The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Hardcover) by Barack Obama

Barack Obama’s first book, Dreams from My Father, was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope, Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves repairing a “political process that is broken” and restoring a government that has fallen out of touch with the people. We had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics, see his responses below. –Daphne Durham

Ilinois’s Democratic senator illuminates the constraints of mainstream politics all too well in this sonorous manifesto. Obama (Dreams from My Father) castigates divisive partisanship (especially the Republican brand) and calls for a centrist politics based on broad American values. His own cautious liberalism is a model: he’s skeptical of big government and of Republican tax cuts for the rich and Social Security privatization; he’s prochoice, but respectful of prolifers; supportive of religion, but not of imposing it. The policy result is a tepid Clintonism, featuring tax credits for the poor, a host of small-bore programs to address everything from worker retraining to teen pregnancy, and a health-care program that resembles Clinton’s Hillary-care proposals. On Iraq, he floats a phased but open-ended troop withdrawal. His triangulated positions can seem conflicted: he supports free trade, while deploring its effects on American workers (he opposed the Central American Free Trade Agreement), in the end hoping halfheartedly that more support for education, science and renewable energy will see the economy through the dilemmas of globalization. Obama writes insightfully, with vivid firsthand observations, about politics and the compromises forced on politicians by fund-raising, interest groups, the media and legislative horse-trading. Alas, his muddled, uninspiring proposals bear the stamp of those compromises. (Oct. 17)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Reviews

A conservative reviews Senator Obama’s latest book ….
Reviewer: Dr. Emil Shuffhausen (Central Gulf Coast)

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 I respect and admire him as a thoughtful and eloquent American with a compelling story. His previous book, DREAMS FROM MY FATHER, was a stirring and deeply personal memoir; personal, yes, but also appealing and touching to anyone who aspires to acheive.

The Senator has a warm and inviting style of communicating that clearly communicates his sincerity and optimism. In short, THE AUDACITY OF HOPE is a good and uplifting read. Unlike many of his political contemporaries, Obama discusses values and faith in a manner that is not forced, uncomfortable, or put on…what he says is from the heart. And, he cogently articulates why and how his faith and values cause him to think and act in the way that he does.

He is passionate, but also humble and self-effacing. Perhaps he would not appreciate the comparisons, but his hopeful, non-cynical, and sincere tone, coupled with his large vision, remind me in a positive way of Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush.

That is not to say that he would be often in the same political boat as either Reagan or Bush…or Dr. Emil Shuffhausen. I would take issue with some of the Senator’s policies (though I believe his goals are noble). For example, I think he over-reaches on the idea of universal health care, and 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 don’t believe that a “pro-choice” position offers adequate choice for the unborn child. But, I recognize that Senator Obama is–in general–respectful and gracious towards those with whom he disagrees.

I do agree with him that America must overcome our addiction to foreign oil and to oil in general. 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. Obama’s brand of “liberalism” is much closer to Bill Clinton’s “third way” than to the Michael Moore/George Soros school of delusional hatred.

Senator Obama’s stated efforts to transcend partisanship are laudable; the reality of his words and his intentions will surely be tested in years to come. (It would be helpful, perhaps, if he acknowledged more that partisanship is not only the province of “right wing Republicans” but also a staple of many of his Democratic brethren, but, I quibble.)

In the meantime, whether one is a “conservative” or a “liberal,” there is much to gain in terms of insight into one of the brightest lights on the American political stage today by reading this book.

A prelude to the White House
Reviewer: Mark Wakely (Lombard, Illinois)

Barack Obama’s latest book reads like a hopeful springboard to the Presidency; indeed, the only concern he’s voiced recently about a run for the White House is what his family might have to endure. Other than that, he sure looks and sounds like a confirmed candidate, and The Audacity of Hope only fuels that speculation.

Obama is my senator. I honestly can’t tell you what he’s accomplished for Illinois. Nothing particularly major or memorable- given his short tenure- but that’s not to say he hasn’t been successful; everyone in Washington seems to want him on this or that committee, and that’s certainly good for Illinois. The more powerful and influential your senator, the more attention (and money) flows to your state. His voting record is what you might expect from a young freshman Democrat, but that’s not a knock; he’s been true to his word, and that’s a plus.

He tries hard in Audacity to show he would be a builder of bridges and a healer of political wounds, and that might be true; time will tell. He’s spot-on in the section titled Politics when he bemoans what modern politicking has become- far less about the issues than about how inherently evil your opponent is. Mudslinging has replaced party platforms as the main election tool, with orchestrated outrage and assertions of moral superiority at the top of the campaign agenda. Obama’s call to return some integrity to politics by offering solutions rather than automatic fear and hatred of the other side is both timely and refreshing. It would be easy to argue that the polarization of the political right and left is complete and irreversible, but that’s both the Audacity and Hope of the book’s title.

What’s not so convincing in Audacity is his portrayal of himself as a political Everyman. While he clearly demonstrates genuine empathy for those who don’t share his beliefs, the middle ground he tries to capture seems more like quicksand- when you try too hard to be everything to everyone, you run the risk of being nothing instead, a perpetual question mark without a solid base to stand on. That’s a risk he’s obviously willing to take, but the centrist policies he then suggests are not only nothing new, they carry their own considerable risks and problems which he barely weighs. That’s a concern, a surprise, and a shortcoming.

Good, effective politicians are like a good stew- there’s substance in the pot, and it’s well seasoned. While Obama clearly has the substance, the seasoning simply isn’t there yet, which makes the Audacity in the title fitting in a way Obama hadn’t intended. Americans sure are enamored of fresh, unknown faces in politics- maybe because we love Cinderella stories- but that’s voting with your heart rather than your head. Now there’s something to be said for intuition and “gut feeling” when selecting leadership, but when the fresh face is untested in so many ways, perhaps it would be best to go with the proven commodity- even if it isn’t all that exciting- rather than the raw recruit, no matter how intelligent or charismatic he (or she) might be.

Charisma is great, but experience counts for so much more, especially in the troubled, difficult times ahead.

All that said, Audacity of Hope is an interesting look into the mind and heart of a young senator as he formulates his early political policies and tests the political waters.

-Mark Wakely, author of An Audience for Einstein

Barack Obama opens up
Reviewer: Jon Hunt (Old Greenwich, Ct. USA)

The most exciting politician to hit the airwaves over the past couple of years has been Illinois Senator Barack Obama and now with his new book, “The Audacity of Hope”, Obama has given more of himself to the public. It is a thoughtful and personal (if somewhat uneven) account of his life, his ideas and his opinions.

Obama is at his best in this book when he talks about himself. His story is matchless and it is clear that he has spent time in putting together a narrative that is as compelling as his life story. A quote that stands out for me is this one…”the arguments of liberals are more often grounded in reason and fact”. Yes, he’s a liberal and proud of it, although he leaves just enough wiggle room to suggest he is more of a compromiser than a risk taker. Perhaps he really is looking more for an extended Senate career than a run for the White House.

The downside of “The Audacity of Hope” lies in the fact that a good deal of the book sounds like a campaign platform. The tax cuts favoring the rich, for instance, while soundly repudiated by Senator Obama, is a talking point that still comes across as campaign rhetoric. To be sure, there is a politician in him, for better or worse. For all the insights he offers, Obama sometimes lacks an inventive way of relating them. Still, there is a comprehensive attempt on his part to explain his positions vis-a-vis current realities and as a teacher he is very good.

I don’t know what kind of president Barack Obama would make should he run and win, but “The Audacity of Hope” is a good start at a national introduction. If the reader can get through the drier points of the book, the personal reflections are well worth the read.

Add comment January 1st, 2007

For One More Day (Hardcover) by Mitch Albom

In this second novel from Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven author Albom, grief-stricken Charles “Chick” Benetto goes into an alcoholic tailspin when his always-attentive mother, Pauline, dies. Framed as an “as told to” story, Chick quickly narrates her funeral; his drink-fueled loss of savings, job (”sales”) and family; and his descent into loneliness and isolation. After a suicide attempt, Chick encounters Pauline’s ghost. Together, the two revisit Pauline’s travails raising her children alone after his father abandons them: she braves the town’s disapproval of her divorce and works at a beauty parlor, taking an extra job to put money aside for the children’s education. Pauline cringes at the heartache Chick inflicted as a demanding child, obnoxious teen and brusque, oblivious adult chasing the will-o’-the-wisp of a baseball career. Through their story, Albom foregrounds family sanctity, maternal self-sacrifice and the destructive power of personal ambition and male self-involvement. He wields pathos as if it were a Louisville Slugger—shoveling dirt into Pauline’s grave, Chick hears her spirit cry out, ” ‘Oh, Charley. How could you?’ “—but Albom often strikes a nerve on his way to the heart. (Sept. 26)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This is the story of Charley, a child of divorce who is always forced to choose between his mother and his father. He grows into a man and starts a family of his own. But one fateful weekend, he leaves his mother to secretly be with his father - and she dies while he is gone. This haunts him for years. It unravels his own young family. It leads him to depression and drunkenness. One night, he decides to take his life. But somewhere between this world and the next, he encounters his mother again, in their hometown, and gets to spend one last day with her - the day he missed and always wished he’d had. He asks the questions many of us yearn to ask, the questions we never ask while our parents are alive. By the end of this magical day, Charley discovers how little he really knew about his mother, the secret of how her love saved their family, and how deeply he wants the second chance to save his own.

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Reviews

To Live In Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die
Reviewer: Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA)

Mitch Albom pays homage to all mothers with this novel that beautifully shows the enduring power of a mother’s love, a love so strong it can transcend even death. The moral of the story is not particularly original and not even handled in a unique way. But, grab the hankies and prepare to spend several hours reminiscing along with Chick Benetto about the things you wish you had done better with your own mother. Chick Benetto has hit rock bottom—divorced, alcoholic, has-been baseball player, and now comes the ultimate slap-in-the-face—his beloved daughter does not invite him to her wedding. After being shut out of the biggest day in his only child’s life, Chick sees no point in continuing his miserable life and attempts suicide. But for his suicide he is drawn once again to Pepperville Beach, to the modest home where he grew up with his mom, dad, and sister. That is, until his dad deserted the family and life changed dramatically. The surprise for Chick is that his mom is still in the house. Intellectually, he knows she died ten years ago but here she is—cooking his food, sharing stories, giving advice.

The reader learns about all the times Chick’s mom stood up for him and all the times he let her down. The writing is smooth and poignant, the memories both joyful and sad. If you have lost your own parents, the words will be doubly sad. But Chick has been given a very special gift: he learns that when someone is in your heart, they’re never truly gone and they can come back to you, even at unlikely times. Chick has the unheard of luxury of being able to spend just one more day with his mother, having the chance to ask questions about things that have bothered him, finding out at last why his father left, and much more. How does it happen? Is this just another ghost story or a religious experience for non-believers? I think I shed the most tears when I realized at novel’s end who was telling the story.

I think sentimental readers will find this one enjoyable and uplifting. So take it for what it is, a nostalgic trip back to childhood, that period of time that never lets you go, even when you’re so wrecked it’s hard to believe you ever were a child.

Greater Texture and Focus Elevate Another Sentimental Journey Upward
Reviewer: Ed Uyeshima (San Francisco, CA USA)

I have to admit that I found Mitch Albom’s “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” a mostly unsatisfying piece of sentimental treacle, but I was led to his latest book because of the subject matter, the death of one’s mother and the palpable regrets afterward for a life underappreciated. Whose life is what makes this a more textured effort since one expects the book to focus primarily on a put-upon mother when it becomes as much an exercise in rebuilding one’s self-esteem. The book becomes even more worthwhile when the perspective moves away from the occasional navel-gazing.

Perhaps because I find some of the experiences depicted in the story quite cathartic, I am unexpectedly moved by the author’s work this time. The rather simplistic story focuses on former baseball player Chick Benetto who is still depressed over his mother’s death eight years later and attempts suicide. In the process, he gets to spend a day with his mother as he reflects on the past. You can see the moral messages coming a mile away and the supernatural aspects take on a somewhat unctuous quality, but Albom manages to make the story resonate in some unexpected ways. It’s a quick read that I recommend for anyone who has experienced the loss of a parent.

An emotional tribute to family bonds, love and forgiveness
Reviewer: Cheryl Tardif “aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song (2007 Kunati Books), The River and Divine Intervention” (Edmonton, Canada)

I was totally absorbed by For One More Day by Mitch Albom, and taken back to a time when I, too, was young and everything seemed innocent, confusing and not always explainable. I highly recommend this read, but be prepared–you’ll need a box of Kleenex at your side!

Charles `Chick’ Benetto has reached the end of his rope, so to speak. He is divorced and has a daughter who won’t invite him to her wedding, a father who walked out on the family years ago and a mother who is dead. Chick is a washout as a baseball player and finds solace in one thing–alcohol.

Feeling that he has nothing left to live for, nothing to hold onto, he plots his suicide and returns to his family home where he finds it not as empty as it should be. Through his mother’s spirit, Chick learns that things weren’t always as they seemed. He asks questions about his life, about his father, and is surprised by some of the answers. Some of the conversations are bittersweet and sad, while others will make you laugh.

A cross between A Christmas Carol and Ghost, this is a beautifully wrought story that delves into the human psyche and into our yearning to go back and change things…if we had just one more day. For everyone who always wanted to go back in time, take back nasty words or find a sense of understanding, For One More Day is an emotional tribute to family bonds, love and forgiveness. One of Mitch Albom’s finest works! This novel is that one last chance to see things as they were…and to make things right. Don’t we all wish we had that?

Add comment January 1st, 2007