katreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this memoir. It was very long, but also compelling and well-written. I surprised myself by how quickly I finished - long books have been a challenge this year. Obama's insider perspective on campaigning and then being President made for a fascinating story. I can't wait for Part II!
alanathehangry's review against another edition
4.0
It's so hard to rate this book. Let me start off by saying Obama is my favorite president. He's a wonderful human being and a great role model for all people.
But gosh darn does the man overwrite! This man needs an editor. He only got through 2 years of his presidency in the entire 700+ pages. I guess we shouldn't be surprised because he has always loved to talk a lot.
But anyhow, the scope of this book is amazing. The detail is incredible. I learned so much about the insides of Washington, the compromises given and the exhausting back-and-forth with Congress, etc. It made me want to be a government staffer, if you can believe it.
My favorite part of the book was the beginning, when Obama covers his childhood, his college years, his lawyer experience, and his Senator experience. I loved the campaign trail stuff, too. I loved all the behind-the-scenes blood, sweat, and tears. I loved how real he was about stuff, about race, about his family. Obama pulled no punches in this book.
A particular thing among many I learned from this book is that Obama doesn't want to be a politician. He doesn't want to not say something because it would upset constituents or special interest groups. He wants to achieve his goals of making the country better, of giving young poor kids a shot at the American dream. But he soon met the reality of being president. He constantly had to make compromises, sit through meetings with republicans who would say one thing behind closed doors and then something foul to the public, and had to keep an eye on poll ratings. He wanted to come out of the gate punching, making real changes to the economy, to climate change protection, etc. But politics didn't allow for all of his dreams. He was still able to make real change, despite republicans blocking him at every opportunity, but it was tough.
So, there's a lot of griping in this book. And boy does this man deserve to gripe. He held his tongue throughout his presidency, not shooting back at critics, nor displaying the republicans for what they really were. And now he gets to let it all out. I bet writing this book was incredibly cathartic for him.
I think he gets a little bit too in the weeds with policy-making and the politics between all white house staff and congress members, but I'll probably read the next book. And there will be a next one. Four in total is what I guess based on the pace of this one.
I listened to the Audible version of this. Was so comforting to have him in my ear.
But gosh darn does the man overwrite! This man needs an editor. He only got through 2 years of his presidency in the entire 700+ pages. I guess we shouldn't be surprised because he has always loved to talk a lot.
But anyhow, the scope of this book is amazing. The detail is incredible. I learned so much about the insides of Washington, the compromises given and the exhausting back-and-forth with Congress, etc. It made me want to be a government staffer, if you can believe it.
My favorite part of the book was the beginning, when Obama covers his childhood, his college years, his lawyer experience, and his Senator experience. I loved the campaign trail stuff, too. I loved all the behind-the-scenes blood, sweat, and tears. I loved how real he was about stuff, about race, about his family. Obama pulled no punches in this book.
A particular thing among many I learned from this book is that Obama doesn't want to be a politician. He doesn't want to not say something because it would upset constituents or special interest groups. He wants to achieve his goals of making the country better, of giving young poor kids a shot at the American dream. But he soon met the reality of being president. He constantly had to make compromises, sit through meetings with republicans who would say one thing behind closed doors and then something foul to the public, and had to keep an eye on poll ratings. He wanted to come out of the gate punching, making real changes to the economy, to climate change protection, etc. But politics didn't allow for all of his dreams. He was still able to make real change, despite republicans blocking him at every opportunity, but it was tough.
So, there's a lot of griping in this book. And boy does this man deserve to gripe. He held his tongue throughout his presidency, not shooting back at critics, nor displaying the republicans for what they really were. And now he gets to let it all out. I bet writing this book was incredibly cathartic for him.
I think he gets a little bit too in the weeds with policy-making and the politics between all white house staff and congress members, but I'll probably read the next book. And there will be a next one. Four in total is what I guess based on the pace of this one.
I listened to the Audible version of this. Was so comforting to have him in my ear.
fidoe's review against another edition
3.0
Week 8 Book 14
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Rating: 3/5
Finally finished listening to this book on Audible. Not a fan of politics, least of all American Politics, but irrespective of his success or failure as a President, I've admired Obama as a man, a husband, and a father.
I enjoyed listening to parts of the book, in his deep baritone. Parts about his early life, education, career, how he met Michelle, life as a husband and then father, all his experiences with a mixed family that ranged from Hawaii to Kenya to Indonesia!
Some parts of his political career were interesting too, like his campaign experiences, the people he encountered and worked with. How life was at the White House, how he connected with his staff, how the family tried to live as normal a life as possible.
Rest of it was super boring for me. All the discussion about how American Politics works, the things he did or wanted to do but couldn't, the diplomatic relations with various countries and a detailed description of the Bin Laden assassination. Also it ended rather abruptly.
I honestly preferred Becoming by Michelle Obama :)
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Rating: 3/5
Finally finished listening to this book on Audible. Not a fan of politics, least of all American Politics, but irrespective of his success or failure as a President, I've admired Obama as a man, a husband, and a father.
I enjoyed listening to parts of the book, in his deep baritone. Parts about his early life, education, career, how he met Michelle, life as a husband and then father, all his experiences with a mixed family that ranged from Hawaii to Kenya to Indonesia!
Some parts of his political career were interesting too, like his campaign experiences, the people he encountered and worked with. How life was at the White House, how he connected with his staff, how the family tried to live as normal a life as possible.
Rest of it was super boring for me. All the discussion about how American Politics works, the things he did or wanted to do but couldn't, the diplomatic relations with various countries and a detailed description of the Bin Laden assassination. Also it ended rather abruptly.
I honestly preferred Becoming by Michelle Obama :)
ikon_biotin_jungle_lumen's review against another edition
5.0
I love biographies, but this was a particularly good read. Obama is one of the few recent presidents who had a notable bibliography prior to election, and his literary merit was proven by the reception of "Dreams from My Father" (1995). I surprised myself by being disappointed at the abrupt end of "A Promised Land," which is the first in a planned 2-volume set. Usually my interest begins to flag around the 80% mark of a biography, but with the journalistic care and benefit of a decade of hind site between events and their documentation I think the choice to split Obama's memoir into two parts was a wise one.
I strongly recommend this book to individuals who were coming of age around the controversial 2008 election; my view of Barack Obama was so warped by my environment at the time that I'm appalled to recall it. "Obama can't legally be president, he wasn't even born in America." "He's a communist." "He's a member of the out-of-touch social Elite." "He's a Muslim who wants to destroy America." Even "he's the Antichrist, signaling the End Times and the last judgement!" — These are all statements I heard—and believed—as a credulous teenager growing up in a white Evangelical household, and views I would largely hold onto until they were shaken by the madness engulfing the 2016 election.
For anyone who relates to this, I cannot recommend "A Promised Land" highly enough. It serves particularly well with a side-by-side reading of "Betrayal" (Karl, 2021) though the experience may leave you with a few additional gray hairs.
I strongly recommend this book to individuals who were coming of age around the controversial 2008 election; my view of Barack Obama was so warped by my environment at the time that I'm appalled to recall it. "Obama can't legally be president, he wasn't even born in America." "He's a communist." "He's a member of the out-of-touch social Elite." "He's a Muslim who wants to destroy America." Even "he's the Antichrist, signaling the End Times and the last judgement!" — These are all statements I heard—and believed—as a credulous teenager growing up in a white Evangelical household, and views I would largely hold onto until they were shaken by the madness engulfing the 2016 election.
For anyone who relates to this, I cannot recommend "A Promised Land" highly enough. It serves particularly well with a side-by-side reading of "Betrayal" (Karl, 2021) though the experience may leave you with a few additional gray hairs.