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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
I absolutely love Obama and it was the perfect book for me to read right now. I just thought it was too long and I didn't necessarily want to hear about every little decision he made. I'd be much more interested in one book that talks about his entire presidency instead of it broken up into 2 books that are still really long. But I love him!
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Longer review to come when I finish Education of an Idealist.
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
I don’t think I’m very informed on politics but it’s great to see the considerations going through Obamas mind at points. I really liked the human elements, particularly his internal struggles with his family and his wife. Also surprised about how much of it I knew about, despite thinking I was completely uninformed. Also it feels like it was at times too focused on military interventions, perhaps because it was the points he felt he had to justify the most and was deliberating over the most. Or perhaps it was because he thought it would be more exciting to read than his other duties. Either way, a good informative read - obviously I don’t know if he’s chatting shit (or how much), but it is clear that he is open minded and extremely intelligent.
Ended halfway-ish through his presidency so there must be another part. He’s a great writer. Would have liked to get more in the weeds on the war stuff. I will never be a politician
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Okay, I knew going into this book that it would be controversial, I would like to start off the review by saying that in no way shape or form am I an Obama supporter and I disagree with a LOT of his policies (climate change, foreign policy, etc.). Due to that fact, the review of this book is *not* my review of Barack Obama as a human being or as President, this review is strictly pertinent to the contents of the book.
Truth be told, I found it fascinating and I genuinely loved reading it. There were a plethora of topics covered (and some not), and I do not have the time to go over every single one of them so I will leave that to the reader. The writing revealed the intricacies of Washington politics and reaffirmed the difficulties surrounding any meaningful action, especially for Obama who underwent Republican pushback and propaganda during his entire tenure as President. Often, I find that people misunderstand the powers of the President and how limited they truly are, along with the never-ending factors that go into a decision. Although I do not agree with a vast number of them, Obama does a brilliant job of detailing his and his team's thought process surrounding each one in a manner that makes you feel as if you are in the shoes of the President. I found that aspect of the book to be absolutely fascinating, the complications surrounding diplomacy become clearer. I personally do think that had Obama been elected under different circumstances and in a less polarized point of time, we would have seen a different President.
Very glad I chose to purchase and read it.
Truth be told, I found it fascinating and I genuinely loved reading it. There were a plethora of topics covered (and some not), and I do not have the time to go over every single one of them so I will leave that to the reader. The writing revealed the intricacies of Washington politics and reaffirmed the difficulties surrounding any meaningful action, especially for Obama who underwent Republican pushback and propaganda during his entire tenure as President. Often, I find that people misunderstand the powers of the President and how limited they truly are, along with the never-ending factors that go into a decision. Although I do not agree with a vast number of them, Obama does a brilliant job of detailing his and his team's thought process surrounding each one in a manner that makes you feel as if you are in the shoes of the President. I found that aspect of the book to be absolutely fascinating, the complications surrounding diplomacy become clearer. I personally do think that had Obama been elected under different circumstances and in a less polarized point of time, we would have seen a different President.
Very glad I chose to purchase and read it.
A bit disappointing, to be honest. I’m a big Obama fan; I can’t think of any politician that I admire more. But this book had me bored. Even on audio, with his beautiful cadence. Seemed to be a rundown of the varied issues and moments in his presidency, a defense of how he navigated each one against the warring forces on the left and right, making each of them mad. As history, that’s fine, but not particularly compelling personally. The best parts were about his marriage and parenthood.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Sigh. Obama was my first election. It's impossible for me to read this memoir objectively. So I'll just say that if you don't like him, this won't change anything, and if you do like him, this will just confirm the reasons you do: he's extremely intelligent, contemplative, and open-minded, full of a genuine affection for those close with him and with a genuine belief in American ideals. But the other side of this coin is that this memoir can come off as a bit too ponderous. He agonizes over some of the choices he has to make--and I don't blame him, it's not called the hardest job in the world for nothing--but this made me wonder if he is a bit too intellectual, a bit too contemplative to truly effect change in an executive position. It's a strange dichotomy with the general air of remove that hovers over many of his interactions with fellow leaders--the forever outsider, who is comfortable with his own contradictions and has no worries if others aren't.
Overall, it's a good book--he's a great writer, and the audiobook version is well-done (and it's comforting to hear his voice again!).
Overall, it's a good book--he's a great writer, and the audiobook version is well-done (and it's comforting to hear his voice again!).
Thoughtful and eloquent and enlightening. Told calmly and personably. I missed hearing Obama’s voice. This was fascinating to read since I was *barely political* when I voted for Obama in 2012 and too young to vote in 2008. I loved its mostly chronological retelling, especially as it was done in a way that still grouped a whole “event” together. I can’t wait to read the next volume when it’s released.