The first official White House videographer chronicles his time capturing behind-the-scenes moments of the president and his administrationFrom the early months of the 2008 campaign and through the first two and a half years of the Obama administration; Arun Chaudhary had a unique perspective on the president of the United States. "Im sort of like President Obamas wedding videographer;" he explains; "if every day was a wedding with the same groom but a constantly rotating set of hysterical guests."Some of the moments Chaudhary captures are small; like the president throwing warm-up pitches deep inside Busch Stadium in St. Louis before the All-Star game. Some are intensely emotional; as when Obama comforts a grieving teenager whose father had died in a devastating tornado. And some are just plain bizarremdash;like getting thrown out of the Indian parliament by his belt; or being trapped in a White House bathroom while Obama conducts a YouTube town hall on the other side of the door. Film and politics have been intertwined ever since the first Edison reels rattled in projection halls a century ago. But with the advent of new technologies and a new public that is hungry for images of their leaders; Chaudhary has been in the right place at the right time to participate in the interplay of film and politics at the very highest level. His entertaining and eye-opening bookmdash;which includes stories and images of key players such as Barack and Michelle Obama; Joe Biden; and Hillary Clinton; among othersmdash;gives readers a unique view of their government and their president in these historic and challenging times.
#2143266 in eBooks 2006-02-21 2006-02-21File Name: B00699P6ZA
Review
3 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A Romp Through Georgian LondonBy Old School but KickingThis book is of interest to anyone who cares about 18th century England but it also could work well for someone looking for an introduction to those extraordinary days. The struggle to survive has never been more acutely portrayed than in this remarkable and yet true story of a daughter spurned by a famous but cold hearted father. You will laugh and cry with and about Charlotte but you cannot come away from this book without a deep appreciation for just how easy our lives are today.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Who Wouldnt Pick Pants Over A Corset?By Bitter LawyerGood historians are often dismal writers. but Shevelows narrative is engaging without veering off into conjecture or baseless fluff. The story of the actress Charlotte is an interesting skeleton which the author uses to support more general historical detail about the period. This context adds greatly to the story. Another strength is that Shevelow never falls prey to the twin failings of biographers - slavering adoration or spiteful condemnation. She also doesnt accept uncritically the image of Charlotte offered by either Charlotte herself or her contemporaries.The book does tend to drag a bit when Charlottes official stage career ends. but that is more due to the factual circumstances of the womans life than the authors fault. In fact people who want insight into the lives and lifestyles of Englands less fortunate citizens may find this section very rewarding. Personal preference really.Overall a well-researched. compellingly-written biography.6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Well written. definitely not how romantic novellists see it...By A. WoodleyThere is a tendency in romantic novellists to spice up their novels with tales of actresses and cross-dressing young women who make good and marry the handsome peer - this is perhaps a more accurate reflection of what happened in reality to women of their ilk in eighteenth century BritainCharlottes story is probably not typical as such of the period. being a womans lot - but the reactions and results. well researched and written by Shevelow - seem to accurately reflect the period.Charlotte was born of a good family. her father was the poet laureate. and she had all possibility of advantage - however marrying at 17 and later abandoned by both her husband and her father. she was forced to make her own way in the world. she wrote plays (some apparently good for the period) and acted - specialising in male roles. This cross-dressing she later took into her real life.If anything this seems like a slow unfolding and destruction of a life. Much of it seems to be from her original autobiography published in the mid eighteenth century - no doubt to boost her finances as well - but gradually she was forced into all kinds of generally male dominated occupations.Saddening to read. at times heavy going. but enlightening. This is an excellent portrayal of the limitations on women in this period. and the consequences.
