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巴拉克與蜜雪兒：「局外人」到「造局者」的人生日常

文／余幸娟2020年11月11日
歐巴馬夫婦。美國前總統歐巴馬夫妻是締造世界歷史的人。身為「非裔美國人」，經歷從西非被綁架來美為奴的四百多年祖先英靈鍛造，連結了全美的少數族裔，巴拉克與蜜雪兒在2009～2017年八年間，成為白宮第44屆主人，卸任時，兩人的民調數字超過六～七成，出版商邀約寫書預付版稅高達6,000萬美金，與 more

內容簡介

　　來自被譽為林肯以降，文學造詣最高的總統

　　一部坦率、深刻、激勵人心的紀錄

　　在這部備受期待的回憶錄首部曲中，歐巴馬回顧競選與執政時期所經歷的重大事件、所遭遇的各式看似難以克服的關卡，帶領讀者踏上一趟漫長驚險、扣人心弦的旅程。

　　從最早的政治啟蒙，到在關鍵性的愛荷華黨團會議中取得勝利，至2008年11月4日這個意義重大的一夜，他獲選為第44屆美國總統，成為史上第一位入主白宮的非裔美國人，透過本書，跟隨歐巴馬深入橢圓辦公室以及白宮戰情室，從健保法案、深水地平線漏油事件、改革華爾街，到批准「海神之矛行動」，擊斃賓拉登，我們得以一窺在那些已成歷史的關鍵時刻，這位領導者內心的想法。

　　歐巴馬亦在本書中，直言不諱地紀錄了身為一位非裔美國總統，在治理國家時所面對的各種阻力、身上所背負的世代期望，以及在做出風險極高的決策時，所面臨的種種道德挑戰。他也坦言白宮生活對妻子和女兒們的影響，並且無懼於寫下對自己的深刻反省。

　　這部文字優美且深具力量的作品，更忠實呈現了這趟歷程中，他心中不變的信念：民主並非憑空而來，而是建立在同理、共識之上，集合眾人之力，一日一日，共同打造而成。對於這個國家，他始終堅信，只要人們攜手合作，就有機會共創更好的未來。

　　「在美國正經歷劇烈動盪之際，我在這本書裡，針對如何消除社會分歧、讓民主制度為所有人民服務，提供了一些個人見解──這個課題並非取決於任何一位總統，而是需要所有的人民共同努力。......我更期望這本書能鼓舞這個國家、乃至全世界的年輕人，接下傳遞到這個世代的接力棒，勇敢發出他們的聲音，為建構更好的世界，盡一份心力。」(文/博客來編譯)

A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making--from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE - NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND PEOPLE

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post - Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times - NPR - The Guardian - Slate - Vox - The Economist - Marie Claire

In the stirring first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency--a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.

A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective--the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of ＂hope and change,＂ and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.

作者介紹

Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States, elected in November 2008 and holding office for two terms. He is the author of two previous New York Times bestselling books, Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope, and the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Michelle. They have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.