They exploded on the national political scene in 2004 and within four short years captured the ultimate political prize. By the time they claimed the White House in one of the most hotly-contested presidential races in modern history, Barack and Michelle Obama were seen by millions around the world as the new Jack and Jackie Kennedy—brilliant, attractive, elegant, youthful, exciting. Accompanied by their two young daughters Malia and Sasha, the Obamas would arrive at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with the promise of a new Camelot all but assured. Given the obvious historic significance of what they accomplished together, the marriage of Barack and Michelle stands as one of the great personal and political partnerships in American history. Yet, incredibly, the true nature of that relationship remains a mystery. Until now. In the style of his #1 New York Times bestsellers The Day Diana Died and The Day John Died, as well as his bestselling books about the Kennedys, the Clintons and the Bushes, author Christopher Andersen draws on important sources—some speaking for the first time—to paint the first complete, compelling portrait of America’s first black First Family.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Barack and Michelle
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage is an intimate and ultimately riveting look at their unique relationship, and the humor, faith, fortitude, and grace that define it. It is, above all, a uniquely American love story. Given the obvious historic significance of what they accomplished together, the marriage of Barack and Michelle stands as one of the great personal and political partnerships in American history.
Yet, incredibly, the true nature of the marriage remains a mystery. And now, for the first time, Christopher Andersen draws on important sources—some speaking here for the first time—to paint the first complete, compelling portrait of America's first black First Family.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.About the Author
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSEN is the critically-acclaimed author of twenty-eight books that have been translated into more than twenty languages worldwide. A former contributing editor of Time and senior editor of People Magazine, Andersen has also written hundreds of articles for a wide range of publications, including Life Magazine, the New York Times, and Vanity Fair.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book seemed so promising. It was supposed to be a more intimate look at the Obamas' marriage. However, it is basically a rehash of what was already reported in newspapers, magazines, or culled from interviews and other public comments. It doesn't seem to really focus on the marriage so much as it retells Barack's journey to the White House. I didn't get the behind-the-scenes details the book promised. Several of the Michelle/Barack quotes inserted in the text as if the author interviewed them himself are actually quotes from network evening news interviews that I even remember watching. I think the author also rehashed bits from Barack's Dreams from My Father. There are a few tiny details that I didn't know about - his roommate in NYC and his impressions. That's about it. Everything else is pretty old news. Overall, this books offers very little insight into the Obama marriage and partnership.
17 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Dahlia2002
Format:Hardcover
The book's quotations are almost all from articles written about the Obamas during the campaign, from Obama's own book, or from David Mendell's bio of Obama. Christopher Andersen's "research" consisted of pulling together work that others did to make a quick buck off of the public's interest in the Obamas. In addition, there are numerous errors throughout the book including getting addresses, dates, etc. You'll get a better sense of the Obama marriage by reading David Mendell's book (see, there's an author who actually conducted his own interviews), or any of the freely available profiles written about the Obamas.
21 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Me
Format:Hardcover
I was looking forward to reading this, thinking the author might come up with some unique insight into the Obama marriage. I was aware that the Obamas and their close friends would probably not cooperate with such a book, and I was also aware that Christopher Andersen is a bit of a hackish celebrity biographer, but I still had hopes that he might do some actual investigative work and come up with some new interviews and sources of information.
I was wrong. If you've read magazine articles about the Obamas (or Obama's own 2 books), you've already read all the information about their marriage contained in this book. But that's not the worst part. The worst part is that Andersen makes blanket assertions that are not attributed to any named source or backed up by any discernible proof. (There are also no end-notes in the book that would indicate who was interviewed and what the sources for particular assertions are. Such end-notes are customary for any biography that wants to be taken seriously).
For instance, he makes the blanket assertion that Obama was in church the day the Rev. Wright made his "God D*** America" sermon. If you followed the 2008 campaign at all, you know that this was actually a very big topic of discussion. Obama says he was not in attendance during that controversial sermon. Hundreds of reporters could not find ANY proof that he was. Neither the Clinton or McCain campaigns, who would have dearly loved to find such proof, could find ANY indication that he was. In fact, the Obama campaign released proof of his official schedule for that day that showed he was actually in Florida on the day in question. Yet here comes Christopher Andersen in his book saying definitively that Obama attended that sermon. That's a pretty bold assertion. He's saying Obama lied. He's saying he found something no other reporter could find in a year of investigation. He should be proud of his "scoop" and tell us how he got this information. Who's his source?... Answer: there is no source. Andersen just makes the assertion, with NO named source or proof for it.
This brazen act of making stunning assertions with NO named sources is repeated throughout the book. He makes the stunning claim that former Weatherman Bill Ayers helped Obama write his first book. What? Who's the source for this? Again, there is none. Repeat, there is NO NAMED SOURCE for this or any other of these assertions. (I remember this bizarre allegation making the rounds of the right-wing blogosphere last year, again without any proof. Andersen simply repeats the fevered imaginings of certain websites here as if they are established fact. He adds no sources or proof of his own. He seems to have just collected any rumors or slanders that bounced around the internet last year and put them in his book as both filler and as a way to attract readers from both sides of the political aisle).
It inspires no confidence in any careful reader that the rest of the book is remotely truthful. It also doesn't help that there are numerous silly errors throughout the book, such as random misspellings of Barack's name as "Barrack" and CBS 60 Minutes reporter Steve Kroft is referred to repeatedly as "Steve Croft".
Pure and simple, this book is a cut-and-paste job combined with unsourced mudslinging. Avoid this travesty and wait for a real reporter to write a book about the Obamas.
I was wrong. If you've read magazine articles about the Obamas (or Obama's own 2 books), you've already read all the information about their marriage contained in this book. But that's not the worst part. The worst part is that Andersen makes blanket assertions that are not attributed to any named source or backed up by any discernible proof. (There are also no end-notes in the book that would indicate who was interviewed and what the sources for particular assertions are. Such end-notes are customary for any biography that wants to be taken seriously).
For instance, he makes the blanket assertion that Obama was in church the day the Rev. Wright made his "God D*** America" sermon. If you followed the 2008 campaign at all, you know that this was actually a very big topic of discussion. Obama says he was not in attendance during that controversial sermon. Hundreds of reporters could not find ANY proof that he was. Neither the Clinton or McCain campaigns, who would have dearly loved to find such proof, could find ANY indication that he was. In fact, the Obama campaign released proof of his official schedule for that day that showed he was actually in Florida on the day in question. Yet here comes Christopher Andersen in his book saying definitively that Obama attended that sermon. That's a pretty bold assertion. He's saying Obama lied. He's saying he found something no other reporter could find in a year of investigation. He should be proud of his "scoop" and tell us how he got this information. Who's his source?... Answer: there is no source. Andersen just makes the assertion, with NO named source or proof for it.
This brazen act of making stunning assertions with NO named sources is repeated throughout the book. He makes the stunning claim that former Weatherman Bill Ayers helped Obama write his first book. What? Who's the source for this? Again, there is none. Repeat, there is NO NAMED SOURCE for this or any other of these assertions. (I remember this bizarre allegation making the rounds of the right-wing blogosphere last year, again without any proof. Andersen simply repeats the fevered imaginings of certain websites here as if they are established fact. He adds no sources or proof of his own. He seems to have just collected any rumors or slanders that bounced around the internet last year and put them in his book as both filler and as a way to attract readers from both sides of the political aisle).
It inspires no confidence in any careful reader that the rest of the book is remotely truthful. It also doesn't help that there are numerous silly errors throughout the book, such as random misspellings of Barack's name as "Barrack" and CBS 60 Minutes reporter Steve Kroft is referred to repeatedly as "Steve Croft".
Pure and simple, this book is a cut-and-paste job combined with unsourced mudslinging. Avoid this travesty and wait for a real reporter to write a book about the Obamas.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
More Informative than Enjoyable
I learned a lot about the Obama's from this book. A lot of it I had already learned from the media and things like that. Some of it was new. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Threein3
1.0 out of 5 stars
I returned this book.
After reading a few pages, I returned this book. I thought it was an unflattering look at the President and Mrs. Obama. Read more
Published 14 months ago by R. YOUNG
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
I'm not a Fan of Barack but this book was a good read and seemed to be one of the more HONEST things about him.
Published on February 4, 2010 by Michelle L. Hormann
5.0 out of 5 stars
Informative and interesting
This book takes a look at what events and people have shaped both Barack and Michelle in who they are. Read more
Published on January 12, 2010 by LG
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, quick read
I did find out new information about the Obama's in this book. I feel it gives the readers insight on their lives before marriage, during the early years and through the campaign. Read more
Published on December 27, 2009 by S. Humphrey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much more than I knew
I've just finished immersing myself in Christopher Andersen's terrific new book "Barack and Michelle Portrait of an American Marriage. Read more
Published on October 11, 2009 by Polly
1.0 out of 5 stars
Avoid this drivel
Christopher Andersen's book is nothing but a bunch of sloppily pasted together clips from previous books and articles, supplemented by internet rumors and dubious National Enquirer... Read more
Published on October 2, 2009 by Linda M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love the Obamas, loved the book!
Andersen has a way of fitting tons of information into a very readable biography. Like millions of Americans (and millions more world-wide), I love the Obamas, and I was really... Read more
Published on October 2, 2009 by Shopkeeper
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't miss with this one
I've followed Andersen's career through best-sellers such as "The Day Diana Died" and "The Day John Died," and I especially enjoys his couples' profiles. Read more
Published on October 2, 2009 by Joan Mack
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Unbelieveable Life Force
What a splendid read! Most of us have been thrilled by and know the basic facts of the wondrous ascent of our President and First Lady: Barack's and Michelle's heritage, and... Read more
Published on October 1, 2009 by Richard W. Anthony
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