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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
I LOVE President Obama. But. I'm so sad about this. I started this book in January and have been picking it up off and on since then, painfully. I love President Obama, and I really liked his other books. Unfortunately for me, this book was just a recap of all of the horrible things about his presidency. I found myself responding "Yep. I remember when the GOP was racist. Yep. I recall when they tanked our healthcare. Yep. Good times." I am already on his side, so I didn't need all of his explanations for every choice he made during his presidency! I feel like this is written for fairytale moderates in the GOP who might become sympathetic to BO after hearing his logical and rational explanations for everything. Bless his heart, and I will always love and respect him, but this book was not enjoyable.
This was a slow read, and, early on, I was a bit put off by that, but I am truly glad that I kept reading and paying attention, even when I needed to slow down and look things up. The events of Obama's first-term presidency are vital to our situation now, in and of themselves. A large part of what I ended up valuing about this book, though, is how clearly and honestly Obama reveals how complex and difficult many--most, probably--presidential decisions are, if the President actually takes responsibility for them. Before the end, I'd come to see that there is no constantly exciting and compelling way to frame the workings of politics here in the US or anywhere that democracy is valued. He's open and direct about everything from his love for his grandmother Toot, who harbored racist stereotypes but who loved and supported him unreservedly to his reaction to the death of Osama Bin Laden (which didn't excite him as much as did other accomplishments more directly related to the on-going wellbeing of the American people. He doesn't present himself as a saint, but he comes across as a good man, intelligent, honorable, honest, and generous.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
listening to Obama narrate this is a treat. but I come away wondering how any one person can be president when there are 300 billion decisions to make and all require immeasurable levels of nuance. also re-upped my ever-simmering desire to put bitch mcconnell through a meat grinder
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Listening to Obama tell his story was like a breath of fresh air after this year and this current presidency. I had almost forgotten that politicians could be sane and reasonable humans.
Merged review:
Listening to Obama tell his story was like a breath of fresh air after this year and this current presidency. I had almost forgotten that politicians could be sane and reasonable humans.
Merged review:
Listening to Obama tell his story was like a breath of fresh air after this year and this current presidency. I had almost forgotten that politicians could be sane and reasonable humans.
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Can he pleaaaaaase release the second volume soon??
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Firstly, the audio book is amazing as it’s read by Obama and you get to bask in his wisdom filled, sultry voice. Secondly, manage your expectations, this only covers his early political career, first election and first 2 years as president, ending with the assassination of Bin Laden.
With that said it’s an amazingly detailed look at his decision making and shows a lot about how America developed throughout the time. Obama wrote this in 2020 so he could have massaged the narrative a bit but it’s still stunning to hear about the rise of reactionary republicans like Donald Trump (starting with Sara Palin) and the congressional gridlock (from both sides of the aisle).
With that said it’s an amazingly detailed look at his decision making and shows a lot about how America developed throughout the time. Obama wrote this in 2020 so he could have massaged the narrative a bit but it’s still stunning to hear about the rise of reactionary republicans like Donald Trump (starting with Sara Palin) and the congressional gridlock (from both sides of the aisle).
Este ha sido una de las raras ocasiones en las que he "leido" un libro con un audiobook. Y lo he hecho porque este libro esta narrado por Obama y puedo escuchar a este hombre por horas y horas.
Tener informacion de primera mano de un ex-presidente es maravilloso, sobre todo su modo de pensar cuando se enfrenta a diversas crisis.
Pero hay un par de cosas que no me acaban de gustar demasiado, primero es la cantidad de nombres que no me suenan de nada, gente que le ayudo a ganar las elecciones o que trabajaban en posiciones mas o menos desconocidas en la casa blanca.
Pero sobre todo lo que menos me ha gustado es que en la mayoria de los casos se atribuye a el o a su equipo la decision adecuada y la mejor implementacion posible. Y esto me parece demasiado increible, para cuando iba por la mitad del libro ya casi me hacia gracia cuando presenta un problema, su solucion y la presenta como la unica y mejor alternativa.
Entiendo que pareciera la mejor alternativa, pero dudo que despues de ver los sucesos, no te plantearas si lo fue o no.
La otra cosa curiosa es como ignora algunas de las contradicciones en las que tuvo que jugar. Por ejemplo, en una parte del libro habla de un viaje a Arabia Saudi y como el regimen alli es retrogrado y denigrante para las mujeres, como le intentaron comprar y como empujan a la creacion de terrorismo contra EEUU y otros paises. Y aun asi, muy colegas con ellos, fiesta juntos, risas y tal.
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced