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rachblank's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Enlightening to read about his decision making process and rationale when faced with a serious dilemma and choice to make in the White House.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Cancer, Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
3.0
This was everything I remember about his administration. I was hoping to learn something new - something that hasn’t been reported or some reflection that would’ve indicated I’d misunderstood something or could give me greater insight. I guess fake news didn’t exist in his time. Lol.
I wish he’d addressed border control, specifically about how children had been separated from parents and supposedly held in cages. I remember seeing the News York Times article and being shocked. I realize it came out after this book, but the events happened during his presidency. Maybe Biden will write about it when it’s his turn…
Three stars because it was basically a well written brag book that his daughters can read and feel good about.
I wish he’d addressed border control, specifically about how children had been separated from parents and supposedly held in cages. I remember seeing the News York Times article and being shocked. I realize it came out after this book, but the events happened during his presidency. Maybe Biden will write about it when it’s his turn…
Three stars because it was basically a well written brag book that his daughters can read and feel good about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Racism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
zara89's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Cultural appropriation, and War
Minor: Genocide and Antisemitism
whatjasread's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
• I’m not saying it’s bad, but this man talks so much dear lord
• literal king of waffle
• the parts leading up to his presidency were more interesting than his actual presidency
• so much name dropping I don’t remember a single person except Michelle and our lass Lizzie R
TWs: war, death, racism, islamophobia, gun violence, cancer, terrorism, homophobia, torture, mentions of 9/11
• literal king of waffle
• the parts leading up to his presidency were more interesting than his actual presidency
• so much name dropping I don’t remember a single person except Michelle and our lass Lizzie R
TWs: war, death, racism, islamophobia, gun violence, cancer, terrorism, homophobia, torture, mentions of 9/11
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Racism, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Homophobia and Torture
asturias's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Cancer, Slavery, Torture, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Classism
nick13's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I'm not one who says they hate politics in fiction and/or in real life, as I liked Game of Thrones (when it was good) and love Hamilton but I also don't love them, like politics rn. With that said, I loved this book.
In parts the paragraphs are blind, telling exactly how things happened, with other times being written beautifully when it's about something inside, philosophical, or spiritual. The way it informed the reader with the events of his term were put simply enough so that j could understand them even though during his term I was too young to understand any of what was happening.
Along with this, this novel also shows a light into Baracks personal life (not as much as Michelle's but still some) that shows the humanity of him that isn't shown through the press when a president is in office.
All of this combines to a very long novel packed full of information with some parts even having a bit of humor or introspection writing that really adds to the level of reading this novel.
Highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a little bit of politics and want to understand exactly what was happening during this time period and/or what Barack was personally thinking at the time.
In parts the paragraphs are blind, telling exactly how things happened, with other times being written beautifully when it's about something inside, philosophical, or spiritual. The way it informed the reader with the events of his term were put simply enough so that j could understand them even though during his term I was too young to understand any of what was happening.
Along with this, this novel also shows a light into Baracks personal life (not as much as Michelle's but still some) that shows the humanity of him that isn't shown through the press when a president is in office.
All of this combines to a very long novel packed full of information with some parts even having a bit of humor or introspection writing that really adds to the level of reading this novel.
Highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a little bit of politics and want to understand exactly what was happening during this time period and/or what Barack was personally thinking at the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Racism, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, and Medical content
Minor: Gun violence, Violence, and Islamophobia
jkiranjot's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Islamophobia, and War
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexism
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
While I really enjoyed A Promised Land as a whole, I have to admit it’s best enjoyed one bite at a time. The audiobook is nearly 30 hours – a fairly long read! Because this is a presidential memoir, it’s also filled with political churnings. Regardless of your personal perspective, politics get exhausting after 30 hours. But all that said, I found the behind-the-scenes look fascinating.
There is so much packed into this book. The pacing starts off pretty steadily, with Obama speaking about his early campaigns and setting Michelle. As the book goes on and we get into his presidency, the pace picks up and so does the amount of information. By the end of A Promised Land, one significant event was packed in after another without time to breathe. It was a little anxiety-inducing for me, so I can’t imagine how stressful it was to actually be in charge of or on the receiving end of so many of the things discussed during the second half of the book.
There is a balanced voice to many of the things discussed here, but the further into the presidency we get, the clearer his own personal frustrations are. Since this is a memoir and not purely a piece of historical non-fiction, this is both fine and accepted. However, I do want to mention that the exasperation with Mitch McConnell and Republican senators is clear, and his commentary on Donald Trump is more harsh. This book will not sit well with stalwart Republicans and Trump fans, though for those who are interested in a rounded view of politics, it is still an important read.
Please don’t take this to mean Obama spends the book in bi-partisan bashing. In fact, there is a clear frustration with bi-partisanism and there are several instances where he praises Republican senators or representatives. In fact, it’s an interesting perspective on the shift of priorities in the Republican party during his presidency, which ultimately lead to the party as it is today.
It’s challenging to talk about a political memoir like this without showing my biases. I will be honest and say that I’ve always liked Obama and my reading of the book is a bit biased – I find it easy to sympathize with the frustrations his voices because they are many of the same things I feel myself. While objectively this book is extremely well-written and accessible, enjoyment of it will certainly fall to individual political views. I’m not sure there’s any way around that in a presidential memoir.
A Promised Land is an excellent read if you are interested in the Obama family or administration. It’s also good insight for a well-rounded political view. However, it’s important to be aware of the inherent biases coming from a memoir… and also know it’s a bit thick so take it slow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Torture and Violence
readandfindout's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Knowledge/perspective: 4.5 stars
This is actually really hard to rate! Because I thought everything was well done, and I really enjoyed Obama's perspective, but I struggled with the pacing and level of detail.
Themes: 4 stars
Knowledge/perspective: 4.5 stars
This is actually really hard to rate! Because I thought everything was well done, and I really enjoyed Obama's perspective, but I struggled with the pacing and level of detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Cancer, Genocide, Violence, and Islamophobia
Minor: Death, Homophobia, and Torture
bookswithsoumi's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
For a man who needs no introduction, I can tell you that his behemoth of a book (700+ pages!) is truly inspirational to hopeful millennials like myself. Obama’s words took me on a journey from his tropical childhood in Hawaii to the suspenseful months leading up to the 2008 election to the major events of his first term, ending at the killing of bin Laden.
I would HIGHLY recommend listening to the audiobook, clocking in at 29 hours and 10 minutes. Not only will you get through the book faster, but also you will vicariously experience Obama’s ups and downs. His occasional f-bomb was gratifying to my soul weary from 2020.
My highlights include:
🔎Travelling with Obama on his state visits to China, Russia, and India and international summits in London and Copenhagen.
🔎Simplified explanations for the lay people like me on issues such as wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Great Recession.
🔎Overall just learning how a president can effect change in society.
The best quotes:
💫”And then there was the unsettling fact that, despite whatever my mother might claim, the bullies, cheats, and self-promoters seemed to be doing quite well, while those she considered good and decent people seemed to get screwed an awful lot.”
💫“But you don’t choose the time. The time chooses you. Either you seize what may turn out to be the only chance you have, or you decide you’re willing to live with the knowledge that the chance has passed you by.”
And the funniest quotes:
🤣“I’d met my share of highly credentialed, high-IQ morons”
🤣“Two hundred and thirty-two years and they wait until the country’s falling apart before they turn it over to the brother!”
Time to read: 56 days (with audiobook listening in between)
Who should read this book: people who want to try memoirs for the first time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Sexism and Torture