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A Promised Land is a memoir by Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017.
Introduction
Book’s name - A Promised Land
Author - Barack Obama
Genre - Memoir
Language - English
Reviews
In the opening of one review, published as the front page of The New York Times Book Review on November 29, 2020, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote that Obama "is as fine a writer as they come" and argued that it is "not merely that this book avoids being ponderous, as might be expected, even forgiven, of a hefty memoir, but that it is nearly always pleasurable to read, sentence by sentence, the prose gorgeous in places, the detail granular and vivid."
Publishers Weekly posted a review stating that Obama "delivers a remarkably introspective chronicle of his rise to the White House and his first two-and-a-half years in office", before closing with: "This sterling account rises above the crowded field of presidential postmortems."
The book's entry in Kirkus Reviews includes the tag line: "A top-notch political memoir and serious exercise in practical politics for every reader."
Walter Clemens wrote a review of the book in the New York Journal of Books that opened with "every sentence in this book deserves to be treasured and relished" and closed by stating "anyone who wishes to understand America in the early 21st century should read this book—or listen to it in an audio version narrated by the former president".
The book was also reviewed by Eric Foner in The Times Literary Supplement, who wrote that the book is "elegantly written" and is "certainly among the most impressive contributions to this minor genre", noting: "A gifted writer, he maintains the reader's interest for over 700 pages".
Among magazine reviews, Laura Miller, in Slate Magazine, wrote that the book "is a pleasure to read for the intelligence, equanimity, and warmth of its author—from his unfeigned delight in his fabulously wholesome family to his manifest fondness for the people who worked for and with him, especially early on".
Time published a review that stated "Obama knows how to tell a good story" and that "his insight into his mindset during his biggest presidential moments is a reminder of his thoughtfulness". The review continued by stating that "from cover to cover, A Promised Land is a reminder of the narrative that Obama has spent his career enunciating".
Other reviews were published in The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, and Oprah Magazine.
Among newspaper reviews, Eli Stokols wrote a review of the book that was published in both the Los Angeles Times, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Stokols wrote that the book is "deeply introspective and at times elegiac" and has "elegant prose".
Stokols went on to write that the book "often reads like a conversation Obama is having with himself", as he would express self-doubt over his various actions and inactions while in office.
Jeffrey Goldberg wrote in The Atlantic that the book is "an unusual presidential memoir in many ways: unusually interior, unusually self-critical, unusually modern, and unusually well written."
Peter Bergen wrote a review for CNN stating that the book is "moving" and "beautifully written" and finishes the review by stating the second volume "will surely be another very compelling book".
In a review in The Guardian, Gary Younge wrote: "As a work of political literature A Promised Land is impressive" and that "Obama is a gifted writer". In a second review published by The Guardian, Julian Borger describes the book as "701 pages of elegantly written narrative, contemplation and introspection, in which he frequently burrows down into his own motivations" and that it "delivers amply on the basic expectations of political autobiographies, providing a granular view from the driving seat of power."
In a third review in The Guardian, Peter Conrad wrote: "Like the best autobiographers, Barack Obama writes about himself in the hope of discovering who or even what he is."
The book was also reviewed by Carlos Lozada in The Washington Post, and Nate Marshall in the Chicago Tribune. The book also received a second review in The New York Times that described it as "700 pages that are as deliberative, measured and methodical as the author himself".
The review states that, while the book comes during "a time of grandiose mythologizing", Obama "marshals his considerable storytelling skills to demythologize himself". The review then argues that, while it is addressed to "young people who seek to 'remake the world'", the book "is less about unbridled possibility and more about the forces that inhibit it".
Several British newspapers, including The Times, The Observer, and The Independent, have published reviews of the book as well. Among other news agencies, it was also reviewed by The Boston Globe and NPR.
About the Book
The memoir, remaining focused on Obama's political life, begins with his early life, details his first campaigns, and stretches through most of his first term as President. The book concludes with the events surrounding the killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011, ending with a meeting between Obama and the Navy SEALs who conducted the raid.
While the book remains focused on politics, the first 200 pages of the book, approximately, are devoted to Obama's life and career up through his time in Chicago.
Personal Verdict
A Promised Land by 44th African American President Barack Obama is an extremely verbose autobiography in 1st person narration. This 2020 President autobiography is published during the end of President Trump’s term and really delves into his style of straightforward humble Presidency.
Not only does Obama discuss family life and his protection of his daughters, but he illuminates his presence in world leadership by giving his opinions about how leadership in command ought to be in Israel and Egypt. The hardback edition is divided into seven sections and twenty-seven chapters that include a collage of his own collection of historical pictures.
Each image is different and reveals topics, such as his mezzo, biracial beginnings from a Caucasian mother and dark-skinned Kenyan father, and photographs of his balance amongst other politicians and world leaders. In his book, Obama is not afraid to admit he is not perfect. For example, he states that he never smokes in public.
Obama’s journey of identity transformation is a tremendous tale of Presidency that comes together via daily steps and interactions. Personally, I enjoyed reading A Promised Land because Obama is able to distinguish global military, royal, and democratic leadership forms and convey that his decision-making is strategically right for the time, place, community, and country. This book of Presidential memoirs inspires me to swing left in my empathetic progress in politics.
My Ratings for the book - 5 on 5
Get your copy from Amazon - Promised-Land-Barack-Obama
Written By - Vaidehee
Edited By - Pavas Shrigyan
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