Includes the senator's speech from the 2004 Democratic National Convention! In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.
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"You can't know the President without reading this book. In his words, he describes his personal thoughts and challenges as he became of age. How often have we had the opportunity to know our leaders in such a thoughtful and intimate way? A must read!" — Linda (5 out of 5 stars)
"You can't know the President without reading this book. In his words, he describes his personal thoughts and challenges as he became of age. How often have we had the opportunity to know our leaders in such a thoughtful and intimate way? A must read!"
Obama’s writing is incisive yet forgiving. This is a book worth savoring.
Beautifully crafted . . . moving and candid . . . this book belongs on the shelf beside works like James McBride’s The Color of Water and Gregory Howard Williams’s Life on the Color Line as a tale of living astride America’s racial categories.
Fluidly, calmly, insightfully, Obama guides us straight to the intersection of the most serious questions of identity, class, and race.
Provocative . . . Persuasively describes the phenomenon of belonging to two different worlds, and thus belonging to neither.
" Love this book. Well written, deeply imagined. Obama's narration is a bit staccato and terse. "
" Unabridged audiobook, read by the author, was fantastic. "
" He writes as beautifully as he speaks...and this was written long before he was a candidate, while in law school. "
" Sorry.... Didn't care abt finishing it. "
" It was really interesting to read this book written by the president more than 10 years before he was elected. He had an unusual childhood and a lot to come to terms with as a young man. Good stories of family, and an enlightening view of Obama. "
" Amazing story about a man I truly admire. "
" Really awesome book...the whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking, "if only we could have a President who's had these experiences!" "
" I read this a long time ago and loved it, but last year, I happened to listen to the audio book, which was even better. Obama won a Grammy for his recording and he did do a superb job reading his own memoir. "
" This is a great book written by a great man. I would recommend anyone to read it to have a clearer insight into the man who became president. I fervently hope he wins the upcoming election! "
" Wow! Lots of insight on Obama's heritage...very well written. "
" He is a great writer, I was riveted. "
" Amazing narrative that spans continents and gives an introspective answer to questions of identity that plague us all at some point in our lives. Must read. "
" Ja, best interessant levensverhaal. But let's face it, moest het niet over Obama gaan, zou ik het niet uitgelezen hebben. "
" this man cannot be the president??????? "
" I was partial to this book from the beginning, but it is an excellent story of the American Dream. "
" Very well-written and not overly sentimental, despite the subject matter. Liked it a lot. "
" Honest, easy to read. Pleasant surprise. "
" Very interesting background for our 2nd term president. He is in an amazingly strong position to be aware and more understanding of different walks of life. I'm keen on reading his next book. "
" I really enjoyed this memoir. Obama is a great writer, and he had an interesting upbringing. I already had so much respect for him, but I gained more reading this book. I would highly recommend it. "
" One of the most inspirational books I have ever read! "
" I have enjoyed reading the President's biography and I've gained a greater understanding on how he formulates his policy and his politics "
" Touching and memorable book........... "
" A memoir laden with beautiful prose and a memorable tale of reconciliation with oneself and one's past. I read this just before Obama became president. "
" This was a really good biography. I thought it might end up being a snooze fest, but it really kept me hooked all the way through. "
" I read this book in 2004 and told my dad this man would be our first black president. No one believed me! Wonderful story into the mind of our president. It's nice to read these books that were written before they became celebrities. "
" The quest for self discovery is life long and agonizingly painstaking, and more so if one is different from others. Loved it. "
" are my politics showing? I read this book for a class and I was excited to read it because I thought it would give me insight into our President. I liked the beginning but I got bogged down in the middle section and had a hard time finishing the section on Kenya. I found the book to be wordy. "
" This was a somewhat entertaining read, but I wanted more from him. The only message that I got was that black men are generally screwed up. What a strange message! Is this Obama's heritage? "
" The book was a very good autobiography and seemed to be very open and honest. It just wasn't as good as many of the fiction books I enjoy so I only rated it a 3. If you want to learn more about Barack Obama, I would highly suggest reading the book. "
" Really good insight into how Pres. Obama's personality societal viewed were formed. His story is an example of what hard work and a search for destiny. "
" A very informative and interesting read. "
" It was OK...nothing special. IT was nice to read about how our current president grew up, what his family was like, etc. But I found it to be a slow read. "
" Started off so well and then my ADD kicked after the 1st third of the book. Last third seemed to pick up again. I will say if Obama wrote another book, I'd read it. He definitely has a way with words. "
Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States, elected in November 2008 and holding office for two terms. He is the author of two previous New York Times bestselling books, Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope, and the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. He graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review. In addition to his work as a community organizer, he practiced as a civil rights attorney before serving three terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. Obama is especially proud of being a husband and father of two daughters.
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