Customer Reviews

The American Journey of Barack Obama

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Many times has it has been said, Barack Obama comes from humble roots: an absent father, being raised by his grandparents in Hawaii, excels and acheives all the way to Harvard. His meteoric rise, the result of a supportive extended family, and a fierce intellect, is inspirational enough. Life has taken that story, and told it again, this time, accompanied by some of the most touching and revealing pictures I have seen of Obama yet.

The pictures span his own life, from childhood to the present, and offer a glimpse into the world of this man who might be about 44th president. The pictures of his childhood are absolutely endearing, and show what a diverse world Obama came from. Growing up in Hawaii, he was often the only student with partial African-American heritage in his classes, and he recounts how kids wanted to touch his hair because it was so different. One picture of his grandmother hugging him at his graduation reveals intense love and pride she had; it's one of my favorites just because of the look on her face.

As Barack grows up, the man that we see today starts to take shape; out of college, this gangly community organizer meets his future wife Michelle Obama, and a glimpse into their love and their relationship shows up in the book. I am always particularly touched by any picture of Barack and his girls. They are poignant, fun, and show Obama in the role he probably loves best: dad.

One final photo in a book of trememdous photos really brings Barack to the everyday man: a picture of him with his feet up, and holes in the bottom of the soles of his shoes. I look in my closet, and see most of my shoes with the same problem, and I realize how much like me, like all of us, this man truly is. Life has created a book that anyone, Barack Obama voter or not, would be proud to have on their shelf, in their collection.

LIFE has done an excellent job in capturing Obama's "journey"---from the beginning to present! The book is an excellent combination of text and pictures. In addition to summarizing his successful political life, the book also gives a realistic and well-rounded view of Senator Barack Obama's life as a man, husband and father. This book is unbelievable and would make a great gift for family and friends OR for yourself!

As one would expect with a LIFE publication, this coffee table book contains many excellent photographs of its subject. It was published after Obama won the Democratic nomination, but before the election results were known. We see Barack Obama in his youth; in Hawaii; at Harvard; with his family, immediate and extended, in the U.S. and in Kenya; at work and at play. The text gives us background biographical details about his life and complicated family history. It is certainly not an in-depth look at the politician or the man, but was a comfortable, pleasing read for the eve of his inauguration as the 44th President of the United States. It has the feel of a souvenir. The best part of the text are several essays on specific topics---race, faith, the world's view of Obama---by well-known writers including Gay Talese, Bob Greene, Nancy Gibbs, and my personal favorite, Andrei Codrescu who discusses immigration from his own unique perspective . Some of the photos are spoiled, in my opinion, by being spread over two pages. I would rather have had them reproduced on a single page to avoid that spinal crease through the center.

I've long been a fan of the Time/Life glossy pictorial hardcovers (e.g., the Time Annual Year in Review and Life Album: Pictures of the Year series), so when Life's THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF BARACK OBAMA became available through Library Thing's Early Reviewer program, I jumped at the chance to review a copy. Though I'm not an Obama voter - I supported Kucinch in the primaries, McKinney/Clemente in the general election - I found myself moved by the historic nature of his campaign (and victory) nonetheless. In particular, the photos and speeches which came out of the 2008 campaign cycle have proven poignant and inspirational; considering previous Life volumes, I hoped that this book might capture some of the more memorable campaign moments.

Since THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF BARACK OBAMA is largely a work of photojournalism, let's start with the photographs. TAJOBO is a gorgeous, colorful book, filled to the brim with photos: Obama/Dunham and, later, Obama/Robinson family snapshots; photos of Barack Obama during his college years; pictures taken throughout Obama's political career; candid shots of Barack and Michelle with children Sasha and Malia; and, of course, a number of photos from the campaign trail, including a few stills of the Obamas working the daytime talk show circuit. If you followed the 2008 elections, no doubt you'll recognize some of the more iconic photographs, such as the one of Obama, leaning back in an office chair, with a phone nestled snugly between ear and shoulder, feet propped up on a desk - showing two very beaten, worn soles.

Sadly, Life only includes a few photos of Obama's supporters, taken during his speeches and rallies; of the shots they do include, most are of the stadium-sized crowds, rather than of individual supporters. For me, these have been some of the most moving and emotional images from the campaign trail: seeing African American children and adults interact with Obama and react to his speeches. It's a shame that Life didn't feature more of these photographs.

In regards to the biographical text of TAJOBO, the book is primarily divided into five sections: Roots, Boyhood, A Young Man on the Rise, Chicago and Washington. The biographical section is largely laudatory, as you might expect; after all, one purchases Life pictorials for the photos - the hard hitting journalism, not so much.

The final section, Aspects of Obama, features twelve essays from "fine thinkers" (while I probably take in more CSPAN than your average American, none of the names ring a bell), with the goal of examining how Obama is viewed "by the black man and the white, the cultural anthropologist and the historian, the northerner and the southerner, the immigrant and the foreigner, the woman who suffered when Hillary got beat." While this section practically begs for an essay critical of Obama - just one, mind you! - the editors at Life wouldn't hear of it. Likewise, the specter of racism is discussed in depth, as it should be - as I noted above, this was a historic election cycle. However, 2008 was notable not just because it saw the first African American presidential candidate on a major party ticket - but because he was competing against the first viable female candidate in the Democratic primaries. Just as race(ism) was at the forefront in 2008, so too was sex(ism) - but the misogyny directed at Hillary Clinton and her supporters (and later, Sarah Palin and her supporters), is barely given a nod. But again, I expected as much when I requested the book from LT; a masterpiece of political journalism, TAJOBO is not.

To be fair, THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF BARACK OBAMA doesn't claim to be a comprehensive biography or exhaustive journalistic endeavor. Rather, it's a pretty book, meant to commemorate the first African American President of the United States. (I somewhat doubt that Life would have released THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF JOHN MCCAIN, had Obama lost the election, you know?) In this, the editors at Life largely succeed; and yet, because Obama's American journey is also a journey shared by the many people of color who supported Obama, campaigned on his behalf, braved harsh weather and crushing throngs in order to hear him speak, and celebrated with him when he won the election, I can't help but feel as though more of the photos in this (photo)essay could have - should have - been dedicated to them: "Yes WE Can."

The marvellous depiction by the editors of the LIFE Magazine on Barack Obama's life's sojourn leading to his assuming US Presidency is another example of America's cutural and social richness where family or social background hardly matters. Anybody having true worth and imagination can make it big in that promised land. Truly, Obama's life vindicates the de facto American motto E Pluribus Unum.

The American Journey of Barack Obama is the most appropriate title picked by by the LIFE Editors. The rich reserves of photographs in this book is the icing on the cake for the readers.

So far so good. But it's only half completed journey. The real test of Obama would be in his ability to lift the United States out of its current impasse and steer the bald eagle to its intended course as envisaged by the Founding Fathers. Obama's optimism as expressed in his best selling books might prove to be a plus point in this respect.

Gautam Maitra
Author of 'Tracing the Eagle's Orbit: Illuminating Insights into Major US Foreign Policies Since Independence'.

Perfect for : Personal reading, Gift book, Great coffee table/office book

This is an absolutely beautiful book. The pictures are wonderfully candid and bright, and the information contained within the book gives us some wonderful information on the life of our soon-to-be 44th President of the United States. With an inspirational foreword by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the book starts by allowing readers to see Obama's family tree, showing an impressive seven half-brothers and half-sisters! We then get to see photos (and read information) of his family, his childhood, his school years, and his early career and his entry into politics. As readers, we also get the opportunity to see him as a boy, a man, a teacher, a husband, a father, a politician, etc. This is a wonderful look at a fascinating life. There is no doubt that readers will learn a lot about our 44th President, and they will get to see the many sides of Barack Obama!

My Review:
This is a beautiful book, which contains a multitude of pictures and facts about the 44th President of the United States. It was a joy to leaf through the pages of the book, pausing to read the captions of the pictures, or the information contained on the pages. Regardless of your political views, this is an interesting book, which I certainly recommend!

Characters: As a non-fiction book, the "characters" are Barack Obama and his family. We get to have a candid look at his life growing up, and as an adult. We also get to learn tidbits of the rest of his family, making his story that much more interesting.

Story-Line: This is the story of Barack Obama's life. It is amazing in that his father is from Kenya, and he has had to work hard to achieve his accomplishments.

Readability: The information in the book is easy to read, and broken up into a great time-line with lots of pictures. The pictures within the book are amazing, and fun to look through.

Overall: I highly recommend this book. It is a beautiful representation of an amazing life. Regardless of your political views, this is a wonderful way to gain some insight into the life of the 44th President of the United States. I particularly loved the photographs of him with his wife and/or girls. He seems to be a wonderful family man. This book would be a great addition to a personal book collection, as well as a professional/business collection (why not put a copy in your office or lobby?).

Barack Obama has attained something I never thought an African American could achieve - President-Elect of the United States. Don't get me wrong, I've always dreamed it could happen but never actually thought I would see it in my lifetime. But I'm sure glad I did. This book documents his journey from birth to just weeks before the election. The photographs are priceless - some never seen before, many candid family shots, and all capture the essence of the charismatic President to be.

The photos and clearly worded sidebars speak to his family tree, growing up, college years, community building in Chicago, life in Washington, various views on how society see him and ending with the hope of how his journey will continue. The pictures will give you a glimpse into the fundamental nature of who and what he stands for and how he will continue to unite a country divided. However, the book does raise some serious issues: about the cultural challenges he faces, how other countries view him, religious aspects, and much more.

This is not only a pictorial history but also a compilation of essays that fully describes every aspect of Barack Obama. The easy to read format, inspirational photos and peek into his family life will help readers gain insight into the background of the 44th President of the United States. THE AMERICAN JOURNEY OF BARACK OBAMA is an awe-inspiring collectors item for your personal library, coffee table book for any office, school, and home.

Deltareviewer
Reviewing for Real Page Turners

First of all let me just say that I rate books based on what they are. If I were rating this book as a comprehensive biography, it would do poorly. But, since it is a picture biography, it rated well. The pictures and layout are very well done. The text is interspersed with the pictures expertly.

Barak Obama's life story - starting with a brief introduction of the life of his parents - is told in a spare, and yet comprehensive manner. I felt that the writing was very bi-partisan, and the forces that shaped him, and what he chose to do with those influences, were the focus of the book.

I would recommend this book to anyonewho dosen't know much about our -soon to be - president; regardless of political persuasion. We all should know a little something about our commander in chief. I knew very little, and even if I do not agree with all of his politics, can't help but admire the man. And for those of you who do know about Obama, this is a very beautiful book to collect.

"The American Journey of Barack Obama" is excellent and relevant! It detailed some of the controversial things in his campaign and destroyed a lot of myths before they got started...like how he entered politics, his role as editor/reviewer of the "Harvard Law Review" and a general tenacity to be the best of multiple worlds without insulting others. "The American Journey of Barack Obama" is highly recommended, definitely deserving of 5 stars and greater because it was published before the election. This book has universal appeal to inform!

Reviewed by: Gail

This book is what you would expect from Life books! There are photographs of just about every stage of Obama's life. As a young boy, teenager, and as an adult. There are photos of him with each of his parents and grandmother and many of him with his beautiful family. There is even a photo of Barack and Bono together, sigh. The photography is exquisite!

The book takes us through Barack's career all the way through to the August 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver.

If you want a memento of our 44th president elect's life and achievements so far, this is a book for you. It is going on my coffee table, where everyone can see it. It's a treasure!