Barack Obama: The Story Audiobook

" I decided to read this book after hearing the author speak at the National Book Festival. In alternating chapters, Maraniss tells about President Obama's maternal and paternal ancestors, going back three generations. He also reveals how the lives andvarious cultures of these relatives affected and influenced Barack Obama's life. It was extremely well researched and certainly caused me to ponder the possible influences my ancestors may have played in my life. The book was long (500+ pages)and, at times, tedious, but well worth reading. "

" I'm trying to read a biography of each president going backwards starting with President Obama. I think I should have picked a different book because this never reached any of his political life or decisions. I'm amazed by Obama and will most likely read something else about him as well. Going into it just know that this will be largely about his family history and he won't even enter the story until about 100 pages in or so. The book takes you through his early life and into his college years. It seemed to really slow down and drag once it hit this point. Still undecided if my Clinton book will be the work of this author or something different. "

" Last half -- about Obama from high school through post-college years -- was fascinating. But the first 200-300 pages were a real slog. "

" Fascinating read. I only wish the author had spent a little less time on some details, and had gone a little further in Obama's life. It ended before he left for law school, and I was curious to read more. But overall, very interesting, very well researched biography. "

" Has David Maraniss ever met a detail he didn't include in a book? The book is thoroughly researched, but it seems to me that it's an important part of the writer's (and editor's) job to decide what's important to include and not include. Names of classmates of the President's grandparents who never play any further part in the story don't add flavor or interest or information and could easily have been deleted, making the book much more readable. That being said, there's a lot of interesting, new information here that adds a lot to our understanding of the President. "

" Interesting to read in the light of Dreams from My Father being a memoir, this a historical account. "

" His really has been an improbable life, although this book doesn't offer much new information. "

" Listened to this on a cross-country drive. Excellent, revealing, mostly riveting memoir about Barack Obama, beginning with his grandparents on either side and ending when he leaves Chicago to go to law school. "

" Like A Singular Woman, this book was very detailed. I didn't enjoy it quite as much, though there were some new details. Don't misunderstand, however, I liked it a lot. "

" This is a well researched look into Obama's formative years. If you have not read Dreams From My Father, I would suggest reading that before this book. "

" A huge book that covers it all! No one could possibly think Obama is a communist or a socialist if they read this book! Like King David that was brought in from the fields to be the chosen King of Israel this man had divine help to get where he is today. "

" Excellent. More a story of his family background which is interesting stuff. All those people we thought were muslims turned out to be Seventh Day Adventists. "

" Very slow read and somewhat boring. "

" Good writer. Intriguing subject. One of our most interesting presidents ever. "

" Some interesting insights into the President's beginnings. But ... too many details that would be more interesting about Thomas Jefferson. Thinking history needs more time. "

" Well researched and interesting- I cannot put this book down!! "