The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage)
by: Barack Obama
Price: $7.99
Prices subject to change.Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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.
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
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.
Alternate Versions:
Related Items:
- Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
- Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise
- Great Speeches by African Americans: Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama, and Others (Thrift Edition)
- The American Journey of Barack Obama
- Hopes and Dreams: The Story of Barack Obama:The Inaugural Edition: Revised and Updated
- see more
Browse for similar items by category:
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » 4-for-3 Books Store » Biographies & Memoirs » Ethnic & National » African-American & Black
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » 4-for-3 Books Store » Nonfiction » Politics » General
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » 4-for-3 Books Store » Nonfiction » Social Sciences » Political Science » General
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » 4-for-3 Books Store » All 4-for-3 Deals
- Books » Specialty Stores » Political Parties » Blue Politics
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- A New Zealander's perspective
An interesting insight into the thoughts of President Barack Obama, written when he the Senator of Illinois.While no one can deny that his aspirations for a more inclusive, more progressive America are expressed in very emotive and thoughtful way, I personally do find it troubling that on some of the tougher ethical stances, which are equally important for supporters of both sides, that he does tend to hedge his bets both ways Chapter 6 Faith is a good example of this.I consider this read a 4 ... Read More
Rating: 
- interesting, informative,bold
quite an interesting piece, very inspirational true to the core, quite dignified in retrospect, "know thy self" pursue your dreams steadfast ahead and dont waiver
Rating: - Sheer Brilliance
Bo is still a puppy, so it took me a long time to read my Dad's book, because he is very smart a uses bigger words then Bio is familiar with. But, it was worth all my time and efforts. My Dad's book, "The Audacity of Hope" is the true story of one brilliant kind man who loved his country above all things except for my Mom, sisters and me. It tells the story of a heart and mind large enough to not only encompass the dreams of our fore fathers and bring them once again to shinning life for the American ... Read More
Rating: - Happy senior...happy woman...happy American!
Now that this highly intelligent, humanly-warm being is president, I also have the audacity of hope. This book projects the greatest quality in any human being--citizen or leader--that of being authentic. You know his words reflect the truth as he perceives it on any given topic, question or problem, and you know that an incredible intelligence guides his opinions.
I am happy--at 83--to have this human being as president. With all this, he is an avid reader and historian which gives him the informed ... Read More
Rating: 
- No Text To Speech!
I'll leave the review of the content to the printed book. Disabling text to speech - thanks for the arbitrary limitation!
- A New Zealander's perspectiveAn interesting insight into the thoughts of President Barack Obama, written when he the Senator of Illinois.While no one can deny that his aspirations for a more inclusive, more progressive America are expressed in very emotive and thoughtful way, I personally do find it troubling that on some of the tougher ethical stances, which are equally important for supporters of both sides, that he does tend to hedge his bets both ways Chapter 6 Faith is a good example of this.I consider this read a 4 ... Read More
- interesting, informative,boldquite an interesting piece, very inspirational true to the core, quite dignified in retrospect, "know thy self" pursue your dreams steadfast ahead and dont waiver
- Sheer BrillianceBo is still a puppy, so it took me a long time to read my Dad's book, because he is very smart a uses bigger words then Bio is familiar with. But, it was worth all my time and efforts. My Dad's book, "The Audacity of Hope" is the true story of one brilliant kind man who loved his country above all things except for my Mom, sisters and me. It tells the story of a heart and mind large enough to not only encompass the dreams of our fore fathers and bring them once again to shinning life for the American ... Read More
- Happy senior...happy woman...happy American!Now that this highly intelligent, humanly-warm being is president, I also have the audacity of hope. This book projects the greatest quality in any human being--citizen or leader--that of being authentic. You know his words reflect the truth as he perceives it on any given topic, question or problem, and you know that an incredible intelligence guides his opinions.
I am happy--at 83--to have this human being as president. With all this, he is an avid reader and historian which gives him the informed ... Read More
- No Text To Speech!I'll leave the review of the content to the printed book. Disabling text to speech - thanks for the arbitrary limitation!
