Mr. Brammer's review

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
by Barack Obama

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9742.The_Audacity_of_Hope_Thoughts_on_Reclaiming_the_American_Dream?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Wt8hF6voL._SL160_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9742.The_Audacity_of_Hope_Thoughts_on_Reclaiming_the_American_Dream?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6356.Barack_Obama">Barack Obama</a><br/><br/>
  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9844211?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
  rating: 3 of 5 stars<br/>Obama wrote this with an eye on the 2008 presidential race, so one should not expect art or even uncomfortable honesty from this book.  Obama is consciously self-deprecating, takes positions that only unrepentant right-wingers would oppose, but I think his heart is in the right place.  The most common criticism of Obama is that he is inexperienced - but with that inexperience comes an optimism and refreshing rough edges, a tendency to make political mistakes (which Oprah's endorsement may well turn out to be), but a willingness to take risks that the other main contenders don't have.  He doesn't get into the details of policy - suffice to say, he wants universal health care, is pro gay and women's rights, but has a healthy respect for fiscal conservatism and Reagan's foreign policy successes.  Here's a quote by Frank Rich in today's NYT about Obama's candidacy-
<br/>
<br/>"For those Americans looking for the most unambiguous way to repudiate politicians who are trying to divide the country by faith, ethnicity, sexuality and race, Mr. Obama is nothing if not the most direct shot. After hearing someone like Mitt Romney preach his narrow, exclusionist idea of “Faith in America,” some Americans may simply see a vote for Mr. Obama as a vote for faith in America itself."
  <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/83731?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Mr. Brammer's review
rating:

recommended for: those who want inspiration in small doses
status: Read in December, 2007

Obama wrote this with an eye on the 2008 presidential race, so one should not expect art or even uncomfortable honesty from this book. Obama is consciously self-deprecating, takes positions that only unrepentant right-wingers would oppose, but I think his heart is in the right place. The most common criticism of Obama is that he is inexperienced - but with that inexperience comes an optimism and refreshing rough edges, a tendency to make political mistakes (which Oprah's endorsement may well turn out to be), but a willingness to take risks that the other main contenders don't have. He doesn't get into the details of policy - suffice to say, he wants universal health care, is pro gay and women's rights, but has a healthy respect for fiscal conservatism and Reagan's foreign policy successes. Here's a quote by Frank Rich in today's NYT about Obama's candidacy-

"For those Americans looking for the most unambiguous way to repudiate politicians who are trying to divide the countr...more

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