Wenran jiang biography of barack obama youtube
My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies
Barack Obama undoubtedly possesses one of the most complicated and fascinating backgrounds of any former president of the United States.
Born to a father he hardly knew and to a mother he almost never saw, Obamas path to the White House is one of the most remarkable and unlikely of any Ive seen.
Wenran jiang biography of barack obama president April 2, , Dr. Wenran Jiang, Mactaggart Research Chair of the China Institute, was quoted by Xinhua News Agency, in both Chinese and English, on the G20 global leaders meeting in London, and the significance of the first summit between US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. For the English article, please click here.And yet, in hindsight, his political ascent makes almost perfect sense.
Because his presidency ended so recently, and due to his young age, it could be three decades or more before the definitive biography of Obama is written. To wrap up this six-year journey through the best biographies of the presidents I read three books on Barack H.
Obama:
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* “The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama” () by David Remnick
Remnicks The Bridge was the perfect place for me to start: it covers Obamas life up through his presidential inauguration and although the narrative can be dense and dry, it is not tediously detailed and provides an excellent review of most aspects of his first forty-seven years.
But this book is not as engrossing as are the very best biographies and it underplays the drama embedded in Obamas unlikely and remarkable political ascent.
But Remnicks reporting eye and his tenacity in seeking out interviews of everyone who ever knew Obama are remarkable. And, of the three books I read, this provides the most informative all around coverage of Obamas pre-presidency 4¼ stars (Full review here)
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* “Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama” () by David Garrow
This 1,page biography, covering Obamas life up through his presidency, is noteworthy for its length as well as the deep research which supports an often extraordinary level of detail.
Biography of john mccain senate Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States. His story is the American story — values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the conviction that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others.Unfortunately, the degree of satisfaction a reader achieves by patiently navigating its ten chapters is inadequate compensation for the persistently tedious experience.
Garrow makes no discernible effort to separate mundane details from consequential facts and there are few, if any, overarching themes or theses.
Individual moments of merit are numerous, but are overshadowed by long stretches which seem aimless or inconsequential. And in stark contrast to the first + pages of the book, Obamas presidency is covered in less than thirty pages. As a reference on his pre-presidency this book is, in some ways, commendable. But as a presidential biography it proves a mind-numbing exercise in patience and pointless perseverance 2 stars (Full review here)
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* “Barack Obama: The Story” () by David Maraniss
I had a great experience with Maranisss biography of the young Bill Clinton and this book on Barack Obamas early life did not disappoint.
Its focus, somewhat to my surprise, is as much on Obamas forebears as Obama himself. It takes time to develop, and not until the books second half does the future president come into sharp focus.
Wenran jiang biography of barack obama Wenran Jiang's Biography Dr. Wenran Jiang is Director of the Canada-China Energy and Environment Forum, and has headed its annual conference since His specialist expertise lies in the impact of China upon the global economy with a particular research focus on Chinese energy policy and relations with the North American and African continents.It also ends somewhat abruptly just as Obama is leaving Chicago to attend Harvard Law and well before the start of his political career.
But it is extremely well-researched, quite well written and, in the end, paints a compelling portrait of the 44th president (as he approaches the end of his third decade of life). My fingers are crossed that Maraniss writes a follow-up volume focusing on Obamas political ascent and presidency.
(He has indicated an interest in doing so, but only after Obamas book is published and once his library archives are accessible) 4¼ stars (Full review here)
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Best Biography of Barack Obama: ***Too early to call***
Follow-up:
“Obama: The Call of History () by Peter Baker
Obama: From Promise to Power () by David Mendell