Review of A Promised Land, 2020, Crown, New York
This memoir details the evolution of a young man finding himself and pursuing his ideals from a community organizer to the Presidency and his first term of office. Initial influences in his journey, as well as support, are credited to his mother and her parents. The impact of the Iowa caucus and of grass roots advocacy result in his election to the presidency in 2008. Immediately upon assuming office he is greeted by the recession of 2008-2009.
Throughout the book, Obama credits his wife Michelle for her understanding and support of his goals. He discusses the effect of the political arena on Michelle, an arena in which she was not anxious to enter. Obama understands her commitment to motherhood being balanced with her expectations of a first lady. Together they attempt to impart traditional values to their daughters and to raise them as much as possible in a normal environment, given they live in the White House. He is determined to spend as much quality family time as possible with his wife and daughters, because his early years were fatherless.
Reviewing his presidency, he discusses the power of the Presidency as well as the effects of partisan politics. Obama is introduced to international politics early in his term by attending his first G20 meeting. As he does throughout the book, he comments on the personalities of other international leaders. As such, Angela Merkel is described as no nonsense, solid and analytical. Nickolas Sarkozy is characterized as bold and displaying manic energy. He describes his meeting with Vladimir Putin as listening to one who is used to having the floor. Further discussion is directed to legislative events leading to the enactment of the Affordable Care Act and to the disastrous Deepwater Horizon Blowout. Relative to the probable location of Osama bin Laden, he notes that much thought went into various approaches to the successful accomplishment of Operation Neptune's Spear. Also discussed were the possible contingencies in case the raid failed. Following the successful raid, Obama tells of his first phone calls to the past presidents, international leaders and to Pakistan’s president and commanding general of the Pakistan Army.
This book should prove interesting to anyone interested in politics or presidential history