Obama Books Dominate Political Best Seller List

New York Times:

Barack Obama's presidential victory permeates this month's list of best-selling political books, with both of his own works returning to the top and several by others landing among the 15 most popular.

President-elect Obama's "Audacity Of Hope," a former mainstay since the inception of the Caucus's Poli-Book list, returns at No. 1, and his earlier memoir, "Dreams From My Father," lands at No. 2.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[iBlog4Fun]

I got the audio CD because I'm in my car most of the time and can listen to it.
Obama, himself, actually narrates the entire book on the 6 hours CD ... I also
picked up the book for my collection.

This is one of those 'read before you die' books.

[iBlog4Fun]

Audacity of Hope

[NotMcCain]

"Audacity of Hope" is under $5 at Amazon (includes free shipping)

[bighillaryfan]

is this an Obama advertisement?

http://theliepolitic.com/2008/11/cbs-60-minutes-obama-mccain-i-am-barrack-i-approve-this-message/

[Durango]

And I bet he doesn't even need to get lobbiests to buy up hundreds of his books in order to get them on the Best Selling lists.

[maxwellinformed]

Book sales are great. Since the president makes 400k. Having millions in book sales should keep him honest.

[CR46]

Both books are excellent reads. They might also make good xmas gifts for friends and family who are newly interested in politics.

[Ranta]

I just ordered Obamanomics: How Bottom-Up Economic Prosperity Will Replace Trickle-Down Economics
Peter Schiff's doom and gloom predictions of our economic future were more than I could take.

[ImWithThatOne]

Have been spending the last couple days reading "Dreams from My Father," (I'm not done with it yet), and there are some things in it that are striking.
First, that he began formulating the tenets for his eventual presidential campaign many years before he actually thought about running -- he was talking and thinking about change before it became a buzzword. Some passages in it, especially the ones describing the election of the first black mayor of Chicago, almost sound like he was foreshadowing his own future, in retrospect.
Second, I'm having a bit of difficulty reconciling the angry, confused young man of the book with the composed, lovable man we're seeing today. I could oddly relate to the pain of being in both black and white worlds but not totally belonging to either. It's like, wow, this man became president???
And third, this guy could very well have become an author full time if he hadn't been a politician, he writes that well.
I haven't read "Audacity of Hope" yet, I've ordered it.

All these things have served to deepen the admiration I have for him.

[GuyFawkes]

I read "Audacity" earlier this year, and was struck by how consistent it was to his presidential campaign, even though the book had been written 2 years prior. What's remarkable is when you see how Hillary and McCain kept trying to change their mantra ("experience" to "reformer") in the face of defeat, but Obama has remained exactly the same, which is why I find it hilarious when liberals bitch that he's not as progressive as he once was. If you read his book, you'll see he's center-left. Always has been. It's the liberals who read their own prejudices into him.

[roshni]

I think Obama is very comfortable in his own skin and knows who he is. He doesn't try to be different people at different times to suit the mood.

[grandma58]

I read it awhile back and did not get the impression he was angry, seemed more like adolescent angst. I like his introspective ability in situations people do not always talk about, Obama being able to say he was not nice and to learn from it. I was touched by how he admitted to treating the girl badly and how that action came to mind for him as an example more then once. An incident she may not remember, he does and he spends more time looking within.

[Leahk]

I have not read the book you are reading, but I watched C-span's book and understand that the ending will tie things up.

[jemeagirl]

He is not really angry, just soul searching. And as someone mentioned, at the end, it will all come together. You will see how balanced he has become throughout the years and how self-assured he is.
He will be a great president. I have always thought that, and this was when I first heard him speak at the DNC in 2004. I had not read the books.

[Ugonna]

that's the book that helped him become the composed man he is today. He came to grips with his father's abandonment, partly through the writing of the book. I don't think he was angry writing the book, he was conveying the anger he USED to feel at his dad.

[Matt7]

I agree. But question: Is it not politically correct now for people to be ANGRY?

Anger is a far more natural and honest emotion than looking in your eye and lying to your face (right before st*bbing you in the back).

I think Barack has managed his emotions well, throughout his life. Just please allow him, and others (minorities especially), to be and express who they ARE, without having to be grinnin', smilin', and dancin' in order to make YOU feel better.

[SailawayJane]

Obama's books are worth the read. Dreams of My Father was one of the best books I have ever read and Audacity of Hope was very moving. I gave both books to my daughter and she enjoyed them every bit as much as I did.

[MariaHopeful]

Dreams From My Father is one of the best books I have ever read. I have read it 3 times and still look at a page every now and then. A very beautiful book and gives an insight into the character of the very beautiful Barack Obama.

[Bitsko]

A terrific book and a great holiday gift. Hint hint.

[canucklivinginUSA]

I bought Audacity of Hope yesterday, and I really like it.

[jemeagirl]

I read Dreams of my father and was unable to put it down for days. Very good book, poignant. I am from African descents and I have visited Africa sevaral times and this book describes very well his search of identity. Contrary to what people think, the trip he took in Kenya in 1987 before going to Harvard, helped him find his identity, grounded him, he found his roots and ever since, he has been very strong, because very grounded and self-assured. I have always felt connected to him ever since I heard him at the 2004 DNC. I have always known he would win, because he has that steadiness in his character, hard working that I relate with myself.

Have a goal, set a strategy and just keep at it, no matter what. It is a winning one.

The Audacity is very policies, and if he can impliment the policies he talks about in that book, he will be a wonderful and one of the greatest president this country has ever seen. And I trust he will be just that.

All his books are highly recommended. Very good reads.

[ZimboChick]

i knew too...and people ridiculed me. I first saw him on Oprah and I knew he was a natural born leader

[Ugonna]

I knew he'd someday be president for sure when I first heard about him years ago. I thought he'd wait a bit longer than he did, but I still knew he'd eventually be. Then when he won Iowa, I knew nothing Hillary or anyone else could do would really stop him. I had this vision that I felt about him, and I believed it would happen till the end. And it did!

[Bitsko]

I gave a copy of Dreams of my Father to my nephew when it came out and he wasn't interesting. The day after Mr. 0bama won Idaho and made the news, he read it through in two days.

A President who can write, and write thoughtfully and well. Incredible.

[buzzygirl]

I read Dreams From My Father this summer. It was one of the best books I have ever read. Because I am African, there were parts in the book I could so relate to. For me and my siblings, even though we lived in the city, my dad made it a point of sending us up to the little village where he grew up to see our grandparents (who were uneducated), and those visits were some of the best life experiences I have ever had. But also in Barack's book, just as he talked about how almost every family member he visited wanted him to eat some meal they had prepared, I could relate.

He is a very good writer and his book placed you directly in each setting. It was beautiful. I am looking forward to reading Audacity of Hope during the Christmas break. That will be my gift to myself.

[SezU]

I bought the audio versions of both the Audacity of Hope and Dreams From My Father from iTunes and I must say that Barack is an excellent story teller. He narrates the books himself and he really gets into character. More so in Dreams... I can honestly say that our president-elect is my new role model.

[jemeagirl]

I agree with you. He writes really well.

[macbabe]

Good to see people coming around and getting interested. Stopped by Barns and Nobles after seeing Quantum of Solace and there where some really nice new Obama magazines out, Life put out a great memorial issue... I walked out with about 6 O mags and other people were doing the same.

[GuyFawkes]

My BN was sold out of all 3 books the week after the election.

[jingles32]

My husband high tailed it down to Borders Friday as they had advertised online their sale of the the re-prints of the Time, Newsweek and the Life (hard cover) commemorative issues you mentioned. Sold out 1/2 hr. after the store's opening. I have a slew of extra copies if anyone is in need. Broke my heart to see this dear, elderly, AA woman wandering around CVS the other day, looking in vain for the Time election issue. Wish I had taken her name/number so I could send her a copy. She was clearly so proud; got all teary as she spoke of his historic election.

Have read both books (early on) and highly recommend them; the audio versions as well. (He won a Grammy for Dreams..) What an eloquent, talented writer/storyteller our future president is.