Amazon.com
Barack Obama's 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. We had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics--see his responses below. --Daphne Durham
20 Second Interview: A Few Words with Barack Obama
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 wasn't 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 day--trying 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: I'm a night owl, so I usually wrote at night after my Senate day was over, and after my family was asleep--from 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outline--certain themes or stories that I wanted to tell--and get them down in longhand on a yellow pad. Then I'd edit while typing in what I'd written.
Q: If readers are to come away from The Audacity of Hope with one action item (a New Year's Resolution for 2007, perhaps?), what should it be?
A: Get involved in an issue that you're passionate about. It almost doesn't matter what it is--improving 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: You're known for being able to work with people across ideological lines. Is that possible in today's 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, you'd be surprised what can be accomplished. It also helps if you're willing to give other people credit--something 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 aren't amenable to sound-bite solutions. People are looking for serious solutions to complex problems. I don't think we need more moderation per se--I 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 won't 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. That's 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 child's 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. I'm trying to make up for lost time now. My tastes are pretty eclectic. I just finished Marilynne Robinson's Gilead, a wonderful book. The language just shimmers. I've 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 I've got a soft spot for John le Carre.
Q: What inspires you? How do you stay motivated?
A: I'm inspired by the people I meet in my travels--hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. I'm inspired by the love people have for their children. And I'm 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.
Book Description
“A government that truly represents these Americans–that truly serves these Americans–will require a different kind of politics. That politics will need to reflect our lives as they are actually lived. It won’t be pre-packaged, ready to pull off the shelf. It will have to be constructed from the best of our traditions and will have to account for the darker aspects of our past. We will need to understand just how we got to this place, this land of warring factions and tribal hatreds. And we’ll need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break.”
–from
The Audacity of Hope
In July 2004, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Senator Obama called “the audacity of hope.”
Now, in
The Audacity of Hope, Senator Obama calls for a different brand of politics–a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces–from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media–that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment.
At the heart of this book is Senator Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats–from terrorism to pandemic–that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy–where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his stories about family, friends, members of the Senate, even the president, is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus.
A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and above all a student of history and human nature, Senator Obama has written a book of transforming power. Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, he says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there, he writes–“waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.”
Customer Reviews:
The Audacity of Hope.......2007-10-18
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
Wonderful and thoughtfull book that should be read now before the election. It will make you think. Great book!
A must read!.......2007-10-10
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I read this book a while back, and I re-read it just last week now that Obama is a major Presidential contender. This book is very well written in terms of style and syntax, plus it takes us on a journey of man grappling serioulsy with issues of hope, worth, justice, patriotism and social obligation. It seems that whatever the outcome of the election, Obama believes in decency and hope and has pledged to do his part to make this a better society. It reads well, makes you think and makes you actually glimpse an American living closer to its ideal. This is a must read!
awesome.......2007-10-10
This was am amazing book by an amazing man. Really unique viewpoint and an interesting perspective with which to view American politics. Obama is obviously brilliant and is an American political historian...love that aspect, especially. His passion for this country and making the lives of the American people better shines through on every page. His humility, honesty and humanity are refreshing. He's idealistic, but no doormat. The man has drive and ambition...wonderful qualities for someone looking to make the lives of others better. He's smart, genuine and sees the big picture...what's best for America as a whole. He gives the reader not just his opinions or snippets of American history, but also a candid look at his own personal journey. He's obviously a Democrat, but shows appreciation and admiration for some individual Repbulicans, too. Wonderfully refreshing change from the usual hatemongering between parties that has become the ugly norm in America in recent years.
Obama Stakes Out Centrist Ground.......2007-10-09
I routinely give history books five stars, but I am compelled to limit this one to four. The political manifesto is limited as a genre, and I was not quite ready after Obama's last book to be brought back down to earth. The stories in this book, while by turns sad and funny, are no longer told for their own sakes like the ones in "Dreams from my Father," but to illustrate a point. Still, Obama manages to be polemical without being strident. When they deserve it in his view, he bestows credit and even praise on individual Republicans, and quotes the sage advice that President Bush once gave him -- that he was rising so spectacularly that people on his own side might come to see him as a threat. He also has a lot of praise for his staff members, listing the more senior ones by name and telling stories of things he and they discovered at the same time.
The leading characteristic of this book is that Obama strives to be Informed about every issue he comments on. Accordingly, he attacks those on the extreme poles of the debate on all these issues for encouraging their constituents not to be informed. He will frequently say, in so many words, that while Republicans need to acknowledge X, Democrats equally need to acknowledge Y. The eighth chapter, "The World Beyond Our Borders," indicates even if his more recent rhetoric did not that if you are looking for a candidate who will get our troops out of Iraq quickly, Barack Obama is probably not your man. He reminds me of no one, in fact, so much as Bill Clinton in his knowledgeable approach to the issues, bolstered frequently by statistics.
My favorite chapters were the third chapter -- in which Obama sets forth his view of the Constitution, and talks of his respectful meeting with onetime Klansman Sen. Robert Byrd -- and the sixth chapter, where he talks about religion and his race against Alan Keyes (having discussed most of his other political opponents in the previous four chapters). While he beat Keyes handily, Keyes made him more uncomfortable than the others for his implicit charge that Obama's faith is insincere or "adulterated," the word Obama uses. From this chapter, however, I gleaned that Obama's faith is hard-won. He had higher expectations of religion perhaps than most, a higher threshhold that he insisted it meet before he would embrace it; but he is sincere. Keyes has now entered the Presidential race (his third try for his party's nomination); I suspect that more than anything he wants another crack at Obama. In the last chapter before the epilogue, we see Obama as a family man, a side of him which didn't make it into his first book.
Obama writes far more readable and entertaining books than the Clintons do -- which doesn't necessarily mean he would make a better President than either of them. But I am glad he exists. He is one of those singular people who seek to prove we as a nation are who we say we are. If I was teaching American history in an inner-city school, and was not compelled to use the same books as everyone else in the state, Obama would be one of five or so authors I would assign. (Did I mention his insights on the need to completely restructure public education, shared in the fifth chapter, "Opportunity"? He's a bit short on details of his solution here, however.) As mentioned above, I give this book four stars.
Hope and Compromise.......2007-10-04
I am particularly struck by the contrast of Obama and George W. Bush. Obama stays in touch with the masses by talking in air terminals and wherever he finds them in public. Jim Wallis (author of "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It") comments from his meeting the President:
"And he (George W. Bush) really did listen, more than presidents often do. He also asked questions. One sounded lofty, yet it resonated with those of us seated around the room: 'How do I speak to the soul of America?' My answer to that was simple: Focus on the children. Their plight is our shame, I told him, and their promise is our future. Reach them and you reach our soul. Bush nodded in agreement. The conversation was rich and deep for more than an hour and a half.
When the discussion officially ended, Bush moved around the room, talking with us individually or in small groups for another hour. I could see that his staff was anxious to whisk him away (cabinet appointments were being made that week and there were key departments yet to fill). Yet he lingered and continued to ask questions. At one point, he turned to me and said, with what I could only read as complete sincerity, 'Jim, I don't understand poor people. I've never lived with poor people or been around poor people much. I don't understand what they think and feel about a lot of things. I'm just a white Republican guy who doesn't get it. How do I get it?'"
Here, in Obama's book, Obama is an ordinary American who has entered a lofty position in Washington, but he has not forgotten the people, not only the people of America, but of Indonesia and Kenya as well.
Obama's style is assertive, with a stunning line or two for each chapter.
Still, I believe Obama isn't spot on. When he speaks of hope, for example, the word opportunity would be more exacting and prospective. While Obama speaks of compromise, it would be appropriate to examine areas of agreement, but work towards independent solutions rather than compromise.
Book Description
Kim Meeder has seen horses go where no one else can tread - stepping through the minefield of a broken child's soul in a dance of trust that only God can understand. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love washes away their barren places. Kim's ranch is a place where this miracle happens over and over again. It is a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality - a place where hope rises.
Where Wounded Spirits Run Free
Follow a horse where no one else can tread, through the minefield of pain that surrounds a broken child’s soul. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love revives their barren places.
In the presence of unconditional love, a mute girl speaks for the first time. A defiant teenager teaches a horse to trust again...and opens his own heart to love. A rescued horse gives a dying man his last wish. A battered girl finds love and protection in the friendship of a battered horse...
Come visit a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality—a place where hope rises.
Customer Reviews:
Hope Rising.......2007-10-17
Best read of 2007! A must on your Christmas giving list...Beautifully written, outrageous stories of the wonderful things that happen between hurting children and rescued horses. Hopeful words in a world of broken promises and dreams...
Beautiful.......2007-09-19
If this testimony of God's work in the lives of those at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch doesn't pierce your heart, nothing will. It is well writen and absolutely beautiful.
Simply Beautiful.......2007-08-21
Inspiring, true stories of how neglected horses and neglected children help to heal each other. This book reveals over and over again the powerful miracles that can happen when one has hope.
Outstanding true stories of wounded horses and hurting kids.......2007-05-13
Kim Meeder is not only a fabulous person; she is a gifted writer. These true stories of mistreated horses and hurting children coming together for healing and enjoyment will gladden any heart. Even if you are not a horse lover, you'll love this book. It's about "horse therapy" for suffering children and the bonds and breakthroughs that happen when kids and horses interact on a safe and secure level. Kim Meeder writes with her heart and out of personal experience.
Absolutely beautiful.......2007-05-07
I loved this book. It was full of wonderful stories and personal experiences. Very touching and inspiring.
Book Description
Cross Over Troubled Waters
Hope is like the stars—always there, yet shining brightest in the blackest of nights. It is like the dawn, always rising anew. Hope is for everyone, and that includes you. This collection of more than twenty true stories from a ranch of rescued dreams unveils the heart of true strength and the character of genuine courage. Experience for yourself the kind of love and hope that change a person from the inside out. Because sometimes, just believing in someone is enough for them to start believing in themselves. It’s the galvanizing truth that no matter how deep your pain…God’s love exceeds it still.
Sometimes, just believing in someone
is enough for them to start
believing in themselves…
Without raising his eyes to look at me, in a voice barely clearing the horizon of a whisper, he said, “I know you don’t love me… You just say that ’cuz you’re an adult and it’s kinda like your job. But I know you don’t really love me.”
Suffering and blessing balance on the same high wire, each giving stability and depth to the other. The one that we feel the most…is ultimately the one that we give the most.
It was her eyes that gave her away. The conflict of her mortal illness versus her will raged behind them. Her body shouted, “I’m sick and it’s getting harder and harder to do the things I love!” while her indomitable will shouted back, “Yeah, but I’m just a little kid, and little kids should get to ride horses!”
What a relief it is when we begin to understand that it is within our hardships that truth is elevated from our hearts to our heads.
“During the darkest days I’d ever known, I was introduced to the unconditional love of a little horse and a merciful God, and my life has never been the same,” says author Kim Meeder . And her book proves that hope is not only for us to keep…but to give.
“Stirring, encouraging, and inspirational, Bridge Called Hope reminds us that hope is heaven sent for everyone, and that we, too, can make a positive difference in others’ lives."
Eric Close
Actor
“Kim Meeder vibrantly shares—and lives—an amazing story of hope and restoration. A triumph of recovery for wounded hearts!”
Louie Giglio
Director, Passion Conferences, and bestselling author
Story Behind the Book
“I was moved to write Hope Rising and Bridge Called Hope because, when I needed it the most, someone shared hope with me and it saved my life. During the darkest days I’d ever known, I was introduced to the unconditional love of a little horse and a merciful God, and my life has never been the same. Everything in our life is about choices. We cannot control our circumstances, but we can control how we choose to feel about them. The pain that we feel in this life is certain. What is equally certain is how we choose to feel about the pain. It can destroy us—or it can define us. The choice is uniquely ours.” —Kim Meeder
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful, heart-warming book.......2007-10-16
This was a special book and now I want to read her first one. A woman who rescues horses and then ultimately changes special children's lives. Loved this book and so did my father.
As beautiful as the first! .......2007-09-19
Most sequels don't measure up to the first book, but this one is a rarity. It is as well written and beautiful as the its predecessor. I hope it's not the end of the author's writen journey.
Wonderful inspiration.......2007-09-04
This book was much like Kim's first book - "Hope Rising". Full of wonderful stories about the many horses and children who have spent time at the Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch and because of their time there, have come away with new hope about life itself. Great reading!
Keep your tissues handy.......2007-08-26
Kims stories of abused children will bring a tear to almost anyones eyes. Her writing paints a vivid image in your head, as if you are there yourself. But this is not merely a book about unwanted and abused children. It's a story of how one couple takes God's message of hope to ones who have none.
Bridge Called Hope.......2007-08-23
This was a beautiful story with and important message of reaching those who feel they are without hope in this world. the title is very appropriate and the message is one that is greatly needed in our world today. There is hope!
Book Description
Leader. Protector. Friend. Lover.
God made you to be each of these…and much more. Stu Weber ’s bestseller, now revised throughout and refreshed with an attractive new look, paints a dramatic and compelling picture of balanced manhood according to God’s vision. Written in a warm, personal style, Weber presents the characteristics of tender warriors—including learning to speak the language of women, watching out for what lies ahead, and keeping commitments—in an upfront, straightforward style that challenges readers to realize God’s plan for men.
{BANNER ACROSS TOP:}
More than 365,000 copies sold!
Some Things Are Worth Fighting For
Young men aspire to it. Women admire it. Yet the definition of manhood itself is obscured by a culture in moral free fall. This book cuts through the fog and defines a powerful blueprint for being the man—the Tender Warrior—that God desires for you and your family. You’ll discover that a Tender Warrior: watches out for what lies ahead—like a wagon train scout; keeps his commitments, no matter how painful; has a tender heart beating beneath his armor; understands his responsibility to his wife, children, and friends; recognizes that he is “under orders from higher headquarters.”
Stu Weber ’s now classic teaching on a man’s vigilance, staying power, and consideration for the women in his life will move you to pursue the man you were created to be.
Real Men Are Tender Warriors
“I drank Budweiser, smoked Marlboros, and chased women…. Tender Warrior sent me deeper into my heart and soul. When I finished it, I passed it on to a friend, who was supposed to give it back but passed it on to someone else. This book changed his life. It knocked down the walls around his heart. His response: ‘The most important thing that has happened in my life started when you sent me that book.’”
—A reader
Story Behind the Book
((no story behind. Instead, endorsements)):
“ Tender Warrior provides hope for men by challenging their assumptions and shaping their convictions. Read it. Devour it. Then live it. This is the time for real men to emerge.”
—Dennis Rainey, executive director, FamilyLife
“In a day when our culture is at once confused and concerned over gender identity, men everywhere would to do well to recalibrate their personal compasses by the biblical benchmarks found in Tender Warrior . I highly recommend this book!”
—Dr. Bruce Wilkinson , New York Times bestselling author
Customer Reviews:
Required reading for husbands.......2007-07-03
Stu Weber takes off the gloves and gives it to you straight. If you're a husband and/or father, God's word has some things you need to know. Avoid making the common mistakes and get prepared for the challenges.
A needed wake up call .......2007-06-22
This book sat on my shelf for six years before I finally picked it up. I am sorry I waited so long. I could have avoided some heartache and the mistakes I made that caused them.
"Tender Warrior" is a biblical examination of what makes a man. Using scripture, experience, and anecdotes from his own life and the lives of other men Weber uncovers some truths that have been lost to men in our society over the past few decades. He paints in broad bushstrokes that may startle and rub some the wrong way, but keep reading. You will find valuable insights straight from the pages of the bible that will challenge you to look again at yourself and reevaluate how you are doing as a man. At the end of each chapter are reflection questions for individual and group study.
There is something for all men in this book, so read it whether you are married, single, nearing the end of your journey, or just starting out.
I think I will read this book again and find some men to read it with so we can hone each other into the men that God wants us to be.
Listen up guys!.......2006-12-17
I am knee-deep into reading this wonderful book. Men, Stu Weber is the kind of guy we all like to drink a brewskie with. And when a guy like that, a guy you respect, spends some time slapping you around and helping you "get-in-line", well... you listen. So, I'm reading and I'm learning. Plain & simple, this book has helped me to become a better man.
Oustanding! .......2004-12-15
This book should be mandatory reading to every Christian male. It should be given to every young man so that he starts off his walk right. One of the best books I've ever read. Ever since I first read this book, I've given and continue to give copies to every one who I think might read it. If you can, also try to order his other books. I especially like Spirit Warriors. Do yourself, your family, and your community a favor and order Stu Weber's books.
Excellent book on being a Christian father and husband.......2004-08-21
This is an excellent and inspiring book for all men who want to be what God has called them to be. I think most men know that we're not living up to all that we could or should be, but so many of us don't know what to do about it. We're not being "real men." So many of us didn't have good role models in our own fathers, and this book can help fill in the gaps. For example, I use this book when working with young men whose wives or (more often) girlfriends are pregnant at the Crisis Pregnancy Center where my wife and I volunteer.
Now, for those of you who may be thinking "Oh no, not another 'get naked and beat tribal drums' book," Weber discusses several of the "drum beating" types of books, fairly discussing their positive points but concluding that they fall way short of where they need to in their search for authentic manhood. To find what men are made to be, you have to go back to the Author himself: past one man's personal insights into himself, past ancient tribal customs, past the "old stories": to the original Author Himself. This is a very Biblically-based book, and Weber makes no apologies for that.
Weber divides manhood into four divisions, which he calls King, Warrior, Mentor, and Friend. This general theme is discussed in some other books on manhood (as Weber admits) but not as Biblically as Weber does it. For example, another book calls them "blueprints" of a man: Weber says he prefers to think of them as "fingerprints" of the man's Creator.
But Weber doesn't hang his entire book on these four (rather arbitrary) divisions. Weber then finds a common thread throughout all of them: Initiative. I think this idea of Initiative being the core of manhood was one of the most insightful single contributions Weber makes. To quote: "Just as a compass without a needle is not a compass, a man without Initiative is not a man." Perfect.
He also very clearly shows how Initiative is not equal to being Bossy. Taking Initiative means taking initiative in helping out around the house, in saying you're sorry, in asking your wife's help, in asking "what do my wife and kids need right now that I can help with?" It's about as far from bossy or (in the tiresome language of critics) "50's Ozzie and Harriet" as you can get.
Most of the rest of the book is spent working out how the four divisions of manhood and the central thread of Initiative applies to various situations and people in a man's life. The chapter "Does Anyone Here Speak 'Woman'?" is worth the price of the book.
I only have two very tiny negative comments about the book. First, the war-time metaphors and examples from Weber's own life as an Army Ranger won't appeal to everybody. For myself, I enjoyed reading them and they helped, but found it difficult to relate in a few cases because I my background isn't the same. One can't fault Weber that much, though: he simply wrote as who he is.
Second, I think this book would be best with an older, more mature man alongside a younger one. (I am working with two younger men right now.) It might not impact a young man as strongly if given to him if he is not able to have an older (or at least same maturity level) man come alongside him. The obvious solution: be that older man. Don't just give it to your kids: work through it with them, and encourage them to work with their friends.
I also bought the audio version of this book. I have two negative comments about the audio version. First, it's only available on cassette. I wanted to give somebody a copy of it, but he can only play CDs, so I had to buy it on cassette, rip it, and burn to CD. (Yes, I did this all legally.) That was a drag, and the resulting quality is rather low. Second, the audio version is not only shorter, but actually combines two chapters from the book (9 and 10). This makes it hard to track against the book. However, it is still a positive for those who are auditory learners and have more time to listen than to read. As most men probably fall into this category, I hope the publisher will consider bringing the audio version out on CD.
In summary: get this book, read it, highlight it, re-read it, work through it with your friends. And watch God turn you into the man you know you were created to be.
Book Description
The First Biographical Portrait Ever of This Key Political Figure
Written by a leading journalist and filled with more than 100 color photographs, this authoritative and up-to-the-moment new biography provides much-needed perspective on one of the most important figures on the national political stage.
An lively overview of Obama’s life, this timely book begins with his difficult childhood as the son of a Kansas-born college student and a black Kenyan who abandoned the family, moving through his election to president of the Harvard Law Review (the first black student ever), his early political career (including his loss of a congressional race in 2000), his own family life with wife Michelle and two daughters, his 2004 election to U.S. Senator, and his emergence as a symbol of hope for America. Including his own words and comments from both his critics and supporters, Hopes and Dreams is essential reading for all those interested in the man who is being talked about as a candidate for our highest office.
No political figure in recent memory has generated the interest that Obama has, and many compare his appeal to that of a rock star. Only forty-five years old, Barack Obama is certain to play an important role in America’s future. Here is his inspiring story to date, in words and revealing images.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful book.......2007-09-06
It is more of an outline than a fully fleshed out view of Senator Obama, but very well written. The photos are fantastic, also. I would suggest delving deeper after reading this by purchasing the 'Audacity of Hope', which really shows the depths of this man's knowledge on not only political but social complexities that have shaped his life and helped mold him into one of the most amazing candidates of a generation.
Senator for All.......2007-05-15
This is a plus for all who have dreams not yet fulfilled.
One of the best books I have ever purchased.
Great Pictures.......2007-03-28
I just brought it last night in Walden Books for the same price. Great Pictures entire book is on glossy paper.
Book Description
Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu has long been admired throughout the world for the heroism and grace he exhibited while encouraging countless South Africans in their struggle for human rights. In God Has a Dream, his most soul-searching book, he shares the spiritual message that guided him through those troubled times. Drawing on personal and historical examples, Archbishop Tutu reaches out to readers of all religious backgrounds, showing how individual and global suffering can be transformed into joy and redemption. With his characteristic humor, Tutu offers an extremely personal and liberating message. He helps us to “see with the eyes of the heart” and to cultivate the qualities of love, forgiveness, humility, generosity, and courage that we need to change ourselves and our world.
Echoing the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., he writes, “God says to you, ‘I have a dream. Please help me to realize it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts. When there will be more laughter, joy, and peace, where there will be justice and goodness and compassion and love and caring and sharing. I have a dream that my children will know that they are members of one family, the human family, God’s family, my family.’”
Addressing the timeless and universal concerns all people share, God Has a Dream envisions a world transformed through hope and compassion, humility and kindness, understanding and forgiveness.
Download Description
Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu has long been admired throughout the world for the heroism and grace he exhibited while encouraging countless South Africans in their struggle for human rights. In God Has a Dream, his most soul-searching book, he shares the spiritual message that guided him through those troubled times. Drawing on personal and historical examples, Archbishop Tutu reaches out to readers of all religious backgrounds, showing how individual and global suffering can be transformed into joy and redemption. With his characteristic humor, Tutu offers an extremely personal and liberating message. He helps us to "see with the eyes of the heart" and to cultivate the qualities of love, forgiveness, humility, generosity, and courage that we need to change ourselves and our world.
Echoing the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., he writes, "God says to you, 'I have a dream. Please help me to realize it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts. When there will be more laughter, joy, and peace, where there will be justice and goodness and compassion and love and caring and sharing. I have a dream that my children will know that they are members of one family, the human family, God's family, my family.'"
Addressing the timeless and universal concerns all people share, God Has a Dream envisions a world transformed through hope and compassion, humility and kindness, understanding and forgiveness.
"I have the highest regard for my good and trusted friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I admire him for the wonderful, warm person he is and especially for the human principles he upholds, and I have no doubt that readers will enjoy and benefit from what he has to say in God Has a Dream."
HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA
"Desmond Tutu shows each of us how to transform our pain and sorrow into hope and confidence in the future. Whether you are the head of a country or the head of a household, you will cherish his words."
NELSON MANDELA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE RECIPIENT
"Archbishop Desmond Tutu, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. before him, has offered us a luminous vision of love and hope. God Has a Dream shows us how our personal and global suffering can be transformed into joy and redemption. With his great warmth and compassion, Archbishop Tutu offers a spiritual message that if heeded can change lives as well as history."
JIMMY CARTER, 39TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE RECIPIENT
"Like Desmond Tutu's life, this book is a testament to the power of faith and optimism in human affairs."
SENATOR GEORGE J. MITCHELL
Customer Reviews:
Love, Charity and Devotion to Jesus Christ.......2007-09-14
What an eloquent writer! Bishop Tutu writes so beautifully, especially when he describes the Love of God. The concept of transfiguration is explained in a passage about the cross which truly brought me closer to my Lord. Dear Christian brothers and sisters: read this book and be prepared to have your prejudices and fears about other people shattered by the Love of God.
A terrific study course on reconciliation!.......2007-05-14
I am leading a group study at St. John's Cathedral in Jacksonville, Florida using this beautiful book of meditations by Bishop Tutu. There are discussion question after each chapter.
perfect.......2007-03-11
The book came in in a short amount of time, and was in great condition.
This book should be required reading for every American.......2007-01-09
Desmond Tutu is a man of morals and conscience with the courage of his convictions. This book should be required reading for every school student. Better yet, invite him to talk -- he is outstanding!
Book review.......2007-01-04
A wonderful book that has so many good points. This book is full of love, compassion, and sharing attributes. Gentleness and forgiveness for all seems to be the theme throughout the book.
Customer Reviews:
Filling a void.......2007-07-19
The subject of this book is a grave problem. As a church employee, I have found that few churches adequately address it. I rate the book highly because it brings to relief that which we have been missing: the aloneness of women. The boomer generation has an _increasingly_ single pop. of women, whether through divorce or widowhood. Then there are those who live like singles due to stringent demands on time and travel for their spouses from the job-and the spouse's church involvement (!) Since _both_ sexes are called upon to be disciples, not one, we must adequately address this area of need.
Althought I value this book, I wish there were more books which dealt this issue within a church context with the seriousness that it demands.
Men are disengaged.......2007-06-14
The pages of this book are filled with the real reason women in our churches are frustrated; men are disengaged. I have given the book a rating of 1 only due to the fact that Mrs. George accurately reports on what women are saying. I do recommend reading this book as it relates to what women are experiencing. Pastor, the solutions can be found in helping the men of your church find Christ and mature in Him. If our churches truly want to minister to women and children it is imperative to re-engage men. Check out Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow.
Book Description
Extraordinary Women is a book about precisely that-extraordinary women, though not in the roles we usually see them. Each of the 58 prominent women in this insightful book was asked what they dreamed of becoming when they were children; they were then photographed in that role. Thus, former secretary of state Madeline Albright can be seen as a chess champion, actress Linda Carter as an Olympic athlete, gymnast Dominic Dawes as a justice of the Supreme Court, feminist Betty Friedan as a mystery writer.
But it's not just about the pictures. It's also about the interviews, in which each woman discusses what she'd hoped to achieve as a child and what she has achieved as an adult. Featuring an eclectic array of talented women from journalist Ann Curry to star soprano Denyce Graves to activist Dorothy Height, Extraordinary Women is an original and inspirational testament to women who helped change our world in ways they themselves could never have dreamed possible. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Hand to Hand Eviction Prevention Program and the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, D.C.
Customer Reviews:
great present for a woman with everything.......2006-06-27
I bought this for a friend and everyone at the party loved it - was passed around and got rave reviews - the friend was very pleased with her gift.
lazyreaders.com book selection for June 2006.......2006-06-20
If you have a daughter, wife, mother or niece who is graduating from anywhere, this is the perfect gift. The book of terrific photographs from Clay Blackmore of 58 women documents their aspirations as children before succeeding in other areas (e.g. former secretary of state Madeline Albright, the chess champion; Olympic gymnast Dominic Dawes, the Supreme Court Justice; etc.). I love books like this. To find this book and other cool short book club recommendations, go to [...].
Perfect for the Estraordinary Women in your life........2006-05-29
An exceptional gift book for the special women in your life.
Beautiful book.......2006-05-04
The book is a great gift for Mother's Day or any extraordinary women you may know. It features 58 women from all walks of life and doesn't just concentrate on celebrities. You learn about these women, who they are and the accomplishments they have made - while finding out what they always wanted to be when they were children. It's really well done and a beautiful coffee table book.
Added benefit - some of the proceeds go to charity to help inner city kids and families.
Book Description
This "nimble" book provides a pithy, funny, almost schizophrenic examination of all the arguments that I can think of, pro and con, on the subject of Senator Barack Obama's suitability for the office of President. My promise to you is that no matter how much you already know about Obama, this book will present you with new information and new perspectives. This is a "living" book that will be updated electronically every few months. This edition was last modified on October 17, 2006. The next update will occur in November 2006 with the addition of fifty pages devoted to analysis of DREAMS FROM MY FATHER and AUDACITY OF HOPE. Current purchasers can receive future updates for free by sending proof of purchase via e-mail to obama@nimblebooks.com.
Customer Reviews:
Barack Obama review.......2007-06-08
The book was a bit convoluted at times, but I did get some new information. I like the online updates option.
Book Description
Born and bred in a working class environment in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen has, over the past 30 years, established himself as one of the most influential songwriters and performers in American popular music. Winner of three Grammy Awards for The Rising, he continues to entertain and inspire millions of fans around the world. Also born and bred in a working-class New Jersey home was photographer Frank Stefanko, who crossed paths with Springsteen thanks to an introduction by a mutual friend, musician Patti Smith. This meeting spurred a photographic collaboration that lasted five years and produced cover photos for two of Springsteen's most significant albums, Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River. Stefanko's archive of several thousand Springsteen photos has never been published-that is, until now. Days of Hope and Dreams presents an unforgettable selection of Stefanko's most significant and most personal images from his time working with Springsteen, and Stefanko's recollections offer behind-the-scenes stories of his work and friendship with this legendary musical talent. Featuring a fascinating introduction written by The Boss himself, this is a must-have guide for Springsteen fans and music lovers everywhere!
Customer Reviews:
friendship.......2006-10-10
this is not only a book about an era in the beginning of the career of bruce, but a book about friendship as well. very nice photos. i recommend it to bruce fans
Cover Shot Was Taken In Haddonfield, New Jersey.......2004-02-05
Just thought everyone would like to know that the cover photo was taken in front of Frank's Men's Hairstyling on Kings Highway in downtown Haddonfield, New Jersey!
Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift.......2004-01-21
This is a wonderful book. The photographs are uniformly compelling and insightful, as is the text. The reader is treated to a rare, unvarnished glimpse of an American hero about to "burst like a supernova." The images are timeless, and harken back to a simpler, perhaps more poignant time -- before MTV and the Internet changed the way we obtained and enjoyed our music. The author's spare text is thoughtful without being intrusive; a perfect compliment to the compelling images that accompany it. The text conveys a straightforward warmth and appreciation for the author's subject that are both refreshing and inspiring. This is a book to pore over, savor, and return to. Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift -- and thank you, Bruce, for recognizing his genius, and for allowing us a little glimpse of yours.
TRIBUTE TO LATE WIFE SHEILA WAS TOUCHING.......2003-11-28
This book engrosses you from the moment you start reading you cant stop.I am giving this book to my clients and friends as it makes the perfect gift for Bruce Springsteen fans.I was also very moved by Authors tribute to his late wife Sheila and feel there may be another story there Frank ?
amazing -- some of the best Bruce photos ever.......2003-11-04
1978 was a key moment in Bruce Springsteen's career, and Frank Stefanko was there to capture it in black and white. In these photos, you see a rock star breaking out, but still struggling and working his [tail] off. Stefanko had not even heard the Darkness album when he took the photos that would lead to its cover (and the cover of The River), but he captured the mood and the tone perfectly, of both the music and the musician. Even if you're not into photo books, if you have an interest in Springsteen, do yourself a favor and get this book.
Books:
- The Beck Diet Solution : Lose Weight with Confidence, Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person
- The Buried Mirror: Reflections on Spain and the New World
- The Cancer Treatment Revolution: How Smart Drugs and Other New Therapies are Renewing Our Hope and Changing the Face of Medicine
- The Dream Giver
- The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year
- The Game and the Glory
- The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 8)
- The History and Geography of Human Genes
- The Keeping Room (Novel)
- The Last To Die
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- A Raisin in the Sun
- Old Guns and Whispering Ghosts
- Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century
- History: Fiction or Science
- Methods for Effective Teaching: Promoting K-12 Student Understanding
- The Arden Shakespeare Book of Quotations on The Seven Ages of Man: Arden Shakespeare
- JOHN MUIR: APOSTLE OF NATURE
- Deal-making frenzy: reviewing three major deals sealed in the early part of this year to see where t
- Excel Modeling in Corporate Finance and MBA Corporate Finance
- Nearer Than the Sky
African-American & Black
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
Barack Obama: Working to Make a Difference (Gateway Biographies)
You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management
