In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency - a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes listeners on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4th 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation's highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of US partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings listeners inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about US strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout and authorises Operation Neptune's Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.

A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective - the story of one man's bet with history, the faith of a community organiser tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of 'hope and change', and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama's conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.

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Product details

Listening Length	29 hours and 10 minutes
Author	Barack Obama
Narrator	Barack Obama
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	17 November 2020
Publisher	Penguin Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B08JCV95VB
Best Sellers Rank	3 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 1 in Biographies of Politicians 1 in 21st Century U.S. History 1 in United States History (Audible Books & Originals)

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Top reviews from Australia

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Radha from Downunder

A book written from the heart. Magnificent!

Reviewed in Australia on 10 December 2020

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I’ve waited a long time for the man with the most amazing smile in the world; who speaks from the heart and who, against all odds, became the President of America - to write this book.
He didn’t disappoint! I couldn’t put it down!
All I can is buy the book. I’m certain you won’t be able to put I’d down either!!

5 people found this helpful

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Andrew Desmond

Brilliant Book. Recommended.

Reviewed in Australia on 8 December 2020

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I have read his previous books (“Dreams from My Father” and “The Audacity of Hope”) and enjoyed them both. The first is an autobiography of his early life and the second is more of a policy document. In the case of “A Promised Land”, it falls somewhere in between. It covers his life from his rise in Illinois politics, through to his time in the US Senate and finishes with his early years as US President up to the time of the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The book is both long in terms of the number of pages (greater than seven hundred) as well as long on details. However, Obama is such a great wordsmith that to read the book is a pleasure. It simply glides along. I was disappointed to reach the end. I certainly look forward to the second volume.

As one reads “A Promised Land”, it is impossible not to be drawn into a comparison between Obama and the incumbent US President. Obama is erudite, contemplative and wise. It is simply impossible to attribute any of these characteristics to the man presently in the Oval Office.

In sum, for any reader with even the slightest interest in US politics, history or society, this book is most highly recommended.

3 people found this helpful

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Yug

An inspiring book

Reviewed in Australia on 9 December 2020

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This is a very personal account of Barack Obama's journey to the presidency and his first term as president. It is very well written and therefore very readable. There are several remarkable issues that are highlighted(1) His work ethic, during his accession to the Illinois State Legislature, his success in being elected to the US Senate and then his success at being elected President. This work ethic continued throughout his Presidency. (2) His personal input to the various issues that emerged (3) his loyalty to his well selected staff (4) The Republican Party's horror that a black family was occupying the White House. This has led to Republican Senators blocking all of Obama's initiatives regardless of their merit and regardless of whether the initiative is in America's National interest or not.

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You can hear Obama's voice with every word

Reviewed in Australia on 14 January 2021

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In this is tremendous memoir, you can hear Obama's voice with every word. The first 200 or so pages begin with Obama writing about his life prior to his being elected president. This is introduction is particularly entertaining. In writing about his time as President, he places himself and the decisions he makes in a broad historical context, often summarising histories (the GFC, Israel/Palestine conflict ect.) for example. This is helpful as there's no assumption about the reader's prior knowledge of such histories, which lead up to Obama writing about his own place in these histories. Obama is matter of fact when necessary; his prose is imbued with the warmth, sensitivity, occasional humor and urgency. The final chapter left me breathless (I won't give it away here), and absolutely left me hanging for the next instalment. I very much admired Obama prior to reading this book; I finished it with a far deeper admiration and understanding of his legacy.

One person found this helpful

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Verinder Mehta

Great read

Reviewed in Australia on 22 November 2020

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Obama is just an effortless communicator, whether writing or speaking, he is just fantastic to listen to and read. Thoroughly enjoyed this purchase and made all the better by a prompt service from Amazon.

3 people found this helpful

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Prashant Sinha

Candid story telling from a Genius.

Reviewed in Australia on 22 November 2020

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Amazing read...Enjoying the candid story telling covering an honest account of background scenery that happened at the highest level. Still long way to go in finishing this book, but I know it will get more interesting from where I got to in last 2 days of getting my hands on this much awaited book.

One person found this helpful

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Mrs M

Ehhh. Not capturing me.

Reviewed in Australia on 14 January 2021

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I am an absolute die hard fan of the obamas and everything they represent but so far the book is not capturing me and is almost to the point of too descriptive and wordy. ( Im 130 pages in) I hope it gets better.

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Gerard johnston

Absolutely riveting

Reviewed in Australia on 21 December 2020

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I had read Barack Obama's previous book on his family at the time he was a Democratic candidate and was impressed by the calibre of the man. This latest book only further enhances that impression - he is erudite, yet easy to read and comes across as a decent human being with a social conscience.

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Top reviews from other countries

James M.

Boring!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on 24 November 2020

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Boring!!!!!!!!

3,233 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Very disappointed

Reviewed in the United States on 28 November 2020

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Very disappointed, this was a I love myself and anyone who doesn’t love me is wrong story.

3,135 people found this helpful

Pebbles

Absolutely a great read! Refreshing! :-)

Reviewed in the United States on 18 November 2020

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If you would like to see and read an educated person speak his truth and hide nothing in the process, this is the book to purchase. It is refreshing to read something a book from a Great President of this time. With all the drama and racism his' family had to deal with in the WH, shows how mature they truly are. He still managed to be a kind spirit to anyone and everyone he has met, so far. Compared to the people who have turned it into a Fun House, full of clowns. This book is very enlightening to his' life and to his' journey. So, thank you Mr. President for all of you and Ms. First Lady hard work! Keep up the good work, Mr. Obama. God bless you and your lovely family!

2,639 people found this helpful

Rick & Zen

Promise without Land, for Land without Promise

Reviewed in the United States on 18 November 2020

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Promise without Land, for Land without Promise.

2,881 people found this helpful

jill

Yeah Right

Reviewed in the United States on 26 November 2020

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I believe you may have mis-labeled this as non-fiction.

2,556 people found this helpful

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