RaveThe Independent (UK)One of the many delights in Barack Obama’s latest memoir is the thoughtful and large selection of photographs ... Like the man himself, his memoir is elegant, thoughtful and usually balanced ... The one personality he plainly wouldn’t wish to slight is of course Michelle; rather, the very mention of her triggers unexpectedly romantic reveries of genuinely undiluted affection in mushy Mills and Boon-grade narration ... Obama’s is a beautifully written memoir ... covers his childhood through to the assassination of Osama bin Laden in 2011, which is written up like a thriller. It’s not a proper work of history, as such, but it is full of insights into the state of American society, and in particular its problems with race. In fact, though the competition is not strong, it’s probably the best volume of autobiography from a former president in modern times. As a reminder of a face of America it is invaluable.
