This book is not so much a memoir and more of a manual on how to effectively communicate, both in your work and home life. Knowing that coming in, I feel that Psaki did a nice job of laying out key guidelines for being the most effective communicator. The fact that she was often communicating contentious information or having to hold back information that wasn't yet able to be safely shared with the general public made this book all the more valuable if you are looking for something that really pinpoints how to handle more contentious or difficulty conversations. I enjoyed the additional stories she shared about some of the public figures she interacted with and they added a bit of seasoning to her main focus of sharing communication pointers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
I’ve always found Jen Psaki both interesting and inspirational as she worked in the political landscape. Her book shows her to be just as thoughtful and intelligent as I always imagined she’d be.

I admired the author's work as White House Press Secretary. I thought she did an admirable job in a tumultuous, partisan time. No nonsense, tough yet fair, she carried herself well and represented the administration well. So when I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, I was really looking forward to reading it. And it did not disappoint! Well written, insightful, a real behind the scenes look at what goes on in her position. I was also impressed with Ms. Psaki's personal story, of her triumphs and her setbacks. She really put herself out there. I'm looking forward to what the future holds for the author.

I could not wait to get a copy of Jen's book. I'd enjoyed her in press conferences and now interviews with her own show.
She is straightforward about the pressure of working in the White House, the 24/7/365 call, the constant demands on her time from every direction.
There were chapters where I was exhausted after reading about her experiences with life juggles.
Working in politics is not for those who think it's a 9-5 gig.
Very much enjoyed reading her stories and her advice on how to look at the entire situation in front of you and notice the details without being too destracted by them.
A great read for anyone who wants a fly on the wall take on what it means to work in some of the most powerful places on the planet.

I appreciate receiving an ARC from the publisher for an honet review.

Jen Psaki's memoir of being in the White House was really interesting! I enjoyed watching her as the press secretary and I really appreciated her insight into politics, warts and all.

This book is best described as part memoir covering being a mother and having a highly demanding career in political administrations with lots of tips on how to increase communication effectiveness. It was a fun and interesting read because she shares stories with humility and is comfortable sharing when she made mistakes and what she learned from them. Her career working in the White House sounded really interesting, but also high pressure, 24/7. I gained great insights into her career and enjoyed very much hearing her stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

This book is a typical political memoir. It is well written, and fast paced. It provides some lessons learned and insights based on the author's time in the White House. The author does a good job in describing professional set backs and how she adapted.

I was grateful to read this ARC. I wish it had been more of a "memoir" and less of a "tips and tricks" format though.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner Publishing, and Jen Psaki for the advanced reader copy of the book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Jen Psaki has been involved in politics for quite some time. She’s worked on the ground as a canvasser in Iowa all the way up to White House Press Secretary for Joe Biden. However, while Say More is a book about those years, it’s not a dishy tell-all. It’s more Psaki relating how she learned to be a better communicator.

Psaki takes the reader through various scenarios and possible responses. You might think she hasn’t encountered the same situations people do in everyday life, but she relates how she’s had to have difficult conversations with people she worked with and who employed her and how that works for just about anyone. The sections with the conversations she has with people at work centered around being a working mother are great. She is fortunate, though, to work in an environment that wants their employees to have a work and family balance, rather than a company that expects slavish devotion to the workplace. I honestly thought I was going to hear more about how being a White House Press Secretary took away time from the family, but Psaki was able to make it work better than people employed in the private sector often can.

At the same time, she does talk about her own situations, without it coming off as “dishing.” She admits her faults when she said something she shouldn’t have or wasn’t clear enough about a topic and had to clarify later on. Some of the more difficult conversations she’s had are with her own children! She talks about the internet trolls bothered her at times, and how she learned to deal with it. Again, that’s something many of us can take a page from.

The writing style here is good. Psaki comes off at times like I’m in a communications course at a college, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We could all learn a little more about communicating in this day and age where people seem to want to show off what they think they know, rather than have conversations. Psaki details what it takes to be a great communicator, and some of that has to do with listening to people, even when you disagree with them.

Even if you’re not all that familiar with Jen Psaki, there are some great ideas in Say More that can help you with communication in everyday life. Add in her stories about the political figures she encountered as well as situations she faced that are recent history and Say More is a book that is very much worth reading.

I rate this book 3.5 out of 5.

I want to thank Netgalley and Scribner Publishing for a copy of this book.

One of the reasons that I was interested in reading this book is because Psaki was the author. I enjoyed watching her as Press Secretary and thought that her book sounded interesting. Overall, I did find this to be an interesting read. Psaki's writing style is informative without being dry and educational without being repetitive. I also felt like she struck a balance between discussing her personal experiences and providing suggestions for being an effective communicator.

This is a valuable book for teaching people how to articulate their points to an audience. I feel this should be required reading for graduate-level students, regardless of discipline. I know that when I began teaching as a graduate student I had no training on how to teach to undergraduates. I was essentially handed a teaching template and hoped for the best. While I did prep work in the background, I do think that a book like this could have provided important insights into how to think about how I was communicating with my students.

While I wish I had this book for a specific purpose I do think that it has some universal lessons about communicating with others. I particularly enjoyed how Psaki used examples of her different audiences throughout the book to highlight how effective communication is important in all domains of life. Her advice about how to deal with your work bully or confrontation with a colleague was enlightening too. Having emotions is only human, but also understanding how and when to demonstrate your frustration is a valuable skill to have and learn from.

The most interesting part of the book was when Psaki discussed how she had to handle Russian media attacks. While she was trying to highlight something important about communication style, I do think that it highlighted a more personal aspect of her time in the White House. My favourite part of the book was her daughter's opinion on Biden's baking skills.

This is a useful book for those looking to further their communication skills. However, if you are also interested in learning about Psaki's career this book will also highlight some important aspects of her career. Although the stories about her career may not be as in-depth as they might have been if this was purely a memoir. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book.

Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Cursing, Sexism, Bullying, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cancer, Pregnancy, War, and Mass/school shootings

Say More is a wonderfully articulate book on communication skills and insights from her days at the White House and before. I am not sure what I expected, but it was remarkably surprising. I rarely know much about a person before we see them in various positions in the White House. The people that work for the President are there to share the President's message and agenda. We generally do not know much about the person sharing it. There are many people that we never see or know who they are until we see them behind a podium. It was surprising to me to learn that Jen Psaki worked with or for others in office. I am not sure why it was surprising. To me it is as if the first time we see them, is the first day on the job. This book shared so much more about her that I would guess many of us did not know.

I really enjoyed the stories she shared about learning what she now knows and making mistakes on the job. There are many examples that she shares that are relatable which helps us to see how to use these skills better in our own daily lives.

I appreciate the lessons she learned along the way to help her become the person she is now. I could see how some of the things that she learned and now shared about communication can be used in many different settings for all of us to use. I could have used this book as a guide to get me through my teens.

It is very well written, easy to read, and easy to understand. I highly recommend reading it no matter what side of the fence you are on politically. It is not about politics it is about communication, listening and possibly getting your message across so it is received better.

A fun inside look into the day-to-day of a press secretary. While it was made into part memoir part self-help, I think it would’ve been more useful to just lean into the memoir side.

Say More: Lessons from Work, The White House, and the World is the memoir and self help book by Former White House Communications Director Jen Psaki. She leads with the story being more centered on what she wants you to take away from the book in terms of communications skills rather than the memoir aspects of the book. She does artfully weave stories and examples into the book giving the reader that peek behind the scenes. I just wanted wanted more memoir and less communication skills BUT that is not the book she wrote. So for the book she wrote, it's a solid effort and a 4 star read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Say More in exchange for an honest opinion. This book is available now.

I really enjoyed Say More! As someone who exists and works in the political communication world, it was interesting to see behind the curtain and read about Jen Psaki's experience, advice, and how she came to be.

Like several other policomms memoirs that I've read, it leans more self-helpy than memoir, giving good (but sometimes more basic/entry-level) advice to folks interested. I do think the advice was well connected through the stories she told, but I did want her to dig a little deeper. It was a quick, easy, read and I do feel like it could have used even just 25-50 more pages of her stories and life.

But, it's well-written, good advice, and I finished it quickly! I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the White House, communications, or who is curious about Psaki's life.

It's true rating is more 3.75 stars but rounded up to 4.

What a brilliant and fun and engaging read; this was one book I was really excited to read and it absolutely did not disappoint!

Jen Psaki is well-spoken, a fan of deep research and planning [which you will see in the layout of this book], and, she is brutally honest and isn't afraid to admit when she's made a mistake [and talks about just that and how she both tried to make things right, and what she is still learning from it]. She shares deep!y personal stories that uplift, engage, and often makes the reader laugh, and you are left wishing you could be her friend. I know that when this book ended, I wished there were just a few more chapters so it wouldn't be over quite so soon.

Very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jen Psaki, and Scribner for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Poor communication has dogged me my whole life. I’ve got two modes, crippling shyness and a sort of manic boldness. I’m always curious about people who seem to manage high-profile jobs with ease. Jen Psaki has done that and more although she might debate the ease part. That’s partly what makes her new book Say More so appealing. It’s a very honest look at her career and journey from political interning to being the White House press secretary to hosting on MSNBC.

The book packs life lessons on better communication into a series of stories about her political and personal experiences. There are few big surprises or insider moments here but her authenticity is what makes this book appealing. She uses words like clumsy or mistake, freely acknowledging that often the greater part of communication isn’t about saying things; it’s about listening, responding, and also about being wrong. Communication isn’t flawless; it’s often about correcting, learning, and getting on the same page.

Psaki’s no-nonsense approach won her many fans and sometimes got her into a bit of trouble, but what comes through is the humanness of it all—the struggle to balance family demands, work, and pressure when the eyes of the world are upon you. Communication takes many forms these days, and increasingly, it’s being subsumed by content generated by algorithms programmed to approximate people. I like to believe that honest conversation still matters.

Saying more is also about saying less. Psaki talks about the times she couldn’t speak, couldn’t defend herself, and had to live with other people’s perceptions of her. Sometimes, that can be the hardest thing of all to do and the part I’ve struggled with the most in my life. This book won’t teach you a lot about politics or even the Biden administration but it does show how one person handled the spotlight in the best way she could and how we can all be maybe just a little bit clearer, nicer, and more forgiving in dealing with each other.

"Say More" by Jen Psaki is a captivating blend of personal stories and expert communication advice that will leave you feeling inspired and empowered. As someone who frequently watched her on CNN during the 2020 election as a political commentator, I was pleasantly surprised and excited when it was announced that she would be Biden’s White House Press Secretary. I thought, "Finally, we will have a sense of normalcy back in the White House Press Room."

In the book, Psaki shares her experiences working in the White House under both Obama and Biden, as well as her time at the State Department with John Kerry. She also reflects on her early days in politics, including her involvement in various political campaigns. Psaki generously offers advice on navigating conversations smoothly, whether you're speaking to a large audience or having a one-on-one chat with a friend. Through captivating stories about her interactions with influential figures like Biden and Obama, she gives readers a glimpse into her life, showing both the ups and downs of balancing a demanding career with motherhood.

What makes "Say More" special is Psaki's honesty. She openly shares her own challenging experiences, making her advice relatable and impactful. In the book, you'll find valuable strategies for dealing with workplace challenges, asserting yourself, and becoming a better listener. It's more than just a book—it's a comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to improve their communication skills and build deeper connections in every aspect of life. Don't miss out on this rewarding journey toward mastering the art of conversation!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Say More” & I highly recommend it.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

Not the usual political memoir. No daggers are put in backs, no real slights discussed, a little trash talk but that is to be expected, and frankly wanted. What Psaki has written is a book about what Psaki has learned over the years, and how one can practice these lessons in the home, or at work. I enjoyed the fact that she is frank about mistakes, and not getting what she wanted, something that happens to all of us in life. Psaki did not let these hiccups bother her, and in fact as progressed far in her career. Some of these might seem obvious, but humans are very prone to letting the basics slip past us. Psaki use of real life events, along with practical advice really hammers home what Psaki is presenting.

I love Jen Psaki. Her straight-forward, no f*cks given attitude in the White House press room was impressive. However, her career rise is even more impressive. Say More is part memoir, part instruction manual for communicating effectively and part working-mom story.

Her past work with senior political figures such as John Kerry, and Presidents Obama and Biden was fascinating. Maybe because I know the struggle of being a no-nonsense woman in a male-dominated industry, I found her candor refreshing and honestly, a little motivating.

I hope that whatever Jen Psaki does next is something that continues her badass-ness.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.