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A Promised Land

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A Promised Land

By: Barack Obama
Narrated by: Barack Obama
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The number one Sunday Times and Audible best seller.

A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making - from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.

In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency - a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes listeners on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4th 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation's highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of US partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings listeners inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about US strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout and authorises Operation Neptune's Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.

A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective - the story of one man's bet with history, the faith of a community organiser tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of 'hope and change', and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama's conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.

Winner of best narration by the author – Audie Awards 2022.

©2020 Barack Obama (P)2020 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

"What is unexpected in A Promised Land is the former president's candour." (David Olusoga, Observer)

"Gorgeously written, humorous, compelling, life affirming." (Justin Webb, Mail on Sunday)

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Most relevant
Being a heavyweight political memoir weighing in at am impressive 29 hours / 750 pages of text you would expect this to be hard work but it isn't at all. Barrack Obama is a likeable narrator and he takes his listener though his personal as well as political journey. His formative years were previously chronicled in his previous books, Dreams from my Father (1995) and The Audacity of Hope (2006) and this is the first of his memoirs to cover his time as the Leader of the Free World. The former president comes over as thoughtful and articulate as you would expect and genuinely wants to make the world a better place for all and has an unshakeable optimism and belief in the America way of life. He is also self deprecating describing himself as a "black lawyer from Chicago with an Arab sounding name" and "big ears". We hear how his mentor Ted Kennedy has been a source of inspiration throughout his political life and his love for his family. More than anything, this book is a very personal account of what it is like to live as the President of the United States and the daily rituals and issues he faced during his time in office.
Given the length of this book, it is astonishing that it only covers the period from taking office in January 2009 when the world was in the midst of an economic crisis, through the Arab Spring and the President's heart-wrenching approval of the US mission to kill Osama Bin Laden in May 2011. By this time, however, there was a new menace, closer to home this time. Enter,maverick real estate investor and former reality TV show host The Donald, who launched a bizarre campaign to question Mr Obama's place of birth. To be continued. And I can't wait for the next installment.

Fireside chat with the President

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Hard to believe that at 29 hrs 10 minutes when this book finished I was disappointed, the last two chapters were incredibly tense relaying the events of the run up to the execution of Osama Bin Laden and even though obviously we know the outcome the anxiety builds. I can thoroughly recommend "A promised Land" , being fortunate enough to have lived in the US from 2002 for a decade I experienced the sheer joy of his election, I honestly never thought it could happen and we celebrated for days when it did, it really touched me to hear him reading the events of that time in his own words.
A thoroughly likeable man and an admirable President, this autobiography is engaging and informative in equal measure......

Thoroughly engrossing.......

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A very interesting read but a little longer than necessary and longer to read than The Fellowship of the Rings!

Worth reading

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Very political, as expected, and in places was a bit dull unless you are heavily into American politics. His wife's book was far more interesting and had the human touch.
I was slightly irritated by his criticism of Europe and the UK, which is simply a reflection of the usual poor understanding of the world outside of America.
Worth reading if you are really turned on by American politics.

Not as good as his wife's book!

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This book was riveting a great listen and one that should be heard by everyone.

Brilliant

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Soothing voice, rational thought, what a f@@king dude! Wish he could run for UK PM! Thank you for the best 8 years that I enjoyed Mr President.

What a dude!!

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a thoughtful and a insight to President Obama, I have always admired him, this just confirmed how thoughtful and kind he was a United States President
a very good audible read

excellent audible

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I don’t normally listen to autobiographies but I must say this was fantastic👍🇺🇸 well done President Obama

Barack ObamaPresidential years

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Brilliant! well-written and well read. An amazing insight into American politics and Obama as a man.

fascinating

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Amazing! Just love Barack! Perfectly balanced with equal measures of empathy and truth. Considering what he achieved during his presidency his ego wasn't apparent. I didn't appreciate the smoking references but everyone has their vices I suppose!!

My first ever audio book and what a listen!

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