A Promised Land will hit the shelves soon – here’s what we know so far about the book.
It will be released in November
A Promised Land will be released around the world on 17 November, two weeks after the US election. It will be available in 25 languages.
It’s the first of two volumes
The book to be released in November will be the first volume of his memoir. There’s currently not date set for the publication of the second and final volume.
It will be available in audio form
You’ll be able to hear the book read aloud in Obama’s mesmerising voice – the former president is recording an audio edition!
It’s lengthy
The book is 768 pages long and will cover cover his political rise, the 2008 election and his first years in the White House. A statement from publisher Penguin Random House says A Promised Land will tell the story of Obama’s “improbable odyssey from from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency”.
“Providing a stirring, deeply personal account of history in the making, Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office,” said the statement.
“Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy.
“Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond.
“We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorises Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.”
It will delve into family life
The book won’t just reflect on Obama’s presidency – it will also consider the impact his time in office had on his family. According to the statement from Penguin Random House, Obama is “open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters”.
“In the book, I’ve also tried to give readers a sense of the personal journey that Michelle and I went through during those years, with all the incredible highs and lows,” Obama said.
Obama hopes it will inspire young people
Obama wants his memoir to inspire young people to participate in the democratic process. “Along with being a fun and informative read, I hope more than anything that the book inspires young people across the country—and around the globe—to take up the baton, lift up their voices, and play their part in remaking the world for the better,” he said.
