BARACK AND MICHELLE Portrait of an American Marriage

Christopher Andersen's take on Barack and Michelle Obama is that they are "remarkable" for leading lives that many would recognize. Dion Graham hits that angle home by narrating with an intimate tone as Andersen touches upon the glamour of the presidency and President Obama's historical importance but also takes in marital problems, Michelle's concerns about Barack's political career, and Barack's smoking habit. While most of the President's life has become familiar through his own works, details such as his stealthy campaign to head the Harvard Law Review add insight into his personality. Listeners will likely be more interested in Michelle's life and her reactions to her husband’s political ambitions and successes. Andersen reveals the couple through fresh journalistic eyes. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2010]