Kate Andersen Brower

A quick and easy read, more anecdotes about behind the scenes life at the White House than a tell-all book (though I'm sure that neither Nancy Reagan nor Bill and Hillary Clinton were thrilled at how they were portrayed here). It was interesting to read about the incredible infrastructure needed to run a household on that scale, and minutiae like the varying bathroom requirements of each presidency, though the insistence on the absolute discretion of the White House staff in a book which, by show more its very nature, relied on them not being absolutely discreet, got a bit old. show less

Lots of interesting stories up to and including the Obama White House. Some presidents (H.W. Bush) come off better than others (LBJ). Many stories show the pettiness of family members of the presidents, while others show the care and empathy for the House staff that several presidents and first ladies had for “the staff.” Interesting reading.

This dishy book about domestic service in the White House made for great summer reading. Yes, the gossip is fun (Johnson's shower obsession, the Clintons' marriage troubles, high-maintenance First Ladies), but most of all you realize the huge import and privilege of serving the president and his family. We hear what went on behind the scenes during tragic times such as Kennedy's assassination and the 9/11 attacks. There is some reflection on race and socioeconomic justice as many of the show more staff is and has been African-American. Most impressive are the workers' discretion and respect for the institution in this day of social media blabbermouthing. Riveting and fascinating. show less

This is one of those reads that was so much exactly what I wanted to read when I picked it up, that I almost feel biased reviewing it. I've been loving good narrative nonfiction lately and this was some awesome narrative nonfiction. The author did an amazing job telling a stories that brought the staff to life and gave fascinating insights into the lives of the presidents and families they served. She integrated quotes into the story so they flowed well. I also particularly appreciated that show more she often shared quotes from people who had opposite perspectives. When an author does this, it makes them feel more trustworthy. I believe this author gave us a story largely unbiased by her own opinions.

Although White House staff are generally discrete, the author learned some very juicy details. These bits definitely held my interest, but what truly made this book difficult to put down was the author's ability to bring to life more quotidian events and her organization of the book, putting the presidents' daily lives into a larger context. I love when nonfiction that focuses on a small topic uses it to teach me about historical context as well. I also love nonfiction that I think could bring in readers who don't usually pick up nonfiction because it relates to another genre or interest. With this one, it is created for Downton Abbey fans. There are intrigues above and below stairs, widely varying interactions between different staff members and different presidents, and crazy amounts of pampering for the first families. So, in addition to recommending this to other lovers of narrative nonfiction on any topic, I'd highly recommend this to fans of the show.This review was originally posted on Doing Dewey. show less