Barack Obama

The Story

By: David Maraniss

Narrated by: David Maraniss

From the author of First in His Class, the definitive biography of Bill Clinton; When Pride Still Mattered, the best-selling biography of Vince Lombardi; and They Marched into Sunlight, the classic saga of the Vietnam era - a stunning new multigenerational biography of Barack Obama.

In a groundbreaking work based on hundreds of interviews, including with President Obama, and a trove of letters, journals, and other documents, one of our preeminent journalists presents a richly textured account of Barack Obama and the forces that shaped him.

This book begins in Kansas and Kenya, decades before Obama was born, and ends as he prepares for a political life. The listener gains a deeper insight into the first black president of the United States, revealing as never before the arc of his history, character, contradictions, and ambition. As with First in His Class, Maraniss's seminal book will redefine a president.

This seamless narrative moves through generations and around the world, evoking time and place so vividly that readers feel they are there. Maraniss explodes the myths as he explores the difficult and colorful lives of the president's forebears and then follows young Barack from Hawaii to Indonesia to Los Angeles to New York to Chicago as he struggles with self-identity and searches for home.

©2012 David Maraniss (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

Not what I expected

I guess I didn’t read the description of this book carefully, because I thought it would be about his White House years. iI think I confused this book with the one I actually wanted. May I have a credit so I can download the one I actually wanted?

A Story of an Unusual Life, Remarkably Researched

What made the experience of listening to Barack Obama the most enjoyable?

The intriguing details in this book of Obama's life prior to his entry into politics were a result of amazingly intricate research. Even street addresses of relatively minor characters are given, and many of Obama's far flung friends and family who are still alive were interviewed. These details were woven into a well told story that provided an intimate picture of the young man and insight into his present character. I have just acquired Dreams from my Father and, at this point, cannot decide which book should be read first. It is obvious from gentle comments in Maraniss' book that Obama's account of his life is told from the bias that is inevitable in personal memories of the past. This is true of everyone. I now plan to read other books by Obama himself.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course Obama himself was my favorite, but the stories involving his mother totally changed my view of her. Maraniss enables the reader to understand even flawed characters.

Have you listened to any of David Maraniss’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but his performance was excellent. I believe that only he could have pronounced the exotic names of people and places with such fluency

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My reaction was not extreme other than the enjoyment I had in listening to it

What a book!

The author's reading of the book added greatly to the enjoyment of it. His pronunciation of the names of individuals and the many places in the book is wonderful. He points out factual errors in Mr. Obama's memoir, "Dreams from my Father", but makes it clear that the purpose of the book is not to debunk that prior book. He very carefully explains why it is impossible that the president was born anywhere but in Hawaii. He talks very honestly about Obama, Sr. and his personality flaws and failings. He describes in great detail Obama's three years at a Catholic school in Jakarta, his time in high school in Hawaii as part of a weed club and the state champs basketball team, his two years at Occidental College, his two years at Columbia and his three years working in Chicago before law school. And then the book ends with a simple chronology of highlights of the years to come. There is nothing about Obama's various campaigns or his presidency.

Recommended!!

Fair

If you're looking for WONDERFUL things to hear about Barack Obama, this is not necessarily the book to read. Conversely, if you're looking for NASTY things to hear about Barack Obama, this is not necessary the book to read. What you will find is a very fair and extensive biographical account. No one could accuse David Maraniss of taking "sides". He has compiled a thorough story of Obama's life and it is for the reader to sift through his descriptions to come to your own conclusions about why Barack Obama is who he is. Is it nurture or nature.

Great Book - Boring Reader

Would you consider the audio edition of Barack Obama to be better than the print version?

No

Would you be willing to try another one of David Maraniss’s performances?

NO. This reader was very boring in his delivery. I would have really enjoyed this book and got it for a long road trip. But the reader was so boring I had to stop listening. Now I will read the book instead.

Balanced and informative

Maraniss does a nice job providing the context for Barack Obama's life, with extensive treatment of the lives of his grandparents and parents. The story ends with a young Barack Obama as a community organizer in Chicago, so the "politician" aspect of Obama must wait for a later volume. Michelle, the future First Lady, has not even come along in Barack's life by the conclusion of the book. Place matters to this author. The reader learns a lot about the dusty plains of 20th century Kansas and Oklahoma; post-colonial Kenya and Indonesia; the basketball courts of an elite private school in Hawaii; college life at Occidental and Columbia. The result is richly descriptive.

I was surprised at the relatively limited role Obama's mother played in his life, virtually abandoning him to the care of his grandparents in order to pursue her various lovers and career goals. We learn much about her life, as well as the complex life of Obama senior...long after he has any direct connection to his son's life. Much of the work seems to be Maraniss providing a more balanced, much needed corrective to Obama's memoir Dreams of My Father.....especially some of the characters Obama "invented" or combined in his memoir. Maraniss does this gently and soberly, with no apparent desire to engage in Obama-bashing, merely to help provide a more accurate first draft of history based on extended interviews with the President and many, many friends and family members.

I have mixed emotions about Maraniss as narrator. There is something genuine, comforting, and authentic about hearing the author read his own words. On the other hand, he speaks with a thick Wisconsin accent (I happen to like it, others might find it an acquired taste). What's more, his voice often sounds dry and raspy...like a friend who is recovering from a bad cold or allergies. One often wishes he would take a break, drink some tea, and get some rest before continuing. This results in some rather abrupt transitions from hoarseness to a sudden new, seemingly refreshed voice(the next day in the recording studio?)

Great read!!

Where does Barack Obama rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book was engaging and compelling. The author went back generations on his mother's and father's side. The book showed how both sides contributed to the person he became and the President he has become: more intimate than a typical political biography. Great!!

Read this one

if you going to read one biography of Obama make this one yet. it's honest, truthful, and engaging. hope you enjoy it!

Not Quite What I hoped For

The book is well written. However it dwells a lot on speculation of motivations. Also, his family backstory is way too detailed. Finally, The story ends when he is accepted to Harvard. I expected at least some insight on policy, marriage, experiences in the White House, etc.. I do feel like I have a better understanding of the man, so that was a plus.

EXTREMELY thorough!

He really did his background research. Chock full of details from the Presidents background...before he ran for President. Almost zero political info, but very clear background on the influences on his life.