Change has come... to way I read books. Appropriately enough, the first book I read on my Kindle was President-Elect Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope.
I will admit that I went into the Kindle with hesitation. While I certainly thought it was a cool gadget, I questioned whether it could possibly replicate the "traditional" reading experience. I'll save the rambling detailed response to that for another post, but for my first spin with the Kindle I thought it best to perhaps read something that didn't have characters or a plot to follow... so pretty much that ruled out fiction... and since it was shortly after the election and Audacity was riding high on the Kindle bestseller charts (and for $4.39!) - temporarily unseating the Twilight series - I thought it was good choice.
This book is pretty review-proof. I doubt anything I have to say would encourage or discourage folks from reading the book... or heck, even changing any hearts and minds. Honestly, a year or so ago I probably would have been surprised by the fact that I was reading this book. I don't tend to be a person who has many regrets in life, but I'm thinking I probably should have went to this book signing when the junior Senator for Illinois came through town.
But that was back in the days when I was saying "no, thank you" to the Kool-Aid and guffawing (yes, I'll admit it!) over Obama's inexperience and soaring oratory, that I felt was either uber-slick political shtick or naivete. And while I like to think I am a positive and optomistic person, I realized that when it comes to politics I am a hardened cynic.
So it was not until the waning days of Clinton's Democratic primary campaign that I had to come to peace with the fact that Barack Obama would be the nominee. It's not that ever had serious issue with him, but in addition to above, I still questioned whether the country was ready for him.
What eventually won me over and what this book does a good job at is that you are struck by how sincere Obama is. Again, one can be cynical and believe this is all an act -- but if it is, he's been planning and performing it for a very long time and even before he ever entered politics. And while critics scoff at his inexperience, I'm thinking it's probably a good thing that his ascent has been so fast and that he hasn't been changed the political system or left it after pounding his head against it to no avail for decades. Whether he'll be able to change "Washington," that I do not know but it will be interesting to watch.
Now if I can let a little cynicism creep in, there is no doubt that this is a "I'm running for President" book... a stump-speech in long form. The first part of the book is a nice little introduction that morphs into political philosophy... and then there is a bit more details "what I would do" policy type stuff (which I'll admit got me a bit snoozy) and then the wrap-up where he talks about his family and again summarizes his belief system - the decidedly non-cynical, non-political, non-partisan ... audacity to hope.
While I should just end this "review" there, I have to say I am loving Michelle Obama more and more. She is exactly the type of personlity a person in power and/or fame needs in their life - a reality check. While Barack Obama is about to become the leader of the free world, despite being well-intentioned and helpful for one of the girl's birthday party, Michelle told him there was no way he could handle the task of buying party gift bags for the other children attending the party... she said he would go into the party store and spend hours there before his head would explode.
And prior to his break-out "red state/blue state" speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention he related this story:
... until finally it was just Michelle and me sitting backstage and watching the broadcast, that I started to feel nervous. I mentioned to Michelle that my stomach was feeling a little grumbly. She hugged me tight, looked into my eyes, and said, "Just don't screw it up, buddy!"
And with that I will wish the President Elect well and, while I still waver, thank him for giving me the audacity to hope (and I do think that takes some audacity these days!)... but will echo his wife's words as well... just don't screw it up (more), buddy!
2008 1-2-3-4-5 Reading Challenge: + 364 Pages (Total: 10,254 pages - Finished: 11/18/2008)
-772 pages behind pace for the year (+93 change in pace since last book).
Comments