Dreams From My Father
Obama, BarackThe son of a black African father and a white American mother, Barack Obama searches for a meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where he learns that his father - a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man - has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey - first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother's family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father's life, and reconciles his divided inheritance. [Taken from book blurb.]
Comments from Groups
A real insight into [Obama's] search for the African side of his heritage. Well recommended. Napier 021All enjoyed this book and feel we know the man, and admire him more now. Look forward to books he may write when his presidency ends. Queenstown 005We were all impressed with the book. Barack (as a young man in 1995) describes so clearly, honestly and painfully what it is to be Barack in a white man's world. Whakatane 005Great insight, some members 'got lost' in the middle, so not all finished reading it. The best was the latter half. Tauranga 011Not everyone found it an easy read but thought it an important book ... it was very insightful. Dunedin 006
Pages
480
480
Year
2004
2004
Reviews
29-03-2023
Our all-male group score reflects two camps, one who rated it around 2.5 for being too long, too verbose and lacking a thread; the others rating it 3.5 for being a very good read, well written, and an interesting insight into the man who went on to be President. The book engendered a deep and far-reaching conversation which all enjoyed, including our experiences in identifying with different countries and cultures, and New Zealand's bicultural moves and multicultural nature. We felt that Obama did not find a culture that he identified with.
12-09-2022
On the whole, we enjoyed this book. Obama writes well about very interesting themes and added greatly to our understanding of being black in America and trying to find a way to live a comfortable, productive life. The part set in Kenya was for us the most interesting section of this very long book as Obama got to know his relations and learned more about being black in a black society greatly affected by colonialism. The actual books are now quite old and it can be a challenge to read the small typeface on the yellowing pages - but the text repays the effort.
09-06-2022
The life story of a young man, child of a black African father and white American mother, trying to find his place in the world. In parts the book was too introspective for some members but this did not detract from our over all enjoyment. We considered it to be well worth reading although if he hadn't become President it may have been overlooked, which in our group's opinion, would have meant the loss of a great read.
20-09-2021
Unfortunately not everyone read it but if they didn't then their husbands did!! An insightful story, well-written and appeared an honest description of his somewhat dysfunctional upbringing. Middle part was a little drawn out. His visit to Kenya to visit relatives was humorous at times.
15-09-2021
We liked this book. Obama is a good writer and a great thinker. None of our group had ever felt we had not belonged in our society. We had a good discussion just on this point. All keen to read the book he has written since he was President.
03-02-2021
Interesting - for the insight into the man behind the president.
29-05-2020
Most agreed the book wasn't a great Covid 19 'lockdown' read and found it challenging and a little drawn out through the middle. Everyone was glad they read it, found it revealing and it generated great discussion, even if we didn't answer the questions! Thoroughly recommended. Obama's notes at the beginning put the book into a better perspective.
28-01-2019
The group overall really enjoyed the book. Some felt it was engaging at the beginning, slow in the middle and picks up again when he makes it to Kenya.
28-01-2019
This was a great read. He certainly has the gift of rhetoric. A very clever man. We all enjoyed the book immensely.
28-01-2019
Very interesting and now we have a better understanding of Obama. It was well-written with good descriptions. Not everyone finished it but we all enjoyed what we read. Some found the Chicago section a little too detailed. All enjoyed the Kenya section.
28-01-2019
All agreed this was the best book we have had for ages! Beautifully written, honest and eye-opening. We wish he would write another one!
28-01-2019
Very good read. So well-written.
28-01-2019
This was an interesting read in that there were a number of different responses to it. Some members were not concerned about completing the book whereas others held on to it to finish. Though well-written, the book did not inspire any of our members to follow Barack Obama's career after entering politics. On the whole we found the read to some extent interesting, especially his time in Chicago, but we thought that there were a number of areas that he could have provided more information - such as his mother and sister. Some members would recommend it.
28-01-2019
A very dense book which took a lot of reading, but we all appreciated the writing, and again we had a very stimulating discussion.
28-01-2019
We thought the book was well-written and an amazing insight to the man.
20-09-2018
We found this an interesting read, however only a few in the group managed to finish it. "Too wordy" was a well used expression. Many felt that a book from Obama's mother would have been very interesting, to get her view on events/life.