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A Promised Land
- Narrated by: Barack Obama
- Length: 29 hrs and 10 mins
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A Promised Land
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
The number one Sunday Times and Audible best seller.
A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making - from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.
In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency - a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.
Obama takes listeners on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4th 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation's highest office.
Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of US partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings listeners inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about US strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout and authorises Operation Neptune's Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.
A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective - the story of one man's bet with history, the faith of a community organiser tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of 'hope and change', and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.
This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama's conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.
Winner of best narration by the author – Audie Awards 2022.
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Critic reviews
"What is unexpected in A Promised Land is the former president's candour." (David Olusoga, Observer)
"Gorgeously written, humorous, compelling, life affirming." (Justin Webb, Mail on Sunday)
What listeners say about A Promised Land
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Chris Barker
- 29-07-21
Not about being President
Transcends politics. Barack Obama never flexes authority or intelligence, lapel pin or lectern. He digs deep into what being a good human means, and inspires so completely. My daily ride to work won’t be the same.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
Thank you
Only biography I’ve listened to and it’s surprisingly easy to listen to. I did enjoy it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 29-08-21
Great Listen
Informative, soothing and at times distressing narrated by himself adding another layer to this story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Octavian V
- 09-06-21
Impressive
Listening the book read by the author is truly an experience. This makes this audiobook better than reading.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-06-21
Honest inspiring and a great story .
What stuck me about the writing was how Obama demonstrates the exceptional ability to describe his journey in one of the highest offices in the land in a way I could relate to in terms of my life in my own workplace. His account appears honest and portrays a man who is very gifted intelligent but very perceptive to the machinations of the people and world around him. His hope for humanity is infectious, while his acknowledgement of its fallibility makes his vision that much less utopian.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lionel
- 13-05-21
Excellent
Well written and well narrated, this peak behind the curtain and the insights in one of the key political leader of the 21st century is a pleasure to listen to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Blondie
- 30-01-21
Fascinating
A gifted writer, Obama manages to be entertaining through his delivery and enlightening through his concise explanations of complex international issues. It was fascinating to hear about major events through the unique perspective of the POTUS. The final hunt for bin Laden was particularly gripping.
Obama is equally adept at describing people, with little anecdotes and vignettes helping to fix characters in the listeners’ minds. At times I thought that lists of people involved in various stages slowed the pace but I’m sure they were all included for a reason.
I’m really looking forward to the next instalment.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sheila
- 10-01-21
Thumbs up
Brilliant insight to obama life love the audiobook he has a calming voice defo worth the buy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- shaun
- 15-01-21
Brilliant
Absolutely loved this book, Barack has a great voice and adds to the quality of the overall story.
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- Charmaine van der Merwe
- 05-02-21
Brilliant and inspiring
Simply told. Listening to the author tell his own story is like sitting in front of a fire in the Obama household sipping tea. An absolutely inspiring telling. What a statesman.
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