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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
I listened to this as an audiobook. I appreciate the narration by the author because you can sense firsthand the emotion in each anecdote. For me, it was too long and it felt more as an appreciation note for his team and family as well as a justification for the decisions made throughout the years.
President Obama gave us snippets of personal, including moments of things I wish I said, and did. I hope that he was able to work things out with Michelle in terms of helping to heal the tension, disappointment and loneliness that comes with raising children while married to politics, a fate no spouse chooses.
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
I liked the insight into what it is to be POTUS. The anecdotes and personal stories are really what made this sing for me. But I found that some of the details regarding policy really slowed this down. Still. I found it enjoyable to listen to Obama speak for 29 hours.
A very interesting insight into the intrigues and compromises of politics, international in general and (obviously) American in particular. It is well very well written - Obama sure have a way with words. There are some glimpses of what his family had to sacrifice for his career, but even so, they just scratch at the surface of something obviously complicated, which makes this book slightly impersonal. Then again, understandably, he would want to protect his family, so it must have been difficult to find a balance in writing about them.
I realise how little I, as an European, know about American politics. In the light of current political events in the US, this book was particular interesting to read.
I realise how little I, as an European, know about American politics. In the light of current political events in the US, this book was particular interesting to read.
funny
informative
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I was 17 when Obama's first term as president began in 2008. Being the nerdy, Mexican teen I was, I wasn't really aware of anything regarding politics, either Mexican or otherwise. All I remember from back then was knowing Kevin Rose having an Obama sticker on his laptop I would see whenever I watched Diggnation.
Fast forward to now, I'm still no expert in politics, but I know enough to know that everything in life is politics, or at the very least is affected by them. Since the US is a worldwide leader in many aspects, not to mention the important relationship between the United States and Mexico, I had a go at listening to Obama's memoir, narrated by the man himself.
This book gives us a fantastic look into the mind of President Obama during (most) of his first term in office, with part 2 still being a work in progress as of the day I'm posting this. As I listened to some of the big events he had to deal with, it took me back to that same time in my life and what I was doing back then, events such as the BP oil spill, his winning the nobel peace prize, and the killing of bin Laden.
I will admit it got a little tedious towards the middle, but I can't imagine that happening with anyone who really loves politics and the minutae it entails.
Obama himself is an excellent orator, and that comes through in his reading of his own memoir. He has that distinctive cadence to his speech that is very much his, I think the audiobook benefits greatly from having him read his own words directly to us.
Overall I enjoyed the book, it was definitely out of my comfort zone as a reader, but I don't regret it at all, I feel I have even gained a better understanding of certain aspects of American politics, and will keep an eye open for the second part when it releases.
If you enjoyed this review you can find more on my blog at https://www.forgedbyluis.com !
If you enjoyed this review you can find more on my blog at https://www.forgedbyluis.com !