Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance | 
| Author: Barack Obama
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  263 reviews
Sales Rank: 127
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 1400082773
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.04960730092
EAN: 9781400082773
ASIN: 1400082773
Publication Date: August 10, 2004
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Product Description
In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 258 more reviews...
 Disappointing July 25, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
In terms of insight to the man, it is a rather disappointing memoir. Not to take anything away from him though, as he does appear to be the real deal in US politics, since JFK.
I expected the book to be a revelation as to how he developed his character and ideas. To understand the circumstances that had forged his personality. And I was let down. As it turns out the book is merely an account of his life-journey just before getting into Harvard. In the end, you get to see that his is an ordinary life, except maybe for the fact that he has an 'international' family background. Even that, does not explain the makings of the man.
So, if you're looking to understand what made Barack Obama into the phenom that he is today, this is not the book my friends.
 A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS July 23, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Just when my faith in America was at an all-time low, along comes Barack Obama and his very human, extraordinary memoir, full of hope, suffering, loss, joy, redemption, and an abiding faith in God. This is an amazing life: born of a white, American mother and a Kenyan father, he embodies the world spirit at its best. If Obama becomes President, I just know that the whole world will praise America and rejoice. Just think about it for a moment. Fathers and mothers all around the globe will know that their grandchild can potentially grow up to become President of the United States of America. The respect and love America will receive shall eclipse anything She has ever known. It will know no bounds. People we never thought would love America will shed tears of joy. Obama is a Godsend. This memoir is quite explicit, describing even his drug use and loneliness. But it's refreshing to see such a forthright, honest account of a politician's life. Barack Obama made me fall in love with America all over again. God bless this wonderful Country! Finally, a politician I can believe in! I'm so excited for the Future. I had first read "The Audacity of Hope," which I enjoyed, but it already reads like somebody writing as a politician. I much prefer "Dreams from My Father" for its candidness. This is truly a man to remember. Here's to hope!
Update: After Barack's Berlin speech, I turned on my TV to watch the coverage. Only Glenn Beck was covering it at that moment. He accused Barack Obama of communism. Now, I utterly reject communism. If I had caught the slightest hint of communism in either of Barack's books, I would not have written this positive review. Mr. Obama is out there undoing the damage to America's reputation that George Bush inflicted. Barack's trying to unite the world behind America. Meanwhile, back home, Glenn Beck is accusing him of communism! Talk about underming America. Last time I checked, Bush's "coalition of the willing" had disintegrated into nothingness. America has been given a golden opportunity in Barack Obama, an opportunity that comes only once in a generation (if that). Either we choose to leap ahead into the future and continue to lead the world, or we remain stuck and mired in the old prejudices. If we choose the latter, I predict we will begin, slowly but surely, to sink into irrelevance. Barack is talking opportunity, possibility, and fairness (i.e., the Constitution), not communism. Communism is the pits.
A good listen. July 22, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
A great story, made all the more interesting by the political prominence that the author has achieved subsequent to its publication.
 He is a good writer! July 21, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Barack Obama has a gift of writing. This is my second book from him. I liked this book because it was only speaking on how things were.As I've seen some people have had issues and called him a racist. If you really read the book then I would not know why you would call him that.They obviosly missed the point.
Because of his backround i believe that he can unite people within the states and he can also unite America with other countries again.GO OBAMA!
"Where's the Beef?" July 18, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I will admit that I was among those Republicans early on who were intrigued, almost swept away, by Obama-mania. His oratory skills, his charisma, his down to earth style had me almost believing that he could join our two warring parties and make everything all right again. Knowing this, my husband nestled Barack's autobiography in with my valentines gifts last February. With great eagerness I began to read and at first I was totally absorbed. I loved Obama's writing style and his honest reflections. But as I turned the pages I began to find myself asking that old commercial question "Where's the beef?". It was an interesting story but, after I got well past the middle of the book I found that he was, in fact, just like thousands of successful social activists, idealistic, self-reflective and magnetic. But what else set him apart? The fact that he is bi-racial? Or that he did not know his father? That he was raised by his grandparents? No, these are common experiences for many Americans. Instead of revealing what kind of leader Obama would be, the book seemed a very long and winding story that never really found its point. I was let down, not by the style of the book (Obama does all his own writing and it is very good), but rather that, in the end, I knew so little of his political views on any subject of importance. On one level I can recommend this book as a well written, easy to read story of a young man finding his way. But if you are looking for guidance as to how to cast your vote, I suggest you skip this book and go on your knees.
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