| |  | Author: Barack Obama
Publisher: Times Books
Category: Book
Buy New: $49.95
New (4) Collectible (4) from $49.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  321 reviews
Sales Rank: 58996
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Pages: 403
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.8 x 1.8
ISBN: 081292343X
Dewey Decimal Number: 305.8960730092
EAN: 9780812923438
ASIN: 081292343X
Publication Date: July 18, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New 1st edition Hardcover with dust jacket, 2007 edition copyright 1995, 2004 later printing
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| Customer Reviews:
 Read this in its context November 4, 2008
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
This book has received a lot of scrutiny from Obama's detractors since he ran for president. It has also disappointed a lot of his fans.
This was written when Obama was much younger than he is now, so it should be read as a memoir about a reflection on family, race, identity. The book was clearly written by a man who knew he was going to go into politics, so it is not without its agenda. Despite this agenda (which is not overbearing), it still reads more like an honest self-reflection from a man starting to make his mark on the world. The honesty is unparalleled by any biography of an American politician I can think of (please tell me if I'm wrong) and that is very refreshing.
Those looking for any sort of insight into his policy ideas while president can use some inductive reasoning to fill out what ever they want (He's a socialist! He wants to cut taxes! He wants to raise taxes.) This should be avoided because his views since this book have changed on a lot of things. What you can see is how astute his observations are about a wide variety of people gained from his consistent outsider status. Given that he was relatively young when he penned this, one can only assume he has only matured farther.
Problems include some muddled prose when he tries to "out eloquence" himself (a criticism he admits in the preface to a newer addition), a lack of a family tree (it is a book about family), and about a fifty extra pages.
If you read this book for non-political reasons, you will enjoy most of his prose, observations on Americans, and honesty about himself: a young man of unusual origins struggling with an identity and lack of a father figure.) I would recommend reading it like this instead of digging for out-of-context snippets to further your preconceived notions of him (Messiah, drug-abuser, communist, racist, best politician ever, etc.)
 Honest, interesting but a bit scary November 1, 2008
14 out of 26 found this review helpful
I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about Obama before the election. It was well-written and interesting. Also, because it was written before he became a politician, I expected it to be more honest than his other book, "Audacity of Hope," which I have no intention of reading.
What is scary about it, though, is that he is very honest about how he came to reject his White heritage and embrace a kind of Black nationalism and racial separatism. (He certainly doesn't sound like that when he is on the campaign trail.)
Despite the fact that he doesn't experience much in the way of discrimination growing up, the turning point for him is when he goes to a "Black" party with some White friends, and the White friends soon leave, apparently because they were uncomfortable around a large group of Blacks. Obama is greatly offended by this and that seems to be when he "breaks" from his part-White identity.
What really shocked me was when he explained his opposition to inter-racial marriage. I'm Asian and my husband is White. I found it hard to believe that, being a product of a mixed marriage himself, Obama could have such views. He dated a White woman who loves him but he is against marrying her just because she is White. He explains that he doesn't want his children to be raised into "White American culture." You would think that Obama's own experience shows that children of mixed marriages do not necessarily assimilate into the culture of the White side. I find my marriage more interesting because of my and my husband's different ethnic backgrounds. Our children are being raised with an awareness of both their American and Chinese heritage, and there should have been no reason why Obama couldn't have raised his children in a similar fashion with a White wife.
I really got a picture of a man who was raised by Whites but who rejects them in favor of his African heritage, despite the fact that his African father essentially abandons him.
Discovering Purpose October 31, 2008
Obama does an amazing job at detailing his life story and connecting it to his continued struggle to find his true identity. Along the way he found his true purpose by helping others achieve change for the better. He is very open with the reader about his experiences and defeats. The writing is so well done that I often have to sit back and remind myself that this man is a lawyer and politician and not an author. He astonishes me with his intellect and ability to communicate with commoners and high-brows alike. Throughout his recollections I am continually reminded that his sole focus in life is to help out the less fortunate and to create a bigger middle class.
 "Where's the Beef?" Plenty in this Bold Memoir October 31, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I remember reading somewhere that conservative columnist George Will believed that this book could quite possibly be the best memoir penned by a politician. Though his assertion is debatable, Mr. Will's alleged statement highlights the quality of this memoir. The writing and depth of introspection in Mr. Obama's book is admirable. It is a journey about racial identity, spiritual awakening, social responsibilty and a search for the meaning of family. My wife and I are both Caucasian and our two, young sons are African-American. Over the decades, I've read a plethora of books/memoirs pertaining to race and, easily, this is one of the books I will recommend for my boys to read. A truly inspirational and gutsy book.
Worth reading about our next president October 30, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have liked Barack Obama ever since he stopped to speak in the small Iowa town that I was living for the past few years. He has a true sincerity that can instantly be felt and he comes across as a very likable person. My Husband and I decided to read this book as well as THE AUDACITY OF HOPE before giving the man our vote and let me tell you I am glade we did. From reading the story of his life you understand how Obama has been shaped as a man and a politician. Every issue that the US is facing today is seen in the life of Barack and his family. The story was very elegant, thought provoking and all inclusive in it's view of the world. Any American can read this book and see there self in Obama's experiences. Based on this book I believe Obama will be a wonderful president of the likes never before seen in these modern days.
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