Dreams – or Nightmares – From Obama’s Father?

Anyone who wonders how Barack Obama seems to have come from nowhere to become our 44th President need only read his amazing book, Dreams from My Father. Or, better, you should listen to the audio version of the book, read by Barack Obama himself. This recorded book won a Grammy Award. The award is richly deserved.

Obama’s book is a classic of American literature. Those who think he did not write it, that perhaps, as some Internet zanies have alleged, that the radical Bill Ayers wrote it, are doing both Obama and themselves a disservice. Bill Ayers’ thoughts have all the leaden quality of most deadening Marxist screeds. Ayers’ writing you can’t pick up; Obama’s you can’t put down.

Father and Son 

It’s deeply offensive to many to charge that Obama did not write his own book. It’s the same charge, incidentally, that was made against the first great black American writer: Frederick Douglass. Frederick’s powerful stage presence soon proved doubters wrong.

Obama’s book is witty, spirited, engaging. It draws you in. It commands not just your attention, but your respect and even your affection. One caution I should provide. Obama’s talented mimicry of the accents of his African relatives and a militant Chicago street hustler includes an occasional use of the F-word. He never uses this kind of language speaking in his own voice, but only when quoting others, I should point out. (more…)