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The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage) | 
 enlarge | Author: Barack Obama
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  684 reviews
Sales Rank: 54
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 0307455874
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.04960730092
EAN: 9780307455871
Publication Date: July 15, 2008
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Amazon.com Review
Barack Obama's first book, Dreams from My Father, was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope, Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves repairing a "political process that is broken" and restoring a government that has fallen out of touch with the people. We had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics--see his responses below. --Daphne Durham
20 Second Interview: A Few Words with Barack Obama
 Q: How did writing a book that you knew would be read so closely by so many compare to writing your first book, when few people knew who you were?
A: In many ways, Dreams from My Father was harder to write. At that point, I wasn't even sure that I could write a book. And writing the first book really was a process of self-discovery, since it touched on my family and my childhood in a much more intimate way. On the other hand, writing The Audacity of Hope paralleled the work that I do every day--trying to give shape to all the issues that we face as a country, and providing my own personal stamp on them.
Q: What is your writing process like? You have such a busy schedule, how did you find time to write?
A: I'm a night owl, so I usually wrote at night after my Senate day was over, and after my family was asleep--from 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outline--certain themes or stories that I wanted to tell--and get them down in longhand on a yellow pad. Then I'd edit while typing in what I'd written.
Q: If readers are to come away from The Audacity of Hope with one action item (a New Year's Resolution for 2007, perhaps?), what should it be?
A: Get involved in an issue that you're passionate about. It almost doesnt matter what it is--improving the school system, developing strategies to wean ourselves off foreign oil, expanding health care for kids. We give too much of our power away, to the professional politicians, to the lobbyists, to cynicism. And our democracy suffers as a result.
Q: You're known for being able to work with people across ideological lines. Is that possible in today's polarized Washington?
A: It is possible. There are a lot of well-meaning people in both political parties. Unfortunately, the political culture tends to emphasize conflict, the media emphasizes conflict, and the structure of our campaigns rewards the negative. I write about these obstacles in chapter 4 of my book, "Politics." When you focus on solving problems instead of scoring political points, and emphasize common sense over ideology, you'd be surprised what can be accomplished. It also helps if you're willing to give other people credit--something politicians have a hard time doing sometimes.
Q: How do you make people passionate about moderate and complex ideas?
A: I think the country recognizes that the challenges we face aren't amenable to sound-bite solutions. People are looking for serious solutions to complex problems. I don't think we need more moderation per se--I think we should be bolder in promoting universal health care, or dealing with global warming. We just need to understand that actually solving these problems won't be easy, and that whatever solutions we come up with will require consensus among groups with divergent interests. That means everybody has to listen, and everybody has to give a little. That's not easy to do.
Q: What has surprised you most about the way Washington works?
A: How little serious debate and deliberation takes place on the floor of the House or the Senate.
Q: You talk about how we have a personal responsibility to educate our children. What small thing can the average parent (or person) do to help improve the educational system in America? What small thing can make a big impact?
A: Nothing has a bigger impact than reading to children early in life. Obviously we all have a personal obligation to turn off the TV and read to our own children; but beyond that, participating in a literacy program, working with parents who themselves may have difficulty reading, helping their children with their literacy skills, can make a huge difference in a child's life.
Q: Do you ever find time to read? What kinds of books do you try to make time for? What is on your nightstand now?
A: Unfortunately, I had very little time to read while I was writing. I'm trying to make up for lost time now. My tastes are pretty eclectic. I just finished Marilynne Robinsons Gilead, a wonderful book. The language just shimmers. I've started Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which is a great study of Lincoln as a political strategist. I read just about anything by Toni Morrison, E.L. Doctorow, or Philip Roth. And I've got a soft spot for John le Carre.
Q: What inspires you? How do you stay motivated?
A: I'm inspired by the people I meet in my travels--hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. I'm inspired by the love people have for their children. And I'm inspired by my own children, how full they make my heart. They make me want to work to make the world a little bit better. And they make me want to be a better man.
Product Description
The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama's call for a new kind of politics—a politics that builds upon those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans. Lucid in his vision of America's place in the world, refreshingly candid about his family life and his time in the Senate, Obama here sets out his political convictions and inspires us to trust in the dogged optimism that has long defined us and that is our best hope going forward.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 679 more reviews...
 Very well-written January 6, 2009
Written in a style that is easy to read, I found The Audacity of Hope to be very insightful. The author has a simple, but not simplistic, perspective on the world. Since he is our next president, everyone should read this book.
Obama, the man for 2009! January 6, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a must read or at least every household should have one of Barack Obama's book in their library.
No wonder he is the President now January 5, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
 Same old, same old January 5, 2009
Tried reading the book, but there is nothing new here. Just the same old bromides and banalities without any real analysis or opinions; cookie-cutter platitudes designed to gratify the masses. Am unsure how this new president-elect has stirred up such enthusiasm from reading this book.
An Insight to the New President's Mind January 4, 2009
Ok, he's not president ... yet. We still have 14 more days. However, I bought this book before the election, wanting to read more about the man's state of mind and his thoughts on the American dream. It has taken me this long to read it, not because the words are too hard (I read that somewhere that someone was daunted by the "big" words he used), but because it is very thought-provoking and it is not a book to rush through. I rarely if ever underline anything in my books but this book broke that rule of mine. I was underlining so many different thoughts in there to remind myself that it is what I agree with too. That doesn't necessarily mean that I agree with everything he has said, but he does provide fodder for thought.
It is a very well-written book. It makes me wish that I could attend his classes on Constitutional Law, which is saying something since I find law boring. He provides examples after examples to back up his thoughts. He has obviously done his research especially in foreign policy (which is my least favorite chapter of all the chapters. It was also one that I disagreed with the most.) and he is passionate about his beliefs. He is passionate about the American people. I've seen it in his speeches and during the debates. He is passionate about the American Dream. And it's about time there is someone at the helm who is passionate about the Dream and how we can work together to bring it about.
I don't expect Obama to bring about all the changes that he'd like to see because, let's be honest here, politicans in Congress will not agree and they will fight everything they can to push their own agenda through. Hopefully, Obama will be able to override that but that remains to be seen. However, he does have a good plan in mind and hopefully, he will be able to implement it.
The one thing I got from this book is the strong sense of hope. The strong sense of hope and change that his presidency will bring about, hopefully. For the first time in 8 years, there is a feeling of hope among the people and among different readers. This book has generated a lot of talk among people. Hopefully, these talks will bring about the necessary change that is needed desperately for this country to thrive.
It doesn't matter which side of the aisle you are on, this book is a much read. It is also a relief that for a change, there is an intelligent man at the helm of this country.
1/4/09
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