We Are All One
Customer Rating: 
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 with the, soon-to-be sworn-in, next President of the United States.
The title "The Audacity to Hope" explains why I liked the book so much, and it's because the book gives a good insight into who Barack Obama is. In "The Audacity to Hope" President-elect Obama explains why he feels about being who he is, and as a result it makes me want to be a better person. I believe that what he says is true, "that we have a stake in one another." John F. Kennedy was the only other President, in my life-time, that has given me cause to feel this way. I want so much to believe him when he writes " that what binds us together is greater than what drives us apart." We are all one in so many ways.
The book is real because the man is real, he speaks from his heart and he is aware of the hearts of others. He's aware of the millions of Americans who go about their business every day. "Their lives are full of contradictions and ambiguities." He is aware that Americans understand that politics is a business and no longer a mission, . . . "they turn inward, away from the noise and rage and endless chatter." "A government that truly represents these Americans - that truly serves these Americans - will require a different kind of politics." President-elect Obama connects to American's hope when he writes, "That politics will need to reflect our lives as they are actually lived." He states "And we will need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break." Again, testimony to how we as human beings are all one.
Barack Obama is aware of his strengths and also his weaknesses. In "The Audacity of Hope" Barack Obama expresses his feelings on both sides of many important issues and yet he is not closed minded to his critics. "I'd begun to see how any challenge to convention harbored within it the possibility of its own excesses and its own orthodoxy."
In the beginning of "the Audacity of Hope" President-elect Obama writes, "Instead what I offer is something more modest: personal reflections on those values and ideals that have led me to public life." I believe that is exactly what he has done in this book. I also believe him when he quotes Benjamin Franklin saying: "I would rather have it said, He lived usefully, than, He died rich" another reason why we are all one.
Makes me proud to call him my president!
Customer Rating: 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 would read this book, no matter who they voted for, and then come together with a renewed sense of purpose to work with each other, disagree civilly, and fully live up to our founding ideals.
No wonder he is the President now
Customer Rating: 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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