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  • A Promised Land

  • By: Barack Obama
  • Narrated by: Barack Obama
  • Length: 29 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (3,772 ratings)

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A Promised Land

By: Barack Obama
Narrated by: Barack Obama
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Editorial reviews

Join Barack Obama himself as he recounts his journey into politics and presidency in this enchanting audiobook that offers an intimate look at the life of one of the 21st century's most influential leaders.

The skilled rhetoric of Barack Obama has long been considered one of the persuasive factors that won over the hearts and minds of the American people and carried him into office as the 44th President of the United States. That very gift with language and his captivating delivery are on full display as he expertly narrates his own memoir, leading you right into the Oval Office with him.

It would be hard to overestimate the wealth of challenges and monumental moments that Obama unpacks in A Promised Land. He’s generous with details, balancing honest, heavy political discussion with human tales of life in the White House and the grounding presence of his own family. From personal conversations with First Lady Michelle to climbing the Great Wall of China, Obama shares a wide variety of moments from his remarkable life with his signature warmth and bright sense of humour. 

Whether you’re looking for a beacon of hope, a political tell-all or a deeper understanding of American government, you’ll find your wishes fulfilled with A Promised Land.

Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The number one Sunday Times and Audible best seller.

A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making - from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.

In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency - a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes listeners on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4th 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation's highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of US partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings listeners inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about US strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout and authorises Operation Neptune's Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.

A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective - the story of one man's bet with history, the faith of a community organiser tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of 'hope and change', and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama's conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.

Winner of best narration by the author – Audie Awards 2022.

©2020 Barack Obama (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"What is unexpected in A Promised Land is the former president's candour." (David Olusoga, Observer)

"Gorgeously written, humorous, compelling, life affirming." (Justin Webb, Mail on Sunday)

What listeners say about A Promised Land

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My review

I was worried about the length, but I was hooked from the beginning! It was interesting to hear what he was thinking. He was not afraid to share his mistakes. He responded to critics with respect and tried to see their point of view. This was an amazing read and I'm so glad he shared this story.

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30 people found this helpful

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Fantastic

This was an absolutely captivating and brutally honest account, made that much better by Obama reading it.

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18 people found this helpful

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long winded and boring

I was really looking forward to this book but couldn't finish it, the most boring long winded recollection of his life in politics.
not what I was hopping for.

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15 people found this helpful

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Genuinely down to earth peaceful person.

Obama’s experience, struggles, thoughts, and hopes in some of the grand decisions, he made through out of his first couple of years, as the President of USA. This collaborative, thoughtful narrative is rich with his own writing and his voice for 29 hours. Even if you have no interest much politics you will be gravitate to this book from start to end - guaranteed!

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15 people found this helpful

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Yawn...

Waaay too much detail on policy. Every decision he made has been recounted. I found myself skipping ahead through much of the second half. It could have been half as long for 95% of the population, though I understand his desire to want to put his entire perspective on the record and it's worth doing...though it's not worth listening to.

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9 people found this helpful

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Beacon!

If just a handful more people could become like this man - an ordinary boy who grabbed every opportunity he could find to help the world become a better place and will never stop working and applying his extraordinary and accumlating skills, determination, analysis, subtelty and judgement to that end until his final breath. Amazing book. Will listen again and again for the layers of insights.

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8 people found this helpful

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Interesting and insightful

I found Barack’s style in this book to be thought provoking and educational. I learnt so much about politics in general, not just in the US. The key messages Barack tries to convey about the world at large and how he believed in striving to create a more just world for all is commendable.

Whilst I enjoyed the book, Barack has a tendency to deep dive into some areas perhaps with more detail than is required and oddly he is critical of this himself. There were sections of the book that could’ve been more succinct.

Overall I’d recommend the book. The tips and professional insight about being a political leader of the USA could be applied to any career and I found them extremely insightful and enjoyed the simplicity of how they were delivered in the book.

Thanks Barack for your leadership and for striving to be more than what the US political system allows politicians to be.

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6 people found this helpful

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i enjoyed every minute!

what great stories coming from the horse's mouth! the presidents narration added authenticity and it felt like he was just there telling you his stories.

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6 people found this helpful

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Barack Obama, the best of the best.

A really fascinating insight into the workings of the White House and of American politics.

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5 people found this helpful

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Too long!

I was so keen to read this book as I just loved Michelle's book. Barak's narration is wonderful. However it was such a slog..I hung in there for 15 hours, but I could not continue. It just went on and on and on.....

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