The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
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- ISBN13: 9780307455871
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama’s call for a new kind of politics—a politics that builds upon persons shared understandings that pull us together as Americans. Lucid in his vision of America’s place in the world, refreshingly candid about his family tree life and his time in the Senate, Obama here sets out his political convictions and inspires us to trust in the persistent optimism that has long defined us and that is our best hope going forwards.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 central 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 question Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics–see his responses not more than. –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 tree and my childhood in a much more intimate way. On the additional 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 tree was asleep–from 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outline–certain themes or tales 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 nearly doesn’t 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. Sorry to say, 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 as a replacement for 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 additional people credit–something politicians have a hard time doing sometimes.
The American dream for lower and middle class has been shifted to India.
There is no reclaiming it -Americans need to find something else to do.
Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
I will say right now I did not read this book. Why? I followed the presidential race very closely, and the “man” has nothing to say. One of his best friends tried to blow up the Pentagon, and stomps on the American flag. His preacher is the largest racist in the country. His dad was an alcoholic polygamist. Nobody even knows how many brothers and sisters Obama has. And we are not sure how many wives his father had. No matter, he killed himself in a drunk driving manufacturing accident after he had already been in a previous one, that forced his legs to be removed. Of course we cannot forget how many times he reminded us he was black. He played the race card more than OJ. His Marxist views seem to go unnoticed by the country. But as soon as the largest tax increase in the history of the world gets approved, it will be too late. I could go on, but the loser is not worth my time.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
This book is a travesty! Anyone who really wants to buy and read about the terrorist obama is an anti-anmerican! Since half the country is stupid and gullable and voted for obama, my entire family tree is moving to Canada. Goodbye and see you in 4 years, morons.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
Shouldn’t a name really DO SOMETHING before they write a memoir? Oh, I forgot. He went to Occidental College (Affirmative Action), then Harvard (Affirmative Action) and then ran for President (Affirmative Action). He is the poster child for bigots everywhere who despise white America, no matter what the country gives them. Reflect how mad he would be if he had really had to EARN his way to the top, like the rest of us. We have already read the battle posters. Hopefully, his next book will have something worth reading. Like maybe the truth. Communist. Racist. Completely worthless. And so his book.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
Remember, HE wrote this book, so he can make himself look as excellent as he wants. I reflect he is a classic narcissist, who in both of his books only talks about what he DIDN’T have , which was still a lot more that a lot of the rest of us did have. And before everyone decides he is the answer to everything that is incorrect in this country, keep in mind…he has done nothing but talk so far. Set aside judgement until this time next year.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5