THE BRIDGE The Life and Rise of Barack Obama

David Remnick thoroughly details the life of the 44th president of the United States, including his upbringing in Hawaii to his formative years in Indonesia and college years in California. Remnick carried out his research through a multitude of interviews, and he covers blemishes as well as achievements. Mark Deakins sounds adept, consistent, and interested in the material. He chooses not to imitate the many people quoted—from Obama’s college classmates to his close advisers. That smart choice frees the listener to focus on how Obama matured in his late teens, going on to Columbia University, Harvard Law School, community organizing in Chicago, and political runs for office. Deakins provides a steady and unbiased delivery of this definitive biography. M.B. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2010]