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Still great to hear him talk. So, I found myself going back to the book to read over those skipped parts. Hearing President Obama read/speak his book is fantastic. The only slight dissappointment was that it seems that he skips reading some of the parts that talks about individuals or certain kinds of experiences (maybe because they are sensitive if spoken by our now President).
The chapter on American foreign policy, however, suffers from more than a dash of that American presumption that the American way of life is superior to all others and that all right thinking people will want to adopt it. But there are more ways than the "American way" to confront violence and repression and there are wellsprings of humane wisdom in much older cultures that deserve respect and should not be simply replaced by Arabic teenagers listening to Britney Spears on their iPods.
I am a big fan of Obama. Still, I don't want to end on a negative note.
The 44th President of the United States is clearly a man of principle. As historian Meic Pearse has made clear in "Why the Rest Hates the West" the imposition of western culture on unwilling populaces is usually accompanied by a disregard for existing traditional cultures leading to a view of the western powers are "well armed barbarians." This is not to say that the regimes of Saddam Hussein or of the Taliban were anything less than barbaric themselves.
There is much sane and balanced wisdom in this book and I hope that his time in office will be as history making as the election itself. It is hard not to like the man who shines through these pages.
Is it really true that a Baghdad with a Green Zone filled with basketball courts and ice cream stands is a better Baghdad.
I look forward to re-reading this when President Obama is in the last part of his second term (At this stage I do not see the Republicans being able to find a personality that will be able to surpass that of the President) and reviewing my thoughts. I consider this read a 4 out of 5 for readability and a 2 out of 5 for personal agreement to what he is actually saying. An interesting insight into the thoughts of President Barack Obama, written when he the Senator of Illinois. While no one can deny that his aspirations for a more inclusive, more progressive America are expressed in very emotive and thoughtful way, I personally do find it troubling that on some of the tougher ethical stances, which are equally important for supporters of both sides, that he does tend to hedge his bets both ways Chapter 6 Faith is a good example of this.
quite an interesting piece, very inspirational true to the core, quite dignified in retrospect, "know thy self" pursue your dreams steadfast ahead and dont waiver
It tells the story of a heart and mind large enough to not only encompass the dreams of our fore fathers and bring them once again to shinning life for the American people, who he loves so well. My Dad's book, "The Audacity of Hope" is the true story of one brilliant kind man who loved his country above all things except for my Mom, sisters and me. In closing, this book is soo good that Bo had to roll over.Four paws way up. Bo is still a puppy, so it took me a long time to read my Dad's book, because he is very smart a uses bigger words then Bio is familiar with. But, it was worth all my time and efforts.
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