Obama's Dreams From My Father in New Light

This weekend my wife and I took another drive down to Southern California, this time for me to attend a convention, but also to see our children and grandchildren. We gave another book on CD a chance, this time Dreams From My Father by none other than Barack Obama. This was truly a treat. It is read by Barack, which is not unusual for books of an autobiographical nature, but the way it is read is what separates this book from others we've tried.

First off, if you haven't read this book, it is a must read, not just for Obama fans and supporters, but for anyone who wishes to be enriched, entertained and enlighted as to the fascinating and amazingly unique life of Barack Obama. Listening to the audio provides a whoe new dimension to enjoying this book. Barack breathes life into words that would ordinarily just sit idly on a pae, and the many layers and richness of the book are enhanced with Barack reading in the accents of the many characters that make up his very full life.

There are numerous vignettes in this book that are kind of bell-ringing moments, particularly if you've paid any attention to the last year of the Obama presidential campaign. An example is a very full explanation of events leading up to Barack's meeting with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Barack makes clear from a detailed recounting of his first meeting with Wright that Wright explained that he is just occupying the pastor's role in the church, but that the church's mission and role in the community are not dependent on who is occupying the pastor's post.

An important aspect to remember about the book is that it was written in 1995, years before Barack Obama became a candidate for president, even years before he ran for the US Senate. It is an honest and forthright portrayal of his search for his own identity, a man who comes from two distinct and strong families, a quest to find his own place in the worlld, and ultimately a journey back through his father's roots as he endeavores to discover where he came from and how his father saw the world has shaped and will continue to shape how Barack may contribute to our world, what will make him a president of substance and of tremendous insight.

We listened to half of the book on our way down and the other half, of course, on our way back home. Even though we had a spectacular time, filled with wonderful family moments and great memories, it was the anticipation that we had yet to complete this book that was in the back of our minds. There is just something magical about Barack's story, and as we listened to the words of depth and texture that flow throughout the book, we can't help but think of our own lives, where we come from and what has brought us to this day.

Do yourself a huge favor. Revisit Dreams From My Father on CD or enjoy it for the first time. In either case, Barack's way of describing his life, his unbringing, his deep family history and the twists and turns of his experiences and exposure to the world that has brought him to where he is today gives us, the reader/listener, so much appreciation and a real window into why he is the man of destiny, the bright star on all of our horizons who will be our next president. It is a story of a man who has taken an improbable journey through the many generations of two families, one black and one white, and how it has carried him to the unlikely place that he occupies today.

Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father, A Story of Race and Inheritance can be borrowed from your local library, as we were fortunate enough to do, or it can be purchased in your local bookstore so that you can revisit it again and again. It is also a great book to share with loved ones. I can't recommend it highly enough. It truly has changed our lives.