A Promised Land

Personal opinion: this book is on the better side of just okay. I liked Michelle's memoir way more. Maybe that's because I'm not the most interested in the inner-workings of the American political system, especially because any first-hand account of that bipartisan system will be inherently very biased; or maybe it's because this was so pragmatically written, in a linear “this is what happened and this is what I did about it” kind of way. Or maybe it's because it's REALLY long. It was interesting to hear more about the big events from his first term because I was young and barely following the news at the time; it was also interesting hearing about his family/personal life. Always the diplomat, Obama was very tactful in his telling of his experience, and it read very much so like his politics; idealistic (in a lovely way, I think), pragmatic, calm, well-paced, but also a little stiff. Still a perfectly decent read.

this book does not have to be 700 pages. And it's only part 1??!!? I can see it being inspirational for high school or uni poli sci kids but I personally could not care less.

it was very self righteous and maybe I'm wrong to expect more from the former POTUS but still it was very “ah I love the smell of the roses in my garden and I always say hi to my gardener”

I read this thick boy over two long borrows from the library. It's very detailed. I enjoy obamas writing cadence but tended to skim through parts describing less than important people to get through to the more exciting or nostalgic descriptions of his first term. The foreshadowing and the hindsight really hit home knowing what came after obama. Can't wait for his next book. 

I've been waiting for this from the library for longer than I can recall but sigh I couldn't get through more than 10 pages (and that includes skipping the introduction) because I kept editing it in my head. This is needlessly verbose and filled with irrelevant details which impede the narrative; Random House did Barack a serious disservice by not assigning an editor to whittle this down to a manageable size while maintaining the author's oh-so-pretty prose.

Michelle Obama's Becoming has recently been released in a young readers edition and I sincerely hope there is one planned for this beautiful monstrosity.

4* - For the book itself
1* - For audible and a sign of appreciation for the times we live in. To think I had the ex-President of the United States talk to me about his first term in office during morning cycle rides is absolutely ridiculous.

Back in 2008, I was swept up by his campaign and by the things he said. Having heard all the garbage been strewn around by politicians in India, even the notorious Indian media couldn't help but get carried away.

I would recommend this book to everyone. It is great to hear an almost centrist voice in today's highly polarised political climate around the globe. He got a lot done in his first term and genuinely tried to do a lot of good along the way. It was priceless to get to hear how the White House actually views global events. He might not have done everything he promised but he tried his best. In a time when politicians are heavy on promises and absolute lightweights on execution, I do admire the guy.

An eloquent, heady read from the road to the Oval through Operation Neptune Spear with some much-needed levity threaded throughout. I understand more about the Great Recession, Iran sanctions, and a myriad of other things than I ever did before. This book reinforces the idea that the White House and what it stands for is not about one person but instead what a team of people entrusted with America's values and safekeeping can chieve together. What a fascinating look inside that sphere and how far respect, listening, and compromise can truly take us as a nation.

At times, very often in fact, he took the road to Rome from Paris via Tokyo. On the other hand, those extensive incursions in the history of the Middle East or the mess of the American healthcare system were actually interesting enough to keep going. What I liked about this book in particular is the ability to make it each chapter captivating, even if sometimes you have to go through 90% of the chapter filled with elaborate descriptions of some political mechanisms.

A great insight into how a regular person gets into the political system, and how it all works from the inside. It’s great to have some insight into how the people beneath the politicians make the decisions they do, and how they’re forced into positions they don’t necessarily agree with.

It’s an inherently biased book, as all memoirs/autobiographies are bound to be, but he makes a clear distinction between facts and his opinions, and even if you disagree with some of them, following the process to turn his opinions into laws is still deeply relatable.

Having also read Michelle Obama's recent memoir, I'm going to have to say I enjoyed her's more. She spoke from the heart and was a bit more personal. Barack's was a bit more of a play-by-play of his interactions with leaders across the world, and the work that goes into his policies (war in the middle east, affordable care act). Of course that was still interesting to hear about, though!

I didn't get a chance to write a review till now but I gave this one a hands down 5 star review. I appreciated his look and his glance into the oval office and being transparent about his experiences during his term. It was very interesting to see the events unravel and catch a glimpse of that. I know he can't disclose everything but it was nice to get a clear perspective of walking in his shoes during this one.

I plan to read every presidential biography capped at one book per president. If the president reads their audiobook then that's the way I will consume it as is my general rule with biographies.

The book is a great insight into how Obama views his time in office and how he views himself. The book largely avoids his 2nd term perhaps because he achieved essentially nothing.

His god complex comes through quite a bit with almost nothing being his fault. A handful of times he will acknowledge that he was rude or short with someone or didn't prepare a staff member properly for the media.

He justifies starting new military action because the republicans did it before him. All while saying how much of a mess those unneeded conflicts were.

He avoids all his war crimes and drone strike policies while parading the moral authority of his presidency and America.

Nothing about the continued use of the patriot act.

Really this book is just more of a feel good story for neoliberals than a thoughtful look at one's time in office.

I usually don't have the best experience with Audiobook versions of books, but this one being read in Obama's magnetic voice made all the difference. It truly felt like he was relating his life before and during his first term as president to me. Though the American political system differs from ours in vastly diverse ways this was a riveting insight into what goes into the decision making as president of one of the most influential nations on earth.

Why did I pick this book?
I've recently read a few management books (Disney, Pixar and Steve Jobs) and love the insight it gives on managing a company, and overall challenges in life. What better book to step up a notch than from a President?

The book itself
Is massive. Don't expect to easily take this with you on a summer holiday.. Tho' I did manage to bring it along to the beach for some reading.
Also note that it is just the first part of Obama's presidency, up to the raid of Bin Laden. Another book is to follow on the next part.
In this one Obama takes the reader through his early life, growing up in Hawaii and the influence his mother and grandmother had on his life, through to his studying years, running for Senate and finally the presidency.

What did I think of it
As soon as I read the intro I knew I would be hooked. I was a little worried that it would be a dry book, for which you would need a thorough understanding of the United States political system.
However, as I discovered in the intro already, Obama takes care to carefully explain the background of a certain topic, before diving deep into how he and his team handled it. You can get a really good insight in the intricacies of most (global) topics.

Also, when Obama doesn't have to stick to the facts and run through a specific string of events, when he has the time to write about the scenery of the White House, or other politician's abodes, the writer in him pops up. I was enthralled by his description of the grounds around the House.

My recommendations
If you enjoyed this book, or maybe are on the fence about starting such a lengthy book, I would suggest going with ‘Ride of a Lifetime' by Robert Iger, the CEO of Disney. It's a much shorter book, but the style of writing and topics covered are pretty similar.

I mostly listened and, as others have said, found comfort in that. It is a very detailed book, so I found myself skimming over sections that I knew I would not retain. It's a great historical record from his perspective, though. I will use it as a reference in the future. I must admit that I enjoyed Michelle's memoir more.

A book about perseverance and hope
America's former commander-in-chief shares his character flaws and fears for the presidency. It is a lengthy memoir with vivid detail and a captivating hopey changey rhetoric. This is an impressive but restrained account of life inside the White House. Obama details historic decision-making amid growing racist resentment. It's fascinating because it focuses on the minutiae of decision-making. Ultimately, Obama emerges as a steely political operator. Less an idealist and more a reserved, conscientious pragmatist.

The text reflects part of his first term (so lots more to come) and is definitely worth your time.

Listening to Barack Obama's audiobook “A Promised Land” was an enriching experience. The content is deeply engaging, offering a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at his presidency and personal journey. What made the experience even more special was Obama's narration. His voice carries warmth, humor, and a genuine authenticity that kept me captivated, even as I finished the very long audiobook with almost 30 hours. While the sheer number of names sometimes made it challenging to keep track of who was who, it didn't diminish the power of the storytelling. Overall, I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone interested in politics or personal growth. It's a compelling, insightful, and inspiring listen.