2020-12-14

A Promised Land - Wikipedia

A Promised Land - Wikipedia

A Promised Land

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A Promised Land
A Promised Land (Barack Obama).png
AuthorBarack Obama
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherCrown
Publication date
November 17, 2020
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages768
ISBN978-1-524-76316-9
President Barack Obama, 2012 portrait crop.jpg
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A Promised Land is a memoir by Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Published on November 17, 2020 by Crown Publishing Group, it is the first of a planned two-volume series. The book has been extremely successful and, as of 20 December 2020 issue, the book has held the number one spot on The New York Times Best Sellers List in "Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction" for three consecutive weeks.[1][2][3]

Background[edit]

Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017, had previously published two bestselling books: The memoir Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance was published in 1995 by Times Books and the political book The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream was published in 2006 by Crown.[4] The book also follows two years behind Firs Lady Michelle Obama's bestselling memoir Becoming, which was also published by Crown and was released on November 13th, 2018.[5]

Content[edit]

Obama said in a tweet following the announcement of the publication of the book that he has aimed to "provide an honest accounting of my presidency, the forces we grapple with as a nation, and how we can heal our divisions and make democracy work for everybody".[6][7]

Summary[edit]

The book concludes with the events of the killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.[8][9]

Highlights[edit]

United Nations[edit]

Obama notes in the book, "In the middle of the Cold War, the chances of reaching any consensus had been slim, which is why the U.N. had stood idle as Soviet tanks rolled into Hungary or U.S. planes dropped napalm on the Vietnamese countryside. Even after the Cold War, divisions within the Security Council continued to hamstring the U.N.’s ability to tackle problems. Its member states lacked either the means or the collective will to reconstruct failing states like Somalia, or prevent ethnic slaughter in places like Sri Lanka."[10][11]

Reception[edit]

According to book review aggregator website Book Marks, A Promised Land received favorable reviews, with 80% positive reviews, 20% mixed reviews, and eleven out of the thirty reviews classified as "rave".[12]

Reviews[edit]

In the opening of one review, published as the front page of The New York Times Book Review on Nov. 29, 2020, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote that Obama "is as fine a writer as they come" and argued that it is "not merely that this book avoids being ponderous, as might be expected, even forgiven, of a hefty memoir, but that it is nearly always pleasurable to read, sentence by sentence, the prose gorgeous in places, the detail granular and vivid."[13] A second review in the Times wrote that, while the book comes during "a time of grandiose mythologizing", Obama "marshals his considerable storytelling skills to demythologize himself".[14] The review then argues that, though it is addressed to "young people who seek to 'remake the world'", the book "is less about unbridled possibility and more about the forces that inhibit it".[14]

Among other newspaper reviews, Eli Stokols wrote a review of the book that was published in both The Los Angeles Times,[15] and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.[16] Stokols wrote that the book is "deeply introspective and at times elegiac" and has "elegant prose".[15][16] Stokols went on to write that the book "often reads like a conversation Obama is having with himself", as he would express self-doubt over his various actions and inactions while in office.[15][16] Walter Clemens wrote a review of the book that opened with "[e]very sentence in this book deserves to be treasured and relished" and closed with "anyone who wishes to understand America in the early 21st century should read this book—or listen to it in an audio version narrated by the former president".[17]

Among literary publications, Publishers Weekly posted a review stating that Obama "delivers a remarkably introspective chronicle of his rise to the White House and his first two-and-a-half years in office", before closing the review with: "This sterling account rises above the crowded field of presidential postmortems."[18] The book's entry in Kirkus Reviews includes the tag line: "A top-notch political memoir and serious exercise in practical politics for every reader."[19] Among others, the book was reviewed by Philip Terzian in The Wall Street Journal,[20] Eric Foner in The Times Literary Supplement,[21] Carlos Lozada in The Washington Post,[22] Edward Luce in The Financial Times,[23] Laura Miller in Slate Magazine,[24] Nate Marshall in The Chicago Tribune,[25] and, in The Guardian, Julian Borger,[26] Gary Younge,[27] and Peter Conrad.[28] The book has also been reviewed in other publications, such as Time,[29] Entertainment Weekly,[30] Esquire,[31] NPR,[32] Oprah Magazine,[33] The Observer,[34] The Independent,[35] The Times,[36] and The Boston Globe.[37]

Awards[edit]

Publication[edit]

The book was released on November 17, 2020, soon after the national elections, in hardcover, digital and audiobook formats.[39] The audiobook edition is read by Obama himself, the third such presidential memoir following White House Diary by Jimmy Carter and Decision Points by George W. Bush.[40] Alongside the English original, 24 translations will be published: Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish and Vietnamese.[41]

Sales[edit]

The book was the New York Times Best Seller for the weeks of December 6th, 2020,[3] December 13th, 2020,[2] and December 20th, 2020[1] and has been the Publishers Weekly Number One Best Seller Overall for three consecutive weeks.[42] The book's first printing was set for a run of 3.4 million copies in the U.S. and Canada.[9] There will be 2.5 million copies printed for international readers.[43] The New York Times described the book as being "virtually guaranteed" to be the year's top seller.[44] On November 18, Penguin Books reported that the book sold 887,000 copies in the United States and Canada its first day, surpassing the previous record held by his wife Michelle's 2018 book Becoming, which sold 725,000 in its first day.[45][46] By November 24 2020, the book had sold over 1.7 million copies in North America- breaking the record for first week sales of a presidential memoir. The initial 3.4 million copy run was increased to 4.3 million due to high demand.[47]

Release details (English)[edit]

In English, the book has been released in paperback, hardcover, eBook, and audio versions. The unabridged audiobook version of the book, which runs 28 hours and 10 minutes long and is read by Obama himself, is also available on Audible and can be purchased using a monthly credit or, for new members, a free trial.[48]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to:a b "Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction - Best Sellers - Books - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to:a b "Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 13, 2020 - The New York Times". The New York Times. December 13, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b "Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 6, 2020 - The New York Times". The New York Times. December 6, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  4. ^ Williams, Sydney (November 10, 2020). "Former President Barack Obama's third book starts shipping today". NBC News. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Niemietz, Brian (November 19, 2020). "Barack Obama book could be all time best-selling presidential memoir". New York Daily News. ISSN 2692-1251. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  6. ^ @BarackObama (September 17, 2020). "There's no feeling like finishing a book, and I'm proud of this one"(Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Cathey, Libby (September 17, 2020). "'A Promised Land': 1st volume of Barack Obama's presidential memoirs coming out in November". ABC News. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Belam, Martin (September 17, 2020). "Barack Obama to release memoir weeks after US election". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to:a b Harris, Elizabeth A. (September 17, 2020). "Obama's Memoir 'A Promised Land' Coming in November". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18,2020.
  10. ^ "UN failed to prevent 'ethnic slaughter in Sri Lanka' – Barack Obama". Tamil Guardian. November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  11. ^ "Obama's best seller refers to 'ethnic slaughter in SL'". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  12. ^ "A Promised Land". Bookmarks. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi (November 12, 2020). "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land'". The New York Times. ISSN 0028-7806. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  14. ^ Jump up to:a b Szalai, Jennifer (November 15, 2020). "In 'A Promised Land,' Barack Obama Thinks — and Thinks Some More — Over His First Term". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  15. ^ Jump up to:a b c Stokols, Eli (November 16, 2020). "Review: Barack Obama's memoir is a masterful lament over the fragility of hope". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 2165-1736. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  16. ^ Jump up to:a b c Stokols, Eli (November 24, 2020). "Review: Barack Obama's memoir is a masterful lament over the fragility of hope". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ISSN 1068-624X. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  17. ^ Clemens, Walter. "a book review by Walter Clemens: A Promised Land". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  18. ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: A Promised Land by Barack Obama. Crown, $45 (751p) ISBN 978-1-5247-6316-9". Publishers Weekly. November 17, 2020. ISSN 0000-0019. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  19. ^ "A Promised Land". Kirkus Reviews. December 15, 2020. ISSN 1948-7428.
  20. ^ Terzian, Philip (November 16, 2020). "'A Promised Land' Review: Obama Remembers". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  21. ^ Foner, Eric (December 4, 2020). "A Promised Land by Barack Obama book review - The TLS". TLS. ISSN 0307-661X. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  22. ^ Lozada, Carlos (November 17, 2020). "Review | In his memoir, Obama is both the subject and the judge". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  23. ^ Luce, Edward. "Review". The Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  24. ^ Miller, Laura (November 20, 2020). "Obama's Memoir Is a Chance to Finally See Our Sanest President". Slate Magazine. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  25. ^ Marshall, Nate (November 16, 2020). "Review: Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land' aims to define a presidential legacy amid supporters' 'million different dreams'". Chicago Tribune. ISSN 2165-171X. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  26. ^ Borger, Julian (November 17, 2020). "A Promised Land by Barack Obama review – memoir of a president". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 12,2020.
  27. ^ Younge, Gary (November 26, 2020). "A Promised Land by Barack Obama review – an impressive but incomplete memoir". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  28. ^ Conrad, Peter (November 22, 2020). "A Promised Land by Barack Obama review – behind the power and the pomp". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  29. ^ Worland, Justin (November 17, 2020). "With 'A Promised Land,' Obama Reminds Us He's America's Storyteller". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  30. ^ Rankin, Seija (November 17, 2020). "Barack Obama makes his memoir worth the wait with 'A Promised Land'". Entertainment Weekly. ISSN 1049-0434. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  31. ^ Westenfeld, Adrienne (November 17, 2020). "Barack Obama Details the Importance of a Peaceful Transfer of Presidential Power in America". Esquire. ISSN 0194-9535. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  32. ^ Elving, Ron (November 12, 2020). "Former President Obama Tells His Story His Way — And Makes His Case For History". NPR. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  33. ^ Haber, Leigh (November 17, 2020). "Barack Obama Admits in New Memoir That He Didn't Always Want to Be President". Oprah Magazine. ISSN 1531-3247. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  34. ^ Berlatsky, Noah (November 17, 2020). "Don't Expect Obama's New Memoir, 'A Promised Land,' to Resemble 'Dreams From My Father'". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  35. ^ O'Grady, Sean (November 18, 2020). "Obama's A Promised Land is an elegant memoir from the coolest president ever – review". The Independent. ISSN 0951-9467. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  36. ^ Allen-Mills, Tony (November 22, 2020). "A Promised Land by Barack Obama, review — his disarmingly candid memoir". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  37. ^ Byrd, Kaitlin (November 19, 2020). "A stubborn optimist". The Boston Globe. ISSN 0743-1791. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  38. ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Memoir & Autobiography!". Goodreads. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  39. ^ Williams, Sydney (November 17, 2020). "Barack Obama's memoir 'A Promised Land' releases today". NBC News. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  40. ^ Ranj, Brandt; Ranj, Brandt (November 17, 2020). "Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land' Is Available Free on Audible If You Sign Up Now". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  41. ^ "A Promised Land, by Barack Obama, to be published in Australia on 18 November". www.penguin.com.au. September 17, 2020. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  42. ^ "Publishers Weekly Bestseller Lists". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  43. ^ Alter, Alexandra; Harris, Elizabeth A. (November 15, 2020). "Readers Have Been Eagerly Waiting for Barack Obama's New Memoir. Struggling Booksellers Have, Too". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  44. ^ Alter, Alexandra (September 19, 2020). "Best Sellers Sell the Best Because They're Best Sellers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  45. ^ Budryk, Zack (November 18, 2020). "Barack Obama memoir tops Michelle's in first-day sales". The Hill. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  46. ^ VanDenburgh, Barbara (November 18, 2020). "Barack Obama memoir 'A Promised Land' sells more than 887,000 copies on first day". USA Today. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  47. ^ Italie, Hillel (November 24, 2020). "Obama memoir sells a record 1.7 million copies in first week". abcnews.com. ABC News. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  48. ^ Ranj, Brandt (November 17, 2020). "Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land' Is Available Free on Audible If You Sign Up Now". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 14, 2020.

External links[edit]


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A Promised Land  by Barack Obama (Goodreads Author)
 4.47  ·   Rating details ·  8,947 ratings  ·  1,399 reviews
A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making, from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.

In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.

A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective—the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of “hope and change,” and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day. (less)
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Published November 17th 2020 by Crown
Original TitleA Promised Land
ASINB08GJZFBYV
Edition LanguageEnglish
Literary AwardsGoodreads Choice Award for Memoir & Autobiography (2020)
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I miss those days of decency and hope, don't you?
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Mateja Oh, the era of Barack and Michele, good times for us all. The whole world is effected by who runs the USA. Hope for the best in this years elections.…more
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How come a not-yet-published book has so many ratings already?
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Katharina Because people voice their political "opinion" on Barack Obama with 1 star reviews instead of actually reading the book itself to come to an informed…more
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232 books — 120 voters
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100 books — 17 voters


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 Average rating4.47  ·  Rating details ·  8,947 ratings  ·  1,399 reviews

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Shivani Patel
Oct 15, 2020Shivani Patel marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Once again I have to let people on here know they should not mess with the rating system. You don't have to like Obama or read his book but please do not leave ratings on Goodreads just to make that known.

You are allowed to have your opinions but no reason to mess with the GR rating system by giving it a one star (or a 2,3,4,5) if you haven't actually read the book. And that goes for all books. Please do not rate without reading because some people genuinely want to filter and search through ratings for honest reviews - not to see what trolls and haters say. That is all. Hope you have a great day! (less)
flag2598 likes · Like  · 83 comments · see review
Jack Waters
Sep 17, 2020Jack Waters is currently reading it  ·  review of another edition
The $45 cover price is only steep if you dont consider the implied number humor ...more
flag644 likes · Like  · 42 comments · see review
Angela M
Nov 25, 2020Angela M rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: 2020-favorites
Our expectations for elected officials aren’t always very realistic, and none more than for those elected to the highest office in our country. We’ve never had a perfect President and never will, but there are certain qualities that I believe are essential. Intelligence, a respect for the office and more importantly a reverence for our democracy, a strong sense of responsibility for protecting our nation and its citizens, leadership skills that bring together qualified people in the government, a recognition that we have a role to play as citizens of the world, to name a few. Former President Barack Obama was not a perfect President, but I believe that he embodied all of these things that I expect in a President and I believe that even more now, after listening to this book.

No matter what you think about Barack Obama, the man can write! It’s illustrated in this first volume of his memoir, as well as the other books he’s written. There are beautiful descriptions of walking along the promenade from the White House residence to the West Wing, the Rose Garden, the Oval Office, intimate descriptions of his family life, his love for his wife and daughters, his love for his deceased mother and grandparents. My favorite introspective passage is the following quote which I played over and over to be sure I got the words right, but also because they represent in such a meaningful way how he viewed his enormous responsibility. “ I would never fully rid myself of the sense of reverence I felt when ever I walked Into the Oval Office, the feeling that I entered not an office, but a sanctum of democracy. Day after day it like comforted and fortified me reminding me of the privilege of my burdens and my duties. “

My favorite parts of the book were early on when he talked about making the decision to run and the stories of the campaign were just so fascinating, funny at times and so informative. Michelle asked him just before he announced that he would run , “Why you?” Obama responded that if he became President, “the world would look at America differently, that kids , Black and Hispanic or kids who don’t fit in will see themselves differently, their horizons lifted, their possibilities expanded .” I enjoyed so much hearing about the grass roots campaign, using the internet, how the field organizers in Iowa worked was just fascinating. With love and respect, he tells of his relationships with David Axelrod, Robert Gibbs, the young Reggie Love and David Pfluffe, who Obama thought was so brilliant that he became his Campaign Manager and so many others. I loved hearing the origins of “Fired up ! Ready to Go ! “ Always prepared, he wrote both a concession and acceptance speech.”

The book is also laden with dense discussions on the economic crisis the country was facing when he took office, his first G20 conference, foreign policy, health care and the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the war in Afghanistan. I have to admit that there were some chapters where I sped up the audio, but for anyone who is a policy wonk, these might be more interesting. These chapters, though, reflect the complexity of the issues before him and the country at this time. They also reflect the intelligent, pragmatic yet caring ways he approached things.

Barack Obama always felt the weight of the office and the responsibility to protect the nation, the huge responsibility of being Commander in Chief, the casualties of troops in Afghanistan, writing letters to their families. He read security briefings every morning, and then had meetings with security staff right after - imagine that ! (Couldn’t help myself.) This narrative reflects part of his first term and I can’t wait for the second volume. I love this man . I cried when he won in 2008, a good, heartfelt cry and I cried when his second term was over, a sad and horrified cry. ( Again , I couldn’t help myself.) I have missed him every single day since January 20, 2017. Clearly, I’m biased so you might want to read it yourself, and I do highly recommend it . (less)
flag383 likes · Like  · 125 comments · see review
Stephanie L
Sep 19, 2020Stephanie L marked it as on-the-radar  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: 2020-publications
If you think I wouldn't add this after Michelle Obama's Becoming, are we even friends?
flag230 likes · Like  · 7 comments · see review
Holly
Nov 19, 2020Holly rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: audiobook, 2020-read, non-fiction
I am 'reading' this via audiobook because even though it's 29 hours long, just listening to Obama's steady voice is reassuring during this current insanity.

(Also, this ended up being my 100th book I have read this year, officially meeting my reading goal!)

I am not sure what I enjoyed most about this book. Was it the insight into how Obama got into politics and then decided to run for President? Was it the look into his primary run against Hillary Clinton? Was it his eventual win against John McCain and his crazy VP pick Sarah Palin? Was it the behind the scenes look into some of his biggest pieces of legislation, namely Obamacare? Or was it his REAL thoughts on certain events that happened during his first 4 years of his Presidency?

Honestly, it's all the above, but that last one had me cackling with sarcastic cynical laughter, when Obama details what he really wanted to say during a certain press conference.

Go pick up this audiobook. Go listen to what a real President should sound like - basically a reasonable, intelligent human being. And then mourn those good ole' days as we finish this hellscape of the last 4 years. Oh and did I also mention that there's an unfortunate reveal about Biden's judgment in the very last chapter? *sigh*

Thanks, Obama. (meant sincerely) (less)
flag235 likes · Like  · 18 comments · see review
Gabby
Nov 30, 2020Gabby rated it it was amazing
Shelves: 500-or-more-pages, 5-star-books, read-in-2020, adult, own, audiobooks-i-listened-to, favorites, memoir-or-nonfiction, reviewed
This book was so incredible and it gave me so much hope for America. I miss Obama so much, he's so well-spoken and he has such a way with words, I listened to the audiobook which is definitely the way to go for this book. This is one of the only political books I have ever read, but it was absolutely captivating to hear about all the experiences he went through as President and all the tough decisions he had to make. I love that throughout it he sprinkles in his stories of his family and I loved hearing about Michelle and the girls, their family is the cutest.

It brought tears to my eyes reliving him being the first Black man elected President of the United States, it was so beautiful to hear about it from his POV. I was in 8th grade when Obama got elected President and I really wish I would have understood the significance of that then. I never got super involved in politics until I was in college, but wow what a historical moment in time.

Obama is just so down to Earth and so cool. He's so jarringly different from the President we currently have (Trump) that it's kind of heart breaking to think how much things have changed in the last four years. I miss Obama's laid back attitude and positivity so much. This book really inspired me so much, just the way he talks is so motivating and empowering.

Obama is a reminder to me and to everyone that your dreams can be achieved, and he really is a symbol of hope for this country. I can't wait to read the second book whenever it eventually comes out.

That's all I have to say, I'm just going to leave you with this quote that really moved me and gave me so much hope for America:
“I don’t know. What I can say for certain is that I’m not yet ready to abandon the possibility of America—not just for the sake of future generations of Americans but for all of humankind. For I’m convinced that the pandemic we’re currently living through is both a manifestation of and a mere interruption in the relentless march toward an interconnected world, one in which peoples and cultures can’t help but collide. In that world—of global supply chains, instantaneous capital transfers, social media, transnational terrorist networks, climate change, mass migration, and ever-increasing complexity—we will learn to live together, cooperate with one another, and recognize the dignity of others, or we will perish. And so the world watches America—the only great power in history made up of people from every corner of the planet, comprising every race and faith and cultural practice—to see if our experiment in democracy can work. To see if we can do what no other nation has ever done. To see if we can actually live up to the meaning of our creed.”
(less)
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Selim Batti
Nov 17, 2020Selim Batti marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
One thing I want to mention. This is Goodreads. For those who don’t know what this app is, it’s a planet for readers, not a battlefield for competitors. You can’t just create multiple accounts, copy and paste same review, and rate a book you haven’t read.
We are here to review books, not people. We are here to share knowledge and literal thoughts and opinions, not to fight for political backgrounds.
Please guys be approachable and logical.
You can express your political opinions in demonstrations and protests... but definitely not here.
Please don’t rate a book you haven’t even seen.
Thanks (less)
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Yun
Dec 10, 2020Yun rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
A Promised Land is the first volume of Barack Obama's widely anticipated presidential memoir. In it, he details his political rise, the 2008 campaign for president, and what his administration accomplished in their first 2.5 years in office. Filled with his characteristic intelligence and thoughtfulness, it vividly portrays all that his administration has accomplished and the ways they fell short. It also calls attention to how fragile our democracy is and how easily it can be derailed.

Clocking in at more than 700 pages, this was a real doozy of a tome. And it's only the first volume! But reading it, it didn't feel overly long because of the sheer amount of content covered. It's actually quite concise on each topic and is balanced by the fact that the Obama administration accomplished a lot, even during just the initial 2.5 years of his presidency covered in this book. Obama is a terrific writer, succinctly hitting upon all the highlights and lowlights of his journey so far.

(As an aside, I started out reading the hardcover version of this book, which has beautiful pictures, but it's super heavy. I couldn't get comfortable with it in my hands, so I quickly switched over to the eBook, which I stuck with for the remainder of the book. I've also heard that the audiobook is absolutely stellar, as it's read by Obama himself. Just some quick thoughts, if you're trying to decide which medium to go with.)

Though my favorite parts of the memoir are the ones where Obama shares personal anecdotes about himself and his family (and their dog Bo!), or observations about what it's like to be president, those were just a small part of this book. The major focus is on his policies and accomplishments throughout his political career and during his campaign for president.

Going in, I thought there would be some surprises in here, now that Obama is no longer president and can say what he really feels. But nothing in here surprised me. During his administration, I followed current events pretty closely, so everything he talks about (the financial crisis, bailout of banks and auto industry, healthcare reform, climate treaty, Frank-Dodd, the middle east, Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Arab Springs, repeal of DADT, raid on bin Laden, etc.) are all events I already know pretty thoroughly.

Even though there were no surprises, Obama is still a skilled writer. He's great at explaining and summarizing fairly complex ideas in a few short paragraphs. It's also enlightening to see his take of the events that transpired under him and his process in coming to the decisions that he ultimately made.

During his presidency, Obama elevated discourse and gave us the hope of not just a better America, but a better democracy, one that could be free from injustice, inequality, and partisan deadlock. To read his memoir is like reliving the history of this nation during its heyday, when it felt like we were on a trajectory of limitless possibility and progress.

Still, I wouldn't say this has been an easy read. It was actually hard and frustrating to read about all the obstructions and malice that he, his administration, and his family faced. And considering what happened once he left office (and is still happening), reading it triggered a fair bit of anxiety in me. But it's a vital part of history, and knowing it helps me form a more comprehensive understanding of our nation. (less)
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Meike
Sep 18, 2020Meike rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: 2020-read, usa, politics
"Do we care to match the reality of America to its ideals? (...) I recognize that there are those who believe that it's time to discard the myth - that an examination of America's past and an even cursory glance at today's headlines show that this nation's ideals have always been secondary to conquest and subjugation, a racial caste system and rapacious capitalism, and that to pretend otherwise is to be complicit in a game that was rigged from the start. (...) I'm not yet ready to abandon the possibility of America."

In the first part of his memoir, Obama gives a short account of how he paved the road to the White House and then proceeds to lay out his first term. People who mainly expect personal anecdotes about his family and motivational speeches will probably be disappointed, as the 44th President dives deep into policy and politics, talking about healthcare reform, Iraq, the intricacies of the financial crisis and many other issues.

Looking at the way he frames his (self-)portrayal, two things stand out: Obama identifies instances and tendencies that, from his perspective, lead to the rise of Trumpism, like Republican obstruction politics or the normalization of figures like Sarah Palin. Frequently, he is also very critical of himself (should his reform of the financial sector have been more thorough? did he handle the oil spill right? why didn't he manage to close Guantanamo? etc.) and openly reflects his own anger and frustration over fast news cycles and spins, fellow politicians, and the paradoxical behavior of the American people (they want cheap oil, huge cars AND environmental protection, to name one example). This kind of openness and critical impetus is admirable - Obama does not try to gloss over all the things that didn't go smoothly.

But needless to say, Obama tends to defend his decisions and standpoints - which is totally fine, he wouldn't have acted the way he did in the first place if he wasn't convinced that he took the best measures possible at the time. Still, for a European like me, some arguments sound...well, weird. Obama's way to downplay the American idea of exceptionalism while at the same time ventilating it (to a degree at least), his statement that the USA crafted the world order by implementing NATO, UNO, GATT (really? the US did that, single-handedly?! that will come as a surprise to many other countries) or the way he talks about the Dresden firestorm, an event that until today is instrumentalized by the far-right in East Germany, are a little questionable for a non-American. And I have to admit that it's a little upsetting that such a beloved President still sometimes leans toward an imperial worldview that is, sorry America, outdated.

Still, Obama generally comes across as a humble, intelligent and morally upright person, a somewhat normal family man who fought hard to make the most of one of the most difficult jobs on the planet. He still stands for an idea of America that people all around the world want the US to live up to. Unsurprisingly, his writing is eloquent, easy to follow and captivating - this text shows why political non-fiction is exciting. I can't wait to read pt. 2. (less)
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C
Nov 16, 2020C rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Can somebody please go through the troll comments and remove the 1 star ratings of the person continuously posting the same, factually incorrect political statement - and any troll reviews for that matter. Other sites that connect to GoodReads receive a misleading rating due to this troll continuously posting 1 star ratings.
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Malia
Nov 27, 2020Malia rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: non-fiction, best-of-2020
My first thought: The editor's red pen was notably absent here! Goodness, this was long; long but not at all boring.
I listened to the audiobook, which Obama reads himself, and there was a sort of comfort in hearing his voice (for 30 hours😳). Whatever you want to say about him, and he seems quite willing to admit his mistakes, Obama is an example of a truly decent man, such a vast contrast to the one currently occupying the White House. I won't go into details of the content of the book, but while I expected to find that nothing much would come as new information, I finished it feeling I have a much deeper insight into Obama's first term as well as the life and responsibilities of a president. If Trump could read, I'd suggest he start here. He might learn something.

Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com (less)
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Ashley
Sep 17, 2020Ashley marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Im so ready for this!! ...more
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morgan
Nov 22, 2020morgan rated it it was amazing
this book was phenomenal to me. I found myself giggling, nodding with agreement, gasping with shock and crying throughout this book. In an alternate dimension, I truly believe Barack and I are best friends. I've always loved Obama's writing, since I read Dreams of My Father in my teens, so of course I will be preordering his next book as soon as I can.
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Amalia Gkavea
Nov 25, 2020Amalia Gkavea rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: favorites, memoirs, usa, contemporary, history, world-history, biography, non-fiction
“I suspect that God’s plan, whatever it is, works on a scale too large to admit our mortal tribulations; that in a single lifetime, accidents and happenstance determine more than we care to admit; and that the best we can do is to try to align ourselves with what we feel is right and construct some meaning out of our confusion, and with grace and nerve play at each moment the hand that we’re dealt.”

“When things are bad,” Axe said, walking next to me as we left the December meeting, “no one cares that ‘things could have been worse.” (less)
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Miranda Reads
Dec 09, 2020Miranda Reads marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
description

Just posted my Goodreads Choice 2020 Reaction Video on Booktube! Click the link to check it out!!
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
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Jessica Jeffers
Nov 19, 2020Jessica Jeffers rated it really liked it
Shelves: audio, biography-memoir, authors-of-color
First of all, how grateful am I that I get to read this after Donald Trump has been voted out of office? If I was worried about four more years of marching towards authoritarianism, I think reading Obama's memoir would have made me more sad than anything else.

My early thoughts on this:

1. He is a fantastic writer. Yes, I know a lot of that is probably due to editors and assistants. The fact remains, though, that this is an incredibly well-written book.

2. He acknowledges that one of the biggest concerns that many had about his early runs for office was that he tended to be overly verbose and spent more time on policy detail than messaging. That's definitely true of this book. He spends a lot of time discussing finer points of the 2008 financial crisis or even the history of Saudi Arabia that probably wasn't necessary for most readers but is also relatively skimmable. The downtick in the rating is largely due to this.

3. All of the qualities that I loved about Obama before shine through here: his thoughtfulness, his optimism, his compassion. (less)
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Faith
Nov 22, 2020Faith rated it it was amazing
Shelves: audio, overdrive
I usually don’t have much interest in memoirs, but I liked learning about behind the scenes details of presidential decisions. The book is written with wit, humility and self-awareness. I listened to the audiobook read by the author. The narration was a sane, intelligent and reassuring reminder of better days. This was very long and is only part one; it doesn’t even cover the entire first Obama term. I’ll probably read part two, but I hope it isn’t published any time soon. (less)
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ed
Sep 17, 2020ed marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
I honestly cannot wait for this book. I have yet to read Michelle Obama's Becoming, but I know it'll be great because Michelle Obama is amazing.

In a span of eight years in the White House, Barack Obama had not one scandal or told one lie. Everything he worked his ass for, President Cheeto--I mean Donald Trump--tore it down like it was nothing. Obama brought us together by leading us as the President with hope.

#StillMyPresident.
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Elle
Nov 30, 2020Elle rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: 2020
Now a Goodreads Choice winner in Memoir/Autobiography!

I’ve done a lot of complaining while reading A Promised Land, mostly because of the length. Despite having written two previous books, Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope, the third by our former president is already very long, sitting at a rotund 751 pages. So I was genuinely surprised when I found out this was only volume one of his presidential memoirs, covering primarily his first four year term in office. I went into this thinking, how can someone possibly write that many pages about such a compact period of time. I’m 27, and if I wrote the amount Obama did for each year of my life I would have an over 5000-page memoir.

I guess part of my expectations there stem from the fact that I don’t read political biographies & autobiographies for the most part. I think they are very boring and since most popular ones are accounts from the Civil War or World War II or other endlessly discussed periods of American history, I (probably wrongly, but whatever) feel like there really isn’t much of a new or fresh take that I absolutely *need* to read up on.

The other reason is because I read Michelle Obama’s Becoming last year and it was one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. Michelle comes off as genuine and brilliant and warm and hilarious, and I loved her perspective on her and her family’s time in the White House. She was also able to cover her entire life, from early childhood until current day, in a cool 426 pages, while her husband is likely to need at least 5 times that number. Barack mentions in the prologue that Michelle didn’t read his book before he finished, which might be why nobody made any significant cuts.


The hero we need, but don’t deserve.

But if I had read a few more presidential autobiographies I may have found A Promised Land resembles those more than Michelle’s book for a very simple reason. This isn’t a book just about Barack Obama’s thoughts or feelings during his time as president, but is intended as a documentation of his official position as President of the United States. It’s now an account of American history, a record of his decisions and time in office. Though it is written by the man himself and likely holds a lot of personal significance, its importance stretches beyond him individually as a citizen and instead is now a component of a larger institution.

So from that angle, I believe this book is enormously successful. I was a teenager when Obama took office in 2009 and though I do remember many of the events he described, I just wasn’t aware of a lot of the broader tones and the implications of what these things meant. The level of obstruction from House and Senate Republicans in particular went completely over my head, as I’m sure it did for a lot of the country, which is definitely intentional on their part. The ruthlessness of Mitch McConnell is nothing new over the past few years, and his crusades during this period are a major contributor towards many of the issues our country is facing today. So many things, by and large universally good things, did not happen during the Obama years simply because McConnell threw himself in front of progress out of a compulsive need to prevent giving the first Black President of the United States even the mere perception of a ‘win’.

Similarly, it makes me empathize with Obama’s struggle to reconcile his ambitious, but still reasonable policy objectives with the realities of the political system he has to work within. I know personally I have fallen back on frustration with the Democratic establishment and how reluctant they seemed to be to ‘push harder’ during the first term, especially the first two years, of his presidency. I think people further left on the spectrum have a right to that frustration, but directing it solely at Obama, who was also being attacked by a racist portion of the Tea Party and right-wing media, seems misplaced now. I don’t agree or even approve of every action taken by his administration, but in a lot of cases it appears that, unfortunately, he did the best he could do with the hand he was dealt.

What I’m hoping for in his next book, beyond more chronicling, is a push towards that more leftist contingent, instead of rooting himself in the center. It should have become obvious to most people in America by this point that the Republican party is really, on the whole, too far gone to try to appease any longer. It hasn’t gotten us where we hoped it might, and they have been resolutely unwilling to reciprocate in any meaningful way. He may have had to play peacemaker while holding the highest office in the country, but he no longer carries that burden. I want President Obama to not just champion his old centrist friends like President-Elect Joe Biden, but make allies with the progressive wing of his party, think Representitives Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib, Pressley & C. Bush.

The president has an opportunity to reach out those who feel uninspired and tired of being promised more then given the same. And like he did in 2008, I believe he still has the ability to speak to people on that level. The second volume is likely to end with a rallying cry, and the hope that I have is that he gives us more than platitudes and “snappy slogans”. (less)
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Colly Feakins
Nov 05, 2020Colly Feakins rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
The best version of this is the audio version which Obama reads himself, even with different accents. This is a poignant book that describes his multi-cultural, biracial upbringing and thus explains his constant urge to help people understand each other, his desire to bridge divides. I had a paperback copy but I bought both the hardback version of the book, for enjoyment in the years to come and the audio, which is captivating.
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Nilufer Ozmekik
Dec 07, 2020Nilufer Ozmekik is currently reading it  ·  review of another edition
Yes! When I see the winner announcement, I got more and more excited to get this amazing journey into my hands! I'm so thankful to Mimi Chan and fantastic Goodreads team for sending this remarkable novel's copy to me! I'm already hooked! This is one of the most precious gift I have ever gotten for a long time!

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TABI⁷ (ᕗツ)ᕗ
Nov 06, 2020TABI⁷ (ᕗツ)ᕗ marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
I grew up surrounded by negative rhetoric about Obama and, until now, I really didn't care about who was right or wrong . . . but now I care. I've always been an avid information seeker so this is the start to maybe stepping past what I unintentionally accepted and seeing things from "the other side".
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Bethany
Nov 25, 2020Bethany rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: black-authors
I foresee A Promised Land becoming required reading in academic settings. Filled with charm, humor, and the occasional zinger, the first volume of Obama's memoir offers a look inside not only his path to the White House, but also an in depth look at the process behind policy-making in a range of areas. Chronologically, this offers a brief look at his early life and background, follows his eventual path into the political world and marriage to Michelle, the challenges and joys of running a presidential campaign, and then settles into a look at the actual presidency and the complications of trying to work within our current political structure, and then ends just after the take down of Osama Bin Laden, and I expect volume two will primarily focus on the second term of the presidency.

It's an impressive volume and feels honest about missteps, things that didn't go as planned, major successes, and the reality of the job versus external expectations. You really feel the weight of the presidency and the breadth of issues the President is responsible for handling, from foreign policy to healthcare reform, to environmental catastrophe, to the economy. It's a lot and reading this reminded me of just how many things happened during this time period. Obama offers a strong defense for many of his choices, talking about the need to weigh all factors in the balance, not to mention get things done in a politically polarized system. It's imperfect and he admits that political reality often does not match up to the ideals and values we hold, but also demonstrates the need to understand the world from other perspectives than your own. Not to mention being commander in chief with the safety of the country AND that of young soldiers in your hands.

There are also light and personal moments woven in (what it's like to parent young kids as president, the ups and downs of marriage under this kind of stress, and basketball trash talk with friends), as well as some truly funny anecdotes and descriptions (like the personality clash between Merkel and Sarkozy). I think much of what was so striking to me as I read this was recalling what it's like to have a competent President who is deeply invested in what his position means for American citizens and people around the world, and cares more about getting things done than looking good or playing to his own ego. And woven through the narrative, you definitely see Obama expressing concern for the rise of populism and authoritarianism across the globe, as well as some less than glowing (though civil) depictions of Trump (primarily his role in the birther issues, and his presence at a White House Correspondents Dinner and response to being poked fun at).

Could this have been told in shorter form? Yes it could, and perhaps for a casual reader that would make for a zippier narrative. However, I think as a text that will become part of historical canon, the detail and breadth of topics covered really gives you a look at how the sausage gets made so to speak, and is going to be a gold mine for political scientists and historians. I combined the physical text with listening to the audiobook, which he narrates himself. If you get a chance to check out the audiobook I definitely recommend it. Thank you Penguin Random House for access to the audiobook for review! All opinions are my own. (less)
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Susan Tunis
Nov 18, 2020Susan Tunis rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Love him or hate him, this memoir won't be for everyone. He warns you right at the beginning... He hasn't mastered brevity. This is undeniable. Weighing in at 768 pages on paper, and 29+ hours on audio (as I experienced the book, read by President Obama himself), A Promised Land is a commitment. I was deep, deep, deep into the book, when I suddenly realized that we were still in the first year of his presidency. (Yikes!)

So, it's a commitment, but it is not a slog. On the contrary, over and over, I found myself thinking what a privilege it was to get this candid view of his thoughts and experiences, exhaustively documented. Now, this is Barack Obama, so you know that he's not letting slip a single anecdote or aside that he hasn't carefully considered, but it really does have the ring of authenticity. For instance, he says many complimentary things about Hilary Clinton. Obviously, he respected her enough to make her Secretary of State. But he doesn't gloss over the acrimony on both sides when they were fighting it out for the Democratic nomination. And occasionally, throughout the book, he'll make a comment, or take a subtle swipe. Payback, I'd think. Nothing in Washington is ever forgotten.

Please don't think, based on what I've written above, that this is some kind of petty tell-all. You know it's not. And if you're looking for insight into what's happening in DC right now, you won't find it. Donald Trump isn't really mentioned until deep into the penultimate chapter, just pages before Volume 1 ends. On the other hand, so much of today's world is foreshadowed by President Obama's time in office. Elizabeth Warren was a college professor. Lindsay Graham was willing to cross the aisle. Justices--at that point--were being confirmed to the Supreme Court without the full partisan horror show. In some ways, it was a simpler time.

There's so much more I could say about this book. Alas, like Barack Obama, I haven't yet mastered brevity. At this point, I have read so many books by so many of the figures in Obama's orbit, that his voice is now at the center of a Rashomon-like portrait of the time. I will wrap this up by saying that as long and exhaustive as this book is, I eagerly look forward to reading subsequent volumes. (This one ends before even his first term is over, so who knows how many there will be.). The book is terrifically well written. It brought back all sorts of memories, hopes, and fears. It sent me to YouTube multiple times to revisit old speeches. And it moved me to tears twice.

More than anything, Barack Obama and A Promised Land reminded what it felt like to be proud of this country and it's leader. What a rush! (less)
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Maddy
Nov 14, 2020Maddy rated it did not like it  ·  review of another edition
65 million dollars advance paid for this book! It’s ridiculous to call a book that’s given this kind of funding even before it has been penned down as anything other than a corporate investment.

The author has given his opinion on other global/national leaders without having had any meaningful interaction with them. So I will offer a similar type of surface review of what I think about this author and his time in the White House, as it has been skipped by mainstream media during his term. Neither does his book examine any of the points below.

America slipped into recession in 2008. The author’s wife was parading around the White House in designer clothes, that too customised, at a time when the average American was suffering from lower living standards and lack of decently-paid employment. So much of emphasis on Obama’s middle class roots during campaigns but no attempt to relate to the common American after getting the votes. Yet the next First Lady, who was actually a model before entering White House, maintained more decorum in office.

Author’s daughter interned with Harry Weinstein, when she literally had every opportunity to intern in any organisation in the world. She didn’t choose UN or World Bank. With her free-pass to prove her mettle by having access to any organisation in the world, she chose Harry Weinstein as her role model. So much for the author’s upbringing and values he passed on to his daughter!

Black Lives Matter......yes, they definitely do matter. I wept when America voted the first black President as a moment of change for all black Americans. The author had 8 years in office, if that wasn’t enough time to bring a drastic change in the lives of black Americans, this man is unfit for the job. He didn’t do the needful or even the bare minimum for black people when he had the opportunity, otherwise there would be no need for BLM movement now.

Sanders had a healthcare plan that covered all Americans. An education plan to relieve students of debt. A climate plan that would have changed the American approach to the environment for the better. Yet Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016. He is more comfortable encouraging other corporate stooges. He knows that Sanders in the White House for a single day would eclipse his 8 years of governance. Talk about letting personal insecurities obstructing what’s right for the people!

Obama endorsing Clinton is cronyism. What was particularly empowering for women to vote for Hillary Clinton? A husband cheats on a wife, it’s perfectly fine for her to stay by his side......that’s what many average women do in reality. It takes a woman of spunk to have more self-respect, walk away from such a partnership and independently create an identity for herself. When a country such as America has a woman for President, hopefully she will be an exemplary woman that the rest of the world will take note. Someone who wants to stay with a cheating husband is better suited to embroider cushions at home (nothing wrong with that either), not to run the most powerful country. Set higher standards in choosing a President. Otherwise the outcome is obvious.

The author is the reason why Americans were led to put Trump in the White House. I rest my case. And this man wants to comment on other leaders! He will go down in history as nothing other than the man who put Trump in the White House. (less)
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Char 
Dec 03, 2020Char rated it it was amazing
Shelves: black-history, autobiography-memoir, audio-book, non-fiction, politics, favorites
It was so refreshing to hear a politician speak humbly, passionately, honestly and with dignity.

To be honest, I didn't think it was possible for me to like this as much as I did Michelle Obama's BECOMING, but I did.

The only fault I can find with this is that it's a tad too long, but that didn't take away from enjoyment in listening.

I look forward to reading his next book, and I look forward to seeing him more in the news as Joe Biden becomes our next president. (I'm hoping that the Obamas will be part of our political life again. A girl can dream.)

My highest recommendation!

*I purchased this audiobook with my hard earned cash. It was worth every. single. penny.) * (less)
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