The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

My husband loved it. It was a great birthday present.

This line appears at the end of Chapter Two, namely Values, within the 2nd book written by Barack Obama, entitled The Audacity of Hope – Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream - published in 2006 & just 2 years before he became the 44th President of the United States.A thoroughly balanced book about a wide-range of considerations on the subject of a quest for empathy, yet with a political premise; however a comprehensive & insightful narrative about a respective proposition for a better America. In-part a memoir, certainly from the perspective of a concerned citizen & also state senator from Illinois (at the time), with so many things considered & conscientiously surmised by an analytical mindset & intelligent member of society who I wouldn’t mind being chosen to play on his team.Altogether, a courageous overview of thought-provoking topics & while there are so many diverse subjects literally on-the-table for discussion, which need our immediate attention & that a lesser man like myself perhaps would be somewhat afraid to broach abruptly at the dinner table, with propitious fear that somebody would surely start a food fight, just to antagonize me because I might not be able to present all the facts & figures, as well as the author has done. But only because I might not be as practiced & diplomatic as the author, not to mention wise, yet I can state for a fact, since I’ve read his 2nd book & liked it very much, which gives me some credence to confidently pay my respect to whichever problematic situation, by being outspoken in a preemptory manner, to take some sort of action; in effect, either before or after the dessert is served. But something has to be said, at some point & better late than never, if for no other reason than to start a conversation about our apparent lack of systematic & empathetic concern.I would venture to say that the book is a courageous attempt to help resolve the problems that plague, not only our nation, but the whole world, on some diplomatic level. A tempered approach, in spite of the fact that it took me 10 years to ultimately decide to read it, for whatever indefensible tardy reason.I think The Audacity of Hope should be a supplementary textbook in secondary schools, colleges & universities, to encourage students to participate in the world around them & far beyond the familiar & secure neighborhood they’ve grown accustomed to & thereby somewhat numb to the aches & pains across the street or around the corner & out of sight & out of mind; as I would likewise encourage both academia & the general population to pick a problem, voice an opinion, consider the alternatives & make an effort to remedy the situation in a peaceful manner, as articulated by the President recently, in a supportive speech at the 2016 Democratic Convention - ‘Don’t Boo – Vote!'I will admit that it took a major effort for me to study this book & focus on the subject matter because there is no familiar fairy-tale or thoughtless story-line to follow, like those attention-getting action-figures or gratuitous & repetitious violent scenarios and/or sexual misconduct, like in a big-budget, blockbuster summer movie – yet not inside this necessary nonfiction tome & tale of a redemptive challenge.While the act of reading became a test for me to have to want to pay attention to something that was easier left-alone until later, or to let someone else deal with the messy cleanup. Obviously, I couldn’t or didn’t want to think as deliberately as Mr. Obama encouraged me to concentrate on the details of so many diverse headlines. Thus, my initial selfish reason not to read it sooner.But I persevered because I had a goal of sorts in mind, since I had recently read Mr. Obama’s excellent 1st book aka Memoir. Also, I needed to justify & substantiate my ambiguous desire to write The White House suddenly & specifically Mr. Obama – with a letter of gratitude, at a time in my life that I felt it necessary to voice an opinion, moreover some sophomoric concern about my fearful state-of-mind with the world at-large. As I needed to tell somebody whom I admired & was currently in-charge of something more than I felt I could do about anything, in this day & age when murder & mayhem seem to be the rule rather than the exception.And so I read Mr. Obama’s 1st book, Dreams From My Father – A Story of Race & Inheritance & I wrote my multi-page letter of support to The White House & fond farewell (also simultaneous birthday wishes on his 55th B-day) to President Obama & now I’ve finished his 2nd book & subsequently expressed my overall thoughts about both good books in book reviews, arbitrarily posted online. Altogether I feel a better person for having done so, or done something about my muddled emotional state on the contemporary condition of the world at-large – and by doing so, made some sort of an in-kind effort, I believe, to help me take a more courageous & stronger second step.So do yourself a favor & force your stubborn self to read this book, before you make unfounded accusations about the alleged state of whatever. Be unafraid nor overwhelmed by the sheer size of so many miscellaneous problems & try to be sympathetic & balanced in your selection from the sizeable & chaotic condition; much like I think the message of this book attempts to give to anyone willing to open the cover & start with the Prologue & then judiciously turn the page to read each chapter however slowly & deliberately, then the Epilogue, which is another insightful story by itself.And after all is read & said, I especially like the heartfelt & intuitive line about age, which undoubtedly includes anyone’s peculiar experience, moreover as an emotive tool to use on your trip through the rest of your life, as viewed through the windshield of your contemporary situation, together with another psychologically similar device like a rear-view mirror, in order to see the road behind & from a more knowledgeable perspective about what might show up on the road ahead, despite the mechanical condition of whatever kind of car you choose to drive, in effect -‘ “In fact that’s one of the advantages of old age...that you’ve finally learned what matters to you. ... And the problem is that nobody else can answer that question for you. You can only figure it out on your own.” ’ – sage advice from an old friend (of a younger POTUS).And back to the Prologue in a sentence worth remembering for future conversations about the state of whatever, but certainly not from a selfish, single-minded POV –‘...a tradition based on the simple idea that we have a stake in one another, and that what binds us together is greater than what drives us apart, and that if enough people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not solve every problem but we can get something meaningful done.’And while the premise might seem political, at first glance; the more important line, although philosophical in tone, but imperative by expression, might be this honest assessment of the author’s subjective agenda –‘I offer no unifying theory of American government...’ (rather) ‘...personal reflections on those values and ideals that have led me to public life...and my own best assessment - ...of the ways we can ground our politics in the notion of a common good.’At this point, I might raise my hand & attempt to say above a whisper; “well, I’m concerned about ‘clean air and clean water’ as mentioned on page 7”. So I think I’ll start somehow & somewhere hopefully sooner-than-later with those two environmental proposals & see where they take me. But I’m probably going to need some help. Anyone out there care to give some support?!‘That’s the topic of this book: how we might begin the process of changing our politics and our civic life.’Review by Jack Dunsmoor, author of the book OK2BG

first, let me share where i come from. while i feel some fiscal conservative bias, i am socially very liberal. i have visited senator obama's web site for presidency. i read this book already "sold" on the man, to some extent, but i wanted or needed to explore more of who he is and what makes him tick. those 15 second sound bites or even the 15 minute speeches haven't been enough ...obama writes this book in a first person narrative. he writes extremely well, appropriate for a man once [was it] editor of harvard's law review, both grammatically but also in a style that pulls the reader in. you feel like you're sitting on your sofa talking with him. while he sometimes goes on tangents explaining the background of a point, sometimes consuming a page or so for background, by the time you're brought back, you feel fully prepared and invested in the original point.obama introduces himself to the public. i can see in his writing, as in some of his speeches, that he is extremely particular and diplomatic in selecting diction, for whatever reason. while he does not lay out a timeline of his life nor does he address some of his strengths and weaknesses addressed in other media more fully, you obtain an excellent sampling of obama's experiences to feel that you understand his judgment, his skills, his knowledge.obama also writes about several things that seem to be of importance to much of the american public today. he lays out historical and current factors affecting his faith. having studied international relations at columbia university, he proffers insights into america's squandering of its support from key foreign allies, into some of the challenges that america faces in the coming decades, and he tenders possible avenues for addressing those opportunities.you know, by the end of the book, i was feeling, quite strongly, hopeful. i felt as though the challenges that we are now facing, with two wars - one of which was based on misleading information to the congress and the american public, a failed energy policy resulting in record high gasoline prices, domestic terrorism and prevention, deteriorating infrastructure, misguided economic investments and objectives resulting in record deficits or cascading housing market and value of the dollar, job losses and replacement of good paying jobs with lower paid jobs, immigration issues, healthcare uninsured and costs and quality, medicare and social security and economic implosion, threats to our civil liberties, all children left behind, ... there's lots of things facing our country today that we didn't even have names for 2 decades ago ... obama describes some of what he has done, drafting bills, reviewing legislation, voting up or down or proposed legislation, investigating issues, listening to voters, seeking counsel of experts, crafting of bipartisan legislation, and using sound judgment and emotional processes. by the end of the book, i really see much of his skills and potential.one of the gifts that ronald reagan brought to this country, obama argues, was hope to a nation that had been stuck in [a purple funk] since watergate just a few years earlier [1973]. you see that, today, as in 1980, the american public feels fear, feels desperation, and is grasping for hope. obama offers the reader hope in this book.266-ish pages is decent size to get to know the man a bit better. i've devoured all six volumes of churchill's masterpiece, so, i hope that this book is just the beginning and i can learn more of obama and the challenges he faces and overcomes. i look forward to seeing and reading more of this fine gentleman in years to come.

An intelligent, thoughtful, measured book setting out Obamas political take in his country as well as some personal background. My impression was that he comes across as genuine and sincere despite knowing that this book was written in mind of winning over voters. At times Obama displays a cautious pragmatic side to himself, I felt this came more dominant later on in his presidency. The book is nicely set out but also has a lucid style so many themes flow together. He offers a critique of the current (as of 2008) political situation in the US and criticizes both the Right and sometimes the Left for the faults he thinks they have. Obama explains quite well the federal nature of the US government and how the senate and the high courts can block measures that the president wishes to put through. On the foundation of the US he doesn't really have an answer as to how such a fine declaration of liberty and human rights co-existed with slavery, I felt he sounded rather weak and unconvincing in this part.There's an interesting chapter on Politics, Obama writes about the town hall meetings he attends and the ordinary concerns that people often raise. He addresses the challenges that the media present and how important name recognition becomes when running for office. Funding is a well known problem in US politics, Obama sees nothing wrong with accepting donations from interest groups but not wealthy hedge fund mangers. He also talks about the cliff, the gulf that a Politian has to fall when they fail, most of us can hide our misfortunes but politicians have to live it all out in the open, no wonder they become cautious and hesitant Obama thinks.The next part of the book is about Opportunity, Obama visits Google and is surprised to find nearly all it's interims are Asian or Jewish, where are the blacks and Latinos Americans Obama wonders, the rep from Google says that in order to stay competitive they can only take the very best graduates. The book suggests improvements to policy to help narrow inequality, better schools, more investment in science, research and development. Obama decries the tax breaks given to the rich under Bush and sets out a vision for a more equal society.Faith is the next topic in the discussion, Obama believes in pluralism and the separation of Church and State. He also believes that abortion should be legal under any circumstance and he is weary of Christian fundamentalism and Intelligent Design. Despite this Obama does say he believes in God, but that the Bible is not a blueprint for State politics. He notes that democrats in the past have been to cautious about embracing religious movements though and feels that the black church has served as an instrument for social justice over the years. He also appeals for calm and respect to be shown on both sides on the debate and that each side recognise the others are not as bigoted as they often suppose.Race is next covered. Obama vows to finish the work of the civil rights movement and end discrimation. He believes sincerely though that the country is not as divided as many suppose and that there is much good will among people. Obama warns against a rising tide of xenophobia directed towards immigrants in the US and calls for fairer pay to make sure US workers are not being undercut. Many pages are spent addressing parts of Chicago which have been effectively 'lost.' The area has a high % of African Americas, the drop out rate from school is worryingly high, as is the crime rate, drug use and teenage pregnancy, joblessness is a major concern. Obama tells us that he is cautious about simply throwing money at the problem, he tells us that the majority of honest hardworking black families are just as fed up with the situation as the rest of the US, more so in fact, because they often have to live in these crime ridden communities. Still Obama thinks there are a few steps which ought to be taken by the government, such as ensuring that teenagers finish high school and also expanding programmes which have a proven record of reducing teen pregnancies.The part on world affairs is a little rambling, I didn't think Obama was at his best here. It was more a description of what has happened rather than what he will do.

Naturally he is writing about the American political scene, but his sage and insightful prose applies universally. It has been poignant reading so many years after it was first written, for he could not have known at the time that he would become President. .. maybe the last President who tried hard to be honest. Donald Trump's gargantuan effort to wipe out Obama's legacy just makes me so sad for America.... and I am not left wing. It is beautifully written and I am about to read it a second time in order to linger on his wisdom. Incidentally I was led to his two books after reading his wife's excellent autobiography.

The book, written when Obama was a US Senator, is an early draft of the political views that later came to shape his presidency. A constitutional lawyer and politician, the author vividly and with his characteristic, often self-deprecating, humour, describes the inner workings of US law and politics. His main message is that Americans are not as divided as headlines would suggest, and that the nation can rally around a centrist approach to government and legislation. At the same time his warnings about strategies of division sound uncannily relevant today.

Many have written long in depth reviews of this book and when it comes down to books i try to keep it short and to the point, firstly i won't spoil the book for anyone but hopefully i can help explain the direction of this book so as you can work out whether or not it's for you.Firstly it's well written and essentially tells the story of Barack Obama, he talks about his family both (close and distant), his views on things and politics in general. It was enjoyable to read and by the end you do understand the man more intellectually and how he thinks about things... Many people wishing to understand now President Obama should read this and it gives a good background to his life. There is one downside of the book in my view, Obama frequently talks about the problems America faces and has faced and indeed the world but never mentions any proper solutions to them so he kind of keeps you thinking "what would you do?"PROS: It's well written and full of info you probably didn't knowCONS: leaves the door open on too many issues for my liking!VERDICT: I'm a keen follower of politics, so buying this was a must, it's a good read and full of info, much that probably wasn't known or at least pushed by the international media at the time of his election to the presidency.RECOMMENDED READ!

Barack Obama's honest and moving 'Dreams From My Father' fired my enthusiasm to read 'The Audacity of Hope' and discover more of this unique American President's ideas for a better America and a better world. I wanted to learn about American politics, how they work and how Mr. Obama and America's government might affect the rest of the world.I was far more than satisfied with the book. 'The Audacity of Hope' usefully and importantly clarifies American political history and policy before giving reasoned, practical policies to reclaim not only the American dream but self-respect and a very possible way for individuals as well as governments to work for a better world. I am energised and inspired by this book, copies of which I have already begin to buy (via Amazon) for birthday and Christmas gifts for friends, neighbours and family, together with 'Dreams From My Father.'