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Being Informed about U.S. Presidents
There was a time when I wasn't interested in political subjects and as I look back today I wonder what I was thinking. But the truth of the matter is probably that I just wasn't thinking about a very serious subject and I was too ignorant to realize that.
In college I did minor in Political Science and found many aspects of it--U.S.Constitutional History, government in other countries, Plato and Aristotle (and other philosophers on how governments should work, the rights of people, the advantages of some forms of government and the dangers of other forms--to mention a few and I found it interesting and provocative.
As a Park Ranger in the National Park Service I worked at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Stonewall and Johnson City, Texas, and read many books about the Johnson era politics and many biographies about the people involved in those politics. Since I have retired I have tried to read to fill many of my knowledge gaps in American history, and in that process, I have encountered the stories of Presidents like George Washington, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, F.D.R, Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter. So far my favorite President, and the one that I have read about the most, is Abraham Lincoln.
For the recent election I wanted to read something about Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain. So far I have only read 
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama.
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama.
From Amazon.com
Amazon.com ReviewBarack Obama's first book, Dreams from My Father, was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope, Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves repairing a "political process that is broken" and restoring a government that has fallen out of touch with the people. We had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics--see his responses below. --Daphne Durham
20 Second Interview: A Few Words with Barack Obama
Q: How did writing a book that you knew would be read so closely by so many compare to writing your first book, when few people knew who you were?
A: In many ways, Dreams from My Father was harder to write. At that point, I wasn't even sure that I could write a book. And writing the first book really was a process of self-discovery, since it touched on my family and my childhood in a much more intimate way. On the other hand, writing The Audacity of Hope: Thought on Reclaiming the American Dream paralleled the work that I do every day--trying to give shape to all the issues that we face as a country, and providing my own personal stamp on them.
Q: What is your writing process like? You have such a busy schedule, how did you find time to write?
A: I'm a night owl, so I usually wrote at night after my Senate day was over, and after my family was asleep--from 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outline--certain themes or stories that I wanted to tell--and get them down in longhand on a yellow pad. Then I'd edit while typing in what I'd written.
Q: If readers are to come away from The Audacity of Hope with one action item (a New Year's Resolution for 2007, perhaps?), what should it be?
A: Get involved in an issue that you're passionate about. It almost doesn’t matter what it is--improving the school system, developing strategies to wean ourselves off foreign oil, expanding health care for kids. We give too much of our power away, to the professional politicians, to the lobbyists, to cynicism. And our democracy suffers as a result.
Q: You're known for being able to work with people across ideological lines. Is that possible in today's polarized Washington?
A: It is possible. There are a lot of well-meaning people in both political parties. Unfortunately, the political culture tends to emphasize conflict, the media emphasizes conflict, and the structure of our campaigns rewards the negative. I write about these obstacles in chapter 4 of my book, "Politics." When you focus on solving problems instead of scoring political points, and emphasize common sense over ideology, you'd be surprised what can be accomplished. It also helps if you're willing to give other people credit--something politicians have a hard time doing sometimes
Q: How do you make people passionate about moderate and complex ideas?
A: I think the country recognizes that the challenges we face aren't amenable to sound-bite solutions. People are looking for serious solutions to complex problems. I don't think we need more moderation per se--I think we should be bolder in promoting universal health care, or dealing with global warming. We just need to understand that actually solving these problems won't be easy, and that whatever solutions we come up with will require consensus among groups with divergent interests. That means everybody has to listen, and everybody has to give a little. That's not easy to do.
Q: What has surprised you most about the way Washington works?
A: How little serious debate and deliberation takes place on the floor of the House or the Senate.
Q: You talk about how we have a personal responsibility to educate our children. What small thing can the average parent (or person) do to help improve the educational system in America? What small thing can make a big impact?
A: Nothing has a bigger impact than reading to children early in life. Obviously we all have a personal obligation to turn off the TV and read to our own children; but beyond that, participating in a literacy program, working with parents who themselves may have difficulty reading, helping their children with their literacy skills, can make a huge difference in a child's life.
Q: Do you ever find time to read? What kinds of books do you try to make time for? What is on your nightstand now?
A: Unfortunately, I had very little time to read while I was writing. I'm trying to make up for lost time now. My tastes are pretty eclectic. I just finished Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, a wonderful book. The language just shimmers. I've started Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which is a great study of Lincoln as a political strategist. I read just about anything by Toni Morrison, E.L. Doctorow, or Philip Roth. And I've got a soft spot for John le Carre .
Q: What inspires you? How do you stay motivated?
A: I'm inspired by the people I meet in my travels--hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. I'm inspired by the love people have for their children. And I'm inspired by my own children, how full they make my heart. They make me want to work to make the world a little bit better. And they make me want to be a better man.
*****
I found this book compelling and insightful. Obama reveals his personal feelings and values and hopes and humore about many things, and I came away from the book feeling that I understood him much better. Like most fathers that I know, he is deeply in love with his wife and children. Obama wants the best possible future for his family and for the rest of America as well. I recommend that you read this book if you want to be better informed about our next President.--BH
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Reading Quotes
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, 7 August 1991
Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. ~P.J. O'Rourke
A library is a hospital for the mind.~ Anonymous ~
I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia.
Woody Allenhttp://www.quoteworld.org/quotes/359
*****All NY Times Best Seller Lists for Nov 13, 2008
Happy and Productive Reading
Copyright 2008
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