Barack Obama first post-presidency memoir ‘A Promised Land’ is already making waves across the world, even before its official launch. Tell tale sign it will be a best seller.
Obama’s 768-page memoir details his 8-year reign as US 44th President. The former President talks about so many things that happened in the course of his presidency.
For instance, Obama talks about a seamless transition in 2008 when he defeated late John McCain to be elected US first black President.
Obama said predecessor George Bush (a Republican) warmly welcomed him during the presidential transition.
“Whether because of his respect for the institution, lessons from his father, bad memories of his own transition… or just basic decency, President Bush would end up doing all he could to make the 11 weeks between my election and his departure go smoothly,” Obama wrote.
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Obama also notes that the Bush daughters, Barbara and Jenna, rearranged their schedules to give his daughters Malia and Sasha their own tour of the White House.
“I promised myself that when the time came, I would treat my successor the same way,” Obama said, a nod to his transition with Trump.
This is in contrast with what Trump is now doing to Biden, the incumbent has refused to concede defeat and has blocked members of his administration from working with the President-elect for a smooth transition like it has been the practice between outgoing and incoming presidents for years.
Talking of Biden, Obama also detailed his relationship with his former Vice President revealing why he chose him to be his running-mate.
“I liked the fact that Joe would be more than ready to serve as President if something happened to me — and that it might reassure those who still worried I was too young,” Obama wrote.
Adding that;
“What mattered most, though, was what my gut told me — that Joe was decent, honest, and loyal. I believed that he cared about ordinary people, and that when things got tough, I could trust him. I wouldn’t be disappointed.”
‘A Promised Land’ is Obama’s third memoir, the first was ‘Dream from My Father’ in 1995 and his second was ‘The Audacity of Hope’ in 2006. Obama’s wife Michelle Obama also released her own memoir, ‘Becoming’ in 2018, selling millions of copies in under a year.
The Obamas together were reportedly paid a $65 million/Ksh 7 billion advance for their memoirs by Penguin Random House.
