Book Review Series- Episode II: The Audacity of Hope By Barack Obama

Second in the series of summer book reviews is The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama.

This book has been a part of my reading list for a very long time. I have always been an ardent reader of all things politics. Following political discourses that hold national as well as international relevance has been a loved avocation. Given that Barack Obama was one of the most celebrated presidents of the United States and his presidential run was nothing short of spectacular, I really looked forward to reading this book by him. From controversies to worldwide admiration, he has been one of the most loved leaders of the most powerful nation in the world. So I wanted to have an insight into the thought process with which he dealt the crisis he faced. This book fulfilled my purpose. 

The Audacity of Hope is a book written in anecdotal style that elaborates upon his thinking, personal dilemmas, balance between his personal and professional life and his way of finding a way to work out through all of it. 

The Audacity of Hope

Genre

Non-fiction

Language

The book is written in a first-person format and the simplicity of the language has added a personal touch to it. Obama's public addresses and television appearances usually went viral with the public showering love on him for he exudes a positive energy and a feeling of belongingness. He made sure to translate the same warmth in his book because when you read it, it feels as if you're having a personal conversation with him. 

Format

The chapters have been divided into various segments focusing on the important aspects of Obama's life. From family to education and his belief in religion, each and every chapter has been carefully designed to follow a simple sequence which makes it easier for the readers to follow along with his thoughts and consequent actions.

The Idea

If you're looking to have a balanced analysis of the political decisions that Obama took during his tenure, then this book might not answer your questions. Given that it is written by the former President himself, it would be naive to expect a balanced dissection of his own work in his words. It is impressive to see that instead of boasting of honest revelations, he has kept it real and admits to a lack of unequivocal investigation which can be found in his book into the political decisions that he took. However, if you aim to have an insight into the personal life of Obama and how that affected or contributed towards his own policies, his decisions and his outlook towards global politics, this is the right text for you. It is a simple yet inspirational text that might not spill the beans on any spicy political secret but it will definitely encourage you to observe life in a way that you can learn a lot more from your daily struggles.

Personally, I felt that this book is a page-turner. I had to read some lines again to register and remember them because the narration is so beautiful that I have rarely seen such simple yet effective articulation of human emotions.