'Culture, Literature and Politics' Student at UEA|Oreo Craver|Family Guy Watcher|Gerard Butler Lover|Blackberry Addict|Make-Up-Extraordinaire|Lady Gaga Monster|Assertive Debater|Fearless Writer & Speaker|Broadcast Journalist Wannabe.
Barack Obama: 44th president of the United States of America; first African-American president to be elected; winner of the 2012 presidential election; absolute inspiration. I'm not an American, but I love Obama, and in light of the recent presidential election and Obama's subsequent win, I decided to promote his first book - the autobiography, 'Dreams From My Father'. Don't worry, this book isn't politics-centred; it's a life story. Yes, it's non-fiction and probably won't be on any of your module reading lists, but this is a brilliant piece of literature that just has to be read and appreciated! Save it for a few hours or a day off module necessities, reading week or Christmas holidays, you won't regret it! Obama is the highlight of current affairs at the moment after his re-election, so there's no better time to read a little bit about, arguably, the most powerful politician in the world. Only, in this novel, we see the man behind the politician; the young and free-spirited individual before the ambitious man, and his dreams of the future before his journey into politics. Joe Klein, columnist for Time magazine, remarks that "this may be the best-written memoir ever produced by an American politician". This personal account discusses significant themes such as race relations and self-discovery; beautifully and honestly written, this isn't a number one international bestseller for nothing! Four years ago during the last election, most of us weren't really that aware of politics, and those of us who had heard of Obama only knew that he stood for hope and change, but couldn't say exactly why, apart from the fact that he was the first African-American president of the United States. After reading this novel, you'll have a whole new appreciation and understanding of how one person's experiences can be the driving force for success.
This novel was first published in 1995 as Obama was beginning to make his move in the political arena, and was originally subtitled 'A Story of Race and Inheritance'. It was then re-published in 2004 after he launched his career as the Senator for Illinois, when Obama's popularity soared and speculation about his role in the 2008 presidential election became the question on everyone's lips across the American nation. If you find that you enjoyed this and want to know more about Obama, his second book, 'The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream' is definitely one to read as well. Although, this is mainly concentrated on politics and discusses topics that interlock with policies in his 2008 campaign for the presidency.
As mentioned before, this autobiography involves the theme of race relations, which had an extreme impact on all young African-Americans growing up between the 1960s and 1980s, including Obama. However, identity plays a big role too; as mentioned in the title, Obama effectively pays homage to his father – a man he never really knew, but nevertheless remained at the forefront of his mind. His father, Barack Obama, Sr. was a Kenyan, and after divorcing Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, in 1964 (when Obama was just a toddler), he went to Harvard to do his Ph.D and shortly afterwards returned to Africa. In the opening lines, Obama relives the moment he hears about the apparent death of the man he never had to call 'Father'. Obama grew up never really knowing or understanding his heritage, which remains a constant undertone of this book, leading to a very emotional end when he decides to confront his family history.
'Dreams From My Father' will move you, there's no doubt. Happy Reading!
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