A Promised Land

By: Barack Obama

Narrated by: Barack Obama

Length: 29 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

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

NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE • 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 US 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 US 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.

©2021 Barack Obama (P)2021 Random House Audio

Great read! This is how we turn around the year!

I loved this book! It made me feel more connected to Obama. I already had so much respect for him—and now! Strongly recommend.

Obama dropped the “pen” like he dropped the mic on stage

Not since the early 1980s have I heard a narrator speak with effortless ease and a natural sincerity with an intellectual telic command of the story. President Barack Obama dropped the pen and the mic. I have the hardback as well—- eagerly awaiting Volume 2.

11/20/2020

Superb!

Roland Jordan (retired New Day Obama Songs Band independent of the Obama Administration and Organization from 2008 Thur 2016. “Gone is Obama Gone is Democracy “.)

A true inside lesson on history-It is a task to absorb and worth the effort!!

This well-thought-out candid and funny insight into a very special man during a very special time when we so need to understand how and what it takes to govern this great country-Is a gift and a treasure.
The 738 pages and over 20+ hours of listening requires a committed reader and listener who is well rewarded for their effort and time. I was able to stop when he mentions the speech and go online and hear the speech. Then Google for the many people who worked with him whose names I never knew whose lives were so important to all of us in the caring out of the many many duties that kept this country moving under his leadership. This book mirrored with Michelle‘s is a great record Of the outstanding couple who cared for us so well for eight years in the White House.I can’t wait to hear the sequel to this book. And I urge Joe Biden to start his book now so time doesn’t run out on him for us to hear his insights of his days with Obama and his days now. Both these men seem destined to lead and help us heal. Clearly I am deeply appreciative and impressed.

Fantastic

How I miss the steadied hand of this President. His ability to remain calm in uncalm times is a testament to him as a person, to him as a leader. His gift of words makes his story that much better. This guy can write!

The President’s Book

This book offered great insight into the life of President Obama! He does a fantastic job narrating the seriousness of duty to the American people and the many challenges and decisions necessary to be an effective leader. I have the utmost respect for how The President embodied leadership for all Americans.

History and Politics

I loved President Obama. When he was president, I felt like I could relax because the country was in the hands of an intelligent, thoughtful man with integrity. This book is 27 hours. I thought I would get bored but I never did. He covers his presidency and describes how he made his decisions, what was going on in the world, and how his decisions impacted the United States. It made me remember how it was when we had a president who made decisions based on careful consideration in his development of a plan of action. Just hearing him narrate his story was relaxing to me as I associated it with his presidency. He described the "tea Party" which came into play during his presidency to fight him at every thing he tried to do for the American people. He also talks about Michelle and made me remember how I would shake my head when he became president. The press seemed to only want to know what she was wearing and how she looked in it. Michelle was truly beautiful but so intelligent as well. It made me sad that she was treated like a show piece instead of someone who could truly make a difference if allowed to do so. I do appreciate Michelle's sacrifice to us in allowing Barack to became our president for 8 years. She is a classy lady. I personally loved this book as much as I loved both of the Obama's. And I am so thankful for them. They really cared about the ordinary person.

Fantastic!

I absolutely loved this book. What struck me was his love and admiration for other people. Obama mentions dozens of people by name who helped him along, did a good job, and especially those who disagreed with him but helped him make his decisions. he reminds us that the Office of the President of the United States is far more than one person.

Wow! Both liberals and conservatives will enjoy this historical beauty!

Let me first start by saying this book is great for both liberals and conservatives. Obama paints such a detailed picture you will no choice but to experience the details of his presidency in high definition. He catalogues times, places, people beautifully. But where he sets himself apart are the small intricate details (what facial expressions people made, or the noise a dignitary makes when sitting down for a meeting). It can only be described as remarkable. Finally, and most importantly he creates a beautiful history of the world he inherited in 2008. Why did the Arab spring come about? Don’t worry, Mr. Obama will take you back 60 years to the origins of the issue and describe how we got to modern day. I dare say even Bill Oreilly would enjoy this histórica work of art!

Exceptional

An amazing memoir, and ones that sheds light on such recent history. definitely worth a read. My one critique is that I feel like too much time was spent covering his life before the presidency, but I realize that this is important to give backstory.

Surprising

Wasn't an Obama fan before, but this book has raised questions. This is a thinking persons book. I not one to read a lot about politics but Its time to start educating myself more. I found his thought process intriguing and his opened mindedness towards others opinions refreshing.