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Product Details
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At the heart of this audiobook is Senator Obama's vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. Underlying his stories about family, friends, members of the Senate, and even the president is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus.
A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and above all a student of history and human nature, Senator Obama has written a book of transforming power.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2,071 of 2,437 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A conservative reviews Senator Obama's latest book ....,
By Dr. Emil "Tom" Shuffhausen (Central Gulf Coast) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Hardcover)
All too often here on Amazon, we review only those books and authors with which we totally agree...or totally disagree...and give little regard to the quality of the actual contents of the book. And then, our fellow Amazon viewers come along and rate our reviews strictly on the basis of their own partisan biases. This is not very helpful.
I set out to read and review Senator Barack Obama's latest book, not because I agree with everything he has to say, but because in some ways, I had respected him because he seemed to be a thoughtful and eloquent American with a compelling story. I give the book 4 stars for style and significance in our culture, but much less for substance. The Senator has a generally warm and inviting style of communicating that portrays himself as an agent of change in American politics. In terms of writing style, THE AUDACITY OF HOPE is a good, though sometimes "preachy" read; at times, it seems a bit too earnest or striving for political correctness. Obama deserves credit for being able to discuss his values and faith in a manner that is more comfortable than many of his political contemporaries. And, in the book, he does a reasonable job of articulating why and how his faith and values cause him to think and act in the way that he does. At times, the reader may wonder if he is too ambitious - or even naive. One can respect his energy and commitment to change, even as one firmly disagrees with his policies and plans. And, I certainly do take issue with some of the Senator's actual policies and worldview that he discusses. His health care plans may sound noble, but they would likely lead to significantly decreased quality and choice for most Americans and soaring taxes and budget deficits...big government at its worst. Furthermore, given the overall poor performance of government in other programs, do you really want government managing your health care? Another issue: while I do believe there is strong evidence to suggest a warming in the earth's climate, Senator Obama and I would disagree on the primary causes and "cures" for this warming. I don't believe that cutting taxes for those who pay taxes (aka "the rich") is unfair; I may go so far as to say that Obama's affinity for radical and government-forced redistribution of wealth reeks of socialism (though it's socialism masked by a warm smile). Another point: I don't believe that a "pro-choice" position offers adequate choice for the unborn child; Obama's rhetoric in the book is moderate, but his voting record on abortion is extreme. Some of his associations are troubling, particularly with some radicals who seem to have shaped a significant portion of his worldview and helped launch his career. I do agree with Senator Obama that America must overcome our addiction to foreign oil, though his opposition to many reasonable remedies is curious. I do agree that more emphasis needs to be placed on strengthening families and upholding traditional values; on reducing teen pregnancy and the root causes of poverty. However, it is difficult to align many of Obama's expressed ideas here with the numerous radical and ridiculous statements of Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright - a man who preached one sermon that inspired the title of this book. Senator Obama's stated efforts to transcend partisanship are laudable, but it would be helpful if he acknowledged that partisanship is not only the province of "right wing Republicans" but also a staple of many of his Democratic brethren. In the meantime, whether one is a "conservative" or a "liberal," there is much to gain in terms of insight into one of the most significant individuals on the American political stage today by reading this book.
60 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Uninspiring,
By Bryce (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage) (Mass Market Paperback)
In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a fan of President Obama's. That being said, I still gave the book a shot. Anyone who is even a casual follower of political campaigns has already heard Obama use most of what is in this book as a part of countless speeches and/or debates. I was hoping that he would provide more scholarly, evidence-based support for some of his political views in this book. He rehashes his views, points out some things that he only assumes to be evidence of why his views are correct (assuming causation with no evidence to establish it as fact), and throws in a few mildly interesting personal stories to keep the reader from falling asleep. Overall, it is a mile wide and an inch deep intellectually speaking. It provides very little new information about the man. It is filled to the brim with generalities, assumed causation, platitudes, and completely devoid of any sort of really gutsy/specific/realistic ideas for effective "change" in Washington DC. This book is fluff, with all do respect to my President.
307 of 410 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
It feels like the pot calling the kettle black (no pun intended),
By Bryan Lemke (St. Johnsbury, Vermont) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Hardcover)
Well written, but it feels like there is nothing new presented about politics. If you are from the left side of the spectrum, you will find yourself nodding in agreement with Senator Obama's views, and if you hail from the right side, you will likely be shaking your head throughout most of the book.
There is a lot of apparent chastisement of political parties in general, but the author specifically cites examples from the republican party. Though I hail from the left, I got frustrated that he would present an argument that would seem like common sense, talk about how we need to centralize our political system, and then rip the republican side apart... doing just the opposite of what he says we need to stop doing! By the end of the book, it felt more like a political stunt to discredit republicans and get ready for the White House than a book about changing the country. Ironically, I felt more sympathy towards republicans than I felt at the beginning of the book. A nice subtitle to the book would have been "The Audacity of Hope: Why the Republican Party Is Supremely Evil and Powerhungry". A little less ripping on the republicans and following his own advice to politicians would have netted 4 or 5 stars.
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