How to Know Barack Obama Through His Literature
Books Written by America's 44th President
Nov 5, 2008
One of the most immediate impressions one gets upon listening to America's new President-elect Barack Obama's many speeches is his eloquence and his unique set of personal experiences. But if people want to delve deeper into the 44th President of the United States' background, all they need to do is pick up one of the three books written by Obama, for an in-depth look at the man who is poised to lead America in 2009.
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
Obama's first book, written in 1995, stands as his most personal. Dreams from My Father tells the poignant story of Obama's life through to 1995 and includes a transcript of his well-received 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote speech. Most notably reflected in this autobiography is the retelling of his heritage and formative years, growing up in Indonesia and Hawaii as a child of a Caucasian mother and Kenyan father.
Because his parents divorced when he was young, he was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother, which consequently had a monumental impact on Obama's views of race, sex and family. However, one would have a difficult time finding much reference to his mother within the pages of Dreams from My Father; the memoir focuses primarily on his search for self and identity through his paternal lineage during a pilgrimage to Kenya.
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
Published in 2006, The Audacity of Hope is Obama's second book and veers off the personal path that his first book followed, instead focusing on more political ideology and rhetoric. He has said in an Amazon.com interview that if he could encourage readers to take away only one thing from this book, it would be to "get involved in an issue that [they] are passionate about". In a broad sense this book encompasses that goal.
If people are interested to learn about where Obama stands on a number of key issues such as health care, social security, teenage pregnancy, tax cuts and the war in Iraq, they would benefit from reading this book. Not only does he address modern and age-old problems that have plagued the country, but he also offers viable and far-reaching solutions. This book stands as an exemplary piece of political literature from an insightful Senator and President-elect.
Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise
If Dreams from My Father is the Obama personal memoir and The Audacity of Hope is the Obama political manifesto pre-Presidency, than Change We Can Believe In is his instructional manual for change. While plans and outlines seem commonplace for politicians, Obama's third book, released in 2008, provides readers with specific ways in which he intends to transform his concepts of reform to fruition.
This book would be an eye-opening read for those who are skeptical about Obama's ideas for the country as well as those who are looking for deeper answers to the problems that Americans and citizens throughout the world are facing.
There is no doubt that Barack Obama is a man destined to change the face of politics the world over. Readers would be encouraged to read all or any of his political writings to better under the incoming Commander In Chief of the United States. His writing is poetic, concise and accessible to anyone who desires a deeper understanding of Obama the man and the politician.
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