A Promised Land

Version: Unabridged
Author: Barack Obama
Narrator: Barack Obama
Genres: Biography & Memoir
Publisher: Random House Audio Publishing Group
Published In: November 2020
# of Units: 32 CDs
Length: 32 hours
Ratings:
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Overview

A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making—from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times • NPR • The Guardian • Marie Claire
 
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.

Selected Reviews

by Kristina V.
  • Book Rating: 5/5

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by Tyleah P.
  • Book Rating: 5/5

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Reviews (32)

Written by Kristina V. on January 23rd, 2021

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Loved everything about the book. Can’t wait for the next.

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Written by Tyleah P. on January 17th, 2021

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Very descriptive loved it!

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Written by Anonymous on January 12th, 2021

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Absolutly loved it! Can’t wait for the second!

Written by Anonymous on January 12th, 2021

  • Book Rating: 4/5

worth reading or listening to.

Written by Don M. on January 5th, 2021

  • Book Rating: 1/5

garbage.. wrost president to ever buy his way in .

Written by Johan Wahlsten on January 5th, 2021

  • Book Rating: 5/5

This book was truly amazing, you could follow Barack through decision making and he's thought behind the crazy rolling coaster.

Written by Desmond Burgess on January 4th, 2021

  • Book Rating: 5/5

As I complete the final seconds of this book, I feel as if I have a different insight on the country during the time President Obama's presidency. He presented keen intellect and a sharp analysis of how he perceived events that shaped his tenure in office. The one thing I love to do once I finish reading a book is to go read others reviews to see if they had the same immersive experience as myself, and it's quite sad reading so many of the anonymous negative comments about him. Honestly, I was hoping more people were "Fired Up, Ready to go!". Political views shouldnt play such a major part in how we see, judge, or perceive someone yet it's an unfortunate prejudice America still deals with. Overall I really enjoyed the book and even more with him reading it as it gave an essential value to his life, political encounters and story.

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Written by Bianca1976 on January 2nd, 2021

  • Book Rating: 5/5

I love hearing this man speak and hearing the human side of a real President. A real family man and a man concerned about his country. It's also really sad to see that rather than work together for the good of our country, Republicans, like the deplorable Mitch McConnell, would rather do everything in their power to block a democratic president from doing good just because he's not a republican. Sad. But I won't take away from the fact that this book, although long, was great. I never tire of listening to Barack Obama speak.

Written by Malik W. on December 31st, 2020

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Barack Obama's memoir really gives you all of the details like McCullough & Chernow books. Too long (esp. since there's 2 volumes) but really good.

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Written by Anonymous on December 31st, 2020

  • Book Rating: 5/5

I loved this book! He spoke of his mistakes and well as his wins. I learned so much! I will read his other books as well. Well done Mr. President! Wish we had you back!

Selected Reviews

by Kristina V.
  • Book Rating: 5/5

0

by Tyleah P.
  • Book Rating: 5/5

More...

Read All 32

Author Details

Author Details

Obama, Barack

BARACK OBAMA is the junior U.S. senator from Illinois and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Michelle, and two daughters, Malia and Sasha.