THE AUDACITY OF HOPE Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

Barack Obama smoothly blends personal memoir with clear, bold statements on his political views. His delivery is exceptionally polished, and a strong sense of his character comes through. Due to both his stories and his earnest tone, he seems likable, reasonable, and trustworthy. He also shows a fine sense of humor (and does a surprisingly good George W. Bush imitation). However, except when he speaks about his family, Obama’s voice is almost free of passion, making one wonder if he has the fire to fuel his ambitions. As for his political reasoning, he strongly stakes out a pragmatic middle-liberal position. His concern for people seems genuine, but his policy proposals offer little that is new. G.T.B. 2008 Grammy Nominee © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]