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

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.

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)

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.