The Audacity of Hope

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
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. Amazon.com had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics--see his responses below. --Daphne Durham

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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.

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Reader Reviews:

A very satisfying read, written with intelligence and clarity (0/0 people found this helpful)

If only more politicians would allow themselves the time and integrity to sit down and write such a book before or whilst in office.

Barack Obama writes with intelligence and clarity, but in a language that is accessible to all. A born politician some might say, he represents both sides of any story, alienating no-one and never being judgmental, but always carefully thoughtful. A gifted storyteller, Obama draws on his own life experience and reflection to fit real life issues into the broader policy spectrum.

The book is carefully ordered starting with his background (community projects before law school) and upbringing (multicultural) he aspires to demonstrate himself as a man of the American people and in this way builds our trust. He then uses his intimate knowledge of the American constitution to bring it alive for us - a great précis for those of us with little American constitutional knowledge - before talking openly and honestly about intrinsic challenge of politics for politicians (`how I or anybody...can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth'). For me this was the most interesting part and widens the relevance of the book beyond American politics.

Occasionally allowing himself to sideswipe opponents (Mr Keyes, p211) but doing so in a gentlemanly fashion - he uses the time we invest in his book to give us his side of the picture behind the press headline or 90 second news clip. The book ends with a chapter on Family, giving us a taste of the effect of Obama's work on his family and their lives. This last insight into Obama's personal life leaves a good taste in the reader's mouth and reminds us he is human. And like a true gentleman - he gives the final word to his wife.

My only critisism is that after such a detailed discussion of Amercian politics, business and social issues his single chapter addressing the rest of the world comes across as being pretty lightweight. His views on future world economy and security are conventional and inward looking. His views on the challenges facing the future of the world could be written by an American CEO - focusing on trade and competition. Global warming is mentioned only twice by my count. But then this book is about 'The Audacity of Hope' and written by an American politician.

Lets hope he can retain that `kernal of truth' as he goes forward.

The Clever Man who cries the catch cries of the clowns (2/2 people found this helpful)

Like most I bought this book firmly because I realised the author might/may well be the next president of the United States. I've always believed that there are fewer better ways of getting to understand what makes a politician tick than by reading the books that they write, or at least purport to write. By coincidence, I had recently finished the exhaustingly long autobiography of Bill Clinton and I was impressed that Obama's book was a lot shorter and hopefully more concise. Whilst Bill Clintons book was obviously a justification of his policies and work, it was hard not to miss bits of his personality shining through and I was particularly intrigued by his childhood. In contrast I expected Obamas book to be a bit like a personal manifesto with nuggets of autobiography- a bit like Rudy Giuliani's excellent leadership book.

Unfortunately, this book is neither an autobiography nor a manifesto. It is a work of the most beautiful rhetoric. At times, in fact, the author writes with a poetic quality that is not readily associated with a politician. The book does n't flow easily though. It's is rather like a collection of soundbites strung with bits of glory, in a sea of mist. Alas Barack is no more accessible by the end of the book. I did n't get a feeling for what makes the man. I got a basic understanding of his background and beliefs- though wikipedia was far more thorough and concise. I felt that I had been in the presence of one who said the right things, in the right way but said little at all. Perhaps the nearest he got to being human was in the middle of the book where he delays shaking President Bush's hand in order to eat at a buffet. Alas, this anecdote is subsequently ruined self-propaganda and Bush's words of encouragement to the senator.

Overall, its easier to pick up mercury with a fork than pin down Barack in this book. The book has the glossy style, blurb and substance of a brochure. Despite this, American voters should definitely read this book and the rest of us should read it if they vote for him.

Fascinating (1/1 people found this helpful)

This could be the next US President and as such this book is valuable reading for anyone interested in US or World Politics. Extremely readable and by and large Obama's ideas and visions are forward thinking and exciting. The "I love America" rhetoric and the occasional misinformation concerning Europe aside this is a fascinating insight into the mind of a man who could well reverse the Neo Con disaster that has become America and the World under Bush.

Well worth a read (0/1 people found this helpful)

This is the first book of this type that I have read and I surprised myself by enjoying it. Before reading it I thought it would be full of the usual impossible promises politicans make but Obama is very down to earth. Bits I didnt like included a lot of names those unfamiliar with US politics will not know, and the occasional bias towards the USA over other nations. As a book it is well written, structured, funny on occasion and a good intro to modern American politics.

The Audacity Of Hope (4/5 people found this helpful)

'The Audacity Of Hope' looks at some ideas in American politics and Obamas own take on them. It looks at things such as Democrat and Republican relations, Race, Faith, Americas relationship internationally and general politics. Obama comes across as someone with a great deal of integrity and common sense. He seems to want to work across political ideological lines for the benefit of America in general. I guess any self penned book will be slightly biased, but for an idea of what Obama believes in and a look at some of his ideas to remedy a selection of Americas ills, you can't go much wrong in starting with this book. Considering he may be the next President, and after reading this lets hope with all of our fibre that he is, it is well worth reading about the beliefs of who could be the worlds most influential man. Clear, eloquent, well reasoned and argued and insightful into his character and ideals. Well worth a read.

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