The Audacity Of Hope by Barack Obama
(Format used for this read: Audiobook)
We listened to this book while driving from Missouri to Colorado a few days ago.
It made the boring journey of endless farm fields and wind turbines so much more entertaining for me and the hubby!
Here is a summary:
“In July 2004, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Obama called “the audacity of hope.”
The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama’s call for a different brand of politics—a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces—from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media—that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment.
At the heart of this book is Barack Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats—from terrorism to pandemic—that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy—where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his stories about family, friends, and members of the Senate is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus.
A public servant and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and above all a student of history and human nature, Barack Obama has written a book of transforming power. Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, he says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there, he writes—“waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.” ‘
Both of us really enjoyed this book.
He covers ALOT of things in there: politics (obviously), values, the constitution, race and even his faith and family relationships.
He really had us thinking, analyzing, processing, even laughing and tearing up too.
I find him to be quite a gifted writer and while he has an extremely scholarly vocabulary, he remains down to earth and real as well.
I was reminded how he is able to handle things on all levels with a mix of intellect, compassion, grace and dignity.
I will admit though…during one chapter where he goes deep into the construct of political workings I kept dozing off…
Partly because some of what he was saying was over my head…
But mostly because I find his voice to be so calm and soothing 🤣
This book gets four thumbs up…
Two from me and two from the hubs…
Which is a big deal because we very rarely read (and like!) the same books! 😃
Another good thing about listening to this in the car was that the kids had a chance to listen to some of it too….
Well, “listen” as in they heard bits and pieces when we made them stop playing their video games for bit here and there 🤣
What they DID hear though was an education for them and a GREAT learning opportunity…although a 12 year old and a 6 year old were NOT as intrigued as we were!
**To hear my thoughts on his book “Dreams From My Father” click here: https://brainglitterwithdani.com/dreams-from-my-father/
And to hear about Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming” click here: https://brainglitterwithdani.com/dreams-from-my-father/