and Ben Rhodes' role in shaping US foreign policy.
How long does it take to read The World as It Is?
The reading time for The World as It Is varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The World as It Is a good book? Is it worth reading?
The World as It Is is a compelling read that provides insights into the complexities of global politics and Obama's presidency.
Who is the author of The World as It Is?
The author of The World as It Is is Ben Rhodes.
What to read after The World as It Is?
If you're wondering what to read next after The World as It Is, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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- The Fine Art Of Small Talk by Debra Fine
- Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) by George Orwell
- The First Rule of Mastery by Michael Gervais
- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
- Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond