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The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
by: Barack Obama

Price: $44.85

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Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Binding: Hardcover
EAN: 9781847670359
ISBN: 1847670350
Label: Canongate Books
Manufacturer: Canongate Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 375
Publication Date: 2007-01
Publisher: Canongate Books
Studio: Canongate Books
Sales Rank: 929769

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
At the heart of The Audacity of Hope is Senator Obama?s vision of how his country can move beyond its divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families and the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and considers the nature of threats from outside America?s borders. By returning to the principles that gave birth to the US Constitution, he says, Americans have a chance to repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans.

Amazon.com Review:
Barack Obama's first book, Dreams from My Father, was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope, Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves repairing a "political process that is broken" and restoring a government that has fallen out of touch with the people. We had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics--see his responses below. --Daphne Durham

20 Second Interview: A Few Words with Barack Obama

Q: How did writing a book that you knew would be read so closely by so many compare to writing your first book, when few people knew who you were?
A: In many ways, Dreams from My Father was harder to write. At that point, I wasn't even sure that I could write a book. And writing the first book really was a process of self-discovery, since it touched on my family and my childhood in a much more intimate way. On the other hand, writing The Audacity of Hope paralleled the work that I do every day--trying to give shape to all the issues that we face as a country, and providing my own personal stamp on them.

Q: What is your writing process like? You have such a busy schedule, how did you find time to write?
A: I'm a night owl, so I usually wrote at night after my Senate day was over, and after my family was asleep--from 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outline--certain themes or stories that I wanted to tell--and get them down in longhand on a yellow pad. Then I'd edit while typing in what I'd written.

Q: If readers are to come away from The Audacity of Hope with one action item (a New Year's Resolution for 2007, perhaps?), what should it be?
A: Get involved in an issue that you're passionate about. It almost doesn’t matter what it is--improving the school system, developing strategies to wean ourselves off foreign oil, expanding health care for kids. We give too much of our power away, to the professional politicians, to the lobbyists, to cynicism. And our democracy suffers as a result.

Q: You're known for being able to work with people across ideological lines. Is that possible in today's polarized Washington?
A: It is possible. There are a lot of well-meaning people in both political parties. Unfortunately, the political culture tends to emphasize conflict, the media emphasizes conflict, and the structure of our campaigns rewards the negative. I write about these obstacles in chapter 4 of my book, "Politics." When you focus on solving problems instead of scoring political points, and emphasize common sense over ideology, you'd be surprised what can be accomplished. It also helps if you're willing to give other people credit--something politicians have a hard time doing sometimes.

Q: How do you make people passionate about moderate and complex ideas?
A: I think the country recognizes that the challenges we face aren't amenable to sound-bite solutions. People are looking for serious solutions to complex problems. I don't think we need more moderation per se--I think we should be bolder in promoting universal health care, or dealing with global warming. We just need to understand that actually solving these problems won't be easy, and that whatever solutions we come up with will require consensus among groups with divergent interests. That means everybody has to listen, and everybody has to give a little. That's not easy to do.

Q: What has surprised you most about the way Washington works?
A: How little serious debate and deliberation takes place on the floor of the House or the Senate.

Q: You talk about how we have a personal responsibility to educate our children. What small thing can the average parent (or person) do to help improve the educational system in America? What small thing can make a big impact?
A: Nothing has a bigger impact than reading to children early in life. Obviously we all have a personal obligation to turn off the TV and read to our own children; but beyond that, participating in a literacy program, working with parents who themselves may have difficulty reading, helping their children with their literacy skills, can make a huge difference in a child's life.

Q: Do you ever find time to read? What kinds of books do you try to make time for? What is on your nightstand now?
A: Unfortunately, I had very little time to read while I was writing. I'm trying to make up for lost time now. My tastes are pretty eclectic. I just finished Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, a wonderful book. The language just shimmers. I've started Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which is a great study of Lincoln as a political strategist. I read just about anything by Toni Morrison, E.L. Doctorow, or Philip Roth. And I've got a soft spot for John le Carre.

Q: What inspires you? How do you stay motivated?
A: I'm inspired by the people I meet in my travels--hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. I'm inspired by the love people have for their children. And I'm inspired by my own children, how full they make my heart. They make me want to work to make the world a little bit better. And they make me want to be a better man.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating:

Rating: - We Are All One
Reading about history has always been a favorite past time of mine, ever since grade school, especially reading about real people, you know, before they became famous and they lost touch with the "working guy/girl". I also enjoy Frank Capra movies but that's a subject for another review. So, when I finally got around to reading President-elect Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" I wasn't expecting what happened. I didn't just like it, I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down because it was so real. I found myself questioning what I really believed in. It was like I was having a heart-to-heart conversation with Senator Barack Obama, who just happened to have been elected President of the United States. Now he's the President-elect Obama and I feel like I have this relationship ... Read More

Rating: - Makes me proud to call him my president!
This is a thoughtful and inspiring book which is written well without being stuffy, written simply without being dumbed down and even at times achieves eloquence, without being preachy. The chapters on "the Constitution", "Faith" and "the World Beyond Our Borders" show a good grasp of American history, and the chapter on "Politics" is an assault on the do-nothing cynicism which seems to have settled into the hearts of too many Americans, both on the right and on the left. I was particularly taken by President Obama's criticism of liberal "progressives" who are so rooted in secularism that they reject people who have faith based values. The candid anecdotes from Obama's own life are fascinating, and reveal a good bit about how his ideas and his personality have been shaped. I wish every American ... Read More

Rating: - Very well-written
Written in a style that is easy to read, I found The Audacity of Hope to be very insightful. The author has a simple, but not simplistic, perspective on the world. Since he is our next president, everyone should read this book.

Rating: - Obama, the man for 2009!
This is a must read or at least every household should have one of Barack Obama's book in their library.

Rating: - No wonder he is the President now
this is wonderful audiobook, Barack has a great voice and delivery that made the overall experience thoroughly enjoyable.
This is an inspiring political biography (with human element to it!!)
Provides an insight into a man and a politician of collaboration - who clearly has made history!

absolutely loved it - i actually heard the first copy from the library but then ended up buying a copy for my collection.
I look forward to his presidency.

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Books : The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream