“I finally finished Barak Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope. It's a good book, well worth your time. It's written in a clear, compelling, and lively tone about topics of genuine political substance not easily navigated in today's political culture. It's not surprising, for that reason, that it made it has made it's way to the top of the bestseller lists. It may be somewhat surprising that a book about changing the political culture of America is so popular. Widespread disaffection with politics, as a hypocritical, cynical, corrupt affair, may promote disdain for such hope as much as interest. But, as the sales seem to indicate, there is a large segment of society that's interested in positive change. I don't agree with everything Obama suggests, his diagnoses or comments on faith, but the fact that he is willing to take other views seriously, and treat the people who hold them with respect, only inspires a sense of warmth. At least it for me. You get the feeling that if you were to meet him, he would be genuinely interested in what you had to say, and your experiences. It's a feeling I get when reading Brian McLaren too. There is something validating about the experience of reading and listening to these two individuals. Who doesn't like to know when 'important people' agree with what you? I get the impression that in some ways Obama is indicative of the desire for a wider change in political practice, and that this can only be a very good sign. Particularly if those who are so inclined, act upon it.”
knsheppard wrote this review Thursday, March 8 2007.
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