Mr. Obama's second book is truly an exceptional one. He writes with such frankness that it's hard to not see his perspective even if you don't necessarily agree with it. This is a great book if you are curious about the Obama perspective on America and our system.

Unlike his fairly boring first foray into writing (Dreams from my Father) this book is compelling and well written.

This book is a good book and an absolutely enjoyable experience. My issue with this book (why there are 4 instead of 5 stars)is that it doesn't have some of that edge that his other book had. In D.F.M.F. he was able to show us the readers that his life and ascendancy to political prominance was anything but easy. By doing that he gave me personally a feeling that almost anything can be accomplished with enough courage and hard work. This book on the other hand shows how he hasn't forgotten about his constituents but fails to inspire as strongly as his other work. Definately do pick it up, it's still a good read just not great one.

If you want to know more about our next President, this book will give you the insight into his vision for the future, as well as his overview and viewpoints on government. This is a must read for his supporters and foes alike. Anyone that cares about the future of their country should read this book.

Loved the book. Love the man. Love the fact that he's going to be our next President. I'm going to read his other book next!

I often hear folks complain that Obama is all talk and no detail. I had thought that myself and sought some more information. This book provides insight into Obama's thinking on issues from the political process to the economy and from religion to education. It provides the logic behind the ideas he offers from the stump and provides a glimpse into his complex thinking that is tough to get at in today's environment where ideas have to fit into the 12-second sound clips of the evening news. If you are on the fence about Obama or if you just want some more details about this man's thinking, this book is a must read.

We recently did a 4,000+ mile road trip, and this was one of the audiobooks purchased to get us through that trip. My husband was already an Obamaite [what I've come to call those almost-fanatical supporters who believe in Senator Obama resides all hope for the future]. I am definitely less sure of Mr. Obama, wondering about his relative inexperience, and always hearing a little voice in the back of my head saying if it looks too good to be true....you know the rest. Neither one of us had read either of Obama's books.

Mr. Obama's the voice for this audiobook, and it's a pleasant listening experience, unlike some of the other audiobooks we took with us and stopped listening to before the end of the first cd.

It does give you what seems to be a fairly honest look into Mr. Obama's life, letting you know his basic philosphy, beliefs, hopes. Just as you begin to enter the eyes glazed over, too boring, too much grand political view, up pops a personal anecdote that's interesting.

As an audiobook, we both give it two thumbs up. It's easy to listen to, keeps your interest throughout and, perhaps more importantly, gives some insight into the man who may be our next president.

This is an important book. It has become my new favorite on America.In Audacity of Hope, Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, Barack writes eloquently on our history, the issues we all face now in this time of crisis, his personal beliefs(He is a Christian.), and his love of family and country. Here is a man with the unique ability to take us beyond the distractions and surface problems of party ideologues. He provides the solution to "this campaign culture that has metastisized throughout the body politic". There are great insights into the personality of Barack Obama as well. I cannot imagine any voter not voting for Barack after reading the man's own views on this great country. Barack Obama is not merely an intelligent man- He is brilliant. His depth of knowledge, experience as a politician and constitutional scholar and ability to problem solve exceed that of the sum of his competetitors exponentially.

book was in excellent condition and was received in short time. the book, itself, was easy, informative, and enjoyable reading.

I liked his candor about his hope. You can do anything you want and we have to keep hope alive!

I tried and I tried and I tried to read this book. Now that he is the presumptive Democratic Party candidate for the U.S. President, I thought it was time I read something about him. This book didn't tell me anything.He is the champion of writing super long run-on sentences. You get done reading one and you have no idea what he just said. Some sentences take up an entire paragraph! He tries to dumb down the use of big words but it is just the sentence structure that made the book totally unreadable for me. He brings up some interesting questions about our culture in general, about the two party political system, about religion, etc. but he makes no attempt at providing any answers. Now obviously this book was written before he got into any Presidential campaign, but if he was asking these questions back then, why did'nt he provide any solutions in his primary platform? One has to wonder if this guy is all talk and no action??? FOr our country's sake, I hope not.

NObama! This man will set race relations back 30-40 years. Let's not turn the United States of America into a Marxist Obamanation.

In "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream," Senator Barack Obama offers a message of hope to the cynics that would claim that our country is hopelessly divided and politics has devolved into a power game of little interest to ordinary Americans. Senator Obama believes there are, in fact, ordinary Americans out there that do care about our country, are engaged in politics, and can manage to find common ground with neighbors and friends whose politics or values they may disagree with. I admit, I do not share Senator Obama's optimism. I am one of those cynics who believes Americans are divided, politics is a game, and it is best to simply avoid people whose politics I don't agree with. While I may not paint my face blue or red on Election Night, I do keep track of the score, and I don't care if my side engages in cheap shots or late hits to win; I just hope they do win, even if I remain skeptical that they can actually make a difference. In his book, Senator Obama tries to convince readers like me that there is, in fact, a "new kind of politics" that we can engage in to build upon the "shared understandings that pull us together as Americans."

While Senator Obama discusses a "new kind of politics," the most interesting part of his book discusses politics, as it exists today, from his perch in the Senate, specifically the pervasive roles of money and the media. As a candidate for Senator, one of Obama's major tasks was fund-raising, making cold-calls to the few Americans who can afford to write a $2,000 check to a politician. As a result, his primary interactions were limited to the top one percent of Americans, placing him "outside the world of immediate hunger, disappointment, fear, irrationality, and frequent hardship of the other 99 percent of the population," or the people he actually entered public life to serve. In addition, Senator Obama laments his inability to directly reach his constituents. If he were to hold 39 town hall meetings a year (as he did his first year in the Senate), Senator Obama would be able to reach maybe 100,000 constituents in a six-year Senate term, whereas a three-minute story on the lowest rated news program in Chicago would reach 200,000 people, making him "entirely dependent on the media" to reach his constituents. Yet, as Senator Obama explains, instead of using its power to present politicians to the people they are supposed to serve, the media instead seems to use its power to disengage Americans from politics altogether. He presents the example of a story with the White House making debt projections. Because the media doesn't have the time or interest to do its own research, it will typically present the opinion of a Republican analyst that the Republican projections are accurate, the countering opinion of a Democratic analyst that the projections are inaccurate, and no independent analyst to tell the true story or provide a conclusion. Instead of being about the debt projections, the story becomes about the same old tired plot of Republicans and Democrats fighting again, boring readers and prompting them to "turn to the sports page, where the story line is less predictable and the box score tells you who won."

As Senator Obama presents it, the idea of a "new kind of politics" discourages this story line, instead focusing on narrowing differences and engaging in true dialogue and conversation with one another in order to find common ground. In an example of what is wrong with politics now, Senator Obama provides an interesting story of a breakfast meeting with President Bush, where he had noted Bush's easy manner - that is, until Bush began his political speech, when "it felt as if somebody in a back room had flipped a speech," and Bush's "easy affability was replaced by an almost messianic certainty," as he spelled out his political agenda in an agitated, rapid tone discouraging any interruption or opposing viewpoint. In demonstrating his contrast to President Bush, Senator Obama structures his political discussions as conversations, where he always presents both sides of each issue - whether the topic be energy, race, or welfare - and inevitably concludes that each side has relevant points. In fact, Senator Obama seems to take pains to present a "Republican" point of view, virtually ignoring issues Democrats may consider important, such as education and health care, which get a total of seven pages between them, and focusing on traditionally Republican areas, such as family, values, and faith. This, Senator Obama states, is the "guidepost for his politics": his mother's simple principle, "How would that make you feel?" While he believes this guidepost serves him well, allowing him to gain insight into the other side's perspective, it is a philosophy he syas everyone would benefit from, to note the suffering of others and put ourselves in their position.

Ultimately, this is the core behind Senator Obama's philosophy - that, if we fail to help others, we diminish ourselves. In meeting with his constituents, Obama has found power in the American spirit, of people who have suffered and yet continue to work hard to fulfill their dreams. In his experiences growing up in Indonesia and traveling to his father's native land of Kenya, Senator Obama has seen first-hand the effect of countries where individuals do not control their own fate, but must instead rely on the self-restraint of the military or on corrupt bureaucrats. As a result, he has developed a deep appreciation for the freedom we are afforded as Americans and the hope that, through hard work, we can accomplish our dreams. It is this audacity to hope, he says, that binds us together as one people, as Americans. This shared sense of community is what drives his idea of a "new kind of politics," based on the premise that we have more similarities than differences, and that we can build on "those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans."

However, Obama concedes that, just because he believes there can be a new kind of politics, doesn't mean he knows how to do accomplish it, because he admits, he doesn't. He acknowledges that his book is more of a discussion than a manifesto and that his treatment of the issues is "often partial and incomplete." In fact, his discussion of the actual issues often seems simplistic, contradictory, and sometimes uninformed. Admittedly, I had more hope for Senator Obama as a political candidate before I read this book than I do now, just because he didn't focus on the issues I would have liked to hear about, didn't provide substantive arguments, or didn't present ideas I totally agreed with. Even more than his ideas on specific issues, though, I would have liked to hear how he plans to re-engage the American people: for example, does he have ideas about how to rid government of special interests and get more Americans involved in the process through a public funding system or a national holiday on Election Day? If politics is meant to be a discussion between two empathetic parties, how does he plan to engage ordinary Americans in that discussion? In the end, though, while Obama doesn't go as far as he could in spelling out how he will re-engage Americans in our democracy, he lays the foundation for readers to make some of these conclusions for themselves, particularly in his narrative on race. In describing the problem of poverty among African-Americans, which has become a "permanent fixture in American popular culture," one which we as Americans take for granted, and "not for which we are culpable," Senator Obama inadvertently points to the impact a minority president could have. If the audacity of hope means that we are all bound together as Americans, then the implication of electing a minority President is clear: we are finally allowing new voices into the political discussion. If, in fact, we as a country do elect Senator Obama as president, then maybe, just maybe, I will join him and have the audacity to hope for the future of this country again.

This is a very good and interesting book. I suggest you republican lovers read it because it has a part where he said even President Bush gave him "Praise" on a job well done.......

Obama is no different than anybody else is Washington. He has more corporate backers than McCain.
If you support freedom look up RON PAUL.

i agree with obama communism is the only way to go, the people who are left alive will get used to it.

A direct quote from this book:

"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

What, exactly, does he mean by that statement??

I keep this book handy in my bathroom, just in case we run out of TP

If you want;
1. more people from 3rd world countries
2. more taxes to support social medicine
3. more laws to limit your freedom...and
4. a bigger federal government
then read this book and vote for Obama.
Be like all the other sheep and get herded into the voting booth, fresh after a smooth brainwashing by the media.
DON'T FALL FOR IT.
POLITICIANS LIKE THIS AVOID THE REAL ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTRY!

Barack Obama's second book looks at the intricacies of American politics and looks at where it has all gone wrong. The book itself reads like an elongated speech, and in a way it is; Obama's first expressed many of these ideas in his keynote speech-also entitled, `The Audacity of Hope'- during the 2004 democratic convention. The book looks at a wide range of issues, from the constitution to education to the Iraq War. However, the portion of the book that really stuck out to me was his views on Republicans and Democrats and the toll their bickering is taking on the American public. Obama states that politicians and even the public need to look past the tag of Republican or Democrat and look at the best interest of the country. I completely agree with this assessment, because I feel that acts such as filibustering in the senate, is holding the US back from passing legislation, that could potentially benefit the American public. Obama's book has been criticized by someone people, because they believe the literature itself is not that great and that the book reads too much "like outtakes from a stump speech-NY Times". However, I believe that this a book that can be read in short spurts, because each chapter analyzes different issues, pertaining to American politics. This book may not be the best piece of literature, but it is very interesting, a characteristic I believe is more important than the writing techniques. In our growing cosmopolitan society, it is increasingly important for books to be captivating, because people only have time to read books that quickly grab their attention and don't waste time with the fancy language, that the reader then has to wade through in order to actually find the story. That is why The Audacity of Hope is such a great book for this day and age; it can be read for short periods of time and it doesn't waste any time, in getting the reader captivated.

Barck Obama is a self described hopemongerer ( I think we need to add this word to the dictionary if it is not already there given the publicity it has gotten!). In this book he gives practical advice on what an individual can do to make a difference. I found the chapter 4 on politics particularly interesting. He openly talks about campaign financing and how expensive it is in the Illinois media market (and by extension rest of the country) and how it is almost impossible to run a campaign unless you have deep pockets. He talks about the cold calls he had to make to raise funds and the disappointments one goes through in the process. As you read this you realize nothing is easy in this world, even great people like Barack Obama had disappointments, doubts, insecurity..not that infallible after all and that is kind of reassuring in the sense that disappointments are a natural process of getting ahead, we are not alone in this. What also struck me was the openness with which he writes about fund-raising, he brings out the contradiction of the current political system pretty clearly. On one hand you have to represent the poor and the middle class to get their votes and on the other hand if you do not accept contributions form the rich people like law firm partners, investment bankers, hedge fund managers, you are not going to go anywhere in the campaign. He says the more senior the senator is, chances are even more that he is deeply connected with rich people to finance their perpetual campaigns. A reality in present day America, so "matter-of-factly" written by Barack! I love this book, but particularly liked chapter 4. Read this book if you want to get some insights into this phenomenon which is called Barack Obama!

I found this book intresting and well written. I was thinking to suggest that he should write a book about the elections and the pain of being a family man and running for office.

The book is a straight forward read with substance and heart. I recommend it to anyone who plans to vote in November 2008.

Here are some representative out-takes from the book to give you a feel for the content of the book:

P11 & 12 - I wish the country had fewer lawyers and more engineers. I think America has more often been a force for good than for ill in the world; I carry few illustrations about our enemies, and revere the courage and competence of our military. I reject a politics that is based solely on racial identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or victimhood generally. I think much of what ails the inner city involves a breakdown in culture that will not be cured by money alone, and that our values and spiritual life matter at least as much as our GDP.

P15 - In the world's greatest deliberative body, no one is listening.

P16 - With the rest of the public, I had watched campaign culture metastasize throughout the body politics, as an entire industry of insult - both perpetual and somehow profitable - emerged to dominate cable TV, talk radio, and the New York Times best-seller list.

P17 - Throughout my years in Springfield, I had clung to the notion that politics could be different, and that the voters wanted something different; that they were tired of distortion, name-calling, and sound bite solutions to complicated problems; that if I could reach those voters directly, frame the issues as I felt them, explain the choices in as truthful a fashion as I knew how, then the people's instincts for fair play and common sense would bring them around. If enough of us took that risk, I thought, not only the country's politics but the country's policies would change for the better.

P22 - It's not simply that a gap exists between our professed ideals as a nation and the reality we witness every day. --- No, what's troubling is the gap between the magnitude of our challenges and the smallness of our politics - the ease with which we are distracted by the petty and trivial, our chronic avoidance of tough decisions, our seeming inability to build a working consensus to tackle any big problem.

P23 - We know that the battle against international terrorism is at once an armed struggle and a contest of ideas, that our long-term security depends on both a judicious projection of military power and increased cooperation with other nations, and that addressing the problem of global poverty and failed states is vital to our nation's interest rather than just a matter of charity. But follow most of our foreign policy debate, and you might believe that we have only 2 choices - belligerence or isolationism.

P37 - What has characterized the ideological core of today's GOP is absolutism, not conservatism. There is the absolutism of the free market, an ideology of no taxes, no regulation, no safety net - indeed, no government beyond what's required to protect private property and provide for the national defense.

P41 & 42 - Maybe the critics are right. Maybe there's no escaping our great political divide, an endless clash of armies, and any attempt to alter the rules of engagement are futile. Or maybe the trivialization of politics has reached a point of no return, so that most people see it as just one more diversion, a sport, with politicians our paunch-bellied gladiators and those who bother to pay attention just fans on the sidelines: we paint our faces red and blue and cheer our side and boo their side, and if it takes a late hit or cheap shot to beat the other team, so be it, for winning is all that matters.

But I don't think so. They are out there, I think to myself, those ordinary citizens who have grown up in the midst of all the political and cultural battles, but who have found a way - in their own lives, at least - to make peace with their neighbors, and themselves. --- I imagine they are waiting for a politics with the maturity to balance idealism and realism, to distinguish between what can and cannot be compromised, to admit the possibility that the other side might sometimes have a point. They don't always understand the arguments between right and left, conservative and liberal, but they recognize the difference between dogma and common sense, responsibility and irresponsibility, between those things that last and those that are fleeting. They are out there, waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.

P53 & 54 - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Those simple words are our starting point as Americans; they describe not only the foundation of our government but the substance of our common creed.

The value of individual freedom is so deeply ingrained in us that we tend to take it for granted. It is easy to forget that at the time of our nation's founding this idea was entirely radical in its implications, as radical as Martin Luther's posting on the church door. It is an idea that some portion of the world still rejects - and for which an even larger portion of humanity finds scant evidence in their daily lives.

P54 & 55 - At its most elemental level, we understand our liberty in a negative sense. As a general rule we believe in the right to be left alone, and are suspicious of those - whether Big Brother or nosy neighbors - who want to meddle in our business. But we understand our liberty in a more positive sense as well, in the idea of opportunity and the subsidiary values that help realize opportunity - self-reliance, self-improvement, risk-taking, drive, discipline, temperance, hard work, thrift, personal responsibility, optimism, faith in free will, self-government, free-market economy, family, community, patriotism, honesty, fairness, humility, kindness, courtesy, compassion manners, competence, civil behavior, moral bearings, authenticity, empathy, fairness ...etc.

P59-60 - Despite what seemed to be a death penalty system ripe for reform, few people gave my bill much chance of passing. ... It would have been typical of today's politics for each side to draw lines in the sand: for the death penalty opponents to harp on racism and police misconduct and for law enforcement to suggest that my bill coddled criminals. ... Instead of focusing on the serious disagreements around the table, I talked about the common value that I believed everyone shared, regardless of how each of us might feel about the death penalty: that is, the basic principle that no innocent person should end up on death row, and that no person guilty of a capital offense should go free. ... At the end of the process, the bill had the support of all parties involved. It passed unanimously in the IL Senate and was signed into law.

P86 - For all our disagreements we would be hard pressed to find (someone) ... who doesn't subscribe to the basic set of individual liberties identified by the Founders and enshrined in our Constitution and our common law:

The right to speak our minds;
The right to worship how and if we please;
The right to peaceably assemble to petition our government;
The right to own, buy and sell property and not have it taken without fair compensation;
The right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures;
The right not to be detained by the state without due process;
The right to a fair and speedy trial;
And the right to make our own determinations, with minimal restrictions, regarding family life and the way we raise our children.

We consider these rights to be universal, a codification of liberty's meaning, constraining all levels of government and applicable to all people within the boundaries of our political community.

P100 - "So few people read the Constitution today," Sen. Byrd said, pulling out his copy from his breast pocket. "I've always said, this document and the Holy Bible, they've been all the guidance I need."

Before I left, he insisted that his secretary bring in a set of his Senate histories for me to have. As he slowly set the beautifully bound books on the table and searched for a pen, I told him how remarkable it was that he had found the time to write.

"Oh, I have been fortunate," he said, nodding to himself. "Much to be thankful for. There's not much I wouldn't do over." Suddenly he paused and looked squarely into my eyes. "I only have one regret, you know. The foolishness of youth ..."

We sat there for a moment, considering the gap of years and experience between us.

"We all have regrets, Senator," I said finally. "We just ask that in the end, God's grace shines upon us."

He studied my face for a moment, then nodded with the slightest of smiles and flipped open the cover of one of the books. "God's grace. Yes indeed. Let me sign these for you then," he said, and taking one hand to steady the other, he slowly scratched his name on the gift.

P294 & 295 - When a group of Chicago activists asked me to speak at a large antiwar rally planned for Oct, (2002), a number of my friends warned me against taking so public a position on such a volatile issue. Not only was the idea of an invasion increasingly popular, but on the merits I didn't consider the case against war to be cut-and-dried. Like most analysts, I assumed Saddam had chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear arms. I believed that he had repeatedly flouted UN resolutions and weapons inspectors and that such behavior had to have consequences. That Saddam butchered his own people was undisputed; I had no doubt that the world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him.

What I sensed, though, was that the threat Saddam posed was not imminent, the Administration's rationales for the war were flimsy and ideologically driven, and the war in Afghanistan was far from complete. And I was certain that by choosing precipitous, unilateral military action over the hard slog of diplomacy, coercive inspections, and smart sanctions, America was missing an opportunity to build a broad base of support for its policies.

And so I made the speech. ... I also said that "after witnessing the carnage and destruction (in NY), the dust and the tears, I supported this Administration's pledge to hunt down and root out those who would slaughter innocents in the name of intolerance" and would "willingly take up arms myself to prevent such tragedy from happening again."

What I could not support was "a dumb war, a rash war, a war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics." And I said:

" I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rational and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than the best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment of Al Qaeda.

P356 & 357 - The audacity of hope. That was the best of the American spirit, I thought - having the audacity to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary that we could restore a sense of community to a nation torn by conflict; the gall to believe that despite personal setbacks ...we had some control - and therefore responsibility - for our own fate.

It was that audacity, I thought, that joined us as one people. It was that pervasive spirit that tied my own family's story to the larger American story.

P362 - My heart is filled with love for this country.

you are judged by the company you keep. we all know the company he's kept for 20 years " Evil Rev. " First time his wifey is proud to be an American ????? ...I guess being first lady does have it's perks in being an American .

This race will be won by reverse racism ...God Hlep America .

Here's what my intelligent, caring and good American friends tell me:

"He does not stand for anything. He doesn't have the answers. He has big dreams... great. He has little experience... bad. His foreign policy positions are terrifying. Let's be sure we put somebody in Washington who can get things done. Personally I don't think Senator Obama can do that. This is not a rock and roll show... it's the Presidency."


I have told my friends to read this book. If they read it, they don't always change their minds. But some do come to understand that Obama has a logic for his positions that is at least coherent and respectable.

This book was profound for me.

Senator Obama, by his own admission, doesn't have all the answers. However, he shows remarkable insight and deep understanding of the problems facing America today. A must read before the upcoming election.

It has now been well over a year since I was prompted to read The Audacity of Hope as part of a book club at my university. Other than seeing snippets of his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and knowing that he had massacred Alan Keyes in the Illinois senate race that year, I was largely unaware of Obama's story, viewpoints, and vision for America. After finishing the book - and I found it so enthralling that I rarely put it down once I started - I no longer had any doubts about which of the Democrats I would be supporting in the upcoming primaries.

I can only echo what so many other readers have already so eloquently stated here; this is far, far, far more than just a book of government policies for those of us on the political left. It is written from the heart - so rare for a contemporary politician - by a man who is full of love for this country, whose life story was rendered possible the unique opportunities here, and who strongly believes that the fabled American Dream is quickly becoming a distant dream for far too many Americans. Obama's style is never dogmatic or preachy; he is firm and eloquent in elucidating his positions, but so much of his purpose in writing this book was demonstrating that the trivial details of policy minutiae too often distract us from the greater problems before us.

I have purchased numerous copies of this book for my relatives and would recommend it to those from the the furthest stretches of the political right and left; for even if you disagree with Obama's particular solutions, views, or policy positions as laid out in the book, you will see in his personal story and vision for the future all of the potential greatness that we can achieve in this country by working together for a greater cause.

Barack Obama presents a great view for what is necessary to create a much better country.

I am amazed at Barack Obama's ability to shed light on the political landscape and the values with which he navigates that landscape. I find myself telling my husband..."Listen, honey,..." and then going on to read him yet another passage. The amazing thing is that he is always ready to hear another passage. It is full of history (the interesting parts), insight, and practicality. I have enjoyed every word.

I want to know about our next president. This is the best way to find out how he thinks.

This thoughtful and eminently readable book should be read by everyone whether they voted for Obama or not to better understand the man and his philosophy as well as our system of government and its current challenges. This balanced view will give you hope that what unites us is stronger than what divides us.

The Audacity of Hope represents the audacity of Barack Obama to affect the way things are run in the United States today. Quite simply, he represents a redefinition of American politics. The book is magnificent, filled with both anecdotes and policy. It is a must read for liberals and independents. Conservatives will also find joy in this book, as it holds the possibility of changing one's political mindset. I will be missing out on voting in this election by mere days, but I must say it is this book that motivated me to support and campaign for Barack Obama. So, here's to a symbolic vote for "Obama O'eight"

Get a view of the other guy. It's there, in black and white (no pun intended). Is this the way you want the country of your children, grandchildren to grow up in? If your no longer here, would you feel your family is safe with this man being the leadership of your family's future? Is he perfect, not by a long shot. But ask yourself, if you had to hand over your children. what ideas, values and life lessons would you want them to embrace. This may be what your looking for.

After having read this book, not being able to put it down, it was a wonderful read. He's quite enlightening with his hopes and beliefs. It is about time for some sort of change in the White House, why not vote for a man of his caliber, hopes and inspirations?

This is definitely a different sort of book than I'm used to reading. I bought this book last year, wanting to know about this man that seemingly came out of no where and snatched (in all likelihood) the Democratic nomination from a woman the country has been waiting 8 years to run. I missed his 2004 speech, probably need to check youtube to see if there, but suddenly Barack was every where. Delving into this book, I have to say I've come to really respect Obama intellect and there is certainly something to be said for charisma. But are those two enough to lead us through the trouble times ahead? Given our other choices, I'm certainly hoping that it better be. If anyone is curious about this Presidential candidate, this is certainly a good starting point to get know his views and commitment to public service. Definitely a good read.

Forget this drivel!! Read John F. Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage" and then "Why England Slept". The Democratic party was once a great party that stood for the regular blue collar guy. A party that would fight for freedom. A party that had morality. Today it is run by Sorros and far left Marxist loons and puppets like this guy and this idiocy. Oh, how I miss the great party of my fathers...

A terrific, entertaining, and insightful book from start to finish. The chapters on "Faith" and "Politics" are particularly noteworthy but the entire book is well worth the reader's time.

Allow me to particularly recommend this book to those prospective readers who consider themselves Republicans. You will, I am confident, find that the real Senator Obama bears little resemblance to the liberal caricature that's promulgated in the media.

It is increasingly likely that Senator Obama will be the next president of the United States. When you read this book, I'm certain that you'll welcoming that eventuality.

The next President of the United States audio book, "The Audacity of Hope" was delivered as promised and in superior condition.

I decided the best way to know a candidate is through his own words. This has cleared up some questions and I feel that I know this man much better.

In this book, Obama comes across as Mondale or Dukakis with a funny name- a nice, cautious man, but not particularly innovative or imaginative. He is probably a bit more liberal than Clinton, but much less radical than a Kucinich or McGovern or Jesse Jackson. He reflexively favors a generous government - and this attitude extends to foreign policy; he endorses an increased defense budget to "restore readiness and replace equipment" after the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

As a literary work, this book is not as interesting as Obama's first book: there's too much campaign rhetoric that could have just as easily have been written by any of his Democratic rivals. But every hundred pages or so, this book says something that is just a little bit more reflective than I would have expected. A few examples:

*He describes how politicians are pulled towards the positions of their allies and campaign contributors: "You ask yourself, just what does good conscience dictate exactly: that you avoid capture by `special interests' or that you avoid dumping on your friends? The answer is not obvious. So you start voting as you would answer a questionnaire. You don't ponder your positions too deeply."

*A fairly accurate, I think, description of racial prejudice: though whites still hold "the stereotypes our culture continues to feed us ... such prejudices are far more loosely held than they once were - and hence are subject to refutation ... A black man may have trouble catching a cab late at night, but if he is a capable software engineer Microsoft will have no qualms about hiring him."

*His description of the liberal elitism that he himself has been accused of: "academics, journalists and purveyors of popular culture simply failed to appreciate the continuing role that all manner of religious expression played in communities across the country."

With hope and dreams, change is possible. Inspiring words, by an inspiring man. Love the book!

I recently walked the way to and from my car, to and from work while listening to the audio book version of "The Audacity of Hope." Obama proved to offer hope and inspiration to get through things, the kind of hope and inspiration the United States is in need of these days. Hearing his voice throughout the chapters offered the comfort that aggressive talk lacks, the kind that the political campaign sometimes misses.

In "The Audacity of Hope," Barack Obama makes me want to be the voter that I still am not (I am not yet a U.S. citizen). He helps me dream of a better United States, one that is not an impossibility but a very plausible country where leadership is in contact with the priorities and hopes of the people and the world.

first of all .. my thoughts on Bush:
once Bush came over and we played some WII. It was fun because he was the one person I could beat without ever having played.
we then had a nice conversation.. I talked about growing up in indonesia and he responded: "yeah, Dell has a bunch of their phone call centers over there in 'PUNE-JAB' i hear"
.. then there was the awkward silence where i wasnt sure if i should correct him or let it slide.

obama is much more fun though....
he came over once too. I talked about growing up in indonesia and he says: "so.. you're on our side! great!"
... then we did the secret handshake and parted ways.

oh.. as for the book... dont bother.. wait for the movie.
In the movie John McCain will play the part of Colonel Tigh & Obama is Baltar. If you dont see Obama as Baltar.. you may be a cylon.

Barack Obama is sitting with his hands clasped together. He is wearing a grey suit with no tie. The background color is sort of an off-white.

first of all .. my thoughts on Bush:
once Bush came over and we played some WII. It was fun because he was the one person I could beat without ever having played.
we then had a nice conversation.. I talked about growing up in indonesia and he'd was like: "yeah, Dell has a bunch of their phone call centers over there in 'PUNE-JAB' i hear"
.. then there was the awkward silence where i wasnt sure if i should correct him or let it slide.

obama is much more fun though....
he came over once too. I talked about growing up in indonesia and he'd was like: "so.. you're on our side too! great!"
... then we did the secret handshake and parted ways.

oh.. as for the book... dont bother.. wait for the movie.

Whether you've been swept up by Obama mania or are just curious, this book is a must read. So inspiring, informative and well written that I would recommend it to anyone regardless of your political persuasion. I was just learning about Senator Obama when I picked up this book, but it definitely piqued my interest in him. I can see that he must have been a wonderful professor, he seems a natural teacher and this book shows not only that aspect, but his sense of humor and intelligence.

The audiobook version of Senator Obama's book is thoughtful and literate. It's about time we had a presidential candidate who can write and speak well on his own without the need for co-writers or ghostwriters. His life and success so far is proof of the truth of America's promise to all. Read this and his earlier autobiography of his younger years to understand the man and his view of the nation and the world we live in. With men (or women) such as him at the helm, we might again return to a positive position at home and abroad.

I enjoyed reading this, because it taught me much about the inner workings of Washington and it was a declaration to hope for a new United States. We have to believe that this man can win the Presidential race. He has a well-rounded view of different cultures and is extremely intelligent, which would be an excellent start in finally uniting the United States of America. That's my opinion and it was strengthened by reading this book.

First, I must mention that I am not really in non-fiction kind of guy. Despite my reading habits I have always been fascinated by this "rock-star" politician who began shaking everything up year or two ago. I figured if I was going to read a politically-based book, this one would be the place to start.
Regardless of my party affiliation I truly believe that Mr. Obama is a good man with a simple message - even with all of this Jeremiah Wright brew-ha-ha going on. His book: Audacity of Hope provides us a glimpse of what direction Barack would like to see the country move in. He gets high praise from me (and obviously many others) for his vision of the future. He intertwines stories from his personal life that makes us believe that he is a very humble man who has worked hard for what he has, is thankful for all he has achieved and does not take his family or success for granted.
However, just like his speeches he writes in generalities. His writing provides historical fact, analysis and general ideas about the shape our government should take. What's missing all-around is how he plans on getting there. Maybe a book isn't the place to do that since the sociological environment and political landscape changes on a daily basis? Writing a book in which the plans are too specific would not stand the test of time? We'll see.
What I probably enjoyed most of all is learning about Barack, the man -- the son, grandson, husband, and father. I think that regardless of what happens in Election '08 we'll be hearing much more from Sen. Obama and seeing more in print in the future.

I believe that this is one of the easier books to read, but harder to review. It is well organized and supports its theme, which is the clearly stated in its title. Because he has become such a public figure you may think you know a little about him and what his beliefs are. In my case I was expecting a real liberal message, but was very surprised how conservative I found some of his opinions. If your counting on the 60 second sound bites on the evening news to inform you of public figures you will continue to be under informed. After reading his thoughts and beliefs I see why his message is so charismatic; it truly resounds of the "American Dream." Even though the book shares more knowledge of his rise to prominence on the American political stage, it doesn't provide a lot of details. This is OK to me because even though I would like more background on his life, as an author he really sticks to his theme, which is the title of this book.

I listened to the audio book.
His narration is entertaining. The content of the book is meloncholy and full of flurishing. There is no real meat here. This is the story of a man whos father left him, he is taken to Indonesia, and his youth is
cluttered with no clear heritage or culture.
His mother seems to have jungle fever, and Barak indicates this in his comments.

This man is simply a man distracted with the task of trying to establish
his value through his heritage.
My oppinion is he should just blaze his own trail and forget about
trying to be someone else.