A Promised Land is a memoir by Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Published on November 17, 2020, it is the first of a planned two-volume series. Remaining focused on his political career, the presidential memoir documents Obama's life from his early years through to the events surrounding the killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011. The book is 768 pages long and available in digital, paperback, and hardcover formats and has been translated into two dozen languages. There is also a 29-hour audiobook edition that is read by Obama himself.

A Promised Land by Barack Obama


The book in three sentences:

  • A Promised Land is a memoir by Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, that covers his life from his early years through to the events surrounding the killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.
  • The book is divided into three parts: Obama's early life and education, his political career, and his first two and a half years in the White House.
  • Key themes of the book include identity, hope and change, and the power of storytelling.

The book begins with Obama's early childhood in Honolulu, Hawaii, and his subsequent move to Indonesia and then back to Hawaii. He discusses his mixed-race heritage and the challenges he faced growing up as a black child in a white society. Obama also writes about his education at Columbia University and Harvard Law School, as well as his early career as a community organizer and civil rights attorney.

In the second part of the book, Obama focuses on his political career. He discusses his decision to run for the Illinois State Senate in 1996 and his subsequent election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. Obama also writes about his 2008 presidential campaign and his victory over Republican nominee John McCain.

The third and final part of the book covers Obama's first two and a half years in the White House. He discusses the challenges he faced in dealing with the Great Recession and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama also writes about his signature legislative achievements, such as the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Key themes of the book:

  • Identity: Obama writes extensively about his own identity as a black man in America. He discusses the challenges he faced growing up as a minority and the ways in which his identity shaped his political views.
  • Hope and change: Obama's campaign slogan was "Hope and change," and these themes are central to his memoir. He writes about his belief in the American dream and his commitment to making the country a better place for all Americans.
  • The power of storytelling: Obama is a gifted storyteller, and he uses his memoir to share personal stories about his life and his work. He believes that storytelling can be a powerful force for change and understanding.

Early life and education:

Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 4, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was a black economist from Kenya, and his mother, Ann Dunham, was a white anthropologist from Kansas. Obama's parents divorced when he was two years old, and he was raised primarily by his mother and her parents.

Obama spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, where his mother remarried. He returned to Hawaii to attend high school, and then he went on to study at Columbia University and Harvard Law School.

Early political career:

After graduating from law school, Obama worked as a community organizer in Chicago. He then served in the Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004. In 2004, Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first black person to represent Illinois in the Senate.

2008 presidential campaign:

In 2008, Obama ran for president of the United States. He defeated Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary and then went on to defeat Republican nominee John McCain in the general election. Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009.

First term as president:

During his first term as president, Obama faced a number of challenges, including the Great Recession and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also signed into law a number of significant pieces of legislation, such as the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Key moments from Obama's first term as president:

  • The Great Recession: Obama took office in the midst of the Great Recession, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. He implemented a number of policies to stimulate the economy and create jobs, including the American Recovery. Obama also signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was designed to prevent another financial crisis. The Great Recession officially ended in June 2009, but it took several years for the economy to fully recover.
  • The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Obama inherited two wars when he took office, the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan. He withdrew all U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011, but he kept troops in Afghanistan until 2021.

Other key moments from Obama's first term:

  • The Affordable Care Act: Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010. The law, also known as Obamacare, expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.
  • The killing of Osama bin Laden: In May 2011, U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and the mastermind of the September 11 attacks.

Conclusion

A Promised Land is a well-written and insightful memoir by one of the most important political figures of our time. Obama offers a candid and personal look at his life and career, and he shares his thoughts on some of the most pressing challenges facing America today. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in American politics, history, and culture.

Obama's first term as president was a time of great change and upheaval in the United States. He faced a number of challenges, but he also achieved a number of significant successes. Obama's memoir, A Promised Land, offers a candid and personal look at his life and career during this time.

The book is a must-read for anyone interested in American politics, history, and culture. It is also a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Barack Obama, one of the most important political figures of our time.