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janey's review against another edition
5.0
Informative, which is such a departure from the genre. Also, reassuring-- there *are* intelligent and thoughtful people who aspire to serve. I miss his presidency.
katiepercha's review against another edition
4.0
love an audiobook especially when it’s obama reading it
such an interesting inside look at the presidency
such an interesting inside look at the presidency
camicat42's review against another edition
5.0
It's so refreshing to read the words of an intelligent politician who did not let the role of POTUS get to his head and change his ideals, despite the mob of power-grabbing individuals (Republican and Democratic) that surrounded him.
kristyloves2read's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely wonderfully. It is amazing how much the American people don't really know about what happens behind some of our biggest decisions. President Obama provides a clear (even if often times I am sure less antagonistic) view of his life leading up to and through the first few years of his presidency. I enjoyed listening to him read his own story and tell us in his own charismatic way his own story. I unequivocally recommend the audiobook to anyone who wants to read this book.
I can't wait for the next part to come out! Definitely not waiting months to listen to is like I did this one.
I can't wait for the next part to come out! Definitely not waiting months to listen to is like I did this one.
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed 'A Promised Land', though admittedly some parts more than others.
It was very well written both in tone and structure. There was a great balance between the political life and the family life of Obama and the snippets of banter and humour against the backdrop of some incredibly serious historical events. This ensured that I didn't feel bogged down with overly heavy chapters or chapters just concerned with one element of Obama's life. The chapters instead transitioned seamlessly between political events and the impact on family life.
Where I struggled was not necessarily the length, because I never once wanted to stop through boredom, but I felt that at times it went too Inception - histories within histories within context.
The current event or issue would be described, then those working on the issue and then some general background. This was all great and provided much needed context. But then within these elements there were Russian doll style potted histories. Each person involved had their entire CV included, whether they became a long term figure or tbey were never mentioned again. Every section providing background came with yet more 'characters' with full histories, and more events and timelines. Not all of these elements were relevant to the current issue, and these sections bogged down the narrative. By the time I'd read a full history of China or Israel or Russia, alongside all of the key players throughout those years and the breakdown of their full relationship with the US including every dealing with past presidents, I'd forgotten who the relevant figures were and their role in the current issue. It just slowed my reading right down and made the chapters seem a bit endless at times.
I love history but not hardcore and in depth politics so I perhaps wasn't the right audience for some of the foreign policy elements and maybe others retained more of a concentration in those sections than I did.
The parts that worked well for me were when the current issues and resolutions were covered, the proper bread-and-butter memoir/autobiography elements and not the history textbook parts.
I found the book fascinating in a way that I just hadn't predicted when I randomly decided I wanted to read it when released.
It was very well written both in tone and structure. There was a great balance between the political life and the family life of Obama and the snippets of banter and humour against the backdrop of some incredibly serious historical events. This ensured that I didn't feel bogged down with overly heavy chapters or chapters just concerned with one element of Obama's life. The chapters instead transitioned seamlessly between political events and the impact on family life.
Where I struggled was not necessarily the length, because I never once wanted to stop through boredom, but I felt that at times it went too Inception - histories within histories within context.
The current event or issue would be described, then those working on the issue and then some general background. This was all great and provided much needed context. But then within these elements there were Russian doll style potted histories. Each person involved had their entire CV included, whether they became a long term figure or tbey were never mentioned again. Every section providing background came with yet more 'characters' with full histories, and more events and timelines. Not all of these elements were relevant to the current issue, and these sections bogged down the narrative. By the time I'd read a full history of China or Israel or Russia, alongside all of the key players throughout those years and the breakdown of their full relationship with the US including every dealing with past presidents, I'd forgotten who the relevant figures were and their role in the current issue. It just slowed my reading right down and made the chapters seem a bit endless at times.
I love history but not hardcore and in depth politics so I perhaps wasn't the right audience for some of the foreign policy elements and maybe others retained more of a concentration in those sections than I did.
The parts that worked well for me were when the current issues and resolutions were covered, the proper bread-and-butter memoir/autobiography elements and not the history textbook parts.
I found the book fascinating in a way that I just hadn't predicted when I randomly decided I wanted to read it when released.
lefttoread's review against another edition
5.0
I don't think I could ever write a review to do this book justice, it was so beautiful, I learnt so much and gained even more appreciation for Barack Obama, which I didn't think was possible.
Obama has such a way with words, he's so well-spoken yet humble and relatable, I think that's why so many people loved him being President of the United States.
He never glossed over his mistakes, he owned up to them and strived to do better.
Along with his political views and his work, he included stories of his family, of the hardships they went through, like any normal family, and how they overcame them together.
Obama covered so much in this 715 paged book, I listened to it fully through audiobook which I believe is the best way to read it but I will be interested in reading the physical edition to pick up on any bits I missed out on. He also mentioned at the beginning that there'll be another part to this book so I'm looking forward to that if it's still happening.
He covered his upbringing, how he worked towards becoming President and through all of the events he was involved in; including the assisination of Osama Bin Laden and I was brought to tears many times throughout just hearing the passion in his voice to make the world a better place.
Quotes:
"I wanted somehow to save them, send them to school, give them a trade, drain them of the hate that had been filling their heads. And yet the world they were a part of and the machinery I commanded more often had me killing them instead."
"Whatever you do won't be enough," I heard them say. Do it anyway."
"I felt ashamed of my past behaviour and learned to do better."
Obama has such a way with words, he's so well-spoken yet humble and relatable, I think that's why so many people loved him being President of the United States.
He never glossed over his mistakes, he owned up to them and strived to do better.
Along with his political views and his work, he included stories of his family, of the hardships they went through, like any normal family, and how they overcame them together.
Obama covered so much in this 715 paged book, I listened to it fully through audiobook which I believe is the best way to read it but I will be interested in reading the physical edition to pick up on any bits I missed out on. He also mentioned at the beginning that there'll be another part to this book so I'm looking forward to that if it's still happening.
He covered his upbringing, how he worked towards becoming President and through all of the events he was involved in; including the assisination of Osama Bin Laden and I was brought to tears many times throughout just hearing the passion in his voice to make the world a better place.
Quotes:
"I wanted somehow to save them, send them to school, give them a trade, drain them of the hate that had been filling their heads. And yet the world they were a part of and the machinery I commanded more often had me killing them instead."
"Whatever you do won't be enough," I heard them say. Do it anyway."
"I felt ashamed of my past behaviour and learned to do better."
alexpursley's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0