Since President-elect Obama's victory, I have been reading his book with great interest. Written some time before his presidential campaign, it gives quite an insight into the man and his beliefs. Obama is an excellent, well-read and stylish writer - it's a thoughtful, introspective and challenging essay. A valuable read, I would say, for both Republicans and Democrats; and very much so for Europeans and others interested in the coming presidency.

Has anyone else read the book? What were your impressions?

If sufficient enthusiasm exists, I would even propose it as a subject for our long defunct book club. Each chapter provokes reflection on many themes we continually explore here in the Backroom. I have some ideas as to how to overcome the short-comings of our previous attempts, which I will offer should there be any interest.

Sure. I'll try to see if I can find a copy online.

EDIT:*A purchased copy - one purchased from a reputable source that holds unimpeachable legitimate status and falls within a strictly copyrighted distribution chain. Although the book may be found online for free, I would never advocate stealing digital information because it is an immoral and illegal act, in no way distinguishable from stealing a finite hard copy from a store or an old woman's pocketbook.

My understanding was that his first book, Dreams of My Father, is far superior to Audacity. I guess it has to do with him not thinking he was going to be President someday, but supposedly Dreams is brutally honest and quite the excellent read.

But if we want to give the book club another try, I'm game. Count me in.

No thanks, I've read Marx and Engels already

Sure, I'm in. Either Obama book will do. I guess it's time I read up on Obama.


You know what saddens me? It's that neither of Obama's parents lived to see him president. Nor his grandmother, who was very important to him. Obama is still young, they should've been alive still.

Bush was born with a silver spoon, it is not extroardinary that he became president. Obama, like him or not, is a more unlikely story, a personal marvel. Yet none of his forebears are alive to witness it. His children are too young. They will grow up thinking it completely normal that their father is president. I would feel awfully alone if I were Obama.

Clinton, Sarkozy and Obama. All three are unlikely presidents. Self-made men, lawyers - law as an emancipatory study - all three raised mostly by their grandparents, all three with absent fathers whose very absense seems to have had a crucial impact on their ambition. I wouldn't mind a prosopography about these three men.
(Hmmm...starts writing )

The title is so cheesy I burst out laughing the first time I heard it.

Yup, now that I have time and money I'm in as well.

I'm planning on reading whichever of the two books my local booksellers have.

Rubbish.

Obama has a $1.9 million book deal. It is your patrotic duty to distribute this wealth. You can help him by distributing the book to yourself.

He can then redistribute his hard labor to the people for a week or two on the side of a highway.

Ah well.

As Louis noted in Fragony's thread, there does not seem to be interest enough to merit a new book club.

Thanks to those who replied.