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| The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream | 
 enlarge | Author: Barack Obama
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $5.50
You Save: $9.45 (63%)
New (69) Used (37) Collectible (6) from $5.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  628 reviews
Sales Rank: 308
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0307237702
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.04960730092
EAN: 9780307237705
ASIN: 0307237702
Publication Date: November 6, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Audacity of vapour February 5, 2008
82 out of 129 found this review helpful
This book is, basically, a collection of feel-good platitudes. I didn't find any serious discussion or analysis of the causes of the current problems facing America. This is not surprising, giving the author's glaring ignorance in economics and history. The author ostensibly calls for a change, but if one actually thinks about how that change is going to be implemented, it is still the same old American Socialism.
If you care for the truth, this one is not for you; on the other hand, I'd recommend it heartily if you feel threatened by the winds of change. Everything's going to be ok, really. We just need to believe really really hard that the nanny State will be nice.
A Poorly Written, Failed Attempt at Insight December 13, 2006
77 out of 121 found this review helpful
Barack Hussein Obama's latest book "The Audacity of Hope" is a failed attempt at writing. In this book, Barack Hussein Obama claims that we need to "reclaim" the American dream. Yet all around us Americans are achieving their dreams. More Americans own homes than ever before and the economy is stronger than it ever has been. There hasn't been a terrorist attack on American soil in years, and Iraq is a free Democracy when just a few short years ago Iraqis were being gassed by the terrorist Saddam.
Clearly we don't need to "reclaim" something that we already have. We are living the American dream thanks to pro-freedom policies enacted by great presidents like George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. Now is a great time to be an American, and a poor time to be selling Americans lies about how miserable things are. Sorry Barack Hussein Obama, I don't need to reclaim the American dream - I'm already living the American dream.
Barack Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" April 10, 2008
74 out of 116 found this review helpful
If you want to learn how to write good political propaganda, take a look at this book to see how it should be done. This is a masterful propaganda piece.
If you want to find out more about who Barack Obama is, read the Barack Obama book "Dreams from My Father" instead.
I am rating this down because I wanted to find out more about who this guy is and I got something totally different. What a waste of time.
If you want to learn about Obama's thoughts on popular political issues and see how he spins his position in order to pander to the masses and attempt to win their vote, read this book instead of the "Dreams from My Father" book.
To his credit, whether or not you agree with his positions, the book is well written and Obama demonstrates a good understanding of the background of the issues he discusses.
However, many of the "solutions" to the social issues he discusses are completely unworkable and unrealistic from a financial/economic perspective.
I assume that he is not so stupid that he believes all of the things that he proposes and that he is merely presenting an idealistic message that he hopes the masses will eat up and that will get him elected.
 Mixed Feelings for the Work of a Seemingly-Genuine Junior Senator April 15, 2007
65 out of 99 found this review helpful
Because of all the hubbub about Senator Barack Obama and his (too) early presidential campaigning, I decided to borrow a copy of his new book from the local library. Although I had a preliminary notion that Mr. Obama would be more liberal than me, I came to the work with an open mind. In many ways, the text was very enjoyable to read because the author seems sincere and appears to stand fully behind his convictions on the role of government. In many places, I think that I agree with him even on policy issues (particularly in education). However, this agreement is linked to one of the two issues which tarnished the work for me.
At one point in the text, Mr. Obama says that a cynical electorate is a self-centered one. In the final analysis, he probably hits the nail directly on the head. However, I think that he is a bit naive in thinking that cynicism is nothing more than self-centered individualism. While I can agree with him on some policy issues, I think that the text is by far too supportive of where the government has come to at this point. A comment like this only affirms the fact that he is perhaps too pleased with "business as usual" or at least the reform thereof. It seems a bit undiscerning to me that he doesn't ask the question of "why" the electorate could be cynical and then figure out that revolution, not just evolution, is necessary in the contemporary political situation.
Additionally, the text is peppered with relativistic though (in mild forms) throughout. However, this is not absolute, for Senator Obama does indeed claim to have a firm belief in the rule of law and the Constitution's special place in political history. I believe this claim to be sincere.
Nonetheless, his condemnation of an electorate which has been made cynical of government (because of a government which is much to be blamed) as well as his relativistic tendencies taint the work without destroying it. I would give it a 3-3.5 / 5 and suggest it if you truly want to look a bit into Senator Obama. If you don't have a drive to do so, I would suggest staying away because the text can be a bit maudlin at times (and therefore can be boring if you haven't a personal drive to finish it).
 This is a very honest book written by a political star October 24, 2006
62 out of 78 found this review helpful
The life of a politician is very stressful according to Barack Obama, and I truly believe him. He is hopeful that America can be a place where all Americans can prosper, no matter what their dreams are. He is a father who loves to spend time with his wife and two daughters. His long legislative sessions sometimes force him to postpone vacations or miss a school function. Obama has been mistaken for a valet by white people outside of a restaurant. He has also been followed by security guards just because the color of his skin. Yet, he remains a politician who believes that all citizens can live in harmony regardless of their ethnic background. Barack's belief in partial birth abortion has drawn criticism and questions about his Christian faith from his former opponent in the Senate race Alan Keyes, nurses and newspaper writers. Barack grew up exposed to all different religions. By reading the Bible and the Koran as a child, he is a man with a respect for all religions. Obama supports many good ideas in my opinion. He supports affirmative action, a movement that gives all people from different minorities and individuals with disabilities equal opportunity in admissions to colleges and access to jobs in the work force. Obama believes that the United States government and political regardless of party, should strive to meet the needs of all citizens. Barack supports giving welfare benefits to legal immigrants and putting child locks on guns. Barack strongly believes that people who serve in public office should strive to perform their jobs with integrity. Obama believes that public servants should listen to the needs of the people they serve, and they be held accountable for personal involvement in scandals and mis use of tax payer money. Obama has made his share of mistakes along the way. He accidently pressed the wrong button and voted against a bill that protected children against sexual predators. He missed voting on an important bill about gun control, because he was on vacation. The Audacity of Hope is a honest inside look about how difficult the job of a politician really is. This book also gives the reader a clear picture of Barack's position on issues like values, family, politics and race. This book portrays Barack Obama as a very knowledgeable and compassionate person. He will make a fine President, because he listens to the needs of everyone.
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