The Other Barack: The Bold and Reckless Life of President Obama's Father

Barack Obama Sr., father of the American president, was part of Africa's "independence generation" and in 1959 it seemed his star would shine brightly. He came to the U.S. from Kenya and was given a university scholarship. While in the Hawaii, he met Ann Dunham in 1961, and his son Barack was born. He left his young family to gain a master's degree from Harvard.

After that, Obama's life became progressively more complicated. He was a brilliant economist, yet never held the coveted government...