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A Promised Land

The powerful political memoir from the former US President

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A Promised Land

By: Barack Obama
Narrated by: Barack Obama
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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 readers 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 4, 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 U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers 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 U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes 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 organizer 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

'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

© 2020 Barack Obama (P) 2020 Penguin Audio

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Critic reviews

Gorgeously written, humorous, compelling, life affirming (Justin Webb)
Beautifully written and disarmingly candid . . . leavened with telling asides, poignant vignettes, painterly character sketches and an occasional corker of a joke (Tony Allen-Mills)
As a work of political literature A Promised Land is impressive. Obama is a gifted writer (Gary Younge)
Barack Obama is as fine a writer as they come . . . the prose gorgeous in places, the detail granular and vivid (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
What is unexpected in A Promised Land is not its literary elegance but the former president's candour (David Olusoga)
I loved A Promised Land . . . President Obama is unusually honest about his experience in the White House, including how isolating it is to be the person who ultimately calls the shots. It's a fascinating look at what it's like to steer a country through challenging times
Deeply enjoyable . . . Obama is such a fluent and warm writer and so good at describing events and people
Beautifully written . . . it's probably the best volume of autobiography from a former president in modern times (Sean O'Grady)
Remarkably candid and beautifully written . . . It should bring inspiration for we Brits who want to build our own version of inclusive patriotism here at home (David Lammy)
Gives a very human insight into the White House
All stars
Most relevant
Not being an Obama supporter I was pleasantly surprised by this book. His insights into his first meetings with Russian and Chinese leadership were excellent. The ending was rather disappointing.

Truly fascinating

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I’m a big fan of Obama’s and I have read his previous works, and followed his political journey - so the events he described were familiar to me, but the way in which he delivered the story was unique. The first digital presidency, where nearly every single major moment was covered by Pete Souza’s photographs, Obama commentators have felt an enormous sense of familiarity with the 44th President of the United States, but that picture is now - from early years of the Presidency at least - complete. Obama is a an excellent scribe, he vividly describes life in the White House, the melding of the political, the historical and the personal. I particularly enjoyed Obama’s recounting of family events and interactions with his wife Michelle and with his daughters Malia and Sasha. I listened to the audio version, and I’ll admit I had the printed version too. All in all this is a very different presidential memoir. It’s not self-congratulatory, it’s reflective, balanced and reassuring in that 44 knew what he was doing most of the time, surrounded himself with dedicated and talented staffers, and he genuinely cared about the fate of America and its citizens. There are passages which might go over non politicos heads, the passing of the Affordable Care Act for example, the Bank bailouts, Climate Change negotiations, but throughout I could sense this was a deeply personal work, with Obama doing his upmost to both warn of the sacrifices needed for political office and the importance of dedicated public servants. For any Obama fan this is a no-brainer, but I hope that Obama’s critics and sceptics read / listen to this book/audiobook because at the very heart of this memoir is one’s man struggle to help change the world for the better. In conclusion I was reminded listening to this work that Obama is not only an excellent role model and leader, but also a brilliant writer. A great listen, an important reminder that good people can achieve great things, and despite all the grandstanding and often empty rhetoric that comes out of the USA, America remains the place where anything is possible.

Obama’s Promised Land

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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.

Not about being President

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A detailed account of his beginnings, his accent to president and his thoughts on the biggest issues that came about on and before his watch. This family man did what it took to try and make the world a better place.

From a history maker in his own words. Brilliant

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It is good to read an economic and political memoir written by a talented writer. The human side of being part of a presidential family adjusting to a new life in the White House is always there. I recommend this audio.

Serious political memoir but also a personal story of the impact of his early presidency on both his government and his family.

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