Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World

by Jen Psaki

Overview

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Former White House Press Secretary and current MSNBC host Jen Psaki shares the surprising lessons she’s learned on her path to success and offers unique yet universal advice about how to be a more effective communicator in any situation.

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 you 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 new 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 you 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781668019856
Publisher:	Scribner
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	4,034
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.80(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Jen Psaki is the host of MSNBC’s Sunday afternoon and Monday evening program, Inside with Jen Psaki. She served as the thirty-fourth White House Press Secretary under President Biden until May 2022. Over the course of her twenty years in public service, Psaki also served as White House Communications Director under President Obama, as the spokesperson for the State Department under then Secretary of State John Kerry, and worked on three presidential campaigns. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and two children.

Editorial Reviews

03/25/2024

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)

Publishers Weekly

2024-03-15
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.

Kirkus Reviews

"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. 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." —Booklist

"Psaki combines the personal and the professional in her enjoyable debut . . . Sprinkled throughout are self-deprecating jabs that highlight her own occasional blunders . . . Such levity helps the book breeze by. Readers need not be political obsessives to appreciate the practical wisdom on offer here." —Publishers Weekly

"Throughout the book, Psaki mines her most sensitive moments for lessons on communication to impart to her readers... The narrative shines brightest when Psaki approaches her personal and professional past with circumspection, infusing her words with humor and vulnerability." —Kirkus

"This book is more than an engaging memoir on being the voice of the White House. Jen Psaki offers a crash course on how to communicate more effectively in a turbulent world. Regardless of whether you agree with her politics, you can learn a lot from her clarity and candor.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again, and host of "Re:Thinking"

“Say More is the book I wish I had when I was first thinking about a career in politics. Jen Psaki made one of the hardest jobs in the White House look easy—not just because she’s brilliant, tough, and tireless, but because she has an innate ability to connect with almost anyone by listening, empathizing, and treating people as equals. If you want to know what it takes to succeed in politics or in life, this book is for you.” —Jon Favreau, host of "Pod Save America"

"You don't have to love politics to love this book. But with candor and humor, Jen shows the reader what it's actually like to be in front of the political spotlight, including how to navigate different kinds of bosses and how to deliver a powerful message." —Chelsea Handler, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Life Will be the Death of Me

“I’ve seen Jen Psaki in action during some of the most intense crises we faced . . . and also some of the most outrageous. In Say More, Psaki takes readers behind the scenes of campaigns, inside the White House and State Department, tells us the backstories and gives us the tools to learn how to communicate seamlessly and honestly, all with her trademark humility and humor.” —Alyssa Mastromonaco, bestselling author of Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? and former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama

"Jen Psaki is remarkable in this book, helping us communicate and get value back in all of our relationships. Say More is not just about her career highs—though there have been many. She is a generous storyteller in sharing not just her successes, but her mistakes along the way. All of it helps the reader feel better equipped to SAY MORE!" —Mika Brzezinski, co-host of "Morning Joe"

From the Publisher

You don’t have to love politics to love this book. But with candor and humor, Jen shows the reader what it’s actually like to be in front of the political spotlight, including how to navigate different kinds of bosses and how to deliver a powerful message.”

#1 New York Times bestselling author Chelsea Handler