A review by trin
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama

4.0

Probably if enough time passes, I will eventually be able to speak objectively about Barack Obama, but at this point he’s only been President-Elect for two weeks, so nope, we’re not there yet. So instead I’ll say, first of all, how wonderful and incredible it is to have a president who can write. This is not the best book I’ve ever read, nor the best memoir, but it’s still head and shoulders above the pack—just like the man who wrote it. It’s fascinating just as a story, but especially in terms of the person we all know Obama to be today. During the campaign, everyone (rightly) remarked upon his sense of calm—“No drama Obama”—and this made me especially glad to have read this book, because in talking about his youth here, Obama makes it clear that he spent a lot of time (rightly) being angry. His ability to stay calm, to stay reasonable, to be a leader—these are all things he clearly had to work for, and that only impresses me more.

It also delights and amuses me to think of this book in the context of all the superhero stuff I’ve been reading lately—does Obama have an origin story here or what? In some ways it really is comic book perfect: the son of two different worlds and how he gained the strength and experience to…well, save us all. You know. In a non-spandex-y way.

Okay, now I feel a little goofy. But Obama’s a comic book fan! I’m sure he’d appreciate the analogy.