For many youths, men, and women all over the world, the life of Barack Obama is one worthy of emulation and admiration. It’s almost like a fairytale for a young boy born to ordinary parents to rise to become the 44th president of the United States, making him the 3rd black president since the end of Reconstruction. Elected in November 2008, Barack Obama has gone ahead to break and set records for his successors. There’s no doubt that President Barack Obama will go down as one of the best black presidents in history.
Various books talk about the life of Barack Obama, some of these books were written by others and some were written by him. Not only was this man one of the greatest black presidents of the United States and an amazing father of two daughters, but he was also a prolific writer.
Below is a compilation of some books you can read, browse through, or add to your collection of favorite books that will help you know more about this man and understand him better.
- Barack Obama: The Story By David Maraniss
- Audible Audiobook
- David Maraniss (Author) – David Maraniss (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 06/19/2012 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
If you want to know more about Barack Obama from a third person’s perspective, then this book, Barack Obama’s The Story By David Maraniss is for you.
David Maraniss gives a detailed account of President Obama drawn from a series of interviews, including with President Obama, journals, diaries, and other documents.
This book tells the story of Obama’s struggle, his history, his frustration, accomplishment, and his political journey. The story talks about the forces that shaped the first African-American president of the United States and explains why he thinks in certain ways and makes certain decisions. This book will be helpful to you if you’re looking to gain more insight into the life of Barack Obama.
- The Presidency of Barack Obama: A First Historical Assessment By Julian Zelizer
- Hardcover Book
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages – 03/13/2018 (Publication Date) – Princeton University Press (Publisher)
Julian Zelizer, with the help of other American historians, worked together to put President Obama and his administration into political and historical context. Considering that by his second term, Obama’s legacy and the health of the Democratic Party started to decline.
In this book, these writers were able to offer profound assessments of the issues and circumstances that shaped the Obama years. These issues include the financial crisis, health care, crime, the conservative backlash, race, Iraq and Afghanistan, gay rights, and other issues.
Hence, these essays suggest despite putting effective policy in place, he failed to get accolades for his numerous achievements and failed to build his party. In this book, you’ll find critical assessments about why Obama failed to unite Democrats and progressive activists against the conservative counter-tide. If you’re getting this book, then be ready for a long ride full of twists and turns.
- We Are The Change We Seek By E.J. Dionne and Joy-Ann Reid
- Audible Audiobook
- E. J. Dionne (Author) – J. D. Jackson (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/20/2017 (Publication Date) – Audible Studios for Bloomsbury (Publisher)
This book is a collection of Barack Obama’s 27 powerful speeches. The book opens with his powerful speech in 2002 opposing the Iraq War and ends with his farewell speech in Chicago in January 2017.
Barack Obama is a man capable of moving the country and even the world with his powerful speeches either by speaking or through his writings. He adopted a unique style that could speak to the emotions of the people and redirect the course of public events.
His eloquence elevated him to a level of prominence and ultimately made him the first African-American President of the United States.
At every point in his career, from his time in state government till he became the president, Barack Obama made a mark with his speeches which addressed issues peculiar to our time such as war, inequality, race relations, and human rights.
If you seek to become more eloquent and confident in your speech, then this book is one you’ll want to add to your bookshelf.
- The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream By Barack Obama
- Audible Audiobook
- Barack Obama (Author) – Barack Obama (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 09/25/2006 (Publication Date) – Random House Audio (Publisher)
This book is a special one because it talks about hope. In this book, author Barack Obama called for a different type of politics. A type of politics where we can rise above our decisions and make joint efforts to solve concrete problems.
In this book, he talks about the growing economic insecurity of American families, the transnational threat (including terrorism and pandemic), and the racial and religious tensions in the country’s politics.
He also talks about the role of democracy in forming a connection that could hopefully result in a political consensus. He also mentions in his book that only by returning to the principle on which the constitution of the country was founded will America be able to repair its broken political process.
If you believe in the American dream, and you need to rekindle your hope that America will be great as it used to be, then you should consider adding this book to your collection.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve been able to choose from this list, the book that best resonates with you. The life of Obama is one worth reading about, and the books listed above can help you know more about him in different capacities. We hope you’ll be able to choose a book, read it, and learn whatever lessons you need to learn from it.
Good luck!
