Obama: The Historic Journey

by The New York Times, Jill Abramson, Bill Keller

This is the remarkable story of Barack Obama's journey to the White House, as told by the greatest cultural recorders in the world, the staff of The New York Times. From the first mention of Barack Obama in its pages (when he was elected president of the Harvard Law Review), to his electrifying speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, to the days and months of the hardfought, innovative campaign for Presidency, The New York Times has documented, recorded, and analyzed Obama in all the ways that he has irrevocably changed this country. In twelve rich chapters, filled with award-winning photos and graphics, as well as text from Nobel Prize and Pulitzer€”winning columnists like Paul Krugman and Thomas Friedman, and seasoned political reporters like Adam Nagourney, The New York Times tells Obama's unlikely and incredible journey from the beginning all the way to his inauguration as President of the United States. Jill Abramson, the managing e

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History

237 pages, Hardcover

First published February 16, 2009

About the author

The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. Founded in 1851, the newspaper has won 112 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other news organization. Its website receives 30 million unique visitors per month.

Reviews

[Charles Patrick Quinlivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating what the mindset of the country was in 2008 compared to today.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a coffee table book. The cover is that iconic shot of Barack and Michelle walking right after the inauguration. There are a bunch of essays by people including Frank Rich, Caroline Kennedy, Paul Krugman, and Maureen Dowd and it includes the inaugural address, the speech at the 2004 DNConvention, and the speech on race. In other words, it is terrific :).

I want to buy it, I want to gift it to others, and I want my libraries to ALL own it. Fabulous.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

gave a lot of info about obama. it relly helped with my diografy

[Marilyn]

“That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles.” BHO 24 Jul 2004

“Barack means ‘blessed’… was from the small village of Nyang’oma Kogelo near Lake Victoria, where as a boy he had helped tend his family’s goats and attended school in a small shack.” 17

“Despite his father’s large presence in ‘Dreams From My Father,’ Barack Obama’s free-spirited other, Stanley Ann Dunham Soetoro, was the parent who most shaped him. “I know she was the kindest, most generous spirit I have every known, and that what is best in me I owe to her,” he wrote.”

“Obama now speaks of his mother with a mix of love and regret. He has said his biggest mistake was not being at her bedside when she died in 1995. And when The Associated Press asked the candidates about ‘prized keepsakes’…Obama said his was a photograph of the cliffs of the South Shore of Oahu in Hawaii where his mother’s ashes were scattered.” 22

“Barack Obama’s father’s short life ended in a car accident in Nairobi at age 46 in 1982.” 24

“And just 11 days before the election, Barack suspended his campaign to spend a day in Honolulu saying good-bye to (Madelyn L. PAYNE 1922-2008).” 26

“As Obama flew west across six time zones on his way to see her, he remained alone in the front of his campaign plane. It was a very different mood from that during a flight nine months earlier, when he made a trip to Kansas for his first visit to the town of El Dorado, where his maternal grandparents had originally lived.” 27

[Trey R · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very good for a source of information

[Gerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed.

[Sowmya CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just a joy to read cover to cover.

[Blog on Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is well documented that the election of 2008 captured the profound interest and imagination of the U.S. and the world in ways that had not been seen in over 40 years. Legions of followers witnessed every nuance from the caucuses of Iowa to the historical impact of Inauguration Day. `Obama: The Historic Journey' (Callaway/New York Times) captures every step along the way in magnificent detail in both it's large format photographs and insightful writings that allow readers to re-live moments from his break-thru speech at the Democratic Convention in 2004, to the primaries, debates, the selection of a Vice-President, the convention in Denver, the battles with John McCain (and the Sarah Palin sideshow) to election day and the ultimate Inauguration. In addition to the beautiful photographs, there are transcripts of each of his major speeches as well as a series of well written perspectives from the likes of Paul Krugman, Maureen Dowd, Caroline Kennedy, Nicholas Kristof, David Brooks, Tom Friedman and others. Despite a proliferation of Obama books following the election, `Obama: The Historic Journey' is the one volume that presents the journey with the same outsized impact that epitomized the campaign itself. A+ - Tim Devine, [...:]

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note:I received this to review for a "blog book tour" and they are expecting me to rave about it. Not raving will probably cost me an Amazon gift certificate. :/

This is a coffee table book of fabulous photographs, with a text that is supposed to be a "young reader's edition". If by that you mean that a teen could read this, or one of the billion brilliant 6 year olds out there, fine. It will hold adults attention too--probably more than the book it is based on.

But the text is too lengthy and detailed to hold ordinary average elementary schoolers--and I'm sure that somewhere out there in the US we still have kids who don't read "Harry Potter" in the cradle.
Heaven knows, I have 2 of them at my house :D

Buy it as a souvenir of a remarkable period in our history. But don't expect little Max or Isabella to hunker down to do more than flip through the pictures.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Ava's mom: We received this book when my daughter was 7 and very interested in the political elections going on at the time. Two years later, it is still one of her favorite books. It's very informative and fun to read. While some of the text is a little advanced, she has learned quite a bit from this book just by reading the text that accompanies the graphics. Now that she's progressing in her reading skills, she's reading the actual content of the chapters rather than just the small paragraphs under the pictures so she's now learning even more. We'll definitely be hanging onto this book for years to come and she'll have her own little piece of history to carry into adulthood with her.

From Ava: I like this book about President Obama because it is interesting and educational and I like to learn about the President.

[Liren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book for grown-ups. The editors of the New York Times did a beautiful job compiling the most stunning photographs captured by their superb photojournalists and integrating them with commentary. I especially loved how they included complete transcripts of Obama's signature speeches. It is a wonderful documentation of this momentous time in our nation's history.

[Spandan Pradhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book, i felt that without hard work nobody got success, not even OBAMA. And now i learnt that we should be happy that we have problems because bad times teach us, gives us knowledge.i also learnt that if you feel that u r right , u should speak up ,no matter u stand alone in the ground. Also , photographs in this book are great clarity.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book with wonderful photographs. I "read" mainly the captions! A series of articles and editorials on the election and candidacy of Obama - it also includes Obama's major speeches and views of his wife and close advisors. Enjoyable to look through.

[Seminole County Public Library]

(Submitted in the 2014 Summer Reading Grand Prize Drawing)

This is an informative documentary type book. Lots of pictures and unbiased reporting of President Obama’s trip to the White House.

- Submitted by Kamilla

[Colleen Patrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really attractive, full of pictures and interesting information. Got it for my 6-year-old, but my husband keeps taking it.

[Stacey Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

great!

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was interesting--

[Ry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might like Obama all that much, but the photographs in this book are amazing!

[Steven Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lushly photographed book.

I remember that day well, and Thank God George W. Bush was finally removed from the international stage.

[Jonathon James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read on the history of our latest president. This book, while being an entertaining read, is also excellent as a guide for teaching about him.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely want to own this. I have to see how much I have left on my Tattered Cover gift card.