Summary of a Promised Land by Barack Obama

Note to Readers: This is an Unofficial Summary & Analysis of Barack Obama's A Promised Land and is designed to enrich your reading experience. Genius Reads is wholly responsible for this content and is not associated with the original author in any way Promised Land covers Barack Obama's life and career between his entries into politics to the capture of Osama bin Laden. He covers a little of the same information that is found in The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from My Father but goes further into some of the political maneuvering and strategies employed by the Obama administration to bring the US out of the recession. Though the book runs roughly chronological, it is, in essence, arranged thematically. He addresses each subject through its history, from a world, American and personal perspective. In each section, he seeks to draw out key issues and ideas in an attempt to acknowledge the complexities of politics in an interconnected world.His tone is conversational and relaxed. Though it is clear he is a master of language and incredibly well-read, he avoids academic or convoluted language and makes an admirable attempt at clarifying complex legal procedures. Along the way, he shares some astonishing insights into both friends and adversaries. He makes it clear that his administration was very much a team effort and the book is filled with anecdotes, arguments, and admiration. We also get to see the man behind the politics and a portrait of a normal family thrust into the limelight, overwhelmed, sometimes, bold and brazen at others.From the very first description of his morning walks in the White House Gardens, it is clear that he has a deep love of descriptive language. As a seasoned traveler, he brings us with him on his trips to Moscow, England, India, and the Middle East, in passages rich in detail. At the heart of the book, we find a Barack Obama unlike the confident and charming president of his many public appearances. His goal is to show his private difficulties beyond the headlines, as well as those of his family and friends. He dwells on the implications of being the first African American, of the rise of populism and blind nationalism, and his frustrations with party politics. Above all, he wants to share his vision of America, one that reaches its glorious potential and remains a positive influence on the world stage.