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Born in the mid-1970s and raised in small-town Vermont,
Mastromonaco says she was independent early-on and marched
to her own drummer but wasn’t particularly political unless
it was “cool.” Nevertheless, one summer between college
semesters, she interned for Bernie Sanders and discovered
what she wanted to do with her life.
But, first, she worked as a paralegal. She had a short stint
in finance, and she worked at Sotheby’s. Finally, she
practically begged for a job with John Kerry’s team, but she
says she knew that she didn’t want to work for anyone who’d
ever want to run for president, so she procured a job with
Senator Barack Obama’s team. Ha!
There were no working manuals for the youngest woman to ever
assume the office of deputy chief of staff to the president.
It was hard to find advice (“… all my mentors were men”) and
so Mastromonaco decided to write a book in answer the
question of do-ability for the average job-seeker.
If you want a job in politics, “always be prepared” because
“Preparation is protection you can create for yourself.”
Walk with purpose; try “to look like you belong.” Before you
take a job, “ask to see where you’ll be sitting.” Be
“reasonable, savvy, and polite…” to the entire staff, and
know as much as possible about the people you meet. Remember
that “your credit score matters.” Watch what you do on
social media. Take care of yourself. And finally, when it’s
time to go, go… but do it with class.
Though author Alyssa Mastromonaco (with Lauren Oyler) says
she hadn’t planned on making this book a biography, that’s
about half of what you get here. The other half is sass and
swagger and more profanity than you should expect, mixed
with business advice that sometimes hovers between the
lines.
Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?
indeed.
Actually, you will. This book is a unique insider’s
peek at how presidential campaigns are run, how POTUS
travels seemingly seamlessly and how one person does the
24/7 job of six. Readers with their sights set on major
behind-the-scenes political employment will appreciate
Mastromonaco’s truthfulness: she writes of sleepless nights
and “the loneliest time of my life,” as well as the rewards
of an interesting job – all of which she tells with humor
and not just a little pride.
This is an easy-to-enjoy book that makes readers feel more
in-the-know, especially if you’re curious, business-minded,
or love politics. For you, the VIP in Who Thought This
Was a Good Idea? is in its Very Important Pages. |
