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A review by meaghan_k
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
4.0
Controversially, I felt a range of emotions reading this.
Firstly, I was quite struck by the ego of Barack Obama - although I know this is a fact about him (and most Presidents) that is widely understood.
Maybe it was because I listening to this on audiobook, hearing it in his own words, but I found the earlier chapters of the book particularly frustrating. I was struck by his continual ignoring of his wife and children's needs, almost specifically saying in several chapters that he 'spoke to Michelle about x choice', she had articulated her concerns and boundaries and he had completely steamrolled over her, time after time after time.
It particularly stuck me during the chapter where he discusses their family going almost broke due to his political ambitions. If he had not won the Presidency, would this have been another neighbourhood story of a husband's ambitions or choices going on to detrimentally effect his family? I wonder.
The book is almost too long, again revealing hints of Barack's ego, needing to explain every major event in painstaking detail, and arguing why his reasonings and positions on events were correct, with little reflection on whether outside critical feedback could be useful in helping him rethink his stance on issues.
Despite this, I found it a bloody good read/listen. I doubt many others will find frustration with some of his patriarchal attitudes, as they're subtle and well-meaning.
I loved Barack Obama before reading this book, and love him and respect him still - although I must admit it's taken some of the shine off him for me. I believe Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' is almost more of a thoughtful insight into those wonderful 8 years of stable democracy.
Firstly, I was quite struck by the ego of Barack Obama - although I know this is a fact about him (and most Presidents) that is widely understood.
Maybe it was because I listening to this on audiobook, hearing it in his own words, but I found the earlier chapters of the book particularly frustrating. I was struck by his continual ignoring of his wife and children's needs, almost specifically saying in several chapters that he 'spoke to Michelle about x choice', she had articulated her concerns and boundaries and he had completely steamrolled over her, time after time after time.
It particularly stuck me during the chapter where he discusses their family going almost broke due to his political ambitions. If he had not won the Presidency, would this have been another neighbourhood story of a husband's ambitions or choices going on to detrimentally effect his family? I wonder.
The book is almost too long, again revealing hints of Barack's ego, needing to explain every major event in painstaking detail, and arguing why his reasonings and positions on events were correct, with little reflection on whether outside critical feedback could be useful in helping him rethink his stance on issues.
Despite this, I found it a bloody good read/listen. I doubt many others will find frustration with some of his patriarchal attitudes, as they're subtle and well-meaning.
I loved Barack Obama before reading this book, and love him and respect him still - although I must admit it's taken some of the shine off him for me. I believe Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' is almost more of a thoughtful insight into those wonderful 8 years of stable democracy.