Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
By Kathryn K., Three Rivers, CA
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One of the greatest puzzles each of us faces is “who am I?” The answer defines us and our personality. When we know who we are, we can live life to the fullest and head in the direction of our dreams. Often, though, the answer is lost or hard to find. Lost identity is the theme of Barack Obama’s first book, Dreams from My Father.
“Perceptive and wise, this book will tell you something about yourself whether you are black or white,” says Civil Rights activist Marian Wright Edelman. Indeed, under its surface lies the idea that everyone should realize their potential. On the surface, however, Obama eloquently describes his life in great detail. His writing makes you feel you are looking through the eyes of the son of a black African father and a white American mother.
The book begins in New York, where Obama finds out that his father, a man he met only once, has died. This sparks a journey from his childhood in Hawaii to Indonesia, through his high school and college years all over America, to Kenya, where he learns about the father he never knew.
As the presidential election approaches, political opinions grow stronger. No matter your view on the election, Dreams from My Father is a fulfilling read. This New York Times best-seller was written before Obama’s political career began, so it is not just another politically motivated book. It is much, much more. Dreams from My Father is a memoir about Obama’s efforts to belong in two completely different worlds, but ultimately recognizing that he fits into neither.
If you dislike reading, this book could change your outlook on reading and the world in general. It is an inspiring, beautifully written novel. Dreams from My Father is a book for people of all races, political parties, and beliefs.
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