This book singlehandedly changed me from a dyed-in-the-wool Clintonite to an Obamaniac...

Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama

In a political world where shafting, lying and manipulation are seen as skills, this was the first political biography I think I've ever read where I felt the author was absolutely honest; not only about his positive/good points but also about his weaknesses. I really learned so much from it, about how human weakness affects a candidate, about how the influence of money slowly seeps into the mind of a politician and how one's humanity must be brought to his job to counter this potentially negative influence. More than anything, he struck me as being the embodiment of a progressive (but not naive) politician and extraordinarily aware, both of himself and of others. His two-sentence description of George Bush ("I had found the President to be a likable man, shrewd and disciplined but with the same straightforward manner that had helped him win two elections; you could easily imagine him owning the local car dealership down the street, coaching Little League, and grilling in his backyard--the kind of guy who would make for good company so long as the conversation revolved around sports and the kids.") is I think it's a better pen-picture description of the man than anything I've ever come across.

Originally I was a strong Hillary supporter (I even bought the t-shirt!). I couldn't warm to Obama - I felt his comments about talking to the Iranian President were naive and also Hillary was so good to Ireland (she even visited Doolin - a woman of taste!)  but after reading this book I cannot but be certain that Obama would be a masterful and potentially transformatory President of the United States. I believe his election and subsequently his open style of government could awaken a sense of civic participation the world over in people and lead to many great achievements that have proved elusive for the last generation. The Bible says "Cometh the hour, cometh the man" - I'm sorry it can't be a woman, but for the here and now, Obama is the man. 

(There is an entertaining short extract here: http://jacquelinekam.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!713D0CCEAEBEE05!2108.entry) 

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