I finally got this book. Seriously, I have been looking forward to reading it.

A Promised Land is pleasurable to read. It’s an impressive work of political literature. The 700-page book is not too long with Obama’s storytelling skill and fine writing. He led the readers down the political rabbit hole – from childhood to his family to his political campaign to the White House.

In the book, he revealed that his decision of running presidency campaign wasn’t the first thing on his mind. “Anytime someone asked if I was going to run for president, though, i continued to demur,”Right now, I’m just focused on getting Ben Nelson back to the Senate, where we need him,” I’d say.” He wrote in the book.

It felt sometimes as if I’d been caught in a tide, carried along by the current of people’s expectations before I’d clearly defined my own.

However, things changed and so was his thinking. He had this conversation with Michelle when she asked why does he needs to be president to provide something that others can’t when his competitors are capable of winning and being president.

On top of all the reasons, I super like the argument he made to Michelle:

“Why me?”

“There’s no guarantee we can pull it off. Here’s one thing I know for sure, though. I know that the day I raise my right hand and take the oath to be the president of the United States, the world will start looking at America differently. I know all kids all around this country – Black kids, Hispanic kids, kids who don’t fit in-they’ll see themselves differently, too, their horizons lifted, their possibilities expanded. And that alone…that would be worth it.”

He spoke about his friends, teams and members in his presidential campaign in the book, including his good friendship with vice president, Joe Biden (the 46th and current president of the United States): I kept my word and made sure he was always the last voice in the room, In return I received wise counsel-and found another brother.

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 US 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.

Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples“. However, what moves me was how he responded to the Nobel Peace Prize: I didn’t feel that I deserved to be in the company of the transformative figures who’d been given the Nobel Peace Prize. Instead, I saw the prize as a call to action.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.