Say more Lessons from work, the White House, and the world

Jen Psaki

Book - 2024

"Not many White House Press Secretaries capture the nation's interest the way Jen Psaki did. Refreshingly candid and clear, Psaki quickly became known for her ability to break through the noise and successfully deliver her message. In her highly anticipated book, Psaki shares her journey to the Briefing Room and beyond, taking readers along the campaign trail, to the State Department, and inside the White House under two Presidents. With her signature wit, Psaki writes about reporting to bosses from the hot-tempered Rahm Emanuel to the coolly intellectual Barack Obama to the surprisingly tenderhearted John Kerry. She also talks about her time working closely with President Joe Biden from the start of his administration to set a ne...w tone for the country, restoring a sense of calm and respect for the role of the media in our Democracy. Since leaving the White House, Psaki's star has continued to rise. She launched a highly rated show on MSNBC and was so successful that in just six months she was given an additional primetime Monday slot, ahead of Rachel Maddow. And Psaki's work doesn't end at the office. She is the mother of two young children and shares her stories about the journey of communicating as a parent: During one bedtime briefing, her young daughter asked the question, "Why do wars start?", which Jen carefully explained and then got a follow up: "Have you ever seen a unicorn?" In Say More, Psaki explains her straightforward approach to communication, walking readers through difficult conversations as well as moments where humor saves the day-whether it is with preschoolers, partners, or presidents. She addresses the best ways to give and receive feedback, how to connect with your audience, how to listen actively, and much more. Say More is the book Psaki wishes she had when she started her career, and is a trove of entertaining, essential lessons from one of the most prominent voices in American politics today"--

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  • My First Press Briefing
  • 1. Remember When That Nice Man Won the Election?
  • On identifying and connecting with your audience through emotion, humor, and common ground
  • 2. What If I Don't Know Enough about Venezuela?
  • On the importance of research, planning, practice, and scripting, to decrease anxiety and avoid insulting famous rappers
  • 3. That's Not Credible!
  • On giving and receiving feedback gracefully, tactfully, and without disrupting international peace agreements
  • 4. If You Can't Say Anything Nice, You Still Have to Say Something
  • On having tough conversations with your family, your colleagues, and joe Biden
  • 5. What the Heck Is a "Non-Filer"?
  • On the importance of building and conveying trust, credibility, and expertise as a communicator
  • 6. When to Serve a Psakibomb
  • On communicating across divides, at home and with Fox News
  • 7. A Punch Line China Would Find Funny
  • On making mistakes, issuing clarifications, correcting yourself, and apologizing
  • 8. Kindergarten Open House on the Worst Day in the White House
  • On saying no, explaining your boundaries, and knowing how to quit
  • 9. Say Less
  • On managing what you're not supposed to say and keeping classified information to yourself
  • 10. Russia Says You're Getting Fired?
  • On dealing with rumors, gossip, and bullying, from Vladimir Putin or your office frenemy
  • 11. Say More
  • How to listen actively and attentively, whether networking, at dinner, or conducting an interview on television
  • Taking Questions
  • On answering tough questions effectively and honestly
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • Photo Credits
Review by Booklist Review

As State Department spokesperson for John Kerry, press secretary for Presidents Obama and Biden, and now host of her own show on MSNBC, Psaki knows a thing or two about communication. Such as how to get a point across with clarity; how to simplify even the most complex subjects; how to diffuse combative situations; and how to correct unintentional misstatements. These traits are not only essential in her profession, they are elemental for anyone who wants to present themselves with grace and aplomb. Structured around anecdotes from her storied career, Psaki's memoir of swimming in the deep end of the world's most analyzed press pool is as forthright and reassuring as her behind-the-podium personae. Psaki is the mother of a son and daughter, and the lessons she shares with readers often landed first with her toughest audience, her children. It is precisely this balance of political and journalistic strategies and general life advice that elevates Psaki's narrative beyond the standard Washington insider tell-all. A helpful resource for anyone who knows how much words matter.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Former White House press secretary Psaki combines the personal and the professional in her enjoyable debut. Opening the account on the first day of her job with the Biden administration, Psaki recalls her determination to "reset the tone in the briefing room and hopefully take some of the venom out" of the combative exchanges that had become common during Donald Trump's presidency. From there, she addresses readers directly, drawing from her experiences working for major political figures and raising two children to help "reveal something important about being an effective communicator." From addressing grieving families after the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021 to imparting life lessons to her daughter, Psaki covers a lot of ground. She shares tips on active listening, boundary setting, engaging with gossip, and captivating audiences with humor. Sprinkled throughout are self-deprecating jabs that highlight her own occasional blunders, like the time at a state dinner when she asked Chance the Rapper what he does professionally ("Failing to recognize a celebrity was not a diplomatic blunder of epic proportions," Psaki concludes, " but it's still embarrassing"). Such levity helps the book breeze by. Readers need not be political obsessives to appreciate the practical wisdom on offer here. Agents: Pilar Queen and Georgia Bodnar, UTA. (May)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A former White House press secretary mines her career to outline a set of best practices for communication. As Joe Biden's press secretary, Psaki began her term on Inauguration Day 2021 waiting for a bus at the National Zoo. Although a comical image, the author explains that this humorous start reflects a far more serious situation. For the first time ever, the White House would hold a briefing on Inauguration Day in an attempt to reestablish a positive relationship with the press corps after four years of animosity and dysfunction, as well as a violent insurrection just two weeks prior. Although the press ruled Psaki's public debut a success, she attributes her ability to navigate such a tense situation to her willingness to learn from her mistakes. Throughout the book, Psaki mines her most sensitive moments for lessons on communication to impart to her readers. Whether learning how to criticize former Secretary of State John Kerry, accidentally copying the entire Iowa press corps "on an email about a political opponent," weathering the Russian government's personal bullying tactics, or carving out time to attend her daughter's kindergarten open house on a major news day, Psaki sees all of her experiences as opportunities to learn and grow. "Becoming a strong communicator," she writes, "means being open to screwing up, and improving after making mistakes; it requires listening to feedback both good and bad; and it requires a lot of practice." The narrative shines brightest when Psaki approaches her personal and professional past with circumspection, infusing her words with humor and vulnerability. Her advice to readers, however, feels like a profound tonal shift that not only jolts readers out of the interesting story, but also interrupts the otherwise fluid narrative flow. A combination of memoir and self-help book that should have just been a memoir. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.