"If your funny older sister were the former deputy chief of staff to President Barack Obama, her behind-the-scenes political memoir would look something like this. WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA? is an intimate and admiring portrait of a president, a candid book of advice for young women, and a promising debut from a savvy political star"-- Provided by publisher.

Introduction: You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation -- Leadership, or born to run things -- Preparedness, or the patron saint of digestion -- Independence, or you can't just tagalong -- Self-awareness, or are you there, FEMA? It's me, Alyssa -- Some personal shit you should probably know -- Confidence, or the hope flood -- Humility, or changes we can believe in, sort of, if we have to -- Risk-taking, or Ah-LEES-ah goes to brooklyn -- Resilience, or a "serious" breakdown -- Kindness, or a spirit soars over Denali -- Conclusion: Politics, now with less Navy.