Political memoirs and biographies can often play it safe and follow a rigid, detached, and ghost-written formula that rarely sparks an interest in readers looking for a more personal and organic account of the protagonists’ lives or experiences. This is where Barack Obama’s memoir and autobiography, A Promised Land, stands out and delivers so much more than expected.
Available on South Africa’s leading online retailer, Takealot.com, this memoir is not a just a technical list of events written by a third party, this is anecdotal, engaging Obama the writer at his best. Having published his first memoir back in 1995 at age 33, Dreams From My Father, Obama is a well-established and accomplished author.
At first glance, a 700-page book seems like a daunting tackle, but through careful prose and gripping storytelling, Obama makes the lengthy read feel like a journey you truly want to soak up and savour every part of – even the parts that might upset you.
In A Promised Land, Obama recounts his entire life journey. From his early youth as a wanderer whose roots and upbringing weaved its way between Kenya, Hawaii, and Indonesia and the lessons he learnt from his mother and grandparents as well as how he found himself interested in politics after a lackadaisical student career.
The memoir also takes stock of Obama’s notable moments as well as candidly airing his shortcomings where he felt he did not reach all his goals going into his presidency period – from the issue of immigration reform to the USA’s foreign affair issues. Obama also talks the Trump campaign and his thoughts of why that election worked in Trump’s favour on the heels of the nation’s first black president’s chapter coming to an end and recounts nostalgic moments he has around the White House during his eight-year run.
A Promised Land is so much more than a lengthy presidential biography, it’s a personal insight into what life is like when your job title happens to be 'Commander in Chief'. As a reader, you feel enthralled and drawn the inner circle, in to the story and off of the side-lines of history.
Overall, it’s a captivating read for book lovers and political enthusiasts alike. The memoir, available on Takealot.com now, makes a perfect Christmas gift for yourself or someone else this festive season. Order it online to be swiftly delivered to your doorstep in time for ‘Santa’s’ delivery.
This post is sponsored by Takealot produced by BrandStudio24 for News24.