A Promised Land: A Powerful Personal Tale of the Presidency
While I may disagree with President Obama's response to many issues faced during his presidency, as well as his approach to criticizing many people further to the "left" of his politics, his writing in A Promised Land explores his experience of the presidency through a profoundly personal lens.
Every person should read this book to dive into the personal world of a U.S. President.
You can't help but hear his words--especially with President Obama narrating it himself--and believe he tried his best, even if he made mistakes.
And the long-form narrative, exploring his rise to the Presidency through his first few years (I'm awaiting that sequel for the second four years), gives a unique perspective on events that are slowly becoming "history."
While the narrative faltered at times, especially becoming fragmented once President Obama arrives in the White House, his writing is clear, crisp, and engaging. You will remember events from the past, and hear them through the eyes of someone who, more often than not, was in the driver's seat of an entire nation, making choices for us all.
Whether you agreed with those choices or not, hearing the personal account helps you understand why the choices were made.
Four stars.