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Obama's Memoir 'A Promised Land' Coming in November

  
Via:  Vic Eldred  •  4 years ago  •  40 comments


Obama's Memoir 'A Promised Land' Coming in November
"There's no feeling like finishing a book, and I'm proud of this one," Obama said. "I've spent the last few years reflecting on my presidency, and in A Promised Land I've tried to provide an honest accounting of my presidential campaign and my time in office: the key events and people who shaped it, my take on what I got right and the mistakes I made, and the political, economic, and cultural forces that my team and I had to confront then — and that as a nation we are grappling with still."

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Former President Barack Obama's new memoir will be published in November, shortly after the election, his publisher, Penguin Random House, announced on Thursday.

The 768-page book, "A Promised Land," will be the first of two volumes, this one encompassing parts of his early political life, his presidential campaign in 2008 and ending with the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011. It will be released around the world on Nov. 17 in 25 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Czech, Finnish and Vietnamese.

Demand for the book is expected to be extraordinary, and Crown, an imprint of Penguin Random House, has ordered a first printing for the U.S. edition of 3 million copies. To accommodate such an enormous order, Crown plans to print about 1 million of those books in Germany and has arranged for three ships, outfitted with 112 shipping containers, to bring those copies to the United States.

Mr. Obama and Michelle Obama sold their memoirs to Crown as a package deal for a record-smashing $65 million. So far, it doesn't look like they overpaid. Mrs. Obama's book, "Becoming," has sold more than 8.1 million units in the United States and Canada since it was published in the fall of 2018.

Mr. Obama's book took longer. He started writing shortly after leaving office, working on it at home in Washington, D.C., while traveling, and on Martha's Vineyard this summer.

"There's no feeling like finishing a book, and I'm proud of this one," Mr. Obama said in a statement. "I've spent the last few years reflecting on my presidency, and in 'A Promised Land' I've tried to provide an honest accounting of my presidential campaign and my time in office: the key events and people who shaped it, my take on what I got right and the mistakes I made, and the political, economic, and cultural forces that my team and I had to confront then — and that as a nation we are grappling with still."

Mr. Obama said the book gives readers a sense of his and Mrs. Obama's personal journey during that time as well, "with all the incredible highs and lows." He also offers his thoughts on how to heal the country's divisions and hopes the book will inspire young people to "play their part in remaking the world for the better."

Many of the biggest books of the year are released in the fall, but there was no thought given to publishing this one before the election, according to an Obama spokeswoman, because he wanted to focus on helping his former vice president, Joseph R. Biden Jr., campaign for the White House without any distractions. News of the book's publication date was reported earlier by The New York Post.

What is unusual about this presidential memoir is that Mr. Obama is not just a politician, he is also a writer. His first book, "Dreams From My Father," was published in 1995 by Peter Osnos at Times Books. Mr. Osnos said he paid a $40,000 advance after Mr. Obama's original contract with Simon & Schuster was canceled because he had taken too long to deliver the book.

"That has to be the single biggest arc in the history of publishing," Mr. Osnos said of the journey from a $40,000 book deal to a $65 million one.

"Dreams From My Father" has since sold more than 3.3 million units in the United States and Canada, according to Crown, and "The Audacity of Hope," which was published in 2006, has sold more than 4.2 million. Mr. Obama, who narrated the audio versions, won a Grammy for best spoken word album for each, as did Mrs. Obama for her narration of "Becoming." He will read the audio version of "A Promised Land" as well. A release date has not yet been announced for the second volume of Mr. Obama's presidential memoirs.


By Elizabeth A. Harris

Sept. 17, 2020, 6:00 a.m. ET

 

Glenn Thrush contributed reporting.

Follow New York Times Books on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, sign up for our newsletter or our literary calendar. And listen to us on the Book Review podcast.


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Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1  seeder  Vic Eldred    4 years ago

From the man who was going to transform America whether we liked it or not!

A loving review from the New York Times.  (I wonder who the ghost writer is?)



The former president's publisher plans to release the book after the 2020 election and has ordered a first U.S. printing of 3 million copies.

"A Promised Land," by former president Barack Obama, is set for release Nov. 17.Credit...Penguin Random House


Trump and his supporters are off topic

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
1.1  Dulay  replied to  Vic Eldred @1    4 years ago
(I wonder who the ghost writer is?)

Why are you making that allegation Vic? 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
1.1.1  seeder  Vic Eldred  replied to  Dulay @1.1    4 years ago

Simply because Obama is not known to have the ability to write books. A lot of people who are churning out books these days use ghost writers.

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
1.1.2  Tessylo  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.1.1    4 years ago

"Simply because Obama is not known to have the ability to write books."

By who?

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
1.1.3  Dulay  replied to  Vic Eldred @1.1.1    4 years ago
Simply because Obama is not known to have the ability to write books.

YOU seem to be the only one that doesn't have that knowledge Vic. 

A lot of people who are churning out books these days use ghost writers.

Which isn't evidence that Obama does. 

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
3  Tessylo    4 years ago

I'm sure it's going to be a best seller.  Boy doesn't that piss you off?

LOL!

 
 
 
Ronin2
Professor Quiet
3.1  Ronin2  replied to  Tessylo @3    4 years ago

No.

A fool and their money are soon parted. And a lot of fools will be buying his book.

I wonder what thing or thing(s) he amalgamated this time? 

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
3.1.1  Tessylo  replied to  Ronin2 @3.1    4 years ago

Of course it pisses you off.  

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
3.1.2  Texan1211  replied to  Ronin2 @3.1    4 years ago

What's really funny is that they will stand in line to throw money away!

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
4  Greg Jones    4 years ago

It's bound to be as fake and full of lies as all his other works of fiction

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
4.1  seeder  Vic Eldred  replied to  Greg Jones @4    4 years ago

Question: Who really wrote Dreams from my father?

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.1.1  Tessylo  replied to  Vic Eldred @4.1    4 years ago

President Obama.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
4.1.2  seeder  Vic Eldred  replied to  Tessylo @4.1.1    4 years ago

There is considerable doubt about that. Though he is an excellent speaker, he is not regarded as much of a writer. Some have said that Bill Ayers wrote Dreams for him:

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.1.3  Tessylo  replied to  Vic Eldred @4.1.2    4 years ago

Key words:  "some have said"

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
4.1.4  seeder  Vic Eldred  replied to  Tessylo @4.1.3    4 years ago

Why don't you read the link I provided. It's not very long.

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.1.5  Tessylo  replied to  Vic Eldred @4.1.4    4 years ago

"Why don't you read the link I provided. It's not very long."

"Some have said"

Why would I bother?  

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
4.1.6  Dulay  replied to  Vic Eldred @4.1.2    4 years ago
There is considerable doubt about that.

Though not here on Earth 1. 

Though he is an excellent speaker, he is not regarded as much of a writer.

Well he was regarded as an excellent writer by the Harvard Law Review. 

Some have said that Bill Ayers wrote Dreams for him:

Some say that links of articles that don't cite an author, without even ONE linked reference, that merely spew bullshit, are worthless. 

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.2  Tessylo  replied to  Greg Jones @4    4 years ago

I'm so sure you read all of them Greg!

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
4.3  Dulay  replied to  Greg Jones @4    4 years ago

Wouldn't it be prudent to read something before making allegations about it? 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
5  seeder  Vic Eldred    4 years ago

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"An Obama spokesperson told the  Times   that releasing the book prior to the presidential election on Nov. 3 was not considered because Obama hoped to focus on helping Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with his campaign. Penguin Random House's imprint Crown previously signed a $65 million deal with Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama for their memoirs, the  Times   reports. The former first lady's memoir,  Becoming , was released in 2018 and was that year's best-selling book in the United States,  Axios   notes ."


 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
6  Tessylo    4 years ago

Question:  Who really wrote Art of the Deal?

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
6.1  seeder  Vic Eldred  replied to  Tessylo @6    4 years ago

That's twice!  Read Post 1.  I'm ready to start ticketing.

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
6.1.1  Dulay  replied to  Vic Eldred @6.1    4 years ago
That's twice!  Read Post 1.  I'm ready to start ticketing.

Which states:

Trump and his supporters are off topic

Since her post doesn't cite 'He who must not be named' and the ACTUAL writer of 'The Art of the Deal' is NOT a supporter of  'He who must not be named', WHY do you have an issue with her post? 

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
6.1.2  Texan1211  replied to  Dulay @6.1.1    4 years ago

He clearly defined what was off topic.

If you are unclear on it, read it again and again, if necessary.

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
6.1.3  Dulay  replied to  Texan1211 @6.1.2    4 years ago

My not unclear on what is off topic. I'm questioning why Vic has an issue with a comment that doesn't meet his criteria. Do you speak for Vic?

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
6.1.4  Texan1211  replied to  Dulay @6.1.3    4 years ago

I speak for common sense.

Apparently you do not get it or else you wouldn't be defending off topic posts.

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
6.1.5  Dulay  replied to  Texan1211 @6.1.4    4 years ago
I speak for common sense. Apparently you do not get it or else you wouldn't be defending off topic posts.

If you spoke for 'common sense' you wouldn't be making bullshit claims that I defended off topic posts. 

I asked a QUESTION and common sense would dictate that Vic should be the one replying to it, NOT you. 

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
6.1.6  Texan1211  replied to  Dulay @6.1.5    4 years ago

Open forum. If you don't want others answering you, send him a private message. Stop whining about it.

And I am real sorry that someone of your obvious intellect can not tell that who wrote "The Art of the Deal" is simply NOT the topic discussed in the article.

You go ahead in your infinite wisdom and relate "The Art of the Deal" author to the article.

Go for it!

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
6.1.7  Dulay  replied to  Texan1211 @6.1.6    4 years ago
Open forum. If you don't want others answering you, send him a private message. Stop whining about it.

Yet you DIDN'T answer my question, DID you Tex? 

And I am real sorry that someone of your obvious intellect can not tell that who wrote "The Art of the Deal" is simply NOT the topic discussed in the article.

Nor is who wrote 'Dreams of my father' yet Vic has asked that obtuse question multiple times. 

You go ahead in your infinite wisdom and relate "The Art of the Deal" author to the article.
Go for it!

Not my circus, not my monkeys Tex.

I'll wait for my question to be answered. 

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
6.1.8  Texan1211  replied to  Dulay @6.1.7    4 years ago
Yet you DIDN'T answer my question, DID you Tex? 

Your inability to understand what I wrote is a personal problem, not mine.

Nor is who wrote 'Dreams of my father' yet Vic has asked that obtuse question multiple times. 

Well, since Obama wrote it, and the article is about Obama and a book, I would say it is RIGHT on topic.

Not my circus, not my monkeys Tex. I'll wait for my question to be answered.

Enjoy your wait--since you don't seem capable of  seeing answers.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
6.1.9  Texan1211  replied to  Dulay @6.1.7    4 years ago

I do notice you were completely incapable of relating who wrote "The Art of the Deal" with the article.

Nice job.

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
6.1.10  Dulay  replied to  Texan1211 @6.1.8    4 years ago
Well, since Obama wrote it, and the article is about Obama and a book, I would say it is RIGHT on topic.

Vic:

4.1 Question: Who really wrote Dreams from my father?

So why didn't you just tell Vic that Obama wrote it Tex? 

Oh and BTFW, just because the seed is about one book, it doesn't mean it's about another ESPECIALLY when the seeder questions it's author. 

 
 
 
Dulay
Professor Expert
6.1.11  Dulay  replied to  Texan1211 @6.1.9    4 years ago
I do notice you were completely incapable of relating who wrote "The Art of the Deal" with the article. Nice job.

I do notice you are completely incapable of recognizing that my question to Vic has NOTHING to do with your bullshit. 

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
6.1.12  Texan1211  replied to  Dulay @6.1.11    4 years ago

jrSmiley_90_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
6.1.13  Texan1211  replied to  Dulay @6.1.10    4 years ago
So why didn't you just tell Vic that Obama wrote it Tex? 

The questions had been asked and answered by the time I showed up.

If you look at the top of posts, it lists when it was posted.

Simple.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
6.2  Split Personality  replied to  Tessylo @6    4 years ago

Tony Schwartz

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
6.2.1  Tessylo  replied to  Split Personality @6.2    4 years ago

A certain poster who is not supposed to be commenting to me appears to be doing the reacharound a lot!

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
7  seeder  Vic Eldred    4 years ago

Back in a bit.....Group mod, please take over

 
 

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