Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Barack Obama's meteoric rise from Hawaii high schooler to exemplary Harvard Law School student to well-groomed politico is the stuff of legend, a political story that has captured the attention of virtually every American. Since his headline-grabbing speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, Obama has come to represent the promise of unity among groups of all types -- blacks and whites; Democrats, Republicans, and moderates; the young and the old; the upper, middle, and lower classes. In this first-of-a-kind, groundbreaking biography, veteran journalist and Obama chronicler David Mendell gives an in-depth, comprehensive portrait of the boy named Barry who took inspiration from his hardworking parents and became the eloquent, suave Obama -- a man whose last name has become a catchphrase for hope in a politically jaded society desperate for a new star.

Mendell has covered Obama since the beginning of Obama's campaign for the Senate and as a result enjoys far-reaching access to the new senator. His research includes exclusive interviews with Obama's closest aides, mentors, political adversaries, and family -- most notably his extremely charismatic wife, Michelle. Mendell reveals the surprising, cutthroat campaign tactics sanctioned by Obama -- who has steeped his image and reputation with the ideals of clean politics and good government -- to win his Senate seat by employing some of the most ruthless operatives in the business.

Eye-opening, well researched, and compulsively readable, Obama: From Promise to Power is a necessary look at the evolution of a politician from public servant to candidate-savior -- a politician who has experienced fame, adulation, and criticism in equal parts and on a greater scale than the public eye has seen in quite some time."

Average Customer Rating:

For someone who is not an American, this is a great book to read.	Customer Rating:
I read the first few pages in the bookstore at the airport. I had to read more and ended up buying the book. I read almost the whole book thru out my flight. Very well written.

Fair and balanced, but positive overall

Customer Rating:

I just finished reading this book today. Although I've been drinking the Kool-Aid for some time now, it was great to read an objective biography that was fair, candid, and did a good job of recording what happened behind the scenes during Obama's sudden rise to the threshold of the presidency. Even though he tries to be objective and does a good job painting a fairly complete, believable picture of Obama the man as well as the politican, Mendell clearly admires Obama and the overall impression I came away with was very positive. I'm giving the book four stars because Mendell has what I feel is an annoying tendency to interject himself into the story instead of being a strict chronicler. Also, the book stops right as Obama makes the announcement to run for the presidency. It feels like an unfinished work. I read another reviewer state Mendell is working on a follow-up. I sure hope so, because I'd love to find out the behind-the-scenes events that led to the debates, Iowa, and Super Tuesday.

Objective, Fair, and Useful	Customer Rating:
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R11Q7UEY8OJ1OX Here's a mainstream media account of Obama that happens to be objective and fair. It contains the story of his life, and Mendell refuses to portray him as a savior even though he really likes the guy. It's definitely useful for conservatives as Mendell's liberal bonafides are unimpeachable. A fine read I thought overall.

More Objectivity Than Elsewhere

Customer Rating:

I just got done reading this and am in process of reading Obama's autobiography as well as McCain's "Faith of My Fathers". I was pleasantly surprised at the frankness of the journalist (Mendell) and I actually viewed Obama in a much more human light and thought it was refreshing to hear about the good and the bad in one book, instead of only good or only bad (most of the current choices on the bookstands). I think that Mendell's point of view from having been around him from the beginning of his political aspirations in Chicago, it gives a much clearer view than an outsiders into what makes him tick and what motivates him. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!! - I am reading lots of other books before making my voting decision, but it definitely was pulling me towards Obama. --a former Republican

An excellent report

Customer Rating:

This was a good book that suceeds in showing Obama's early political career. The only drawback to it is that the author clearly shows his newspaper roots. Rather than write the book in story form, I got the strong impression that I was reading an incredibly long newspaper article. That style issue aside, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the man and his history in a clear and straightforward way.