Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

I get intimidated by long reviews, so I will keep this one short:

Obama, as a writer, is incredibly articulate and meticulous. As politicians go, he's honest with his mishaps and up front with his “reckless” behavior in his past, which was really quite tame for the average well-intending American.

Through reading this book, I came to see that Obama is very human like the rest of us, yet has the insight, dedication, and cultural experience that few of us have the chance to absorb out of life. His struggle with multi-racial identity, his frustration with uncooperative people, his stubbornness to succeed in his ambitions, and his open-minded attitude towards people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds are apparent in his stories of his childhood, then young adulthood, and visit to Africa to explore his (1/2-)roots.

I would not say this is an intense read. There is a humbleness and mildness to his writing that made this book a very leisurely and mind-opening experience.

Interesting to have finished this on Inauguration Day. Obama has a fascinating family history, complex in the way that all families can be, especially with those who are only partially known to us. He's a phenomenal writer and I enjoyed this glimpse into the past.

The most fascinating points of this book are the details of Obama's family structure and his coming of age and awareness of his roots. I love how the narrative depicts a learning process and maturation. What I find most appealing about this man (as candidate or as writer) is his earnestness. Despite his sophistication, I really believe that he operates out of a genuine hope and desire to bring people together, to reconcile diverse viewpoints. Obviously, his background makes him uniquely suited to do this.