President Obama: The Path to The White House

by Adi Ignatius (Editor), Richard Stengel

Barack Obama’s path from Hawaii to Indonesia to the White House represents one of the most unlikely and fascinating journeys in U.S. political history. With this special publication that is sure to become an instant collector’s item, TIME will mark Obama’s rise with an illustrated 112-page book. TIME Obama will contain original TIME magazine reporting and analysis from the magazine’s political experts. The book will showcase the unrivaled, intimate behind-the-scenes photography of campaign photographer Callie Shell, who has been visually documenting Obama’s journey since he began his run for President. And it will provide readers with a colorful and concise account of how Obama rose to power — from his early days to his Chicago years to the moment when he became a political phenomenon.Expanded Inauguration Edition! includes 16 pages of inauguration content. Written by TIME’s Political team. Edited by Richard Stengel, Managing Editor of Time Magazine. Photos by Callie Shell, an Obama campaign photographer who has photographed Obama since the start of the campaign.Includes special article by Curtis Sittenfeld, bestselling political novelist. Contains original TIME Magazine reporting

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Biography

111 pages, Hardcover

First published December 8, 2008

Reviews

[Janine Zachariae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one. It was short but so warm and thoughtful that I enjoyed every piece of it. I liked the pictures as well. They showed a new side. For me, as a German girl, it was really interesting to read how it was before Barack Obama became The President of the United States of America.

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time Magazine has produced a gem of a book in this special commemorative edition on President Barack Obama's election campaign. I'm reviewing the paperback edition, which is essentially the same except the covers look different.

The stories included are ones that have been published by Time over the months. They have, however, been given a change in title. The stories look not just at the campaign itself, but also at the life of Obama. Every piece is a wonderful read, quality as one would expect from Time.

Accompanying the stories are some really great photography and photojournalism. Each photo tells so much story in itself, such at the ones with Michelle Obama playing the hoops with her children while daddy looks on, or the one where daddy Obama walks his kids to school, or even my favourite one with Obama's well worn shoe in foreground (appears on the paperback edition).

The paper stock is low gloss and exceptionally white. The text and pictures are reproduced brilliantly.

Overall, this is a piece of history well worth collecting.

This review was first published on parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.

[Leeda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read about this book on npr.org, which showcased some of the pictures in this. They were cool, so I got it out of the library. Indeed, the pictures are great, but the writing is terrible, uber-dramatic, and uneven. They seem to be stories featured in Time magazine during the campaign that an editor quickly went through and updated a few words here, a sentence there, right after the electon.

It is something of a curiosity that it is so distinctly dated to the time after the election but before the inauguration.

[Adrienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful photos, memorabilia, and reflects on the candidacy. I will have to get this historical autobiography on President Obama, trail through winning nomination, family life, and becoming our next President. It also reminds me when I worked on the Obama campaign, during and aftermath, and how it still unites some of us that volunteered and worked on the Democratic Party...involved in Change Milwaukee and now Organizing for America (OFA).

[SmarterLilac · Rating 2 out of 5]

My kingdom for a good book--any kind of book--about Barack Obama by someone other than Barack Obama. Good LORD. I feel like Dreams from my Father and The Audacity of Hope are the only decent books that have been written about our new president. The Time book of campaign photos is as vapid as it gets.

[Scott]

I bought this book back in January of 2009, when I was an Obamamaniac. I've yet to do much more than breeze through it. And at this point, it's probably all I'll ever do. But it's nice to have, anyway...

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool pics from Time Magazine of Obama and his family.

[Carambs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great photos! Definitely a must-have for Obama followers.

[Happy Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

superficial but photos are excellent!