Reviews
Garrow is a demon for research. ... Eminently solid. ... Consistently readable -- an impressive work., The authoritative biography of Barack Obama's prepresidential years. ... Illuminating. ... Impressively researched. ... Readers will be richly rewarded., "Revealing. ... Probing. ... [Garrow] tells us how Obama lived, and explores the calculations he made in the decades leading up to his winning the presidency." , Impressive. ... [A] deeply reported work of biography. ... The depth of detail allows the reader to see familiar parts of this story with fresh eyes., Breathtaking. ... With depth and meticulousness, David Garrow's new book pulls back the curtain on Obama's family, upbringing, college years, personal reinventions, mentors, romances, career choices, law school accomplishments, marriage and rise in Illinois politics., Gripping. ... [A] compelling read [that] should appeal to political junkies and insiders. ... Foundational., "Impressive. ... [A] deeply reported work of biography." -- New York Times Book Review "Rigorous. ... Thorough. ... Meticulously researched. ... Delivers insight and clarity on Obama's enigmatic personality." -- Christian Science Monitor "A prodigious work. ... Each page crackles with the strength of [Garrow's] research." -- USA Today "Extremely well-done. ... Garrow slices the fat of fiction away from fact. ... [A book] equally as valuable for what it is saying about the present and the future as well as the past." -- Atlanta Black Star "Revealing. ... Probing. ... [Garrow] tells us how Obama lived, and explores the calculations he made in the decades leading up to his winning the presidency." -- Washington Post "Phenomenal... Essential. ... Persuasive. ... Authoritative. ... A stunning and indispensable work of history. ... A masterwork of historical and journalistic research... [and] a terrific read." -- David Greenberg, Politico "One of the most impressive presidential biographies... [and] a look at the social construction of race." -- Bloomberg (a Must-Read of 2017) "A tour de force. ... An epic triumph of personal and political biography. -- Paul Street, New York Journal of Books "The authoritative biography of Barack Obama's prepresidential years. ... Illuminating. ... Impressively researched. ... Readers will be richly rewarded." -- Library Journal (starred review) "A convincing and exceptionally detailed portrait. ... Political history buffs will be fascinated." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Important. ... Engages, absorbs and mesmerises." -- Literary Review (London) "Garrow is a demon for research. ... Eminently solid. ... Consistently readable -- an impressive work." -- Kirkus Reviews "Gripping. ... [A] compelling read [that] should appeal to political junkies and insiders. ... Foundational." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "Learned. ... May endure in the American presidential canon." -- Globe and Mail (Toronto) "Definitive. ... Fascinating. ... So interesting, you'll be hard-pressed to put it down." -- Paul Lisnek, WGN Chicago "You definitely want to pick it up. ... Very thorough, very well-researched." -- Roland Martin, NEWS ONE NOW "Comprehensive. ... Contains many insights to Obama's life and character. ... Will be the defining work on Obama's early life for years to come." -- The Federalist "Immensely informative. ... Reveals Mr. Obama in all his complexity." -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Groundbreaking. ... A candid examination of the former president's life before the White House." -- Daily Nebraskan "Breathtaking. ... With depth and meticulousness, David Garrow's new book pulls back the curtain on Obama's family, upbringing, college years, personal reinventions, mentors, romances, career choices, law school accomplishments, marriage and rise in Illinois politics." -- New York Law Journal
