Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

With all due respect and assumptions of good faith, please fuck off into the sun.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Fear and negativity are contagious, but so is courage!

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

This fight is for everything.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

We do not need to pander to people who do not like what we stand for.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

Dear legacy media: you are not here to influence outcomes and policies you find desirable.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

Washington Post Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2008 / Can We Talk About “A Promised Land?”

Can We Talk About “A Promised Land?”

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So I downloaded the book over the weekend and am about 2 hours into the 29.5 hours of listening pleasure. I am enjoying it immensely. Obama’s cadence is the calm I need in this moment of pandemic/transition tantrum/economic uncertainty. I found a few audio excerpts for you and thought you might like to discuss the man and the book itself.

https://twitter.com/TaMarasKitchen/status/1330996366609313792?s=20

 

 

I don’t normally read Presidential or current politician’s memoirs. I don’t know why, I enjoy historical ones. But I was compelled to begin this one.

Who is reading it? Who is listening? What are your thoughts so far?

Reader Interactions

47Comments

  2. 2.

    japa21

    Just bought it at Costco. Hate reading ebooks. Like to feel the heft.

    Haven’t started it yet. Want to start when I know I’ll have several uninterrupted hours to string together.

    Price was $24.95 which I think is a good deal.

  3. 3.

    Mary G

    I bought it, but haven’t started it yet, since I also got Brandon Sanderson’s Rhythm of War which clocks in at 57 hours.

  5. 5.

    MomSense

    My son bought the audio version for me. I am enjoying it thoroughly. I’m trying not to rush through and just enjoy the way his mind works.

  6. 6.

    debbie

    I’m #215 in line for the audiobook. Hopefully, the library will end up ordering more than the 39 listed on their site.

  13. 13.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I’m up to the 08 primaries, and while it’s not scorched earth, Obama is  a bit more blunt than I was expecting. Without spoiling, you can tell who he doesn’t care if he ever speaks to again.

    @jackmac: I think I saw that a new Hiassen was out, but I forgot. That’ll be a good one for the coming weeks.

  14. 14.

    geg6

    I know I am getting it from one of my sisters for either my birthday or Christmas, so I haven’t read it yet, obviously.  I can’t wait!  He’s a very engaging writer, as evidenced in his two previous memoirs.

  15. 15.

    mali muso

    Just picked up the hardcover I had pre-ordered at our locally owned bookstore and have it wrapped up to give my hubby for his birthday tomorrow. I myself love audiobooks and have an Audible membership, so will be getting it from that route.

  19. 19.

    TaMara (HFG)

    @debbie: Last time I had a free subscription (years ago) I kept it a couple of months and picked up a bunch of books I’d been wanting at a pretty reasonable price. Not sure what my plan is this time.

  20. 20.

    OR Soder

    I’m #53 of 3 copies on the list at my library for the audiobook. I prefer those because I can do my chores or walk the dogs while listening plus I have old lady eyes.

    I just got Caste and am working my way through it- literally. My husband’s cousin said it was so depressing because of all the cruelty, etc.  I was a little hesitant to read it because who needs more depressing?  So far I find it very enjoyable and eye opening.

  21. 21.

    Joy in FL

    My copy just arrived today. I ordered from an independent bookstore which I found online. I expect I will start the book tomorrow.

    I watched the WaPo livestream interview with him this morning. He is both calming and stimulating.

  23. 23.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    I just listened to today’s Pod Save American and they were talking about Parler. I’ve been reading that word as if it were the French word “to speak.” But the O’bros pronounce it more like “parlor.” Anyone have a clue?

  25. 25.

    japa21

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: More like parlor.  After all, this was set up by RWNJ’s. They wouldn’t want to have it sound like something those surrender monkeys would say.  They still use the phrase freedom fries. But I am sure it is based upon the French verb.

  26. 26.

    BK in NJ (was BK in NC)

    Just got through the 2009 inauguration. I got it on Kindle and Audible, been reading it at home and listening to it in the car or out on walks. 

  30. 30.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Obama says in his book (something like) there were words he learned from reading and used in writing that he didn’t learn how to pronounce till he got to college. And yesterday as Barack and I were walking by the river, he pronounced a word in a way that brought me up short. I forget what it was now, but one of us is wrong. I think it’s him

    ETA: let it be known that I, certified OBot, have criticized him.

  31. 31.

    TaMara (HFG)

    I have to get back to work, but maybe in a month, we’ll revisit this topic when we’ve had a chance to get through more of the 700 pages of Part 1!

    Let me know if you’d like to do that. Otherwise, enjoy your read/listen.  Been a good day, Obama and Biden bringing sanity back to my world.

  32. 32.

    Zelma

    I bought the book, but after listening to those excerpts, I may have to get it on tape.  Haven’t started it yet.  I’m thinking that it will keep me busy over Thanksgiving.  Got nothing else to do.

  33. 33.

    mali muso

    @geg6: Happy early birthday! And today is little widget’s birthday, 4 years old and the only reason I have kept my sanity during the trump years.

  34. 34.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Zelma: I’ve become an audiobook junkie, and I’ll probably buy a paper copy to go back and re-read certain parts

  36. 36.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @TaMara (HFG):

    Loved him on Kimmel. Can’t wait to see him on Colbert.

    I’m reading the book, more slowly and deliberately than is my won’t. At some point I’ll get the audiobook, but I like to read the words first.

    (BTW, check your BJ email; just sent you an appropriate image you might like to add to this post.)

  38. 38.

    Alison Rose

    I’m nearly done with it and I honestly truly have loved it. I know some people think it’s too long, or that it gets dry or boring when he’s getting into the real nitty-gritty of some of the policymaking and such, but I honestly have found it all really fascinating, or at least interesting. Some of this stuff I knew, from being a politics news nerd, but a lot of it is new, and I think there’s much in here that goes a long way toward explaining things that the uber-lefty crowd bitched and moaned about during his presidency. I also appreciate how candid and honest he is about his own mistakes and foibles. UNLIKE A CERTAIN SOON-TO-BE-EX-PRESIDENT.

    It also has given me even more respect for him and Michelle as parents, seeing how much the girls’ happiness and comfort mattered to them both above all else.

    And it’s reeeeeeally making me look forward to January 20th, when we’ll have this kind of administration back in the White House.

  39. 39.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @TaMara (HFG):

    but maybe in a month, we’ll revisit this topic when we’ve had a chance to get through more of the 700 pages of Part 1!

    I like this idea, give people a chance to get through it and then we can dig in.

    @Alison Rose:  Some of this stuff I knew, from being a politics news nerd, but a lot of it is new,

    I’m barely in, but I’m having a lot of “holy crap, I forgot about that moments”

  40. 40.

    evap

    I bought two copies from a local independent book store, $45 each (ouch).  I like to support this very good bookstore if possible.  I gave one to my mom and I’m keeping one for myself.   I waiting until my semester is  over — which will be soon — before starting it.   I can’t wait!

  43. 43.

    jackmac

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: It’s very timely featuring the (thinly disguised) current occupant of the White House, his wife and a favorite character from earlier books (no spoilers here). Plus it contains Hiassen’s typical inventive ways of killing characters.

  44. 44.

    Amir Khalid

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    I too find that curious. The name Parler has to be the French word, because otherwise the coincidence in meaning is implausible. And many educated Americans know enough French to recognise the word. I noticed straight away even with my feeble French.

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