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Political Structure & Processes
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 Product Description
Barack Obama's first book, Dreams from My Father, was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope, Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves repairing a "political process that is broken" and restoring a government that has fallen out of touch with the people. We had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics, see his responses below. --Daphne Durham
20 Second Interview: A Few Words with Barack Obama Q: How did writing a book that you knew would be read so closely by so many compare to writing your first book, when few people knew who you were? A: In many ways, Dreams from My Father was harder to write. At that point, I wasn't even sure that I could write a book. And writing the first book really was a process of self-discovery, since it touched on my family and my childhood in a much more intimate way. On the other hand, writing The Audacity of Hope paralleled the work that I do every day--trying to give shape to all the issues that we face as a country, and providing my own personal stamp on them. Q: What is your writing process like? You have such a busy schedule, how did you find time to write? A: I'm a night owl, so I usually wrote at night after my Senate day was over, and after my family was asleep--from 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outline--certain themes or stories that I wanted to tell--and get them down in longhand on a yellow pad. Then I'd edit while typing in what I'd written. Q: If readers are to come away from The Audacity of Hope with one action item (a New Year's Resolution for 2007, perhaps?), what should it be? A: Get involved in an issue that you're passionate about. It almost doesn't matter what it is--improving the school system, developing strategies to wean ourselves off foreign oil, expanding health care for kids. We give too much of our power away, to the professional politicians, to the lobbyists, to cynicism. And our democracy suffers as a result. Q: You're known for being able to work with people across ideological lines. Is that possible in today's polarized Washington? A: It is possible. There are a lot of well-meaning people in both political parties. Unfortunately, the political culture tends to emphasize conflict, the media emphasizes conflict, and the structure of our campaigns rewards the negative. I write about these obstacles in chapter 4 of my book, "Politics." When you focus on solving problems instead of scoring political points, and emphasize common sense over ideology, you'd be surprised what can be accomplished. It also helps if you're willing to give other people credit--something politicians have a hard time doing sometimes. Q: How do you make people passionate about moderate and complex ideas? A: I think the country recognizes that the challenges we face aren't amenable to sound-bite solutions. People are looking for serious solutions to complex problems. I don't think we need more moderation per se--I think we should be bolder in promoting universal health care, or dealing with global warming. We just need to understand that actually solving these problems won't be easy, and that whatever solutions we come up with will require consensus among groups with divergent interests. That means everybody has to listen, and everybody has to give a little. That's not easy to do. Q: What has surprised you most about the way Washington works? A: How little serious debate and deliberation takes place on the floor of the House or the Senate. Q: You talk about how we have a personal responsibility to educate our children. What small thing can the average parent (or person) do to help improve the educational system in America? What small thing can make a big impact? A: Nothing has a bigger impact than reading to children early in life. Obviously we all have a personal obligation to turn off the TV and read to our own children; but beyond that, participating in a literacy program, working with parents who themselves may have difficulty reading, helping their children with their literacy skills, can make a huge difference in a child's life. Q: Do you ever find time to read? What kinds of books do you try to make time for? What is on your nightstand now? A: Unfortunately, I had very little time to read while I was writing. I'm trying to make up for lost time now. My tastes are pretty eclectic. I just finished Marilynne Robinson's Gilead, a wonderful book. The language just shimmers. I've started Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which is a great study of Lincoln as a political strategist. I read just about anything by Toni Morrison, E.L. Doctorow, or Philip Roth. And I've got a soft spot for John le Carre. Q: What inspires you? How do you stay motivated? A: I'm inspired by the people I meet in my travels--hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. I'm inspired by the love people have for their children. And I'm inspired by my own children, how full they make my heart. They make me want to work to make the world a little bit better. And they make me want to be a better man.
Customer Reviews
must read, 27 Jun 2008
I was stunned at
a. what a good writer Obama is and
b. how balanced and thoughtful he is about the challenges facing America.
Without any preconceptions I ended the book confident that if he is to become president, America would have a very intelligent and practical man at the helm who is more interested in solving problems than winning political points.
I can't recommend it enough.
A very satisfying read, written with intelligence and clarity, 07 May 2008
If only more politicians would allow themselves the time and integrity to sit down and write such a book before or whilst in office.
Barack Obama writes with intelligence and clarity, but in a language that is accessible to all. A born politician some might say, he represents both sides of any story, alienating no-one and never being judgmental, but always carefully thoughtful. A gifted storyteller, Obama draws on his own life experience and reflection to fit real life issues into the broader policy spectrum.
The book is carefully ordered starting with his background (community projects before law school) and upbringing (multicultural) he aspires to demonstrate himself as a man of the American people and in this way builds our trust. He then uses his intimate knowledge of the American constitution to bring it alive for us - a great précis for those of us with little American constitutional knowledge - before talking openly and honestly about intrinsic challenge of politics for politicians (`how I or anybody...can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth'). For me this was the most interesting part and widens the relevance of the book beyond American politics.
Occasionally allowing himself to sideswipe opponents (Mr Keyes, p211) but doing so in a gentlemanly fashion - he uses the time we invest in his book to give us his side of the picture behind the press headline or 90 second news clip. The book ends with a chapter on Family, giving us a taste of the effect of Obama's work on his family and their lives. This last insight into Obama's personal life leaves a good taste in the reader's mouth and reminds us he is human. And like a true gentleman - he gives the final word to his wife.
My only critisism is that after such a detailed discussion of Amercian politics, business and social issues his single chapter addressing the rest of the world comes across as being pretty lightweight. His views on future world economy and security are conventional and inward looking. His views on the challenges facing the future of the world could be written by an American CEO - focusing on trade and competition. Global warming is mentioned only twice by my count. But then this book is about 'The Audacity of Hope' and written by an American politician.
Lets hope he can retain that `kernal of truth' as he goes forward.
Audacity of Hope, 15 Mar 2008
'Audacity Of Hope' looks at some ideas in American politics and Obamas own take on them. It looks at things such as Democrat and Republican relations, Race, Faith, Americas relationship internationally and general politics. Obama comes across as someone with a great deal of integrity and common sense. He seems to want to work across political ideological lines for the benefit of America in general. I guess any self penned book will be slightly biased, but for an idea of what Obama believes in and a look at some of his ideas to remedy a selection of Americas ills, you can't go much wrong in starting with this book. Considering he may be the next President, and after reading this lets hope with all of our fibre that he is, it is well worth reading about the beliefs of who could be the worlds most influential man. Clear, eloquent, well reasoned and argued and insightful into his character and ideals. Well worth a read.
excellent, but will he win?, 03 Mar 2008
I enjoyed this refreshing book. In cynical times, surrounded by cynical politicians, Obama is a stream of fresh air. But will the Democratic Machine in America allow him the chance to win the nomination - or are Americans content to see Bush-Clinton dynasties continue for years and years? I suspect it's possible they're content with another Clinton, Shrillary. I wish otherwise. Maybe Obama is too human to be a politician in the USA. Again, I wish otherwise. Let's see 8 years of GW Bush, 8 years of his Dad, 8 years of Bluff Bill, 8 years of Hillary - followed by 8 years of Jeb Bush, followed by 8 years of, yeah, Chelsea Clinton. That's a screaming nightmare.
Heart warming yet great food for the brain too, 11 Jan 2008
I frequently found myself grinning warmly from ear to ear while working through "The Audacity of Hope". The material was so refreshing, engaging, and uplifting - yet without becoming naive or sloppy. As a Brit, I didn't know much about Obama before, but I can now appreciate why so many people have been attracted to his presidential campaign.
The chapters on Family, on Race, and on Faith were especially poignant and refreshing. Barack is self-depracating, yet determined and focused. There's a great mix of personal history, the history of politics, and the philosophy of politics.
Some have said that there's little real content to the book. I disagree. There's serious political thought here, masterfully presented. What's more, Barack leads me to believe he'll be able to bring out the best of the people that he would bump up against in while in a position of leadership. So even if he himself lacks expertise in a particular topic, he'll be able to attract people who do know enough about the topic, to work closely and well with him.
In short, the book succeeds in generating strong hope.
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Customer Reviews
must read, 27 Jun 2008
I was stunned at
a. what a good writer Obama is and
b. how balanced and thoughtful he is about the challenges facing America.
Without any preconceptions I ended the book confident that if he is to become president, America would have a very intelligent and practical man at the helm who is more interested in solving problems than winning political points.
I can't recommend it enough.
A very satisfying read, written with intelligence and clarity, 07 May 2008
If only more politicians would allow themselves the time and integrity to sit down and write such a book before or whilst in office.
Barack Obama writes with intelligence and clarity, but in a language that is accessible to all. A born politician some might say, he represents both sides of any story, alienating no-one and never being judgmental, but always carefully thoughtful. A gifted storyteller, Obama draws on his own life experience and reflection to fit real life issues into the broader policy spectrum.
The book is carefully ordered starting with his background (community projects before law school) and upbringing (multicultural) he aspires to demonstrate himself as a man of the American people and in this way builds our trust. He then uses his intimate knowledge of the American constitution to bring it alive for us - a great précis for those of us with little American constitutional knowledge - before talking openly and honestly about intrinsic challenge of politics for politicians (`how I or anybody...can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth'). For me this was the most interesting part and widens the relevance of the book beyond American politics.
Occasionally allowing himself to sideswipe opponents (Mr Keyes, p211) but doing so in a gentlemanly fashion - he uses the time we invest in his book to give us his side of the picture behind the press headline or 90 second news clip. The book ends with a chapter on Family, giving us a taste of the effect of Obama's work on his family and their lives. This last insight into Obama's personal life leaves a good taste in the reader's mouth and reminds us he is human. And like a true gentleman - he gives the final word to his wife.
My only critisism is that after such a detailed discussion of Amercian politics, business and social issues his single chapter addressing the rest of the world comes across as being pretty lightweight. His views on future world economy and security are conventional and inward looking. His views on the challenges facing the future of the world could be written by an American CEO - focusing on trade and competition. Global warming is mentioned only twice by my count. But then this book is about 'The Audacity of Hope' and written by an American politician.
Lets hope he can retain that `kernal of truth' as he goes forward.
Audacity of Hope, 15 Mar 2008
'Audacity Of Hope' looks at some ideas in American politics and Obamas own take on them. It looks at things such as Democrat and Republican relations, Race, Faith, Americas relationship internationally and general politics. Obama comes across as someone with a great deal of integrity and common sense. He seems to want to work across political ideological lines for the benefit of America in general. I guess any self penned book will be slightly biased, but for an idea of what Obama believes in and a look at some of his ideas to remedy a selection of Americas ills, you can't go much wrong in starting with this book. Considering he may be the next President, and after reading this lets hope with all of our fibre that he is, it is well worth reading about the beliefs of who could be the worlds most influential man. Clear, eloquent, well reasoned and argued and insightful into his character and ideals. Well worth a read.
excellent, but will he win?, 03 Mar 2008
I enjoyed this refreshing book. In cynical times, surrounded by cynical politicians, Obama is a stream of fresh air. But will the Democratic Machine in America allow him the chance to win the nomination - or are Americans content to see Bush-Clinton dynasties continue for years and years? I suspect it's possible they're content with another Clinton, Shrillary. I wish otherwise. Maybe Obama is too human to be a politician in the USA. Again, I wish otherwise. Let's see 8 years of GW Bush, 8 years of his Dad, 8 years of Bluff Bill, 8 years of Hillary - followed by 8 years of Jeb Bush, followed by 8 years of, yeah, Chelsea Clinton. That's a screaming nightmare.
Heart warming yet great food for the brain too, 11 Jan 2008
I frequently found myself grinning warmly from ear to ear while working through "The Audacity of Hope". The material was so refreshing, engaging, and uplifting - yet without becoming naive or sloppy. As a Brit, I didn't know much about Obama before, but I can now appreciate why so many people have been attracted to his presidential campaign.
The chapters on Family, on Race, and on Faith were especially poignant and refreshing. Barack is self-depracating, yet determined and focused. There's a great mix of personal history, the history of politics, and the philosophy of politics.
Some have said that there's little real content to the book. I disagree. There's serious political thought here, masterfully presented. What's more, Barack leads me to believe he'll be able to bring out the best of the people that he would bump up against in while in a position of leadership. So even if he himself lacks expertise in a particular topic, he'll be able to attract people who do know enough about the topic, to work closely and well with him.
In short, the book succeeds in generating strong hope.
A book for every good driver, 09 Aug 2008
Don't be fooled by the new cover on the most recent issue of Roadcraft. This book is not just for Advanced Police drivers but for everyone who has a keen interest in driving and for driving safely. As a traffic cop myself it is the bible for all the courses, however, it also takes drivers who have passed the DVLA standard test and through very well laid out sections, teaches them a whole different approach to their driving.
Without giving too much away, it teaches drivers to adopt a proven system of car control which WILL improve anticipation and observation skills dramatically amongst many other things.
A very worthwhile read indeed.
The Police Driver's Handbook, 10 Feb 2007
For anybody interested in motoring, it gives an insight into advanced driving techniques. For those of us who passed their driving test when Adam was a lad, it is well worth a read. An excellent and well written book.
Excellent, 05 Jan 2007
A very necessary book to take u on from the basic test. Do not think that this will teach u all the art of high speed driving and fast car attitudes as it wont. But stops short for obvious reasons so u will get as much as legally possible to make u a very well improved driver. This book is used not only by Police driving schools but also international drivers as well. The whole Police advanced course is based and tested on this book u will not go wrong. A good supplement to this is the roadcraft DVD which covers the book visually. I have used this book for over 15 years and highly recommend it.
Roadcraft - honest opinion, 17 Mar 2005
This book covers all the relevant knowledge required for safe,systematic driving and as the book describes, the safe use of "driving to the system". It helps everyone finally understand why it is their driving that causes accidents and not the vehicles they drive. It covers cornering,steering, use of gears, overtaking (which is legal you know, regardless of people sticking their fingers up at you for doing it and flashing you when you have plenty of room and don't sacrifice anyones safety to do it !), skidding and how to correct it and much more including drivers behaviours and tips on how to generally drive safely (not necessarily slowly !). It enables any driver to observe everything around him, anticipate any hazards before its too late. This book is well worth a read if you are not the most confident of drivers or indeed you have had a few accidents and think you have learnt because the stats in this book will shock you. The only criticism of this book is that to explain a relatively straight forward task, does involve long winded words, which for some people they would find taxing and quite boring. But with a dictionary to hand, you would be fine. If it is used to train police officers, which i think from what i see living in London everyday, it does a good job ! enjoy. AW.
Read & Read Again, 17 Jan 2004
Before you get in a car it is worth while reading this Handbook. It is simple things like Cornering & stopping positions that we ALL take for granted. This book covers most topics with Illustrations.When you read the book again after it all fits in to place. It perhaps won't make you a better driver, but a safer one!!
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Mao: The Unknown Story
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Jung ChangJon Halliday;
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Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £5.01
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Customer Reviews
must read, 27 Jun 2008
I was stunned at
a. what a good writer Obama is and
b. how balanced and thoughtful he is about the challenges facing America.
Without any preconceptions I ended the book confident that if he is to become president, America would have a very intelligent and practical man at the helm who is more interested in solving problems than winning political points.
I can't recommend it enough.
A very satisfying read, written with intelligence and clarity, 07 May 2008
If only more politicians would allow themselves the time and integrity to sit down and write such a book before or whilst in office.
Barack Obama writes with intelligence and clarity, but in a language that is accessible to all. A born politician some might say, he represents both sides of any story, alienating no-one and never being judgmental, but always carefully thoughtful. A gifted storyteller, Obama draws on his own life experience and reflection to fit real life issues into the broader policy spectrum.
The book is carefully ordered starting with his background (community projects before law school) and upbringing (multicultural) he aspires to demonstrate himself as a man of the American people and in this way builds our trust. He then uses his intimate knowledge of the American constitution to bring it alive for us - a great précis for those of us with little American constitutional knowledge - before talking openly and honestly about intrinsic challenge of politics for politicians (`how I or anybody...can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth'). For me this was the most interesting part and widens the relevance of the book beyond American politics.
Occasionally allowing himself to sideswipe opponents (Mr Keyes, p211) but doing so in a gentlemanly fashion - he uses the time we invest in his book to give us his side of the picture behind the press headline or 90 second news clip. The book ends with a chapter on Family, giving us a taste of the effect of Obama's work on his family and their lives. This last insight into Obama's personal life leaves a good taste in the reader's mouth and reminds us he is human. And like a true gentleman - he gives the final word to his wife.
My only critisism is that after such a detailed discussion of Amercian politics, business and social issues his single chapter addressing the rest of the world comes across as being pretty lightweight. His views on future world economy and security are conventional and inward looking. His views on the challenges facing the future of the world could be written by an American CEO - focusing on trade and competition. Global warming is mentioned only twice by my count. But then this book is about 'The Audacity of Hope' and written by an American politician.
Lets hope he can retain that `kernal of truth' as he goes forward.
Audacity of Hope, 15 Mar 2008
'Audacity Of Hope' looks at some ideas in American politics and Obamas own take on them. It looks at things such as Democrat and Republican relations, Race, Faith, Americas relationship internationally and general politics. Obama comes across as someone with a great deal of integrity and common sense. He seems to want to work across political ideological lines for the benefit of America in general. I guess any self penned book will be slightly biased, but for an idea of what Obama believes in and a look at some of his ideas to remedy a selection of Americas ills, you can't go much wrong in starting with this book. Considering he may be the next President, and after reading this lets hope with all of our fibre that he is, it is well worth reading about the beliefs of who could be the worlds most influential man. Clear, eloquent, well reasoned and argued and insightful into his character and ideals. Well worth a read.
excellent, but will he win?, 03 Mar 2008
I enjoyed this refreshing book. In cynical times, surrounded by cynical politicians, Obama is a stream of fresh air. But will the Democratic Machine in America allow him the chance to win the nomination - or are Americans content to see Bush-Clinton dynasties continue for years and years? I suspect it's possible they're content with another Clinton, Shrillary. I wish otherwise. Maybe Obama is too human to be a politician in the USA. Again, I wish otherwise. Let's see 8 years of GW Bush, 8 years of his Dad, 8 years of Bluff Bill, 8 years of Hillary - followed by 8 years of Jeb Bush, followed by 8 years of, yeah, Chelsea Clinton. That's a screaming nightmare.
Heart warming yet great food for the brain too, 11 Jan 2008
I frequently found myself grinning warmly from ear to ear while working through "The Audacity of Hope". The material was so refreshing, engaging, and uplifting - yet without becoming naive or sloppy. As a Brit, I didn't know much about Obama before, but I can now appreciate why so many people have been attracted to his presidential campaign.
The chapters on Family, on Race, and on Faith were especially poignant and refreshing. Barack is self-depracating, yet determined and focused. There's a great mix of personal history, the history of politics, and the philosophy of politics.
Some have said that there's little real content to the book. I disagree. There's serious political thought here, masterfully presented. What's more, Barack leads me to believe he'll be able to bring out the best of the people that he would bump up against in while in a position of leadership. So even if he himself lacks expertise in a particular topic, he'll be able to attract people who do know enough about the topic, to work closely and well with him.
In short, the book succeeds in generating strong hope.
A book for every good driver, 09 Aug 2008
Don't be fooled by the new cover on the most recent issue of Roadcraft. This book is not just for Advanced Police drivers but for everyone who has a keen interest in driving and for driving safely. As a traffic cop myself it is the bible for all the courses, however, it also takes drivers who have passed the DVLA standard test and through very well laid out sections, teaches them a whole different approach to their driving.
Without giving too much away, it teaches drivers to adopt a proven system of car control which WILL improve anticipation and observation skills dramatically amongst many other things.
A very worthwhile read indeed.
The Police Driver's Handbook, 10 Feb 2007
For anybody interested in motoring, it gives an insight into advanced driving techniques. For those of us who passed their driving test when Adam was a lad, it is well worth a read. An excellent and well written book.
Excellent, 05 Jan 2007
A very necessary book to take u on from the basic test. Do not think that this will teach u all the art of high speed driving and fast car attitudes as it wont. But stops short for obvious reasons so u will get as much as legally possible to make u a very well improved driver. This book is used not only by Police driving schools but also international drivers as well. The whole Police advanced course is based and tested on this book u will not go wrong. A good supplement to this is the roadcraft DVD which covers the book visually. I have used this book for over 15 years and highly recommend it.
Roadcraft - honest opinion, 17 Mar 2005
This book covers all the relevant knowledge required for safe,systematic driving and as the book describes, the safe use of "driving to the system". It helps everyone finally understand why it is their driving that causes accidents and not the vehicles they drive. It covers cornering,steering, use of gears, overtaking (which is legal you know, regardless of people sticking their fingers up at you for doing it and flashing you when you have plenty of room and don't sacrifice anyones safety to do it !), skidding and how to correct it and much more including drivers behaviours and tips on how to generally drive safely (not necessarily slowly !). It enables any driver to observe everything around him, anticipate any hazards before its too late. This book is well worth a read if you are not the most confident of drivers or indeed you have had a few accidents and think you have learnt because the stats in this book will shock you. The only criticism of this book is that to explain a relatively straight forward task, does involve long winded words, which for some people they would find taxing and quite boring. But with a dictionary to hand, you would be fine. If it is used to train police officers, which i think from what i see living in London everyday, it does a good job ! enjoy. AW.
Read & Read Again, 17 Jan 2004
Before you get in a car it is worth while reading this Handbook. It is simple things like Cornering & stopping positions that we ALL take for granted. This book covers most topics with Illustrations.When you read the book again after it all fits in to place. It perhaps won't make you a better driver, but a safer one!!
Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.
Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.
The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.
Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.
The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.
The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.
I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.
To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.
Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.
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Customer Reviews
must read, 27 Jun 2008
I was stunned at
a. what a good writer Obama is and
b. how balanced and thoughtful he is about the challenges facing America.
Without any preconceptions I ended the book confident that if he is to become president, America would have a very intelligent and practical man at the helm who is more interested in solving problems than winning political points.
I can't recommend it enough.
A very satisfying read, written with intelligence and clarity, 07 May 2008
If only more politicians would allow themselves the time and integrity to sit down and write such a book before or whilst in office.
Barack Obama writes with intelligence and clarity, but in a language that is accessible to all. A born politician some might say, he represents both sides of any story, alienating no-one and never being judgmental, but always carefully thoughtful. A gifted storyteller, Obama draws on his own life experience and reflection to fit real life issues into the broader policy spectrum.
The book is carefully ordered starting with his background (community projects before law school) and upbringing (multicultural) he aspires to demonstrate himself as a man of the American people and in this way builds our trust. He then uses his intimate knowledge of the American constitution to bring it alive for us - a great précis for those of us with little American constitutional knowledge - before talking openly and honestly about intrinsic challenge of politics for politicians (`how I or anybody...can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth'). For me this was the most interesting part and widens the relevance of the book beyond American politics.
Occasionally allowing himself to sideswipe opponents (Mr Keyes, p211) but doing so in a gentlemanly fashion - he uses the time we invest in his book to give us his side of the picture behind the press headline or 90 second news clip. The book ends with a chapter on Family, giving us a taste of the effect of Obama's work on his family and their lives. This last insight into Obama's personal life leaves a good taste in the reader's mouth and reminds us he is human. And like a true gentleman - he gives the final word to his wife.
My only critisism is that after such a detailed discussion of Amercian politics, business and social issues his single chapter addressing the rest of the world comes across as being pretty lightweight. His views on future world economy and security are conventional and inward looking. His views on the challenges facing the future of the world could be written by an American CEO - focusing on trade and competition. Global warming is mentioned only twice by my count. But then this book is about 'The Audacity of Hope' and written by an American politician.
Lets hope he can retain that `kernal of truth' as he goes forward.
Audacity of Hope, 15 Mar 2008
'Audacity Of Hope' looks at some ideas in American politics and Obamas own take on them. It looks at things such as Democrat and Republican relations, Race, Faith, Americas relationship internationally and general politics. Obama comes across as someone with a great deal of integrity and common sense. He seems to want to work across political ideological lines for the benefit of America in general. I guess any self penned book will be slightly biased, but for an idea of what Obama believes in and a look at some of his ideas to remedy a selection of Americas ills, you can't go much wrong in starting with this book. Considering he may be the next President, and after reading this lets hope with all of our fibre that he is, it is well worth reading about the beliefs of who could be the worlds most influential man. Clear, eloquent, well reasoned and argued and insightful into his character and ideals. Well worth a read.
excellent, but will he win?, 03 Mar 2008
I enjoyed this refreshing book. In cynical times, surrounded by cynical politicians, Obama is a stream of fresh air. But will the Democratic Machine in America allow him the chance to win the nomination - or are Americans content to see Bush-Clinton dynasties continue for years and years? I suspect it's possible they're content with another Clinton, Shrillary. I wish otherwise. Maybe Obama is too human to be a politician in the USA. Again, I wish otherwise. Let's see 8 years of GW Bush, 8 years of his Dad, 8 years of Bluff Bill, 8 years of Hillary - followed by 8 years of Jeb Bush, followed by 8 years of, yeah, Chelsea Clinton. That's a screaming nightmare.
Heart warming yet great food for the brain too, 11 Jan 2008
I frequently found myself grinning warmly from ear to ear while working through "The Audacity of Hope". The material was so refreshing, engaging, and uplifting - yet without becoming naive or sloppy. As a Brit, I didn't know much about Obama before, but I can now appreciate why so many people have been attracted to his presidential campaign.
The chapters on Family, on Race, and on Faith were especially poignant and refreshing. Barack is self-depracating, yet determined and focused. There's a great mix of personal history, the history of politics, and the philosophy of politics.
Some have said that there's little real content to the book. I disagree. There's serious political thought here, masterfully presented. What's more, Barack leads me to believe he'll be able to bring out the best of the people that he would bump up against in while in a position of leadership. So even if he himself lacks expertise in a particular topic, he'll be able to attract people who do know enough about the topic, to work closely and well with him.
In short, the book succeeds in generating strong hope.
A book for every good driver, 09 Aug 2008
Don't be fooled by the new cover on the most recent issue of Roadcraft. This book is not just for Advanced Police drivers but for everyone who has a keen interest in driving and for driving safely. As a traffic cop myself it is the bible for all the courses, however, it also takes drivers who have passed the DVLA standard test and through very well laid out sections, teaches them a whole different approach to their driving.
Without giving too much away, it teaches drivers to adopt a proven system of car control which WILL improve anticipation and observation skills dramatically amongst many other things.
A very worthwhile read indeed.
The Police Driver's Handbook, 10 Feb 2007
For anybody interested in motoring, it gives an insight into advanced driving techniques. For those of us who passed their driving test when Adam was a lad, it is well worth a read. An excellent and well written book.
Excellent, 05 Jan 2007
A very necessary book to take u on from the basic test. Do not think that this will teach u all the art of high speed driving and fast car attitudes as it wont. But stops short for obvious reasons so u will get as much as legally possible to make u a very well improved driver. This book is used not only by Police driving schools but also international drivers as well. The whole Police advanced course is based and tested on this book u will not go wrong. A good supplement to this is the roadcraft DVD which covers the book visually. I have used this book for over 15 years and highly recommend it.
Roadcraft - honest opinion, 17 Mar 2005
This book covers all the relevant knowledge required for safe,systematic driving and as the book describes, the safe use of "driving to the system". It helps everyone finally understand why it is their driving that causes accidents and not the vehicles they drive. It covers cornering,steering, use of gears, overtaking (which is legal you know, regardless of people sticking their fingers up at you for doing it and flashing you when you have plenty of room and don't sacrifice anyones safety to do it !), skidding and how to correct it and much more including drivers behaviours and tips on how to generally drive safely (not necessarily slowly !). It enables any driver to observe everything around him, anticipate any hazards before its too late. This book is well worth a read if you are not the most confident of drivers or indeed you have had a few accidents and think you have learnt because the stats in this book will shock you. The only criticism of this book is that to explain a relatively straight forward task, does involve long winded words, which for some people they would find taxing and quite boring. But with a dictionary to hand, you would be fine. If it is used to train police officers, which i think from what i see living in London everyday, it does a good job ! enjoy. AW.
Read & Read Again, 17 Jan 2004
Before you get in a car it is worth while reading this Handbook. It is simple things like Cornering & stopping positions that we ALL take for granted. This book covers most topics with Illustrations.When you read the book again after it all fits in to place. It perhaps won't make you a better driver, but a safer one!!
Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.
Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.
The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.
Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.
The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.
The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.
I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.
To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.
Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.
Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles.
Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.
The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.
I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new.
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The Faith of Barack Obama
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Customer Reviews
must read, 27 Jun 2008
I was stunned at
a. what a good writer Obama is and
b. how balanced and thoughtful he is about the challenges facing America.
Without any preconceptions I ended the book confident that if he is to become president, America would have a very intelligent and practical man at the helm who is more interested in solving problems than winning political points.
I can't recommend it enough.
A very satisfying read, written with intelligence and clarity, 07 May 2008
If only more politicians would allow themselves the time and integrity to sit down and write such a book before or whilst in office.
Barack Obama writes with intelligence and clarity, but in a language that is accessible to all. A born politician some might say, he represents both sides of any story, alienating no-one and never being judgmental, but always carefully thoughtful. A gifted storyteller, Obama draws on his own life experience and reflection to fit real life issues into the broader policy spectrum.
The book is carefully ordered starting with his background (community projects before law school) and upbringing (multicultural) he aspires to demonstrate himself as a man of the American people and in this way builds our trust. He then uses his intimate knowledge of the American constitution to bring it alive for us - a great précis for those of us with little American constitutional knowledge - before talking openly and honestly about intrinsic challenge of politics for politicians (`how I or anybody...can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth'). For me this was the most interesting part and widens the relevance of the book beyond American politics.
Occasionally allowing himself to sideswipe opponents (Mr Keyes, p211) but doing so in a gentlemanly fashion - he uses the time we invest in his book to give us his side of the picture behind the press headline or 90 second news clip. The book ends with a chapter on Family, giving us a taste of the effect of Obama's work on his family and their lives. This last insight into Obama's personal life leaves a good taste in the reader's mouth and reminds us he is human. And like a true gentleman - he gives the final word to his wife.
My only critisism is that after such a detailed discussion of Amercian politics, business and social issues his single chapter addressing the rest of the world comes across as being pretty lightweight. His views on future world economy and security are conventional and inward looking. His views on the challenges facing the future of the world could be written by an American CEO - focusing on trade and competition. Global warming is mentioned only twice by my count. But then this book is about 'The Audacity of Hope' and written by an American politician.
Lets hope he can retain that `kernal of truth' as he goes forward.
Audacity of Hope, 15 Mar 2008
'Audacity Of Hope' looks at some ideas in American politics and Obamas own take on them. It looks at things such as Democrat and Republican relations, Race, Faith, Americas relationship internationally and general politics. Obama comes across as someone with a great deal of integrity and common sense. He seems to want to work across political ideological lines for the benefit of America in general. I guess any self penned book will be slightly biased, but for an idea of what Obama believes in and a look at some of his ideas to remedy a selection of Americas ills, you can't go much wrong in starting with this book. Considering he may be the next President, and after reading this lets hope with all of our fibre that he is, it is well worth reading about the beliefs of who could be the worlds most influential man. Clear, eloquent, well reasoned and argued and insightful into his character and ideals. Well worth a read.
excellent, but will he win?, 03 Mar 2008
I enjoyed this refreshing book. In cynical times, surrounded by cynical politicians, Obama is a stream of fresh air. But will the Democratic Machine in America allow him the chance to win the nomination - or are Americans content to see Bush-Clinton dynasties continue for years and years? I suspect it's possible they're content with another Clinton, Shrillary. I wish otherwise. Maybe Obama is too human to be a politician in the USA. Again, I wish otherwise. Let's see 8 years of GW Bush, 8 years of his Dad, 8 years of Bluff Bill, 8 years of Hillary - followed by 8 years of Jeb Bush, followed by 8 years of, yeah, Chelsea Clinton. That's a screaming nightmare.
Heart warming yet great food for the brain too, 11 Jan 2008
I frequently found myself grinning warmly from ear to ear while working through "The Audacity of Hope". The material was so refreshing, engaging, and uplifting - yet without becoming naive or sloppy. As a Brit, I didn't know much about Obama before, but I can now appreciate why so many people have been attracted to his presidential campaign.
The chapters on Family, on Race, and on Faith were especially poignant and refreshing. Barack is self-depracating, yet determined and focused. There's a great mix of personal history, the history of politics, and the philosophy of politics.
Some have said that there's little real content to the book. I disagree. There's serious political thought here, masterfully presented. What's more, Barack leads me to believe he'll be able to bring out the best of the people that he would bump up against in while in a position of leadership. So even if he himself lacks expertise in a particular topic, he'll be able to attract people who do know enough about the topic, to work closely and well with him.
In short, the book succeeds in generating strong hope.
A book for every good driver, 09 Aug 2008
Don't be fooled by the new cover on the most recent issue of Roadcraft. This book is not just for Advanced Police drivers but for everyone who has a keen interest in driving and for driving safely. As a traffic cop myself it is the bible for all the courses, however, it also takes drivers who have passed the DVLA standard test and through very well laid out sections, teaches them a whole different approach to their driving.
Without giving too much away, it teaches drivers to adopt a proven system of car control which WILL improve anticipation and observation skills dramatically amongst many other things.
A very worthwhile read indeed.
The Police Driver's Handbook, 10 Feb 2007
For anybody interested in motoring, it gives an insight into advanced driving techniques. For those of us who passed their driving test when Adam was a lad, it is well worth a read. An excellent and well written book.
Excellent, 05 Jan 2007
A very necessary book to take u on from the basic test. Do not think that this will teach u all the art of high speed driving and fast car attitudes as it wont. But stops short for obvious reasons so u will get as much as legally possible to make u a very well improved driver. This book is used not only by Police driving schools but also international drivers as well. The whole Police advanced course is based and tested on this book u will not go wrong. A good supplement to this is the roadcraft DVD which covers the book visually. I have used this book for over 15 years and highly recommend it.
Roadcraft - honest opinion, 17 Mar 2005
This book covers all the relevant knowledge required for safe,systematic driving and as the book describes, the safe use of "driving to the system". It helps everyone finally understand why it is their driving that causes accidents and not the vehicles they drive. It covers cornering,steering, use of gears, overtaking (which is legal you know, regardless of people sticking their fingers up at you for doing it and flashing you when you have plenty of room and don't sacrifice anyones safety to do it !), skidding and how to correct it and much more including drivers behaviours and tips on how to generally drive safely (not necessarily slowly !). It enables any driver to observe everything around him, anticipate any hazards before its too late. This book is well worth a read if you are not the most confident of drivers or indeed you have had a few accidents and think you have learnt because the stats in this book will shock you. The only criticism of this book is that to explain a relatively straight forward task, does involve long winded words, which for some people they would find taxing and quite boring. But with a dictionary to hand, you would be fine. If it is used to train police officers, which i think from what i see living in London everyday, it does a good job ! enjoy. AW.
Read & Read Again, 17 Jan 2004
Before you get in a car it is worth while reading this Handbook. It is simple things like Cornering & stopping positions that we ALL take for granted. This book covers most topics with Illustrations.When you read the book again after it all fits in to place. It perhaps won't make you a better driver, but a safer one!!
Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.
Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.
The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.
Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.
The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.
The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.
I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.
To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.
Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.
Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles.
Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.
The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.
I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new.
Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.
The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.
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Customer Reviews
must read, 27 Jun 2008
I was stunned at
a. what a good writer Obama is and
b. how balanced and thoughtful he is about the challenges facing America.
Without any preconceptions I ended the book confident that if he is to become president, America would have a very intelligent and practical man at the helm who is more interested in solving problems than winning political points.
I can't recommend it enough. A very satisfying read, written with intelligence and clarity, 07 May 2008
If only more politicians would allow themselves the time and integrity to sit down and write such a book before or whilst in office.
Barack Obama writes with intelligence and clarity, but in a language that is accessible to all. A born politician some might say, he represents both sides of any story, alienating no-one and never being judgmental, but always carefully thoughtful. A gifted storyteller, Obama draws on his own life experience and reflection to fit real life issues into the broader policy spectrum.
The book is carefully ordered starting with his background (community projects before law school) and upbringing (multicultural) he aspires to demonstrate himself as a man of the American people and in this way builds our trust. He then uses his intimate knowledge of the American constitution to bring it alive for us - a great précis for those of us with little American constitutional knowledge - before talking openly and honestly about intrinsic challenge of politics for politicians (`how I or anybody...can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth'). For me this was the most interesting part and widens the relevance of the book beyond American politics.
Occasionally allowing himself to sideswipe opponents (Mr Keyes, p211) but doing so in a gentlemanly fashion - he uses the time we invest in his book to give us his side of the picture behind the press headline or 90 second news clip. The book ends with a chapter on Family, giving us a taste of the effect of Obama's work on his family and their lives. This last insight into Obama's personal life leaves a good taste in the reader's mouth and reminds us he is human. And like a true gentleman - he gives the final word to his wife.
My only critisism is that after such a detailed discussion of Amercian politics, business and social issues his single chapter addressing the rest of the world comes across as being pretty lightweight. His views on future world economy and security are conventional and inward looking. His views on the challenges facing the future of the world could be written by an American CEO - focusing on trade and competition. Global warming is mentioned only twice by my count. But then this book is about 'The Audacity of Hope' and written by an American politician.
Lets hope he can retain that `kernal of truth' as he goes forward. Audacity of Hope, 15 Mar 2008
'Audacity Of Hope' looks at some ideas in American politics and Obamas own take on them. It looks at things such as Democrat and Republican relations, Race, Faith, Americas relationship internationally and general politics. Obama comes across as someone with a great deal of integrity and common sense. He seems to want to work across political ideological lines for the benefit of America in general. I guess any self penned book will be slightly biased, but for an idea of what Obama believes in and a look at some of his ideas to remedy a selection of Americas ills, you can't go much wrong in starting with this book. Considering he may be the next President, and after reading this lets hope with all of our fibre that he is, it is well worth reading about the beliefs of who could be the worlds most influential man. Clear, eloquent, well reasoned and argued and insightful into his character and ideals. Well worth a read. excellent, but will he win?, 03 Mar 2008
I enjoyed this refreshing book. In cynical times, surrounded by cynical politicians, Obama is a stream of fresh air. But will the Democratic Machine in America allow him the chance to win the nomination - or are Americans content to see Bush-Clinton dynasties continue for years and years? I suspect it's possible they're content with another Clinton, Shrillary. I wish otherwise. Maybe Obama is too human to be a politician in the USA. Again, I wish otherwise. Let's see 8 years of GW Bush, 8 years of his Dad, 8 years of Bluff Bill, 8 years of Hillary - followed by 8 years of Jeb Bush, followed by 8 years of, yeah, Chelsea Clinton. That's a screaming nightmare. Heart warming yet great food for the brain too, 11 Jan 2008
I frequently found myself grinning warmly from ear to ear while working through "The Audacity of Hope". The material was so refreshing, engaging, and uplifting - yet without becoming naive or sloppy. As a Brit, I didn't know much about Obama before, but I can now appreciate why so many people have been attracted to his presidential campaign.
The chapters on Family, on Race, and on Faith were especially poignant and refreshing. Barack is self-depracating, yet determined and focused. There's a great mix of personal history, the history of politics, and the philosophy of politics.
Some have said that there's little real content to the book. I disagree. There's serious political thought here, masterfully presented. What's more, Barack leads me to believe he'll be able to bring out the best of the people that he would bump up against in while in a position of leadership. So even if he himself lacks expertise in a particular topic, he'll be able to attract people who do know enough about the topic, to work closely and well with him.
In short, the book succeeds in generating strong hope. A book for every good driver, 09 Aug 2008
Don't be fooled by the new cover on the most recent issue of Roadcraft. This book is not just for Advanced Police drivers but for everyone who has a keen interest in driving and for driving safely. As a traffic cop myself it is the bible for all the courses, however, it also takes drivers who have passed the DVLA standard test and through very well laid out sections, teaches them a whole different approach to their driving.
Without giving too much away, it teaches drivers to adopt a proven system of car control which WILL improve anticipation and observation skills dramatically amongst many other things.
A very worthwhile read indeed. The Police Driver's Handbook, 10 Feb 2007
For anybody interested in motoring, it gives an insight into advanced driving techniques. For those of us who passed their driving test when Adam was a lad, it is well worth a read. An excellent and well written book. Excellent, 05 Jan 2007
A very necessary book to take u on from the basic test. Do not think that this will teach u all the art of high speed driving and fast car attitudes as it wont. But stops short for obvious reasons so u will get as much as legally possible to make u a very well improved driver. This book is used not only by Police driving schools but also international drivers as well. The whole Police advanced course is based and tested on this book u will not go wrong. A good supplement to this is the roadcraft DVD which covers the book visually. I have used this book for over 15 years and highly recommend it. Roadcraft - honest opinion, 17 Mar 2005
This book covers all the relevant knowledge required for safe,systematic driving and as the book describes, the safe use of "driving to the system". It helps everyone finally understand why it is their driving that causes accidents and not the vehicles they drive. It covers cornering,steering, use of gears, overtaking (which is legal you know, regardless of people sticking their fingers up at you for doing it and flashing you when you have plenty of room and don't sacrifice anyones safety to do it !), skidding and how to correct it and much more including drivers behaviours and tips on how to generally drive safely (not necessarily slowly !). It enables any driver to observe everything around him, anticipate any hazards before its too late. This book is well worth a read if you are not the most confident of drivers or indeed you have had a few accidents and think you have learnt because the stats in this book will shock you. The only criticism of this book is that to explain a relatively straight forward task, does involve long winded words, which for some people they would find taxing and quite boring. But with a dictionary to hand, you would be fine. If it is used to train police officers, which i think from what i see living in London everyday, it does a good job ! enjoy. AW. Read & Read Again, 17 Jan 2004
Before you get in a car it is worth while reading this Handbook. It is simple things like Cornering & stopping positions that we ALL take for granted. This book covers most topics with Illustrations.When you read the book again after it all fits in to place. It perhaps won't make you a better driver, but a safer one!! Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes. Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read. The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led. Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.
The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.
The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.
I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.
To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book. Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you. Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles. Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.
The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.
I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new. Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.
The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President. Helped Me To Exam Success, 08 Oct 2003
The Oxford Concise Political Dictionary is a must have for all those with even the slightest bit of interest in Politics. Having been designed for the use by Undergraduates and those in Politics it has almost everything you could desire in terms of Poltical Jargon and Terminology. I ordered it for my A-Level and it has proved to be an extensive help allowing me to have the extra bit more knowledge than the other books provides and giving me access to the grades that i thought impossible. It provides different ideologies views on the different subjects of politics and even has an appendix at the back full of the Political leaders of Russia, U.K., India, China, NATO and many other countries. This Dictionary with all of it's 1,700 entries has provided me and can provide you with incredibly useful knowledge for the future. I would recommend this book to all those who are either studying Politics at various levels or have jobs in Politics and even if it's just an interest in current affairs i would recommend it. A truly fantastic buy. Great - a must have for essay writing, 02 Mar 2002
This book was primarily compiled by professors at Warwick University, where I am a student. When I realised this, I thought it was a ploy to get students to give them money. However, since using it, I wouldn't be with out it. While not every political word is included, it has basic summaries of key concepts as well as more technical explanations. If you are at all uncertain or you're looking for a good definition of a word, this should be your first stop. If you're a politics student or just curious, this is a cheap book that provides you with a great deal of information.
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Customer Reviews
must read, 27 Jun 2008
I was stunned at
a. what a good writer Obama is and
b. how balanced and thoughtful he is about the challenges facing America.
Without any preconceptions I ended the book confident that if he is to become president, America would have a very intelligent and practical man at the helm who is more interested in solving problems than winning political points.
I can't recommend it enough.
A very satisfying read, written with intelligence and clarity, 07 May 2008
If only more politicians would allow themselves the time and integrity to sit down and write such a book before or whilst in office.
Barack Obama writes with intelligence and clarity, but in a language that is accessible to all. A born politician some might say, he represents both sides of any story, alienating no-one and never being judgmental, but always carefully thoughtful. A gifted storyteller, Obama draws on his own life experience and reflection to fit real life issues into the broader policy spectrum.
The book is carefully ordered starting with his background (community projects before law school) and upbringing (multicultural) he aspires to demonstrate himself as a man of the American people and in this way builds our trust. He then uses his intimate knowledge of the American constitution to bring it alive for us - a great précis for those of us with little American constitutional knowledge - before talking openly and honestly about intrinsic challenge of politics for politicians (`how I or anybody...can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth'). For me this was the most interesting part and widens the relevance of the book beyond American politics.
Occasionally allowing himself to sideswipe opponents (Mr Keyes, p211) but doing so in a gentlemanly fashion - he uses the time we invest in his book to give us his side of the picture behind the press headline or 90 second news clip. The book ends with a chapter on Family, giving us a taste of the effect of Obama's work on his family and their lives. This last insight into Obama's personal life leaves a good taste in the reader's mouth and reminds us he is human. And like a true gentleman - he gives the final word to his wife.
My only critisism is that after such a detailed discussion of Amercian politics, business and social issues his single chapter addressing the rest of the world comes across as being pretty lightweight. His views on future world economy and security are conventional and inward looking. His views on the challenges facing the future of the world could be written by an American CEO - focusing on trade and competition. Global warming is mentioned only twice by my count. But then this book is about 'The Audacity of Hope' and written by an American politician.
Lets hope he can retain that `kernal of truth' as he goes forward.
Audacity of Hope, 15 Mar 2008
'Audacity Of Hope' looks at some ideas in American politics and Obamas own take on them. It looks at things such as Democrat and Republican relations, Race, Faith, Americas relationship internationally and general politics. Obama comes across as someone with a great deal of integrity and common sense. He seems to want to work across political ideological lines for the benefit of America in general. I guess any self penned book will be slightly biased, but for an idea of what Obama believes in and a look at some of his ideas to remedy a selection of Americas ills, you can't go much wrong in starting with this book. Considering he may be the next President, and after reading this lets hope with all of our fibre that he is, it is well worth reading about the beliefs of who could be the worlds most influential man. Clear, eloquent, well reasoned and argued and insightful into his character and ideals. Well worth a read.
excellent, but will he win?, 03 Mar 2008
I enjoyed this refreshing book. In cynical times, surrounded by cynical politicians, Obama is a stream of fresh air. But will the Democratic Machine in America allow him the chance to win the nomination - or are Americans content to see Bush-Clinton dynasties continue for years and years? I suspect it's possible they're content with another Clinton, Shrillary. I wish otherwise. Maybe Obama is too human to be a politician in the USA. Again, I wish otherwise. Let's see 8 years of GW Bush, 8 years of his Dad, 8 years of Bluff Bill, 8 years of Hillary - followed by 8 years of Jeb Bush, followed by 8 years of, yeah, Chelsea Clinton. That's a screaming nightmare.
Heart warming yet great food for the brain too, 11 Jan 2008
I frequently found myself grinning warmly from ear to ear while working through "The Audacity of Hope". The material was so refreshing, engaging, and uplifting - yet without becoming naive or sloppy. As a Brit, I didn't know much about Obama before, but I can now appreciate why so many people have been attracted to his presidential campaign.
The chapters on Family, on Race, and on Faith were especially poignant and refreshing. Barack is self-depracating, yet determined and focused. There's a great mix of personal history, the history of politics, and the philosophy of politics.
Some have said that there's little real content to the book. I disagree. There's serious political thought here, masterfully presented. What's more, Barack leads me to believe he'll be able to bring out the best of the people that he would bump up against in while in a position of leadership. So even if he himself lacks expertise in a particular topic, he'll be able to attract people who do know enough about the topic, to work closely and well with him.
In short, the book succeeds in generating strong hope.
A book for every good driver, 09 Aug 2008
Don't be fooled by the new cover on the most recent issue of Roadcraft. This book is not just for Advanced Police drivers but for everyone who has a keen interest in driving and for driving safely. As a traffic cop myself it is the bible for all the courses, however, it also takes drivers who have passed the DVLA standard test and through very well laid out sections, teaches them a whole different approach to their driving.
Without giving too much away, it teaches drivers to adopt a proven system of car control which WILL improve anticipation and observation skills dramatically amongst many other things.
A very worthwhile read indeed.
The Police Driver's Handbook, 10 Feb 2007
For anybody interested in motoring, it gives an insight into advanced driving techniques. For those of us who passed their driving test when Adam was a lad, it is well worth a read. An excellent and well written book.
Excellent, 05 Jan 2007
A very necessary book to take u on from the basic test. Do not think that this will teach u all the art of high speed driving and fast car attitudes as it wont. But stops short for obvious reasons so u will get as much as legally possible to make u a very well improved driver. This book is used not only by Police driving schools but also international drivers as well. The whole Police advanced course is based and tested on this book u will not go wrong. A good supplement to this is the roadcraft DVD which covers the book visually. I have used this book for over 15 years and highly recommend it.
Roadcraft - honest opinion, 17 Mar 2005
This book covers all the relevant knowledge required for safe,systematic driving and as the book describes, the safe use of "driving to the system". It helps everyone finally understand why it is their driving that causes accidents and not the vehicles they drive. It covers cornering,steering, use of gears, overtaking (which is legal you know, regardless of people sticking their fingers up at you for doing it and flashing you when you have plenty of room and don't sacrifice anyones safety to do it !), skidding and how to correct it and much more including drivers behaviours and tips on how to generally drive safely (not necessarily slowly !). It enables any driver to observe everything around him, anticipate any hazards before its too late. This book is well worth a read if you are not the most confident of drivers or indeed you have had a few accidents and think you have learnt because the stats in this book will shock you. The only criticism of this book is that to explain a relatively straight forward task, does involve long winded words, which for some people they would find taxing and quite boring. But with a dictionary to hand, you would be fine. If it is used to train police officers, which i think from what i see living in London everyday, it does a good job ! enjoy. AW.
Read & Read Again, 17 Jan 2004
Before you get in a car it is worth while reading this Handbook. It is simple things like Cornering & stopping positions that we ALL take for granted. This book covers most topics with Illustrations.When you read the book again after it all fits in to place. It perhaps won't make you a better driver, but a safer one!!
Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or ex | | |