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51st out of 1,058 books
—
5,602 voters
Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise
by
Barack Obama
The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States is a defining moment in American history. After years of failed policies and failed politics from Washington, this is our chance to reclaim the American dream. Barack Obama has proven to be a new kind of leader–one who can bring people together, be honest about the challenges we face, and move this nation forwa...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
September 9th 2008
by Broadway Books
(first published September 8th 2008)
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I'm glad to see that someone in Obama's team has thought through so many issues in such a comprehensive manner. There is value from a PR standpoint in this book.
Not a beach read though. And its depressing because he addresses so many issues that are confronting our country and the whole country seems like its at such a dead end.
I like the idea of this book because his writing of the book will hold him accountable more than other presidents. To rebut his actions, you can point to page [_] where h...more
Not a beach read though. And its depressing because he addresses so many issues that are confronting our country and the whole country seems like its at such a dead end.
I like the idea of this book because his writing of the book will hold him accountable more than other presidents. To rebut his actions, you can point to page [_] where h...more
I arrived home from work today and found this book in my mailbox. I walked into my home, sat down, and read it in its entirety. It is rare that I consume a book so completely without pause.
As with any all encompassing policy proposal there will be items that you completely agree with and others that you would want to see some alterations to before being implemented. But, when read in the light (or shadows) of the last eight years under the Bush administration, Obama's vision is a breath of fresh...more
As with any all encompassing policy proposal there will be items that you completely agree with and others that you would want to see some alterations to before being implemented. But, when read in the light (or shadows) of the last eight years under the Bush administration, Obama's vision is a breath of fresh...more
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The one thing I loved about this book is that it legitimately undermined anyone who criticized Obama for lack of providing specifics. Who is the last presidential candidate who released a book during a campaign that laid out most of his positions with modest intellectual support for why he thinks the way he/she does? Has anyone ever done it?
What stuck out to me most is that there is actually some social and historical analysis here. It may be light but it is a breath of fresh air when you're use...more
What stuck out to me most is that there is actually some social and historical analysis here. It may be light but it is a breath of fresh air when you're use...more
Since I don't agree with most liberal policies, this book didn't stand a good chance of being "liked" - but I was pleasantly surprised to see some of the more moderate stances he has, particularly as concerns some national defense issues... if these are sincere and not just rhetoric to appease the masses who care about our security. However, apart from a summary and laundry list of policies and goals, there is no philosophical or argumentative basis (or support or examples for that matter) to pe...more
This is a good book to read if you have not been keeping up with Barack Obama's plans for when he gets into the White House. He has many plans that in my opinion sounds like good ideas. However, this book does not go into detail of how all these plans will work out. He talks about cutting this and giving money for that but, I really would like to see where the money for all his plans is coming from. And how come we got or can get all this money during the current state the US economy is in. This...more
It is a moot point now after the election ... I've voted and Obama's the next president. I just wish I had read this book earlier since it would have helped bolster my arguments with neighbors and friends regarding Obama's plan of action for the next four years. I finished this book in one day which, lately, is unusual for me as I am hitting a reading slump.
The first half of the book is a summary of the issues Obama would like to address once he is in office. He addresses the issues of global w...more
The first half of the book is a summary of the issues Obama would like to address once he is in office. He addresses the issues of global w...more
A “Change We Can Believe In” is not a typical novel; it is a collection of seven speeches President Barack Obama made while he was a senator of Illinois and running for the presidency. The novel starts off in part one with the President’s own words. It begins with his opinion of what society was like while he was running for president, and also massive amounts of criticism of George W. Bush. The entire novel consists of this. The novel includes Obama’s own plans for the economy, foreign policy,...more
This book comes from Pres. Barack Obama's 2008 campaign for the presidency, but unlike other similar books released by politicians about how to get America back on track, this one is really the campaign's promises rather than some personal & anecdotal account of what's wrong with the country and how to fix it. In fact, you could've looked up all of these promises on the campaign website and saved yourself the money. So, why read a book with a typical campaign bombast, even for Obama's energe...more
Change We Can Believe In by Barack Obama is more inspirational than anything. It was published during his 2008 campaign which made me think of him as superman or somethin'. Like how do you do that and compete with Hilary Clinton? Anyways, something that really caught my attention early in the book was when Obama wrote "...these challenge were not inevitable. They are the result of flawed policies and failed leadership. As our world and economy have changed, the thinkinh in Washington has not ke...more
Feb 01, 2009
Jostalady
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
the-real-world,
politics
I appreciated that Barack laid out his plan for moving the US forward. I listened to each section multiple times to make sure I understood it, whether or not I agreed.
I actually didn't know what this book was when I started reading it. I thought it was written by Obama, but in fact it appears to have been written by his campaign staff with a foreword from Obama. And that's fine, but I wish I had read this book before the campaign because reading it after the election is a little silly. I already voted for the man so it's really not necessary for anyone to try and sell me on him. That's what this book does, essentially. It lays out everything Obama hopes to do...more
It is a great accounting of what we have been promised and will become a great instrument with which to measure how many promises have been fulfilled. It is no wonder Obama was elected president. However, after having heard most of his speeches and being very familiar with his campaign and its platforms, the book is redundant.
This is a neat little book filled with mostly Barack's policies. Even better, the book contains 7 of the good senator's speeches from the campaign trail. I have listened to many of those speeches and they are fascinating, not only for the content, but for his eloquent way of speaking. If you have ever heard him speak, you will hear his voice clearly in this book.
Do you know what happens when you break a promise, Barack? Fairies die and children cry.
Just something you should think about before hedging on your promise to require 10 percent of electricity come from renewable sources by 2012.
Just something you should think about before hedging on your promise to require 10 percent of electricity come from renewable sources by 2012.
This book is interesting for me since it reveals Barack Obama passions about Americans and their society. It describe his purpose and strategy to be brought out in some state’s dimensions (although they’re not really specific) as he won the election to be the President of United States of America. Coated with his passion and strong believe that Americans, if they work together, will become better and stronger; this book is full of positive energy and thus, enjoyable to read. It can also enrich o...more
Change We Can Believe In outlines Barack Obama's vision for America.
This trade sized paperback is just 288 pages, but inside the pages you will read about specific ideas about how to fix our ailing economy and strengthen the middle class, make health care affordable for all, achieve energy independence, and keep America safe in a dangerous world. They writing is clear and succinct. I especially enjoyed reading his speeches, as it has been many months since I first heard some of them. The eloquen...more
This trade sized paperback is just 288 pages, but inside the pages you will read about specific ideas about how to fix our ailing economy and strengthen the middle class, make health care affordable for all, achieve energy independence, and keep America safe in a dangerous world. They writing is clear and succinct. I especially enjoyed reading his speeches, as it has been many months since I first heard some of them. The eloquen...more
Oct 03, 2008
Cassie
added it
Outlines what the heck he's gonna do as President. I like clear cut answers and plans! Obama 08!
What can I say? I work for the man now. I took a job with Obama for America, b/c my health insurance dumped me due to pre-existing conditions.
I didn't get the paying job but I decided to volunteer anyway, if for nothing else that it beats feeling sorry for myself about the health care issue.
So now I want to know more about him.
Anyway, he gave them the order to get Osama bin Laden. He said he was going to have the man found, and he did it.
It works for me, someone whose family was torn apart the...more
I didn't get the paying job but I decided to volunteer anyway, if for nothing else that it beats feeling sorry for myself about the health care issue.
So now I want to know more about him.
Anyway, he gave them the order to get Osama bin Laden. He said he was going to have the man found, and he did it.
It works for me, someone whose family was torn apart the...more
I read this book because I have been displeased with President Obama in his first year in office. I thought/hoped that if I better understood his plan I might at least have an idea where he was coming from and it might make me a little less angry.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were a few things that I agreed with. He talked about the failures of the No Child Left Behind program and how he wanted to put forth legislation that would not alienate teachers the way that program has. I...more
I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were a few things that I agreed with. He talked about the failures of the No Child Left Behind program and how he wanted to put forth legislation that would not alienate teachers the way that program has. I...more
If we're using ratings, I would say that Obama ran a 5-star campaign and has so far been a 3-star president. I appreciate his calmness, his openness, and not in comparison to Bush because we as a country have far more to do than simply make up for 2000-2008: we now have an opportunity to change economic and political systems that continually brings us cycles of poverty and war.
The book itself, while having its moments of specificity and inspiration, is still frustrating. A lot of numbers are th...more
The book itself, while having its moments of specificity and inspiration, is still frustrating. A lot of numbers are th...more
This isn't a book of new material, but rather a compendium of Barack Obama's policies and stances on a huge variety of issues. I learned a few things that I hadn't previously known, but most of it was old news to me, an Obama supporter for two years. This would be great reading for an undecided voter though...like all those people who insist that they "don't know where he stands on the issues." Please. What kind of lame excuse is that? If you just make an effort, you can find out anything you'd...more
I didn't finish this book. The book was written before the 2008 election and Obama mentioned the high prices at the grocery store and at the gas pump. Four years later the prices are even higher. His promises that I would not be paying income tax and that minimum wage would be over nine dollars also were not kept. This book is damaging to his campaign in 2012 for anyone who read it and remembers his promises.
In this book, Barack Obama describes his plan to a possible presidential administration. He speaks about all the major problems in US until the Bush era (a good thing for someone who don't lives there because you can have a realistic view of the country's situation). Obama describes the almost public health total failure, the incapacity to finish the war in Iraq and Afganistan, the strong oil dependency and its impacts to the global warming, his ideas to improve the education and research, the n...more
I confess, I couldn't finish reading this. It was really boring. In fairness, I'm not an Obama fan, but I thought this book might help me understand him better. It's mostly a summary of many of Obamas speaches. Most of it is just words with no meaning. Ideals without ideas. And the few things that he said that sounded like great ideas that I would actually get behind, are things that once in office he has done the opposit of the idea he put forth in his speach. So instead of understanding him be...more
Apr 25, 2012
Ed Wagemann
marked it as to-read
WHY DIDN'T BUSH GO AFTER BIN LADEN?
http://generation-add.blogspot.com/20...
http://generation-add.blogspot.com/20...
THIS BOOK EXPLAINS ABOUT OBAMA HOW HE IS GOING TO CHANGE AMERICA.THIS BOOK EXPLAINS THE TRUTH AND HOW WE CAN COME AS A NATION AND HOW WE CAN STUDY THE PROBLEMS ALSO FOCUS ON WHAT NEED TO BE DONE. I LOVE BARACK OBAMA.THE SONG ABOUT OBAMA BEING THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OR THE PRESIDENTE YOU CAN FIND THIS BOOK AT THE LIBARY.
A nice basic review of Obama's campaign platform. The book also includes a collection of some of his major speeches (the most recent being his July 2008 speech in Berlin). One could most certainly find all of these writings, word for word, somewhere on the internet, but it's nice to have them collected in one physical volume.
I probably read this book about four years too late, it's sat on my bookshelf unread for some time. There were points when I wondered why I was reading what was basically the Obama 2008 policy platform given I'm unlikely to ever bother reading the equivalent volume of ALP policy! However it is good policy and didn't make bad reading. The highlight of the book for me though were the eight speeches included at the end of the book. From Obama's campaign launch in Springfield, Illinois to his electi...more
This book was just released in November. It was not written by Obama, but summarizes his views on the many different issues heard during the election. It also contains several speeches he gave during the 2 year presidential campaign.
Good summary of Obama's proposed changes and policy plans and key speeches from the campaign. Most of it looks great, apart from a few new things I learned about - like rebates I might get. Here's hoping he can affect all this change.
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Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America. He is the first African-American President to be elected President of the United States, and was the first to be nominated for President by a major U.S. political party. He was the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois from 2005 until he resigned on November 16, 2008, following his election to the Presidency.
Barack Obama is the son of...more
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