Any Given Tuesday

A Political Love Story

By: Lis Smith

Narrated by: Jean Ann Douglass

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Bestseller

An irreverent look behind the scenes of American politics from one of the most sought-after operatives in the Democratic Party

Lis Smith isn’t your average political strategist and Any Given Tuesday isn’t your typical political memoir. At once a revealing look at human nature at the highest levels of power and an intimate portrayal of a sometimes rocky personal journey, it breaks all the rules. Smith doesn’t pretend to be perfect—she owns the controversial choices that landed her in the tabloids, as well as the unorthodox ones that have paid off and defined her successful career.

Any Given Tuesday follows Smith from her earliest experiences as a college-aged intern to her days as a trusted adviser and confidante to some of the most high-profile politicians in the country—including her star turn as senior adviser on Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign. Animated by Smith’s love for the hand-to-hand combat of politics and sustained by her deeply-held belief that it’s still possible to effect positive change, it’s an odyssey full of highs and lows and larger-than-life characters.

Throughout, Smith shows what it’s really like behind the curtain: what happens when the lights go down and the cameras turn off, how it feels to be in the eye of the political media storm, and how the people responsible for heady, life and death decisions are as flawed as the rest of us.

While the journey hasn’t always been smooth, Lis Smith has seen and learned a lot—and she shares it all in this eye-opening, entertaining memoir.

©2022 Lis Smith (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

couldn't put it down

I am a independent voters who leans to conservative. I found this look behind the curtain of political campaigns fascinating. Lis tells an interesting story and itoves well.

Amazing recount

This extraordinary recount of Lis Smith’s lived experiences is unfathomable to me—especially considering her age. She has seen and done more than many have done in a lifetime. I found this book to be enlightening, as it echoed so many of my own cynicisms about politics but also my belief that there are still good people fighting for us. Many things she talks about I didn’t know. Some things I agreed with, others I didn’t. But one thing is for sure—I’ll be voting for Pete Buttigieg if he runs again for president.

Best Political Memoir Yet

For a political junkie like me, this book was endlessly fascinating and I hated to hear it end. Lis Smith’s book is straightforward, well written and the narrator is superb. She involves the reader in the life of a career political consultant, sharing the agony and ecstasy from how it all began and the winding road to earning her chops. Political tales are spun without malice or vendetta. It’s “just the facts, ma’am,” in the hands of a talented writer. I am pretty much a lifelong Republican who has worked for campaigns, U. S. Senators, and as a political journalist. As someone who devours every political novel on the market, I think Lis’s book really illustrates the principle that “you win some and you lose some, but what really counts is how you played the game.” This is the first book that inspired me to write a review.

interesting story

great story. only complaint...narrator pronounced Chasten Buttigieg's name wrong.
gave you nitty-gritty of a campaign.

political junkie approved

political junkie approved from Politics in the Heartland. discovered via Morning Joe. word to wise, will update as I listen.

author has the knowledge, history, and skill to tell a story.

narrator seems more than competent.

suspect this inside behind the scenes look will amusing and terrifying.

They mispronounce Klobuchar every time

Good story but shocked no one ever checked the proper way to say Klobuchar. “Shar” not “char”

A contemporary real political life.

If you like politics, you will enjoy this behind the scenes life story of a political operative. Interesting way to experience contemporary campaigns from the campaign staff POV. The narrator is wonderful, her tone and style fits perfectly with the written story.

Delightful and insightful.

She puts herself out there and brings insight into what campaigns are really like. Well read and engaging. And I deeply appreciate the vulnerability she shared in several chapters. It’s a refreshing contrast to an Instagram world.

The story was great

Great memoir of being a political insider. The narration was credible. You almost thought she was the author. Much needed positivity in these polarizing times. Begin and ended with hope.

Heartwarming and brutally honest

Loved the book and particularly the 3 chapters that outlined her work on Pete Buttigieg’s campaign. It was like reliving those amazing months of hope and promise. I laughed (yes, I was one of those uncoordinated Barnstormers dancing to “High Hopes” and cried as I relived the day Pete bowed out and through his support behind Biden. I was also impressed with her honest evaluation of her vulnerability regarding her relationships. For such a young person she has really lived a lot of life. I’d recommend this book. One note, in the audio version the narrator mispronounces “Chasten” as “Chasen” maybe they can make a correction.