Ben Rhodes is a distinguished writer whose work is deeply informed by his extensive experience in national security and foreign policy. His insights into global affairs are shaped by his years serving in high-level governmental roles, where he honed his skills in communication and strategic thinking. Rhodes masterfully weaves complex geopolitical issues into compelling narratives, offering readers a unique perspective on the intricacies of international relations. His writing is characterized by its clarity, depth, and ability to make challenging subjects accessible.
Ben Rhodes tells the full story of what it means to work alongside a radical leader; of how idealism can confront reality and survive; of how the White House really functions; and of what it is to have a partnership, and ultimately a friendship, with a historic president.
Ben Rhodes, who served as a foreign policy adviser and speechwriter for Barack Obama, presents a compelling memoir that captures the essence of the president he worked with—intelligent, amiable, and principled. This narrative is a coming-of-age story that transitions from idealism to realism, filled with anecdotes that illuminate rather than scandalize. Even Donald Trump is approached with a sense of horrified amazement rather than vitriol. Rhodes remains a charming and humble guide through an unprecedented presidency, managing to retain his idealism in a cynical political climate. His memoir stands out for its humane and honorable portrayal of events. Rhodes offers a unique perspective on Obama’s presidency, providing insight into the tightly sealed inner workings of the White House during those eight years. The book opens and closes with Obama’s reaction to the election of Donald Trump, while detailing significant world events in an intimate and engaging manner. Rhodes chronicles the evolution of Obama’s foreign policy decisions, reflecting on the challenges faced as idealism confronted harsh realities. This memoir is a captivating account of Rhodes's journey from an idealistic staffer to a close friend and advisor to the president, making it a riveting read for both cynics and believers alike. Insightful and moving, it serves as an essential record of a transformative era.
Why is democracy so threatened in America and around the world? And what can we do about it? A former White House aide and close confidante to President Barack Obama -- and New York Times bestselling author of The World as It Is -- travels the globe in a deeply personal, beautifully observed quest for answers. In 2017, as Ben Rhodes was helping Barack Obama begin his next chapter, the legacy they worked to build for eight years was being taken apart. To understand what was happening in America, Rhodes decided to look outward. Over the next three years, he traveled to dozens of countries, meeting with politicians, activists, and dissidents confronting the same nationalism and authoritarianism that was tearing America apart. Along the way, a Russian opposition leader he spends time with is poisoned, the Hong Kong protesters he comes to know see their movement snuffed out, and America itself reaches the precipice of losing democracy before giving itself a second chance. Equal parts memoir and reporting, After the Fall is a hugely ambitious and essential work of discovery. Throughout, Rhodes comes to realize how much America's fingerprints are on a world we helped to shape: through the excesses of our post-Cold War embrace of unbridled capitalism, post-9/11 nationalism and militarism, mania for technology and social media, and the racism that shaped the backlash to the Obama presidency. At the same time, he learns from a diverse set of characters - from Obama to rebels to a rising generation of leaders - how looking squarely at where America has gone wrong only makes it more essential to fight for what America is supposed to be at home - for our own country, and the entire world.