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What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?

November 5, 2008

After yesterday's momentous election, we've got a new President heading into office. If you could give Barack Obama ONE BOOK to read before he takes the helm, what would it be?

Think carefully. Choose wisely. Comment here.


Posted by Alison Morris on November 5, 2008 | Comments (58)


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November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Carrie O'Connor commented:

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Ellen commented:

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution and How It Can Renew America by Thomas Friedman. Required reading for the coming decades, and I hope he DOES read it. (And: HOORAY!)




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
jesseja commented:

i second the Hot,Flat and Crowded idea!




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Lisa commented:

The Omnivore's Dilemma. Our food system has implications beyond diet: environment, trade, oil, labor, health care--all sorts of issues involved.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Dave Sloane commented:

With all the issues he faces, he also has many competent advisors. However, to me the most critical domestic issue is health insurance. With that in mind, I would give him Blue Vendetta by Hugh Ellis. It offers a perspective on a corrupt industry that I have never seen elsewhere. A true MUST READ.
desloane@comcast.net




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
bookseller commented:

The Power of One




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Joel commented:

Tacky as this may sound, I'd give him a Star Trek book. Firstly because it envisions a future where people from different worlds can come together and not just live harmoniously but use their unique perspectives to solve the challenges they may encounter. Second because is reminds us that no matter how far we travel, no matter how much we discover, there's still another great adventure waiting for us just over the horizon.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
AMM commented:

The Book of Calamities by Peter Trachtenberg. It's a multifaceted consideration of suffering in the world and how people confront it and overcome it. Very inspiring.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
teacherninjas commented:

Anything by Jonothan Kozol. We need to rethink education funding in this country.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
DAVID HUBBARD commented:

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Statling insight into overcoming terrorism in Pakistan and Afganistan with schools, rather than guns. Obama needs to understand that education wins hearts a lot better than killing.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Jerri Patton commented:

'How to Care for Your New Puppy'




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Lynn Franklin commented:

My Guantanamo Diary: The Detainees and the Stories They Told Me by Mahvish Rukhsana Khan. A vividly told inside account and profile of the detainees and Guantanamo that will help him as he considers how to tackle closing it down.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Bernadette commented:

"What's So Great About America?" by Dinesh D'Souza.
D'Souza came here as an Indian immigrant as a young man.
Barack and his wife were born here, somehow earned ivy-league educations and live in a big house but still hate America. God bless us all.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Bernadette commented:

America Alone by Mark Steyn.

An Obama White House is scary, but the radical Islamists already living within our border and causing destruction worldwide is even more frightening.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Elizabeth commented:

Illuminations and/or Reflections by Walter Benjamin.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Four Story Mistake commented:

Julia Gillian and the Art of Knowing by Alison McGhee.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Lauri Hornik commented:

Tonight while reading Mo Willems's TODAY I WILL FLY to my daughter, I was struck by how much that book seemed to be an allegory for Obama's campaign -- the "unyielding hope," the bravery, the attempt to accomplish the seemingly impossible, the contagiousness of positive thinking, the importance of help from the community . . . That's the book I would hand him with love and congratulations.




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
pixiestix commented:

Animal Farm by George Orwell




November 5, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Rdr commented:

Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH.




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Ellen commented:

Love You to Pieces: Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs edited by Suzanne Kamata, so that he could come to better understand the lives of families with disabled chidlren




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Anne Stribling commented:

I would give him Deep Economy by Bill McKibben!




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Elizabeth Dingmann commented:

I'll second The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. A copy of Pollan's recent piece in the NYTimes would also be a helpful read.




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
bina commented:

Well, I was thinking kids books so I thought Duck For President would be fun for his daughters even if the older one is beyond that. But for Pres-Elect, I would recommend an array of books by and about people who do not agree with him so that he understands where they are coming from and can work on building the bridges to them for better things. But, then again, he probably already has read all of those books! GObama!





November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
anne commented:

Horton Hears a Who! ~ perhaps it would touch his heart & mind to consider the silent voices of aborted babies that cannot cry out for their rights, as he has so eloquently done for those that have been oppressed & rejected in other ways.




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
SJ commented:

Profiles in Courage




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
AAC commented:

I like RDR's suggestion above...loved that book inthe 4th grade!
But I would pick The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.
He's my "fav founder."




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
pds_lit commented:

Corrupted Science - Fraud, idology and politics in science




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Carolyn commented:

I have no doubt that the president-elect has access to more learned suggestions than I could offer, but a book that has influenced my political thinking is Rabbi Michael Lerner's The Left Hand of God.




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Anonymous commented:

Bravo, Anne!, on Horton.
Well said.
Why isn't there courage to stand up for the unborn, instead of political expediency?




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Jessie commented:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. It's his story, too.




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Carol Chittenden commented:

Our White House, because it reminds us that it belongs to and represents all of us. White House occupants have been human beings struggling with balancing competing viewpoints on hard questions. And of course because it's one all members of the family can enjoy, learn, and take comfort from.




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
HAYLEY GONNASON commented:

The Little Engine that Could—no explanation needed, and Adventures of Cow or Cow, Too—for a good grin.




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Jody commented:

WHAT NEXT by Chris Patten




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Frederick Powell commented:

Courage by Bernard Waber. The final line rings especially true today - "Courage is what we give to each other."




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
LaurenBaratzLogsted commented:

The Sisters Eight, to give to his daughters.




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
akrysan commented:

Riding into the Sunrise: Al Quie, A Life of Faith Service & Civility




November 6, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
me commented:

All the President's Men.




November 7, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
kpalumbo commented:

CHESS RUMBLE by G. Neri. Because innercity, urban youth (esp. boys) so clearly need a role model and hope for their own futures. Obama is that "class act" that inspires us all to be better human beings.




November 7, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Rebecca commented:

"Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire" by Los Angeles Unified Teacher Rafe Esquith

and, of course,
"An Inconvenient Truth"




November 7, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Rebecca commented:

"Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire" by Los Angeles Unified Teacher Rafe Esquith

and, of course,
"An Inconvenient Truth"




November 8, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Anne DeCourcey commented:

Memo to the President, Madeleine Albright. Advice on setting up the cabinet and effectively working through the quagmire of foreign affairs.




November 9, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Fran Manushkin commented:

I am trying to encourage the creation of a Children's Inauguration in Washington D.C. to parallel the one for adults. Please check out the blog post by Elizabeth Bird on the SLJ Website, and If you'd like to spread the word on your blog, it would be great!




November 10, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Tamara commented:

I would recommend the Book Thief to anyone in the world as an example of what humanity is capable of.




November 11, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Heather commented:

Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell.




November 14, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Heather commented:

"The President's Daughter" series by Ellen White. An excellent book about children in the white house. I loved it when I was younger and loved reading the latest in the series. It gives a wonderful look at what the children go through being in the public's eye and their personal issues.




November 23, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Lauren commented:

Twilight..
No explanation needed




December 10, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
sandlane commented:

Alexander and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst




December 10, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
sandlane commented:

Alexander and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst




December 11, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Sarah Rakes commented:

A PEACE TO END ALL PEACE by D.Fromkin




December 16, 2008
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Cindy Dobrez commented:

M.T. Anderson's duet, Octavian Nothing: Traitor to a Nation, Vol. I & II--an important look at the founding principles of our nation along with an examination of how we have treated people of color.




January 22, 2009
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
G. Quinn commented:

The Last Aloha. How far-off Hawaii, his home state, became part of America. The story James Michener never told.




April 7, 2009
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Susan commented:

ONE by Kathryn Otoshi




April 26, 2009
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
sross commented:

OH MY GOD, HE'S BLACK-sydrycalworks




May 14, 2009
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Janice commented:


The Bible. I know this won't be a popular answer, but if we actually lived by Jesus' priciples. we would be a healthier nation. Not to know just enough of the Bible to make us hate, but to know it well enough to make us love. To realize that God gave us absolutes of right and wrong, but He didn't give them with the intention of having us hate anyone. Jesus could have been a great politician--if He had been willing to follow the crowd and make popular decisions. Obama could learn a lot from just doing the right thing and not simply the popular thing.







May 23, 2009
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Kiske commented:

Something by Webster Tarpley. Or The history of the club Bilderberg - Daniel Estulin. Wouldn't be helpful though since Obama already knows what he's doing and his place in the power structure steering the world towards one world governance.




June 18, 2009
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
archiepw1 commented:

Liberty and Tyranny- Mark R. Levin




June 19, 2009
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Brittany Pogue-Mohammed commented:

The Obama Story (as if he didn't know his own life) but it's in manga form- cute little manga Obama




June 29, 2009
In response to: What Book Would You Give Barack Obama?
Carol Jones commented:

The Horse Soldiers





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