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Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
Dreams from My Father A Story of Race and Inheritance
Author: Barack Obama
Nine years before the Senate campaign that made him one of the most influential and compelling voices in American politics, Barack Obama published this lyrical, unsentimental, and powerfully affecting memoir, which became a #1 New York Times bestseller when it was reissued in 2004. Dreams from My Father tells the story of Obama's struggle to und...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780307383419
ISBN-10: 0307383415
Publication Date: 1/9/2007
Pages: 464
Rating:
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 16

3 stars, based on 16 ratings
Publisher: Crown
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Patouie avatar reviewed Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance on + 131 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 17
Written when he was just out of Harvard Law School, Obama tells his unusual life story and explores the serious issues of race, family, and identity. For such a young man, he had an usual grasp of his own thought processes, and writes well--good detail, funny, poignant. Very readable, this is not a book written "because every candidate has to write a book."
reviewed Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance on
Helpful Score: 15
I was very impressed at the care with which this memoir was sculpted. I hadn't seen any other footage or interviews with Barak Obama, or seen a picture of him other than the cover of this book, but I came to know a lot about him and what he cares about. This book to me, has done more for his candidacy than any speech or interview could ever have done.
reviewed Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Obama is a remarkable man, and his story explains why. I am confident he will be huge on the national political scene soon. His search for his father has given him wisdom and insight beyond his years.
reviewed Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance on
Helpful Score: 5
I read this book very early in the campaign and it gave me great insight into some of the influences in this man's life. He writes with total honesty and great respect for the people in his life who shaped his visions and ideals. Did he dream about becoming the first black president, no, but he was raised to believe in himself, and therefore I could easily see how his formation allowed him to believe he could reach for the nation's highest office. The woman who was so influential in his life, passed away just before the election results were in, but I believe she knew she raised a winner! This is a very interesting book, and helps us to understand the very base on which this young American stands.
reviewed Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I know that many people adore his way of public speaking, but I tend to disagree. However, I did find in reading this book that I somewhat enjoyed his writing style. I read this book and his other more political one in an attempt to understand better this man who is our president and hopes to be again. I am someone who finds myself disagreeing with him most of the time, but in order to look at him more graciously, I thought I should understand him better. I think I do now having read this memoir. On the other hand, there are things about him that I find even more confusing than before. I too am of mixed race, and I have no personal understanding of how he can identify so readily with only one part of his heritage, especially it being that part that he interacted with least. On the other hand, it makes sense that the part of himself he was unable to get to know (due to his father's absence) ended up being the part that most intrigued him, most drove him. I'm glad I read this book for several reasons. I feel like it personalized this man that I see as an opponent of so many of my values, which means I can be more gracious to him. I also feel like I understand him better so that I can critique his ideas more fairly, where we do disagree. And lastly, on this book as a book, it was a pretty decent read.
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reviewed Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance on
Fantastic book from President Obama about his family history and more!

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