The Amateur

Barack Obama in the White House

By: Edward Klein

Narrated by: John McLain

Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s amateur hour at the White House. So says New York Times best-selling author Edward Klein in his political exposé The Amateur. Tapping into the public’s growing sentiment that President Obama is in over his head, The Amateur argues that Obama’s toxic combination of incompetence and arrogance has run our nation and his presidency off the rails.

“Obama was both completely inexperienced and ideologically far to the left of most Americans when he entered the White House,” says Klein. “And he was so arrogant that he didn’t even know what he didn’t know.”

Klein, who is known for getting the inside scoop on everyone from the Kennedys to the Clintons, reveals never before published details about the Obama administration’s political inner workings, as well as Barack and Michelle’s personal lives, including the inordinate influence Michelle wields over Barack and her feud with a high profile celebrity; the real reason Rahm Emanuel left the White House (it wasn’t for family reasons); why Valerie Jarrett’s role is closer to that of Rasputin than impartial senior advisor; how Obama has purposefully forgotten and ignored those who put him in power, including the Kennedys and the Jewish and African American communities in Chicago.

From Obama’s conceited and detached demeanor, to his detrimental reliance on Michelle Obama and Valerie Jarrett’s advice, to the Obamas’ extravagant and out of touch lifestyle, The Amateur reveals a president whose ignorance and incompetence are sabotaging himself, his presidency, and America.

©2012 Edward Klein (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ The Amateur is the best book I’ve read on how Barack Obama is wrecking our country. I urge everyone who cares about America to read Edward Klein’s eyeopening book.” (Donald J. Trump)

“This is a racy, entertaining, informative book that illuminates apects of Obama and his team that have not been previously reported. A necessary antidote to the Obama worship that is sure to characterize the election debate.” (Dinesh D’Souza, New York Times best-selling author)

“A devastating indictment of the lethal combination of incompetence and radicalism that has made Obama into one of the worst presidents in American history.” (Norman Podhoretz, New York Times best-selling author)

A must read for anyone who has curiosity

What made the experience of listening to The Amateur the most enjoyable?

The insight gained

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

How easily our system can be manipulated by either side

If you could give The Amateur a new subtitle, what would it be?

Fear for the Future

Some Interesting Things About the Amateur

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this because I think some care was taken to understand how our mystery president got to where he is from where he was. There were some good interviews with insiders. got

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I liked its straightforward approach, with good writing.

What about John McLain’s performance did you like?

The narrator was professional, with no attempt to use his voice to dramatize. Yet, he is very easy to listen to; I liked his voice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Same as the title. Or maybe with the added Say What?

Any additional comments?

I wish the book had been longer. Coming from Chicago, and growing up with the politics there, much of the info was no surprise. I hope an expanded edition of the book will come out.

Wow I thought he was just stupid

What did you love best about The Amateur?

Just another book detailing what we all should know by now

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Every time I read anything about Barack Obama I want to cry

Any additional comments?

How about the author writing one about Biden

Excellent

If you could sum up The Amateur in three words, what would they be?

What a performance! One of the best books I ever listened.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Amateur?

The narration in the Clinton' s Mansion.

What about John McLain’s performance did you like?

Clarity of voice, Exciting listening.

If you could give The Amateur a new subtitle, what would it be?

The real Barack Obama

Any additional comments?

I am amazed of the reception of this book from the mass media. It is very sad.that most of them ignored the writer.

Perfect Analysis

USA got this sick guy who loves himself more than our country. Now I understand the reason he picked Biden as his VP...

Fascinating. Couldn't stop listening

This book is a very good listen. The stories seem credible, even though some believe the book to be exaggerated. I usually take a while to finish an audiobook, but I finished this one in less than a week because it held mt interest. John McLain narrated The Amateur smoothly.

Informative

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. It fleshes out those subtle, unspoken observations about the man's ineptness as a leader.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Amateur?

It answered and confirmed the question of his seeming arrogance.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

It was a narrative performance; just average.

Could you see The Amateur being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

Any additional comments?

Since the public is not privy to the mechinations of politics, we are subject to the sound bites which come across the news. Obama's presidency seemed riddled with dithering; spurious and evasive. In other words, he appeared to be inept. But these were just impressions I developed since I didn't know the details of how he went about his decision-making for the first 3 years of his time in office. This book brings out the impetus behind his policy making and answers the "why" of those things I was *THOUGHT* I was observing but wasn't quite sure.

Everything you need to know about the President

This was probably one of the best books I've listened to on audible. There were some parts that just made my jaw drop, and some parts made me laugh really hard. Overall, it confirmed what I knew about President Obama for a long time: that President Obama is an incompetent, arrogant, megalomaniac, who will do anything to cling to power.

Michelle Obama is a self-absorbed, racist, who makes Hillary Clinton look like Princess Diana. It almost seems like Michelle has the President's testicles in her purse, because President Obama is so darned weak.

Barack Obama is simply evil, unprepared, and destroying this country. He is not only dividing this country, but he is also dividing the Democrat party - a once great party - that I used to be a loyal member of. If someone listens to this book, and still votes for Obama in November 2012, you are either two things: really dumb, or you have some kind of gain to make from another four years of this Manchurian candidate.

Pride Goeth Before the Fall

The Amateur is a chilling look at the Machiavellian machinations of the Obama White House which is sure to rankle more than just a few feathers.

While supporters of the President might dismiss Klein's "insider information" on the Obama White House as of questionable credibility, consider that we actually knew very little about the man before he became President. Moreover, in the 4 years since assuming office, I think many would agree that the scenario painted by Klein of life inside the West Wing in many ways explains the often times inexplicable messaging and decisions emanating therefrom.

We knew that Mr. Obama was not terribly qualified to do very much when we elected him, yet most of us undoubtedly expected that he would "grow" into the office as many of his predecessors have (JFK being one good example). In addition, we expect Presidents to surround themselves with knowledgeable people who can guide them. While Mr. Obama did succeed in selecting a number of savvy aides like Rahm Emanuel, the picture we have is one where an inner cadre of distinctly unqualified, selfish, and egotistic individuals have effectively insulated Mr. Obama from the very people who might help him succeed.

Led by Valerie Jarrett and the First Lady, the inner-circle filter machine of Axelrod, Gibbs, et al, cloister the President from his advisers, ensuring a clumsy left-activist agenda that serves neither the interests of the Republic, nor their leader. There never has been, nor is there likely to ever be the type of "triangulation" used to great positive effect by Bill Clinton, in an Obama administration.

For his part, Mr. Obama is rather comfortable with this arrangement, as he has always been loathe to even the most constructive forms of criticism. Indeed, he sees himself as unerringly "correct" in all his views and infallibly capable of carrying out whatever mission he sets out to conquer. This is a man that has had much handed to him in his life, and has exerted precious little effort (beyond his charismatic charms) to achieve what he desires.

What emerges from all this is an arrogant, insulated, and thin-skinned man possessed with the notion that it is his job to reshape the world into his image of fairness, regardless the price paid by the American people and the Republic. Klein observes that Mr. Obama cannot grow into the job, nor is he interested in doing so because after all, he is always right.

Fascinating read!

Where does The Amateur rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Klein's book is one I hope everyone will get a chance to read before the election in November. His sources are people in the news who can be trusted to be truthful.