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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
abhireadingnotes's review against another edition
4.0
A first person view of how decisions are made in the president’s office. Also shows you how you cannot make everyone happy.
hilarymofi's review against another edition
5.0
Though at times a bit long winded (typical Obama writing style which I’ve grown to accept), this book was filled with a treasure trove of golden nuggets I could easily apply to my own life. I cannot say this enough: I love this man. He is what a president should be. He is level-headed, intelligent, and he lead with such a realistic optimism. God, I miss his leadership. As the book wound down with talk of a secret mission, I didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read about his second term despite the fact that I voted for him twice and acutely remember his presidency as if it occurred yesterday. It’s just nice to be reminded what an excellent commander in chief looks like.
lavendermarch's review against another edition
4.0
This was an excellent read. Not only did it provide an (often painstakingly) detailed look at many of President Obama's policy decisions while the White House, it also gave me a glimpse into (as one might guess) the life of the President of United States of America, which seems to be in equal parts incredibly busy, stressful, and sometimes even rewarding.
Obama's writing is strong, although the length of the book - the prose is 703 pages in my hardcover copy - kept me from picking it up for a good couple of years after receiving it as a gift. Due to the density, it did take me an entire week to read, despite spending an average of two hours a day pouring through it.
With that said, I found it to be a singularly engaging, interesting, and educative read. For example, I didn't know that so much work had taken place on renewable energy during Obama's administration, which was cool to learn. In contrast, it was rather depressing to be walked through the struggles of the partisan divide.
However, I particularly enjoyed the sections about foreign policy and international relations. As other reviewers have noted, Obama is excellent at painting a picture of each foreign dignitary and giving brief history lessons on their country's various interests and their relationship to the U.S.A. It's easy for the reader to situate themselves at any point in the narrative, despite the constant stream of information and introduction of new characters.
Overall, I found this to be a fascinating, engaging, and worthwhile read. 4.5 stars. The only reason I haven't given it five stars is because I found the book to be quite long and at times overly detailed, especially in the part prior to Obama taking office.
Obama's writing is strong, although the length of the book - the prose is 703 pages in my hardcover copy - kept me from picking it up for a good couple of years after receiving it as a gift. Due to the density, it did take me an entire week to read, despite spending an average of two hours a day pouring through it.
With that said, I found it to be a singularly engaging, interesting, and educative read. For example, I didn't know that so much work had taken place on renewable energy during Obama's administration, which was cool to learn. In contrast, it was rather depressing to be walked through the struggles of the partisan divide.
However, I particularly enjoyed the sections about foreign policy and international relations. As other reviewers have noted, Obama is excellent at painting a picture of each foreign dignitary and giving brief history lessons on their country's various interests and their relationship to the U.S.A. It's easy for the reader to situate themselves at any point in the narrative, despite the constant stream of information and introduction of new characters.
Overall, I found this to be a fascinating, engaging, and worthwhile read. 4.5 stars. The only reason I haven't given it five stars is because I found the book to be quite long and at times overly detailed, especially in the part prior to Obama taking office.
jeremybotter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I’ve read a slew of presidential memoirs. This is the best of them. Politics aside, Obama is a rigorous, captivating writer who can turn the minutiae of policy-making and geopolitics into a story that is easy to read, often thrilling and yet remains instructive. I eagerly await the second volume.