Audacity of Hope
Market worth: ₹ 499
Book Condition: Pre Loved
Description
Audacity of Hope
Barack Obamas first book, Dreams from My Father , was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope , Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves r Barack Obamas first book, Dreams from My Father , was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope , Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves repairing a political process that is broken and restoring a government that has fallen out of touch with the people. Amazon.com had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politicssee his responses below. Q: How did writing a book that you knew would be read so closely by so many compare to writing your first book, when few people knew who you were A: In many ways, Dreams from My Father was harder to write. At that point, I wasnt even sure that I could write a book. And writing the first book really was a process of self-discovery, since it touched on my family and my childhood in a much more intimate way. On the other hand, writing The Audacity of Hope paralleled the work that I do every daytrying to give shape to all the issues that we face as a country, and providing my own personal stamp on them. Q: What is your writing process like You have such a busy schedule, how did you find time to write A: Im a night owl, so I usually wrote at night after my Senate day was over, and after my family was afrom 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outlinecertain themes or stories that I wanted to telland get them down in longhand on a yellow pad. Then Id edit while typing in what Id written. Q: If readers are to come away from The Audacity of Hope with one action item a New Years Resolution for 2007, perhaps, what should it be A: Get involved in an issue that youre passionate about. It almost doesnt matter what it isimproving the school system, developing strategies to wean ourselves off foreign oil, expanding health care for kids. We give too much of our power away, to the professional politicians, to the lobbyists, to cynicism. And our democracy suffers as a result. Q: Youre known for being able to work with people across ideological lines. Is that possible in todays polarized Washington A: It is possible. There are a lot of well-meaning people in both political parties. Unfortunately, the political culture tends to emphasize conflict, the media emphasizes conflict, and the structure of our campaigns rewards the negative. I write about these obstacles in chapter 4 of my book, Politics. When you focus on solving problems instead of scoring political points, and emphasize common sense over ideology, youd be surprised what can be accomplished. It also helps if youre willing to give other people creditsomething politicians have a hard time doing sometimes. Q: How do you make people passionate about moderate and complex ideas A: I think the country recognizes that the challenges we face arent amenable to sound-bite solutions. People are looking for serious solutions to complex problems. I dont think we need more moderation per seI think we should be bolder in promoting universal health care, or dealing with global warming. We just need to understand that actually solving these problems wont be easy, and that whatever solutions we come up with will require consensus among groups with divergent interests. That means everybody has to listen, and everybody has to give a little. Thats not easy to do. Q: What has surprised you most about the way Washington works A: How little serious debate and deliberation takes place on the floor of the House or the Senate. Q: You talk about how we have a personal responsibility to educate our children. What small thing can the average parent or person do to help improve the educational system in America What small thing can make a big impact A: Nothing has a bigger impact than reading to children early in life. Obviously we all have a personal obligation to turn off the TV and read to our own children but beyond that, participating in a literacy program, working with parents who themselves may have difficulty reading, helping their children with their literacy skills, can make a huge difference in a childs life. Q: Do you ever find time to read What kinds of books do you try to make time for What is on your nightstand now A: Unfortunately, I had very little time to read while I was writing. Im trying to make up for lost time now. My tastes are pretty eclectic. I just finished Marilynne Robinsons Gilead , a wonderful book. The language just shimmers. Ive started Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which is a great study of Lincoln as a political strategist. I read just about anything by Toni Morrison, E.L. Doctorow, or Philip Roth. And Ive got a soft spot for John le Carre. Q: What inspires you How do you stay motivated A: Im inspired by the people I meet in my travelshearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. Im inspired by the love people have for their children. And Im inspired by my own children, how full they make my heart. They make me want to work to make the world a little bit better. And they make me want to be a better man.
Details
Title | Audacity of Hope |
---|---|
Author | Barack Obama |
ISBN-13 | 9781847670830 |
ISBN-10 | 1847670830 |
Publisher | RHCP |
Language | English |
Edition | NA |
---|---|
Height | 198 mm |
Width | 129 mm |
Thickness | 26 mm |
Binding | Paperback |
Pages | 384 |