The West Wing and Beyond: What I Saw Inside the Presidency

Meet the people inside the presidency and go behind the scenes of the West Wing—into the Oval Office and Situation Room, aboard Air Force One, and beyond—with #1 bestselling author and former presidential photographer Pete Souza.

Pete Souza has spent more time in the Oval Office than almost any person in history. During the Obama administration alone, Souza was inside the presidential bubble for more than 25,000 hours and made nearly 2 million photographs. The result is an unprecedented view of how our democracy really works.

Now Souza invites you into the inner sanctum of the American presidency, sharing rarely seen photographs and untold stories of life and work in the White House and traveling with the President around the world.

The West Wing and Beyond takes you behind the scenes of consequential moments and introduces the people, places, and traditions that define our nation’s highest office—from the national security staff to the White House groundskeeper. It delivers a new appreciation for the Secret Service, the seriousness of the Situation Room, and even the fun of mini basketball games played in rare moments of downtime outside the Oval.

Brimming with gorgeous photographs paired with fascinating storytelling, The West Wing and Beyond offers a one-of-a-kind look into the personalities, intrigues, and fascinating details that comprise the modern presidency. It is an essential book for every citizen who believes in American democracy.

About the Author

Pete Souza was the Official Chief White House Photographer for the entire tenure of the Presidency of Barack Obama. A professional photographer since the 1970's, Souza was the Washington Photographer for the Chicago Sun-Times for several years as well as an official White House Photographer during the Reagan years. His work has appeared in Life and National Geographic and he is the author of several books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers Obama: An Intimate Portrait and Shade.