Barrack Obama - The Audacity of Hope

Barrack Obama’s ‘The Audacity of Hope’ really is a manifestation of the book’s title. Simple, yet definitely audacious, Obama’s ‘Thoughts on reclaiming the American dream’ are grounded in realism and common sense, yet – since such qualities of thinking seem to be lost on many policy makers – offer many straightforward solutions to the myriad of problems facing the USA. Obama is not so naive as to think that America’s issues can be solved swiftly and harmoniously, and he acknowledges that his suggested solutions will not make everyone happy, but is unapologetic in the fact that they will make things fairer and close the ever-widening gap between rich and poor. Systematically deconstructing the many aspects of the American way of life – Family, Employment, Money, Politics, Race – with a pragmatic eye, Obama is simultaneously hopeful about the capacity for his fellow citizens to slightly alter their habits and mindsets in order to improve American living standards for everyone, and to improve the flailing global image of the world’s superpower. It is a monumental undertaking, but with Obama at the helm, one is confident that he will be able to achieve such audacious goals.

However, more than just a book about discussing the current faults and issues of the conflicting nation, and preaching about what should be done; Obama’s book is, at the core, a great piece of writing. As I read it, I kept asking myself “How can someone maintain this quality of writing for an entire book, that isn’t even fiction?” Obama’s prose is eloquent, sophisticated, yet not esoteric. He puts forth his points and thoughts in a simple and refined style which allows even the most basic of novices to understand and relate to his words. To be able to tell engaging, colourful stories when one is discussing politics and the woes of the world is a major feat, and Obama has achieved this with ease, humility and unpretentious charm. Obama’s words have the ability to sweep you off your feet and take you to the furthest reaches of humanity’s potential for kindness and compassion, despite the existing evidence to the contrary. This is what great writing reads like. Even if one is not particularly politically-minded, which I am not, or does not particularly care for America and whatever issues it is facing, Obama’s book is still a great read – if only for its position as an exemplar of remarkable writing.