Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
Book Review: Inspiring Life Story...Somewhat Less Than Complete
Summary: 4 Stars
U.S. Senate hopeful Barack Obama has an inspiring story to share, and yet he doesn't simply rest on his laurels in this critical evaluation of his life and in his continuing search for himself as a black American. He wrote "Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" almost ten years ago, but his stock has obviously surged since his star-making speech at the Democratic National Convention last month, perhaps to the chagrin of Hillary Clinton...unless she is dreaming of a Clinton-Obama ticket in 2008! Growing up mulatto in Hawaii and Indonesia, Obama discusses trying to come to grips with his racial identity through a period of rebellion that included drug use, becoming a community activist in Chicago and traveling to Kenya to understand his father's past. It is in Kenya where he discovers a nation with forty different tribes, each of them saddled with stereotypes of the others. It is also in Kenya where he recognizes the dichotomy that has been his lifelong existence between the graves of his father and his grandfather. His description of this defining moment is worthy of a passage in Alex Haley's "Roots".
Obama is also candid about racism, poverty and corruption in Chicago, and he pulls no punches in his account of this period. Because the book stops in 1995, it does not get into much detail on his learning experiences, culminating in both missteps and triumphs, as a state legislator. For all the value the book provides on Obama's history, I would have appreciated a more substantive update than the preface on the last decade, as he gained political prominence in Illinois, so that we understand more why his time in the spotlight has come at this moment. Perhaps that will be Volume 2. I was also disappointed he spent so little time writing about his mother and the influence her side of the family has had on him, a narrative gap Obama acknowledges and over which he expresses regret in the preface. Perhaps inclusion of such details would have made for a less compelling story from his originally intended Afro-centric perspective; but at the same time, I think a more balanced look at his own racial dichotomy would have made his story resonate all the more given where he is now.
Obama is open in the preface about using changed names and composite characters to expedite the flow and ensure privacy of those around him, but it does somewhat lessen the impact of his story when one starts to wonder who was real and who was a fictionalized character. Regardless of these literary devices, this book is still a very worthwhile look into the background of someone who is on a major upward trajectory in the current national political scene.
Book Review: The Best Book I Read This Summer
Summary: 5 Stars
After his compelling speech at the Democratic Convention, I was interested in knowing more about Illinois next U.S. Senator. The book was amazingly frank, colorfully written, and interesting. For all those who think Obama, "not Black enough," after reading this, I guarantee you'll have a different opinion! I especially enjoyed the details of his trip to his father's native land, Kenya. It made me want to book the next flight out!Book Review: Great Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was great. I couldnt stop reading it. I read this nearly 500 page book in 3 days and was sad when he finished his self discovery which ended with his trip to Kenya. It was clear and the writing was very fluid. This is an excellent first book for Obama and I hope he continues to write more. This will defintely be a classic some day. Book Review: Hard to read??
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know what the earlier reviewer was thinking about, but I couldn't put this book down! The writing was exquisite, and Obama's reflections on race and identity were so compelling and thoughtful--not just for transracial families, like mine, but for anyone who thinks that race continues to be one of the most central issues in our country.
Can't recommend it highly enough.
Book Review: Why you should buy this book
Summary: 5 Stars
You should buy this book because it will be the only book by a politician you will ever read that is:
1) Well Written and insightful
2) Actually written by the candidate.
this is a great book, written before Obama was anything on the political landscape. It is honest - sometimes to his own political detrement. It deals honestly with issues of race in america. I encourage everyone who cares about their country to read this book.