The New York Times, Obama: The Historic Journey [Hardcover]

There have been many excellent books commemorating Barack Obama's unprecedented path to the presidency. This is the best. Created by the New York Times team of photographers, reporters, researchers and writers, it digs a little deeper than the others, and covers Obama's whole life.

The quality and quantity of the writing is the biggest difference between this book and its competitors. You might pick it up for the gorgeous photography, but hours later you'll still be reading it. A central narrative weaves throughout, and there are additional articles on Obama's father, mother, grandmother, wife Michelle, senior White House advisor Valerie Jarrett, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. and other controversial figures, Georgia Representative John Lewis, Gen. Colin Powell, Tina Fey's parody of Sarah Palin, the New York Times coverage of the campaign, the Obama children, and the oath of office being administered twice.

It took two years for the Times' staff to compile the research and photographs for this book. The Beginnings chapter shows young Barack -- known as Barry through his childhood and nicknamed Barry O'Bomber on the basketball court -- growing up from a baby through his college years. Subsequent chapters cover his fledgling political work in Chicago and beyond, and the long presidential campaign. The research is deep and the writing insightful. The photos show both public and private moments (I love the shot of Obama shooting pool behind his back).

A good companion book is the new Washington Post effort, The Inauguration of Barack Obama: A Photographic Journal

Here is this one's chapter list:

Introduction
Prologue: Winds of Change

1. Beginnings
An Absent Father
The Woman Who Shaped Him
A Grandmother's Love
From Barry to Barack, and Beyond, commentary by Roger Cohen

2. The Making of a Politician
South Side Girl
Change I Can Believe In, commentary by David Brooks
A Kindred Spirit: Valerie Jarrett
In His Own Words: Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic Convention (speech given July 27, 2004)
Obama and the War on Brains, commentary by Nicholas D. Kristof

3. The Long Run
A Father Figure Lost: Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.
A President Like My Father, commentary by Caroline Kennedy
In His Own Words: A More Perfect Union (speech given March 18, 2008)
Yes You Can!, commentary by Frank Rich

4. The Race to the White House
In His Own Words: The American Promise (speech given August 28, 2008)
Ghosts from Chicago
The Scars of Yesterday
A Quiet Voice Speaks Out: Gen. Colin Powell
Live From New York!
The Art of Politics, commentary by Rob Walker
America, It's Up to Us, commentary by Bob Herbert

5. Victory
In His Own Words: Election Night (speech given November 4, 2008)
Inside the Times
Thinking of Good Vibrations, commentary by Gail Collins

6. Time of Transition
Rosebud and Radiance
The Obama Agenda, commentary by Paul Krugman

7. President Barack H. Obama
In His Own Words: Inaugural Address (speech given January 20, 2009)
Oath is Administered Once Again
Bring on the Puppy and the Rookie, commentary by Maureen Dowd
Let Reconstruction Begin, commentary by Thomas L. Friedman

Saw this book today and couldn't put it down! It includes page after page of full-spread photographs of Barack and the first family, insightful articles by NY Times writers and others (including Caroline Kennedy, including an article titled A President Like My Father), the text of important speeches, and so much more. It details Barack Obama's ascent to the White House in words and photographs, many of which show the tremendous energy and enthusiasm generated by his candidacy and election.

It's not just all Obama -- there are photographs of McCain and Sarah Palin, Tina Fey impersonating Sarah Palin, Hilary Clinton, Obama's advisors and staff, other Democratic candidates, and the American people -- campaigning, voting in a laundromat, celebrating Obama's victory. There are also compelling photographs of Obama with US and world leaders -- David Petraeus, Nicolas Sarkozy. The main feature, though, is Barack -- teaching at the University of Chicago, as a community organizer, playing basketball, knocking on doors in Iowa, speaking to the American people. Many of the photographs convey tremendous emotion.

This book is well worth the price for the photographs alone! Unlike many coffee-table books, though, the writing is just as good and just as informative as the photographs.

The book begins by showing the front page of the NY Times the day after the election, with an article about the Times' coverage of the campaign. Chapters that follow include:
1. Beginnings / From Barry to Barack, and Beyond
2. Making of a Politician
3. The Long Run
4. The Race to the White House
5. Victory
6. Time of Transition
7. President Barack H. Obama.

The first chapter about Barack's childhood and parents is fascinating. The book gives some information on Barack's time in college and at Harvard Law School (Particularly amusing is a parody of a Dewar's scotch ad featuring the President.) The most fascinating part of the book is the behind the scenes look at the long, long road to the White House.

For those looking for a beautiful book, an interesting read, or a lasting souvenir of this historic election, this fits the bill. Children and adults alike will enjoy the many, many pictures. And those who also read the well-written text will not be disappointed.

I love the book. Its very good book to keep and I enjoy reading it again and again.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 19 reviews  4.7 out of 5 stars