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Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance Paperback – August 10, 2004

by Barack Obama (Author)

1,414 customer reviews

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In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.

Pictured in lefthand photograph on cover: Habiba Akumu Hussein and Barack Obama, Sr. (President Obama's paternal grandmother and his father as a young boy). Pictured in righthand photograph on cover: Stanley Dunham and Ann Dunham (President Obama's maternal grandfather and his mother as a young girl).

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Elected the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, Obama was offered a book contract, but the intellectual journey he planned to recount became instead this poignant, probing memoir of an unusual life. Born in 1961 to a white American woman and a black Kenyan student, Obama was reared in Hawaii by his mother and her parents, his father having left for further study and a return home to Africa. So Obama's not-unhappy youth is nevertheless a lonely voyage to racial identity, tensions in school, struggling with black literature?with one month-long visit when he was 10 from his commanding father. After college, Obama became a community organizer in Chicago. He slowly found place and purpose among folks of similar hue but different memory, winning enough small victories to commit himself to the work?he's now a civil rights lawyer there. Before going to law school, he finally visited Kenya; with his father dead, he still confronted obligation and loss, and found wellsprings of love and attachment. Obama leaves some lingering questions?his mother is virtually absent?but still has written a resonant book. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Obama argues with himself on almost every page of this lively autobiographical conversation. He gets you to agree with him, and then he brings in a counternarrative that seems just as convincing. Son of a white American mother and of a black Kenyan father whom he never knew, Obama grew up mainly in Hawaii. After college, he worked for three years as a community organizer on Chicago's South Side. Then, finally, he went to Kenya, to find the world of his dead father, his "authentic" self. Will the truth set you free, Obama asks? Or will it disappoint? Both, it seems. His search for himself as a black American is rooted in the particulars of his daily life; it also reads like a wry commentary about all of us. He dismisses stereotypes of the "tragic mulatto" and then shows how much we are all caught between messy contradictions and disparate communities. He discovers that Kenya has 400 different tribes, each of them with stereotypes of the others. Obama is candid about racism and poverty and corruption, in Chicago and in Kenya. Yet he does find community and authenticity, not in any romantic cliche{‚}, but with "honest, decent men and women who have attainable ambitions and the determination to see them through." Hazel Rochman --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product details

Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Broadway Books (August 10, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400082773
ISBN-13: 978-1400082773
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1,414 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Specific Demographics > Minority Studies
- #22 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Sociology > Race Relations > Discrimination & Racism
- #26 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > African-American & Black

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1,414

4.1 out of 5 stars

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A memoir that will stand the test of time

ByLamar Johnsonon May 3, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

It's a wonder I haven't read this book before. Since I first heard about it, I knew it would eventually drift my way and I am thankful it has. Barack's story, like so many others, is one of identity, affirmation, and of his profound sense of being present. Through eloquence and a seemingly poetic choice of words, we ride with him on a bumpy train of curiosity, loss, self exploration, personal development, persistence and joy. We visit each home and at each instance he brings it to life wrapping it in context and history and forcing readers to consider its impact on those involved.

As an African American man who has gained some momentum in being authentically me, I appreciate how much of him is also an amalgamation of those closest to him. Thank you Barack for sitting down and taking the time to share your journey with me, it was a worthy venture to explore this chapter in your life. However, as it should be, I'm left wanting more.

0Comment 7 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Genuine autobiography without the politics

ByWill Yanon March 30, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A well-written book with unique insight on the early thinking of our future President. Although it is not a traditional autobiography, it has an even-paced narrative that sounds genuine and non-political. The only downside from my perspective is the lack of closure with his experience as a community organizer in Chicago. It seems that he accomplished a lot in Chicago and he vowed to return after his time in Harvard. But I'm curious to know the progress of Altgeld Gardens. Did he pick up where he left off? Or did he simply moved on because there's not much else he could've done. All in all, it's a very good read.

0Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

I bought this as a gift for my Mother and ...

ByRita Stuarton March 3, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I bought this as a gift for my Mother and everyday since she has received it she has made reference to it. She says she has learned so much about President Obama from this book. I know it is something she is going to read over and over again.

0Comment 5 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Obama was already a very good writer at this early stage

Bymarciaweezon April 28, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Mr. Obama was already a very good writer at this early stage. I can see where - as he says in the new edition's introduction - there are some things he would write differently as an older person. This gave me some important insights into what it was like to straddle many worlds and find his identity. What a brilliant man!

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Interesting and insightful.

ByJoy Millaron August 27, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

a great book about finding yourself by understanding your history - and finding your future by understanding yourself.
The fact that this author then "grew up" to be the president of the United States, makes the story even more compelling.

0Comment 9 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

A MUST READ BOOK.

Bycheryl bondson April 22, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

THIS BOOK WAS ORDERED AS PART OF A COLLECTION THAT I AM DOING OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. I READ HIS OTHER BOOKS AND THEY WERE AWESOME, SO I FIGURED THIS ONE WOULD BE AS WELL. I READ A LITTLE BIT OF IT AND I AM VERY SATISFIED ABOUT MY PURCHASE.

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Fantastic memoir from someone who would become our 44th president.

ByJoseph Thomason July 2, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I wanted to read this over the length of his presidency, but it never happened. It was a great read. Really helped me understand inner city life and the struggles of the black community. I appreciate his honesty and how hard he fought to make people's lives easier. Makes sense why he was such a great president. I was especially moved with how he explained the challenges of being both white and black. Such a great memoir. Fantastic.

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Worth reading

ByPeargirlon April 10, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a really good book. The author did a wonderful job. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has a desire to learn and appreciate President Obama for not just that, but as a man.

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THE MAN THAT USED THE IRS AGAINST THE R'S ON ...

THE MAN THAT USED THE IRS AGAINST THE R'S ON DAY ..

Published 13 hours ago by thomas bradley

one of the best ever. This book reads like a page turning ...

A fascinating book about a phenominal and once in a lifetime kind of leader. Obama's background is so diverse. It is absolutely fascinating.Read more

Published 1 day ago by JR

It was just Okay

I didn't think it was all that. Just a typical memoir. At times it was boring

Published 5 days ago by Begum

Amazing book from an amazing man...

Everything about Barack Obama is remarkable, including his writing and his story. Highly recommend it. Purchased as a Father's Day gift.Read more

Published 21 days ago by Tysen&Susan

I have my own copy and thought it was great.

Mom's Day gift. I have my own copy and thought it was great.

Published 21 days ago by Barbara Gomez

Obama's makeover

Do not read this book as a source of information about the life of Obama. Read Rising Star for that.
Rising Star is a factual account. Dreams is a fictional account.Read more

Published 25 days ago by Joel Hammer

Five Stars

Awesome book

Published 29 days ago by shawn knight

Five Stars

A great historical look on his roots. Very interesting.

Published 1 month ago by IWB I Want Better

Five Stars

Great quality of the book!

Published 1 month ago by Luciana Santos

Very enlightening. I was grateful to see this broad ...

Very enlightening. I was grateful to see this broad picture of our past president. Wish I had read it earlier.

Published 1 month ago by Pat Tomlin

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