Obama: From Promise to Power
by David Mendell
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Book Summary Information
Author: David MendellEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-30
ISBN: 006173666X
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: Harper
Book Reviews of Obama: From Promise to Power
Book Review: A Journalist Memoir of Obama's Senatorial Campaign's.
Summary: 3 Stars
David Mendell is a political reporter for the Chicago Tribune, and has been covering Obama since he first ran for the Illinois State Senate. Though this book is a sort of biography on Obama and covers an overview of his early life, what the book really is is the memoir of the author's time covering Obama's campaign for state office in Illinois and then his run for the U.S. Senate.
What we see is the reporter's view of Obama on the campaign trail from when he decided to run for state office, his run for U.S. Senate seat and up to his announcement to run for president of the United States in the 2008 campaign cycle where the book ends. Some people claim the beginning of the book is slow but what I found making want to stop reading was how the author was in awe of his obvious hero Obama. The way he begins to write is as if he is an insider propagandist. But keep reading and we will see the writing evolve. For the author eventually starts to share what he views and the distance starts to grow between the author and the subject as Obama gains power.
As the book progresses Mendell does share his opinion on how thin-skinned Obama is about any criticism of himself and how he tried so hard to let no one knows he smokes. The candidates great lack of stamina in campaigning or performing sustained work. Yet at the same time we read how while working his day job Obama stayed up late at night writing his books. So it is not the hard work but the pressures of being watched at all times that may be the problem. The careful documentation of Obama's campaign's show just how luck was the major factor in him winning office and the willingness he had to realize that in order to move forward he needed professional handlers to win. These we find in David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs.
Obama claimed to be liberal and his voting record when he voted was for the most part very liberal but he was smart enough to know when he campaigned he had to lean toward the center and avoid controversial bills or subjects. There is no question that when Obama is rested and well prepared his charm is evident and he can win over crowds with his demeanor even though his words never cover any specifics. His main speeches of unity and non-partisanship is what the American people and people of the world want as can be read from the reactions of the crowds those speeches garnered. This man still has time to live up to people's expectations as reinforced by his stump speeches.
I am glad I continued to read Mendell's memoir for it gives more insight into the man from a Journalistic insider from Chicago. The author states Obama is imperious, mercurial, self-righteous and an extraordinarily ambitious, competitive man. But I ask you what person who seeks the highest office is not ambitious and competitive.
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