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*EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL: In a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear an author – and a president – at work, the audiobook includes an exclusive recording of Jonathan Alter interviewing President Obama in the Oval Office on November 30th, 2009, a wide-ranging, half-hour conversation in which the president looks back on his first ten months in office, notes some of his accomplishments and challenges, reflects on the political environment of the day, and much more.
Alter, who writes and reports on national politics for Newsweek and NBC, comes from a politically involved Chicago family. He knows well the environment from which Obama launched his campaign for the senate and the presidency. Alter first met Obama when he visited the family as it sat shiva for one of its members.
Alter takes the listener into the inner circles of Obama’s intimates, those who were there from the start, and the gradually expanding circles, and to show for the first time the emotions, rivalries, alliances of the extremely tight-lipped and disciplined administration: Biden, whom he chose because he had the experience even though he was not an early supporter, Hillary, whom he had long wanted for Secretary of State.
There are stunning portraits of his oldest friends, including Valerie Jarrett, and his early supporters; the Kennedys, Daschle, and of the more volatile newcomers, Rahm of course, and Larry Summers, and Geitner.
Watch the president dominate his Cabinet with silences and stares (instead of shouting like Clinton or LBJ). Add to that the knowledge that leaking can lose you your job. (One advisor called Obama, “The most unsentimental man I have ever known.”)
Obama is, in this portrait, self-aware and shrewd, well organized and confident, a natural leader who doesn’t need or crave praise and is not given to spreading it around. (One intimate notes his praise is more likely to be “What’s next?” than “Good job.”) Nevertheless he is equable and attentive, and he listens. (It’s one of his techniques.) In fact, if one doesn't have anything to say at his meetings, you may not be invited back.
Alter characterizes Obama as a deductive thinker, and a fast one—eager for action. It is said that Clinton’s meetings always ran on too long and that Obama’s may be too short.
Author's Note ix
Preface xv
Prologue 1
1 Obama Takes Charge 3
2 White House-in-Waiting 15
3 Grant Park 34
4 The Cabinet Maker 45
5 Picking Hillary 67
6 Instant President 77
7 Historic Inauguration 100
8 Sea Legs 110
9 Zen Temperament 138
10 Rahmbo 159
11 The Shovel Brigade 173
12 Larry and Tim 189
13 The Un-Bubba 209
14 Global Reset 224
15 Tyrannosaurus Rx 244
16 Professor-in-Chief 267
17 Off-hours 291
18 The Skinny Guy and the Fat Cats 309
19 Modus Obama 325
20 "Don't Blow It!" 347
21 Chaos-istan 363
22 The Perfect and the Good 395
23 Achievements 422
Epilogue: 2010 435
Acknowledgments 452
Note on Sources 455
Notes 457
Index 463
Anonymous
Posted May 22, 2010
For decades we have had presidents who are all about making false promises. Some promises are better, than others, yet we still believed, still waited and still hoped. Obama has lifted America up by the boot straps and evoked the kind of change that we needed and craved. No longer can we continue to wait for false promises and he realizes this in the book. This is a great read to help the future generation know the mistakes of past presidents and the aids that left America in shambles and in dedt to foreign countries such as China. I want my children to know the truth about this wonderful president and how he did everything he can humanly do to make America better and stronger for future generations, as well as present day ones. There are factual and contextual data found throughout the book that support his values, ideas and theories.
30 out of 52 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.peterbudd
Posted June 14, 2010
This President is the most authentic of people. His intelligence sets him apart, but his integrity and incredible authenticity make him uniquely "up to the job". The book does not spare his failings; not the least of which is his trust in the "experts". Listening to his soul, gets
him/us out of many dangers; listening to the "experts" has proven very risky business. He could not have imagined the unconscionable depths of deceit to the country that partisanship has wrought. I believe his audacity of hope, is in the American people. We are out here, Mr. President. We are blessed to have such a uniquely, broadly qualified man (and first lady) leading our country and the world. We walk the road with you.
4 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.steven28
Posted May 23, 2010
I Also Recommend:
America is moving in the right direction
3 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.If you want a concise presentation of President Obama's failures and successes in his Administration's first 18 months, start this book at the Epilogue. In very few pages, you will have a roster of accomplishments that are in many places historic, a ...more If you want a concise presentation of President Obama's failures and successes in his Administration's first 18 months, start this book at the Epilogue. In very few pages, you will have a roster of accomplishments that are in many places historic, all far-reaching, and most all completely unheard of by the average voter. This is the story of Obama's presidency so far: that his drive for measurable steps forward -- from the elimination of "middle-man" vendors for student loans that in turn helped to fund the health care bill, to unprecedented increases in education standards and teacher rewards, to the most thorough Administrative analysis of military policy since the Cuban Missie Crisis, to gaining concessions by China to publicly record its goals for pollution reductions -- occludes the need to score political cheap shots and short-term gains against an unmistakably aggressive, even obstructionist opposition party.
Each chapter in The Promise details, sometimes painfully so, one of the major initiatives shaped or confronted by the Obama Administration, and while there are enormous frustrations to be had in Obama's missteps, throughout the course of the book an appreciation builds for not only the gargantuan tasks faced by any politician during the economic recession of 2008-2010, but for the remarkable capability of this current officeholder in taking a hands-on approach to each of the challenges.
There is no doubt that, however long it lasts, Obama's presidency will be historic. What is regrettable is how little we realize that each of Obama's lesser known gestures toward reshaping the presidency and regaining economic stability for the United States have affected our long-term growth. You come away feeling that the perhaps prematurely awarded Noble Prize will be less remembered for peace and better thought of as a reward for the economic policies and initiatives taken by Obama that not only saved the Union for the short-term, but probably extended its life. This is a genuinely remarkable presidency, whether or not people are willing to recognize it.
LiveandLearnJB
Posted September 24, 2010
This is one of many books I have recently read to better understand the events of the Obama administration. As a young adult tired of the fear mongering media and false reporting I am compelled to search out the facts before forming my own opinions. This book helped offer insight into the character of President Obama and the obstacles this administration is facing. Excellent read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.madler28
Posted August 24, 2010
Alter's book may be about the first year of Obama's presidency, but it feels like it covers decades of American history. It's astonishing how many issues come up in The Promise: Health care, Afghanistan, the war on terror, the auto bailouts, the stimulus, education, Republican obstructionism, research and development in science and medicine. Following politics during the Obama era can be challenging and disorienting because there is so much to keep up with. But Alter does a fine job at guiding the reader through everything with precision. His prose are crisp and clear-The Promise is not quite a page turner, but it can be a quick read.
Most important, the author puts many things in perspective by fully delineating Obama's legislative accomplishments, how and why they are poorly understood by the public, and the president's decision-making process.
Here are some of the highlights... to read more of this review check out my blog (which features reviews of great writing in general):
http://scholarlywritingreviewed.com/
Anonymous
Posted August 10, 2010
I enjoyed that he didn't try to present the goals of the president as right or wrong, but as failed or successful, leaving the reader to either celebrate or console themselves over the results of his 1st year.
He begins with a brief look at his candidacy and how he got to President, and ends with a glimpse at the second year's first couple months.
Loved it.
Anonymous
Posted May 21, 2010
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Posted November 20, 2010
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Posted October 27, 2010
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Overview
*EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL: In a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear an author – and a president – at work, the audiobook includes an exclusive recording of Jonathan Alter interviewing President Obama in the Oval Office on November 30th, 2009, a wide-ranging, half-hour conversation in which the president looks back on his first ten months in office, notes some of his accomplishments and challenges, reflects on the political environment of the day, and much more.
Alter, who writes and reports on national politics for Newsweek and NBC, comes from a politically involved Chicago family. He knows well the environment from which Obama launched his campaign...