Today I am sharing my review of A Promised Land by Barack Obama. I am a fan of President Obama so this was one of my most anticipated books of 2020.
Synopsis
A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making, from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.
In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.
Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.
Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.
A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective—the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of “hope and change,” and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.
This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.
Why I Decided to Read this Book
I am a fan of Barack Obama (and Michelle obviously) and I was interested in learning more about his presidency from his point of view.
Rating
Read NOW (If you are a fan of President Obama). Check out my rating system here.
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this political memoir by President Obama. Like I mentioned before I am a big fan of his and was looking forward to reading it. This is a big book (700+ pages) and even though I have a physical copy I listened to the audiobook because I love memoirs in audio. The audiobook is narrated by President Obama and I can’t recommend it enough.
This is only the first of many volumes of President Obama’s political memoir. It covers his background, political campaigns and his presidency through the killing of Osama Bin Laden. I really enjoyed all the personal stories intertwined with the events that occurred during his presidency. It gives you an insight of what it takes to run an administration, what it really takes to be a world leader. I loved how articulate and honest he was in telling his story. I couldn’t get enough of when he would talk about his family.
Overall I think this is a fascinating and inspiring book and I can’t wait to read more from President Obama.
Content Warnings
Death, cancer, racism, police brutality, grief
Who I Recommend this Book to
I recommend this book to fans of political memoirs. It is a long (and sometimes dry) book so if you are not into that you may not like it. If you want to just learn about the personal lives of the Obamas I recommend Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming instead.
Get the Book!
Did this review of Forever Wild convince you to read it? Check out the links below to get it from Bookshop.org. Please consider ordering it from a Black owned independent bookstore. This list of Black owned independent bookstores accepts online ordering.
>>Shop on Libro.fm (use code GISSELLEREADS for a discount if you want to start a membership)
If you’ve read this book let me know your thoughts in the comments!
