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Obama: From Promise to Power
The biography of America's hottest political superstar--Barack Obama--from a journalist who has been covering Obama and his career since his successful run for U.S. Senate
Barack Obama's meteoric rise from Hawaii high schooler to exemplary Harvard Law School student to well-groomed politico is the stuff of legend, a political story that has captured the attention of virtual...more
Barack Obama's meteoric rise from Hawaii high schooler to exemplary Harvard Law School student to well-groomed politico is the stuff of legend, a political story that has captured the attention of virtual...more
Hardcover, 416 pages
Published
August 14th 2007
by Amistad
(first published August 1st 2007)
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Very interesting. I went into the book with a jaded perspective of the man, but I came out of it with a very optimistic feeling about the future.
Mendell is a long-time political reporter for the Chicago Tribune, and has been covering Obama since he first ran for the Illinois State Senate. Before I tell you what I cleaned from the book, I'm going to give a quote from Mendell:
"What the public has yet to see clearly is his hidden side: his imperious, mercurial, self-righteous and sometimes prickly nature, each quality exacerbated by the enormous career pressures he has inflicted upon himself. He can be cold and short with reporters who he b...more
"What the public has yet to see clearly is his hidden side: his imperious, mercurial, self-righteous and sometimes prickly nature, each quality exacerbated by the enormous career pressures he has inflicted upon himself. He can be cold and short with reporters who he b...more
This is a well written book by a journalist who covered Obama since his early run for US senate. I found the book accurate and impartially well written on what it took for an idealist Obama to become the power as President he is today.
From Mendell's portrayal of Obama, he seems to be an idealist introverts who is more interested in his idealistic vision of what the country could be and the policies needed to be enacted to fulfill that vision than the showmanship of politics. But, what separates...more
From Mendell's portrayal of Obama, he seems to be an idealist introverts who is more interested in his idealistic vision of what the country could be and the policies needed to be enacted to fulfill that vision than the showmanship of politics. But, what separates...more
After reading this I realized that Toby Ziegler was right. During the seventh season of the West Wing, he told Joshua Lyman that Matt Santos, the democratic nominee for President of the United States, would not win because he did not have the necessary hubris to be the leader of the free world. Of course, as watchers, we were cheering from Jimmy Smits (although I was never able to shake my crush on Alan Alda from his MASH days) and we dismissed Toby as "sour grapes". The man was facing significa...more
Feb 17, 2009
Aichi
added it
So far, I am feeling that I am very similar to my man Barack in many ways....particularly the weird/not as good traits.
1) Obama: "Wasup, brother!"
Black dude: "Huh?"
Lesson learned: Don't try too hard, especially don't try too hard to be somebody you are not.
2) Obama, in his days in Columbia, got a B in a class that he obviously knows more than his classmates.
His prof told him "I am grading you on a different curve. You need to try and apply yourself to the fullest, make the most of your potentia...more
1) Obama: "Wasup, brother!"
Black dude: "Huh?"
Lesson learned: Don't try too hard, especially don't try too hard to be somebody you are not.
2) Obama, in his days in Columbia, got a B in a class that he obviously knows more than his classmates.
His prof told him "I am grading you on a different curve. You need to try and apply yourself to the fullest, make the most of your potentia...more
A none-to-revealing book that I chose to read in order to understand the man and sudden rise to power. I found most of the essays educational and helpful in understanding the process of specifics of Obama's political maneuvering, but this is largely a benefit of having read neither of his autobiographies. More than anything I gained a worthy portrait of the president's primary advisors. Gibbs and Axlerod. I was shocked at the balance and prophetic criticism David Mendell was capable of displayin...more
Biography of Barack Obama, focusing mainly on his political rise from the Illinois state legislature through the US Senate, though it does provide some background pertaining to his formative years, concluding with his 2007 announcement that he would seek the presidency in 2008. The author is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, who has covered Obama for years. Clearly, he likes and admires Obama, but he is more critical than most, pointing out that Obama is impatient and prickly. A little longer...more
A quick search on Amazon now yields any number of books on Obama. At the time Obama: From Power to Promise was released, during the run-up to the 2008 presidential election, there were virtually none. So at the time it was a valuable contribution. Ultimately, however, Mendell’s book is pretty thin on substance and may offer little now that biographers have had more time to pore over his life (although that quick search is heavy on results that hardly strike one as objective).
Mendell offers very...more
Mendell offers very...more
I had hoped this book would serve as a complement to THE AUDACITY OF HOPE and DREAMS FROM MY FATHER since the author can offer a third-person perspective. It did live up to this expectation, essentially telling the story of an up-and-coming politician who at heart is indeed very liberal - by American standards - but has shunned extremist presentation and tactics for the sake of pragmatic cooperation with the enemy.
However, David Mendell chose to tell the story with himself the Chicago Tribune J...more
However, David Mendell chose to tell the story with himself the Chicago Tribune J...more
Pg 282 has one of my favorite Obama quotes.
"If there's a child on the South Side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there is a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for their prescription drugs, and having to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandparent. If there's an Arab-American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It is that funda...more
"If there's a child on the South Side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there is a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for their prescription drugs, and having to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandparent. If there's an Arab-American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It is that funda...more
I was aiming to finish up this book before inauguration day, but missed the deadline by a couple days. Nonetheless, a helpful overview of the now-President.
Unfortunately, the portrait this book paints is not a deep or detailed one. David Mendell, the author, was assigned to Obama's case as a writer for the Chicago Tribune, and thus followed Obama around the country for a couple years writing articles on the guy. The result is a distant, uninsightful portrait of the nation's leader -- one cobbled...more
Unfortunately, the portrait this book paints is not a deep or detailed one. David Mendell, the author, was assigned to Obama's case as a writer for the Chicago Tribune, and thus followed Obama around the country for a couple years writing articles on the guy. The result is a distant, uninsightful portrait of the nation's leader -- one cobbled...more
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I've read Audacity of Hope so I was curious as to how this one would differ. I think it's a little more "balanced" portrayal of Obama and the juiciest parts are where Mendell talks about some of Barack's more idiosyncratic behaviors. I definitely felt is was a good complement to Audacity and is great for anyone who is interested in a little more detail around Barack's earlier years. Guessing Mendell has a follow-up in the works as well! :)
A solid trip through Obama's rise to significance. Written by a Chicago journalist who tries, but ultimately fails, like most of us, to remain objective in the face of Obama's blinding charismatic light. Despite the subjective missteps, it still showcases parts of Obama's story that fascinate and will sharpen his biography for political dilettantes.
David Mendell has provided some very important insights into the political life of Barack Obama. To his credit, in a political environment in which a majority of writers seemed obsessed with protecting Obama's image, Mendell took a very balanced approach, presenting the facts and allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions.
لم اكن افكر في قراءته الا عندما قررت السفر الي امريكا من اجل الدراسه
لانني لا احب الساسه مطلقا
ولكن كان الكتاب من جعبتي اثناء التسوق
:) وقررت اقراء عن هذا الرجل الذي يقود امريكا
لانني لا احب الساسه مطلقا
ولكن كان الكتاب من جعبتي اثناء التسوق
:) وقررت اقراء عن هذا الرجل الذي يقود امريكا
Caitlin and I were on our way out of town and we stopped by the library. I wanted to try something out of my normal book realm (business, personal growth, atlases, etc) so I told her to pick one out for me. She picked "The Blonde" and I picked a book aisle randomly, closed my eyes, and reached out to draw out this Obama book. I don't read many biographies but I figured this was as good a time as any to read about a potential president. It was a pretty good summary and it does show why people are...more
On my trip to Tioman Island during April 2008, the book was a good entertainment. It inspired me to write my own Dad's biography - it remains incomplete and I am awaiting a chance when I spend some long months with my dad to complete it.
From Promise to Power, is an biography written by David Mendell that describes Obama's life up until the halfway point roughly of his campaign. The enrapturing story tells of Obama's fast ascention through local politics to the Ilinois senate and then to the US senate.
This was a bit of a slog. I read it rather than the Obama autobiographies to try to get an unbiased view. It's very detailed--probably moreso than need be. It did change my opinion on Obama--I had been naively hoping that he was as values-based as he appears to be, but the book outlines his rise in popularity as a very carefully-constructed plan, and gives quite a few examples of how his voting was done to cause as little controversy as possible (as opposed to being cast out of a sense of doing...more
It gives a generally seeming objective view of the Obama's rise within politics. It's mostly positive which can make us question the objectivity, but either way, it's an interesting behind-the-scenes look at our Obama before he ran for president.
You are left knowing that with luck, hard work, a good team, brillance, and an unknown variable even miracles can happen. But he worked his tail off to get there...
Mendell's book deftly captures Barack Obama's meteoric rise to fame, with good insights that complement the autobiographies (particularly Dreams From My Father).
Absolutely fascinating. David Mendell is a gifted writer and offers a unique perspective - he was one of few journalists to cover Obama when he was relatively unknown. I couldn't put it down and ate up all the details about the president's path to the white house via Chicago politics and a very interesting 'African Adventure' alongside hundreds of journalists.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about Barack Obama. I read it after Dreams From My Father and suggest readin...more
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about Barack Obama. I read it after Dreams From My Father and suggest readin...more
A well-written book which, although it mentions certain flaws and deficiencies of Obama at certain parts, nonetheless provides an overall positive, if not deifying, portrait of Obama and his life.
Also, while it is understandable that the author chose to primarily focus on Obama and his life, it would add value to the book if analysis of Obama's political/policy proposals was included in the book. Analysis about Obama the phenomenon would also be good.
And, since the author has let the cat out of...more
Also, while it is understandable that the author chose to primarily focus on Obama and his life, it would add value to the book if analysis of Obama's political/policy proposals was included in the book. Analysis about Obama the phenomenon would also be good.
And, since the author has let the cat out of...more
May 09, 2009
Eve Parker
is currently reading it
Not what I wanted it to be. Nothing against the author, I picked it up not knowing it was post college years. Interesting though.
This is a very interesting look at our President elect and his rise to power. A pretty judicious treatment of the man and not just a puff piece.
Good book, Mr. Obama is a much different person then he appears do be, whether that is good or bad remains to be seen.
Essential reading for anyone interested in Obama's life before he became famous. Good insights into Chicago politics.
the middle years: 1995-2006.
Shallow, over-reaching book describing how hard it is to cover a growing phenomenon, journalism on journalistic life more than any insights to who Obama is/was and how he changed during 2003-2005, which seem to be the defining years. Attempting to offer scoops, which amount to finding out that Obama is terribly ambitious, afraid of losing his privacy, misses his daughters etc. Whoa. Newsworthy?
The Chicago environment/view somewhat interesting, though.
Shallow, over-reaching book describing how hard it is to cover a growing phenomenon, journalism on journalistic life more than any insights to who Obama is/was and how he changed during 2003-2005, which seem to be the defining years. Attempting to offer scoops, which amount to finding out that Obama is terribly ambitious, afraid of losing his privacy, misses his daughters etc. Whoa. Newsworthy?
The Chicago environment/view somewhat interesting, though.
Dec 27, 2008
Jeff
is currently reading it
I got this at Kroger right after Obama was elected. Did I mention that I am a slow reader?
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