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Rising Star
Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama | David Garrow
23 posts | 4 read | 36 to read
As epic in vision and rigorous in detail as Robert Caro's The Years of Lyndon Johnson series, the definitive account of Barack Obamas life before he became the 44th president of the United Statesthe formative years, confluence of forces, and influential figures who helped shaped an extraordinary leader and his risefrom the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Bearing the Cross. Barack Obamas keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention instantly catapulted the little-known state senator from Illinois into the national spotlight. Three months later, Obama would win election to the U.S. Senate; four years later he would make history as Americas first black president. Now, at the end of his second presidential term, David J. Garrow delivers the most compelling and comprehensive biography ever written of Obama in the years preceding his presidency. Moving around the globe, from Hawaii to Indonesia to the American Northeast and Midwest, Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama meticulously unpacks Obamas life, from his tumultuous upbringing in Honolulu and Jakarta, to his formative time as a community organizer on Chicagos South Side, working in some of the roughest neighborhoods, to Cambridge, where he excelled at Harvard Law School, and finally back to Chicago, where he pursued his political destiny. In voluminous detail, drawn from more than 1,000 interviews and encyclopedic documentary research, Garrow reveals as never before the ambition, the dreams, and the all-too-human struggles of an iconic president in a sure to be news-making biography that will stand as the most authoritative account of Obamas pre-presidential life for decades to come.
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Elle Rodd
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Mimi28
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Today‘s #libraryhaul - Y‘all!! 😂 I couldn‘t believe Vox came in so quickly and The Body is Not An Apology is something I REALLY need to read. I didn‘t know Snow Crash would be so old and damaged but that‘s ok. An of course the Obama book and I can‘t believe Black Klansman came in so fast either! Interesting diverse haul don‘t you think? All but the Obama book are holds but it should be fun trying to figure all this out! 😂😂👍🏽😉which one first?

2BR02B My hold for Vox just came in, too! My library system must have ordered a bunch of copies, because it seems unusually fast for a brand new release. 6y
Mimi28 @2BR02B Are you in the Chicago public library system? Sorry if that was too personal 6y
63 likes2 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
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Question inspired by @jessberk13 . Tagged book is 56 h 5 m.

WanderingBookaneer At 44h & 55m, mine is 7y
julesG Complete Harry Potter. No idea how long it is. 7y
jessberk13 Almost finished with my 36h 8m journey to 7y
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Simona My favorite book of the last year: 33h, 10min 7y
WanderingBookaneer @julesG : If we count a series, then definitely Harry Potter. I might do Dark Tower in audio as well. That might be longer. 7y
Kaye I‘ve got a truckload of audiobooks , and several are much longer than this, but the longest one I finished was 18 hours 5 minutes 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘ve never listened to one!! 🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ 7y
Andrew65 Read quite a few long ones so need to check! 7y
sammisho This one was 30-40 hours long 7y
Leftcoastzen 50 hours and 53 minutes. 7y
Andrew65 My longest one is The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Narrator : Simon Vance) at 58 hours 4 minutes. The longest which isn‘t a compilation of books was A Storm of Swords at 47 hours 37 minutes, and a close second World Without End At 45 hrs 38 minutes. Have a couple of longer ones coming up : The Fiery Cross at 55 hours and A Dance With Dragons At 49 hrs. @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Kaye @WanderingBookaneer @julesG @jessberk13 @Simona @sammisho @Leftcoastzen (edited) 7y
Andrew65 I obviously like Chunksters! 7y
Kaye Wow @Andrew65 You‘ve got some whoppers coming up. At least you get lots of reading hours for your buck. I forgot I could order them by length. DUH 🙄 My longest is Centennial at 50 hours 11 minutes with Shantaram at almost 43 hours. I also have the Jakes North and South trilogy which are all 3 hefty listens. I seem to buy them faster than I complete them. 7y
Andrew65 @Kaye Not surprised at those lengths. I‘m currently listening to The Wise Man‘s Fear at 43 hours 7 minutes, hope to finish today or tomorrow. I agree, it does always seem better value for money for your credit : 10 hours or 50 hours, no contest 😂 7y
Kaye @Andrew65 Do you ever relisten to your audiobooks ? I find myself doing that frequently. I rarely reread a print copy, but I can relisten to audiobooks and never get tired of them. Not sure why. 7y
Andrew65 @Kaye Yes like you I rarely reread a physical book but will happily listen again to an audiobook. Sometimes I will listen to the last book in a series (as a reread) before reading the new physical book that has been published in a series. 7y
Dogearedcopy ‘Rise and Fall of the Third Reich‘ (by William L. Shirer; narrated by Grover Gardner) = 57.25 hours 7y
Kaye @Dogearedcopy I don‘t have that book but love Grover Gardner. He‘s one of my favorites. 7y
WanderingBookaneer @sammisho : I listened to that as well! 7y
WanderingBookaneer @Leftcoastzen : I‘ve always wanted to read that one! 7y
WellReadCatLady Tagged book was 38 hours, never again! 7y
WanderingBookaneer @GirlInterruptedReading : I did that one alternating between the audiobook and the physical book. 7y
76 likes22 comments
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drokka
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1. While working (except when reading or writing documents, then I listen to music)
2. So far, exclusively through library services. Mostly Overdrive, sometimes Libby (I now it‘s the same company now, but I prefer Overdrive), or Hoopla, but those seem to be mostly mainstream.
3. Usually sped up, unless it‘s someone whose voice I love to hear
4. So many! Lorelei King and David Suchet
5. I struggle picking favourites in anything
#audiobookinquiry

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drokka
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If anyone is looking for a long #audiobook, this one is almost 56.5 hours (in 52 parts).

That‘s a heck of a biography.

dariazeoli It‘s on my list! Even at my normal speed of 2x, that‘s over 24 hours. An impressive beast! 7y
drokka @dariazeoli I‘m listening to it 1.5 speed and it‘s 34.7 hours. It‘s definitely comprehensive. I‘m halfway part two and it‘s still just about he conditions in Chicago in the 80s. No mention of Barack yet. Very informative. 7y
56 likes2 comments
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Buddys_Momma
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What a week, y'all.......

💜💜💜💜Forever my POTUS 💜💜💜💜

MicheleinPhilly 🙌🏼I miss you, sir! 7y
Jensol77 Thanks for being a great leader. God help America and this crazy world we're living in. 🌎🌍🌏 7y
Librariana He is so, SO dearly missed! 💙 7y
26 likes3 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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My plan is to start this before bed, but it's so big I'm not sure I can hold it up!

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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 5! If you have a goal set for yourself to read a 1,000+-page book, this will definitely fit the bill at a staggering 1,472 pages 😱. Written by a Pulitzer Prize winner. This book looks with meticulous detail into the life of the 44th President from his childhood through his election in 2008. It's vivid, it's gripping, and it will provide deep insight about and into President Barack Obama. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

TheRiehlDeal 1472 pages?1 That's longer than SK's "IT". So if I can finish this book, then I can finish IT. 7y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 7y
78 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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DeborahSmall
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My little Rising Star got the Super Reading award!! Out of a class of 26 I was super proud as she was the only super reader, when they had 2 maths wizards, 2 ICT wizards etc.... ❤️📖⭐️

LeahBergen Yay! Way to go, Sophie! 🎉🎉 7y
MicheleinPhilly 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 7y
Lcsmcat 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
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rubyslippersreads Amazing achievement! 📚🏆🌟🌟🌟 7y
Megabooks 👍🏻👍🏻 7y
Graciouswarriorprincess Wonderful!!📚😍💕🎉 7y
ScientistSam Good for her!! 7y
vivastory Great achievement!! 🎊 📚 👍 7y
CherylDeFranceschi Awesome! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
mjdowens Way to go👏💐👍🤗 7y
batsy Well done Sophie! 🎉📚⭐ 7y
mklong That is so cool! No wonder we can see those adorable dimples! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 7y
LauraBrook Congratulations, Sophie!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 7y
arlenefinnigan Well done Sophie! 7y
RohitSawant How wonderful! Congrats! 7y
84 likes15 comments
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dariazeoli
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Wow, this book is MASSIVE! I like how it's near the Nook displays at B&N. I'd definitely take advantage of my ereader for reading this one!

Ms_T That's a real chunk! 7y
Cinfhen @minkyb 😱😱😱 7y
minkyb @Cinfhen They are taking over! 🙃 7y
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Cinfhen Haha 😂 at least you get your money's worth @minkyb 7y
Andrew65 He must have taken a lot of making! 😂 (edited) 7y
41 likes6 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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It is indeed a scholarly masterpiece, though I strongly disagree with Garrote's deeply negative portrayal of the Obama presidency in the book's epilogue.

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BookishMarginalia
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The title of the epilogue, which captures its tone quite accurately. By the way, this was the only chapter Obama did not read and discuss with the author.

Mariposa_Bookworm I'd like to read this one and the one written by his staff member. 7y
Clare-Dragonfly Uh, that's supposed to be about Obama, not Trump? 7y
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BookishMarginalia
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Pickpick

This a mammoth book, with a lot of minutiae (like the page count of each book Obama assigned his law students 🤷🏻‍♀️). It was an interesting well-documented look at Obama's political rise, though the author does like his snarky comments. The one jarring note was the epilogue, which covered the whole of Obama's presidency (& mentioned golf too many times to count) & basically brands Obama as a failure. Cognitive dissonance for me. 3.5 stars

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BookishMarginalia
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#Audiocoloring - on the last 4 hours of this behemoth 59+ hour biography. Barack is now a US Senator and considering running for president.

kricheal 59 hours!? 😲 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa That is beautiful! 7y
Robothugs What do you use when you color? 7y
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Zelma Beautiful colors and drawing! 💕 7y
Aleida Copic markers? 7y
Mindelan Haha love the sneaky googly eyes! 7y
BookishMarginalia @Zelma @mindelan @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Thanks! @Aleida @Robothugs Surprisingly enough, that is with Paper Mate Flairs! (I'm an equal opportunity colorist) -- @kricheal Yes! It's very detailed 🤓 (edited) 7y
160 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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#MiaCat, our firstborn, hangs out with me as we listen to this very detailed biography. Michelle finally appears as Barack's summer law clerk supervisor and they start a love affair. Right now Barack is about to graduate from Harvard Law School after a year as its first black president. He has a book contract to write a memoir about race and family.

tournevis I know it's a typo, but I love that you wrote "a live affair". Makes the idea of them together more interesting. 7y
melbeautyandbooks Love that she was his supervisor. 7y
maich Time for sleep😍😻 7y
157 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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#Audiocoloring - Barack is now at Harvard Law School. Michelle hasn't appeared yet.

Texreader I'm enjoying your updates (and coloring)! 7y
KristinaSimon Oooo... that's a good idea! I listen while working out and doing chores, but sometimes it'd be nice to listen more. Coloring = brilliant! 😍 7y
137 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Part 1 of 7 done! I'm hoping we're done with using the ex-girlfriend's journals as a source soon. Who wants to be judged by someone's journal entries? And yes, Barack is now a Chicago community organizer and becoming much more recognizable--and likable. (Can't wait for Michelle to appear!)

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BookishMarginalia
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First surprise: college-age Barack Obama is a terrible letter writer: his letters to friends and his girlfriend are just eye-rollingly bad🤦🏻‍♀️, confusing, condescending, and just plain annoying! Did not expect not to like young Barack. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have more than 50 hours left, and I can't wait for adult Barack to show up!

Nat_Reads I'm a wee obsessed with President Obama--added this to my stack. I wish I could read as fast as you!! You keep my TBR stacking! Thank you for all the great recs!!! 7y
Ellsbeth This is good to know! Thanks. 7y
RealBooks4ever Interesting! 🤔 7y
129 likes10 stack adds3 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Saturday morning at happy place @TheBookmarkPR 💜💜💜

Bambolina_81 That's ginormous!! 7y
MicheleinPhilly Holy chunkster, Batman! 😳 7y
Jabberwocky Jealous! 7y
Vikz Just brought that book, looking forward to seeing what you think. 7y
132 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Lesliereads
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Sometimes I see big fat books and my eyes get big and watery! #chunkers #barackobama #bigfatbooks

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nitalibrarian
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I ordered this Obama bio for the library I work at. It's huge! 1460 pages and not large print.

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SarahSDavis
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I think they made the box just for this book! *sob* 😭Obama is still my #1. I judge all men against him. 💞Maybe that's why I'm single!

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tjwill
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I picked these up at the ALA conference last month. Rising Star is likely going to be a beast of a biography. This is just a one chapter sample, and it's 138 pages! I just couldn't help but get the other one too (the day after inauguration). 😏 #tbr #presidentialreads #feistyfeb

Moray_Reads My goodness, Obama looks so young in that picture! 8y
tjwill @Moray_Reads This chapter is about his time at Harvard Law, so it might be a picture from that time in his life. I think it is the same cover for the completed book, though. 8y
49 likes1 stack add2 comments