The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Barack Obama’s lucid vision of America’s place in the world and call for a new kind of politics that builds upon our shared understandings as Americans, based on his years in the Senate
“In our lowdown, dispiriting era, Obama’s talent for proposing humane, sensible solutions with uplifting, elegant prose does fill one with hope.”—Michael Kazin, The Washington Post
In July 2004, four years before his presidency, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Obama called “the audacity of hope.”
The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama’s call for a different brand of politics—a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces—from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media—that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment.
At the heart of this book is Barack Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats—from terrorism to pandemic—that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy—where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his stories is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus.
Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, Obama says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there, he writes—“waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.”
“In our lowdown, dispiriting era, Obama’s talent for proposing humane, sensible solutions with uplifting, elegant prose does fill one with hope.”—Michael Kazin, The Washington Post
In July 2004, four years before his presidency, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Obama called “the audacity of hope.”
The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama’s call for a different brand of politics—a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces—from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media—that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment.
At the heart of this book is Barack Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats—from terrorism to pandemic—that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy—where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his stories is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus.
Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, Obama says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there, he writes—“waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.”
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Community Reviews
Enjoyed having Barack Obama accompany me as the narrator of his pre-presidency book … what a journey it’s been since then.
It's funny how when you read someone whose views are quite similar to your own they often seem to be so very wise (as opposed to someone whose views are so very contrary to your own.) So, admittedly biased, i suppose it is not all that surprising that i found Barack Obama inspiring and that he presented many good ideas in his new book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. Although it can sometimes read like his prologue for a presidential bid (and perhaps that is exactly what it is) i believe we end up with worse (and certainly have), i also sense sincerity, enthusiasm, and the hope of the title in his words. He discusses his views on partisan politics, constitutional law, games politicians play (the games they must play and those they might avoid), values, faith, race, opportunity (whether the American dream can still survive), and family. He seems to be a very engaging man. And the book and his ideas are definitely worth a read and deep consideration~i think by every American, regardless of political leaning.
While his constituents worried that he would go off to Washington, get caught up in politics, become jaded, and start acting like, well a politician~that doesn't seem to come across in his writing~or else he has mastered the art of diplomacy, like a true master in the art of politics (after all he was editor of the Harvard Law Review) but like i said, i sense sincerity in him. As for becoming jaded or losing his hope that the American dream is still possible, "I don't linger on such thoughts, though--they are the thoughts of an old man." He still seems to have a great deal of youthful energy to accomplish much.
As you may or may not or noticed, my primary vote lies with another democrat~i've been waiting for the John Edwards campaign since the 2004 election (and i wasn't a HUGE fan of Kerry's saw him as a better alternative). Edwards had somehow not been on my radar before the presidential campaign but as i watched the vice presidential debates i decided that i wanted him as MY presidential candidate because i want someone who can actually BE Elected (and after that terrible, terrible debacle of 2000 which i refuse to talk about because it is SO very depressing...)
Hillary's out, because although i personally don't mind her, and she was quite nice when i met her at that signing at my bookstore (right~the store was crawling with secret service she was actually still the First Lady~what a different world it was then), she is still hated by many, and, in a sense, an easterner. And Obama, i'd love to see it, i'm not sure the rest of America is ready yet...
While his constituents worried that he would go off to Washington, get caught up in politics, become jaded, and start acting like, well a politician~that doesn't seem to come across in his writing~or else he has mastered the art of diplomacy, like a true master in the art of politics (after all he was editor of the Harvard Law Review) but like i said, i sense sincerity in him. As for becoming jaded or losing his hope that the American dream is still possible, "I don't linger on such thoughts, though--they are the thoughts of an old man." He still seems to have a great deal of youthful energy to accomplish much.
As you may or may not or noticed, my primary vote lies with another democrat~i've been waiting for the John Edwards campaign since the 2004 election (and i wasn't a HUGE fan of Kerry's saw him as a better alternative). Edwards had somehow not been on my radar before the presidential campaign but as i watched the vice presidential debates i decided that i wanted him as MY presidential candidate because i want someone who can actually BE Elected (and after that terrible, terrible debacle of 2000 which i refuse to talk about because it is SO very depressing...)
Hillary's out, because although i personally don't mind her, and she was quite nice when i met her at that signing at my bookstore (right~the store was crawling with secret service she was actually still the First Lady~what a different world it was then), she is still hated by many, and, in a sense, an easterner. And Obama, i'd love to see it, i'm not sure the rest of America is ready yet...
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The book is subtitled “Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream” and that is exactly what you get – thoughts. We all know our country is broken and a majority of our citizens will support this country even it when it has flaws. Obama brings up a lot of good points on why the system is broken but only offers broad brush stroke solutions to the problems. Maybe the book’s title is meant to imply that we need audacity to hope for an immediate solution.
If I read this book before I cast my ballot, would it have swayed me? Not really. He is trying not to come off as a politician but as man of the people. He gives a history lesson combined with his auto biography. He feels our pain, he has been through what we have been through, I will give him that. But, that can only take him so far, we need to see action. The book ends without any action just a story about his family. I still think he is a fine president but as far as leaders go they all need to stop talking and start doing.
If I read this book before I cast my ballot, would it have swayed me? Not really. He is trying not to come off as a politician but as man of the people. He gives a history lesson combined with his auto biography. He feels our pain, he has been through what we have been through, I will give him that. But, that can only take him so far, we need to see action. The book ends without any action just a story about his family. I still think he is a fine president but as far as leaders go they all need to stop talking and start doing.
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Please come back, Barry! Please please please please please.
It's worth getting the audio version, as he narrates it, slowly but sexily.
It's worth getting the audio version, as he narrates it, slowly but sexily.
All in all, I'm going to say I liked this. I keep away from politics because it's just so ugly. I think I finally found a politician that I can support without feeling .... evil. I agreed with a lot of his ideas, disagreed with some.
As long as the mind is open, I think Democrats and Republicans could get something from this book.
As long as the mind is open, I think Democrats and Republicans could get something from this book.
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