Alyssa Mastromonaco worked for Barack Obama long before he began his campaign for president. As director of campaign operations, she made Hope and Change happen through blood, sweat, tears, and lots of briefing binders. But for every historic occasion-meeting the Queen of England, tussling with President Karzai's guards, or eating chicken tenders at Houlihan's as Obama was elected President-there were many less than perfect moments when it was up to Alyssa to save the day. Here Alyssa shares the strategies that made her successful in politics and the White House-including the importance of confidence, the value of not being a jerk, and why ultimately everything comes down to hard work (and always carrying a spare tampon). Full of hilarious, never-before-told stories, 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.