A Promised Land By Barack Obama

Former President Barack Obama reads from the highly anticipated first volume of his new presidential memoirs. Elected in 2008, he became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office and A Promised Land offers a unique and deeply personal account of his campaign to get elected and some of the landmarks of his first term. With extraordinary frankness he explores his own ambition and drive to achieve real change and how he had to confront the limitations of presidential power.

Covering his early ambition and the steps first to the Senate and then to the highest office in the land, Obama's book explores both his personal reflections and his political highs and lows. From the grind of campaigning to the Inauguration, through the financial crisis and fight for the Affordable Care Act, to the moral dilemmas of foreign policy and his place on the world stage he also reveals private moments of self-doubt. This book charts the unrelenting demands on the President of the USA, and threaded through it all he gives tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

In today's episode Obama reflects on the ‘sheer chutzpah' of launching a Senate race and the fun of the early days of campaigning in Illinois. `Being shot from a canon' was how his strategist David Axelrod referred to it as Obama draws ahead in the popularity stakes. Then Hurricane Katrina blows them off course and Michelle Obama has her reservations about the financial toll of campaign expenses and the demands on her husband's time.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama reads from the highly anticipated first volume of his new presidential memoirs. Elected in 2008, he became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office and A Promised Land offers a unique and deeply personal account of his campaign to get elected and some of the landmarks of his first term. With extraordinary frankness he explores his own ambition and drive to achieve real change and how he had to confront the limitations of presidential power.

Covering his early ambition and the steps first to the Senate and then to the highest office in the land, Obama's book explores both his personal reflections and his political highs and lows. From the grind of campaigning to the Inauguration, through the financial crisis and fight for the Affordable Care Act, to the moral dilemmas of foreign policy and his place on the world stage he also reveals private moments of self-doubt. This book charts the unrelenting demands on the President of the USA, and threaded through it all he gives tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

In today's episode Obama reflects on the ‘sheer chutzpah' of launching a Senate race and the fun of the early days of campaigning in Illinois. `Being shot from a canon' was how his strategist David Axelrod referred to it as Obama draws ahead in the popularity stakes. Then Hurricane Katrina blows them off course and Michelle Obama has her reservations about the financial toll of campaign expenses and the demands on her husband's time.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Elected in 2008, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land offers a unique and deeply personal account of his campaign to get elected and some of the landmarks of his first term. From the grind of campaigning to the Inauguration, through the financial crisis and fight for the Affordable Care Act, to his place on the world stage, Obama also reveals the private moments of self-doubt.

This book charts the unrelenting demands on the President of the USA, and threaded through it all he gives tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.

Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama reads from the first volume of his presidential memoirs offering a unique and deeply personal account of his campaign to get elected and some of the landmarks of his first term. Today he faces Republican John McCain in the final election. Which combination of states does he need to get those requisite 270 seats? His campaign takes him overseas to meet European leaders and to Afghanistan and Iraq where he considers a phased military withdrawal should he become President. Then McCain introduces his wild card in the form of Sarah Palin. What will happen on Election Day in November 2008?

Elected in 2008, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land explores both his personal reflections and the political highs and lows he encounters. From the grind of campaigning to the Inauguration, through the financial crisis and fight for the Affordable Care Act, to his place on the world stage, he also reveals the private moments of self-doubt. Threaded through it all there are tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama reads from the first volume of his presidential memoirs offering a unique and deeply personal account of his campaign to get elected and some of the landmarks of his first term. Today he faces Republican John McCain in the final election. Which combination of states does he need to get those requisite 270 seats? His campaign takes him overseas to meet European leaders and to Afghanistan and Iraq where he considers a phased military withdrawal should he become President. Then McCain introduces his wild card in the form of Sarah Palin. What will happen on Election Day in November 2008?

Elected in 2008, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land explores both his personal reflections and the political highs and lows he encounters. From the grind of campaigning to the Inauguration, through the financial crisis and fight for the Affordable Care Act, to his place on the world stage, he also reveals the private moments of self-doubt. Threaded through it all there are tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs offering a unique and deeply personal account of life in high office. Today he shares his early impressions of working in the Oval Office and the heady first days of being President Elect. He is shown the ropes by outgoing President Bush Jnr and he begins to appoint his immediate team of advisers - a team which includes Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. In January he and his family experience the glitz of his Inauguration and the crowds on the Mall. Now he is officially President can he live up to their expectations?

Elected in 2008 Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States and the first African American in the White House. A Promised Land charts the unrelenting demands of presidential life and the landmarks of his first term. Threaded through it all there are tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs offering a unique and deeply personal account of life in high office. Today he shares his early impressions of working in the Oval Office and the heady first days of being President Elect. He is shown the ropes by outgoing President Bush Jnr and he begins to appoint his immediate team of advisers - a team which includes Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. In January he and his family experience the glitz of his Inauguration and the crowds on the Mall. Now he is officially President can he live up to their expectations?

Elected in 2008 Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States and the first African American in the White House. A Promised Land charts the unrelenting demands of presidential life and the landmarks of his first term. Threaded through it all there are tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama reads from the first volume of his presidential memoirs offering a unique and deeply personal account of life in high office and some of the landmarks of his first term. Today the newly inaugurated President settles into his first 100 days in office and must confront the economic crisis that he has inherited from the Bush administration. It's a brutal start and he contemplates what he can do to halt the economy's collapse. Trying to get the biggest emergency spending bill in history through Congress is, as he himself says, ‘like trying to get a python to swallow a cow.' He also appears for the first time at the G20 summit and observes the different characteristics of the European leaders with wry humour before he and Michelle are invited to meet the Queen.

Elected in 2008, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land offers a unique and deeply personal account of presidential life and its highs and lows, and threaded through it all there are tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama reads from the first volume of his presidential memoirs offering a unique and deeply personal account of life in high office and some of the landmarks of his first term. Today the newly inaugurated President settles into his first 100 days in office and must confront the economic crisis that he has inherited from the Bush administration. It's a brutal start and he contemplates what he can do to halt the economy's collapse. Trying to get the biggest emergency spending bill in history through Congress is, as he himself says, ‘like trying to get a python to swallow a cow.' He also appears for the first time at the G20 summit and observes the different characteristics of the European leaders with wry humour before he and Michelle are invited to meet the Queen.

Elected in 2008, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land offers a unique and deeply personal account of presidential life and its highs and lows, and threaded through it all there are tantalising glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama reads from the highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs A Promised Land, offering a unique and deeply personal account of some of the landmarks of his first term at the White House.

In today's episode, Obama charts the extraordinary difficulties he must overcome to achieve his dream of universal healthcare. His team face challenging odds as they try to push through legislation against the backdrop of a historic recession, a distinct lack of co-operation from the Republicans and the slurs of the Tea Party movement. At last when things start to move, it is the Democratic party itself that causes an own goal. Obama also opens up to reveal a very personal reason for believing in affordable healthcare and introduces us to Bo who is a lively new member of the family.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. With extraordinary frankness he explores his own ambition and drive to achieve real change and how he had to confront the limitations of presidential power.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama recalls negotiating his landmark healthcare bill in his presidential memoir.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs A Promised Land, offering a unique and deeply personal account of some of the landmarks of his first term at the White House.

In today's episode, Obama charts the extraordinary difficulties he must overcome to achieve his dream of universal healthcare. His team face challenging odds as they try to push through legislation against the backdrop of a historic recession, a distinct lack of co-operation from the Republicans and the slurs of the Tea Party movement. At last when things start to move, it is the Democratic party itself that causes an own goal. Obama also opens up to reveal a very personal reason for believing in affordable healthcare and introduces us to Bo who is a lively new member of the family.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. With extraordinary frankness he explores his own ambition and drive to achieve real change and how he had to confront the limitations of presidential power.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama recalls negotiating his landmark healthcare bill in his presidential memoir.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs A Promised Land, offering a unique and deeply personal account of some of the landmarks of his first term at the White House.

In today's episode, Obama receives an early morning phone call that pre-empts a trip to Oslo for something wholly unexpected. He also sets out to build his reputation overseas with a series of official visits. We eavesdrop on his first meeting with Vladimir Putin at his dacha in Russia where Obama is treated to a lengthy monologue, and touch down in China to discover the rigours of surveillance around Obama's team and an order by President Hu Jintao to the People's Liberation Army Orchestra to play one of Obama's favourite tunes.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land documents the unrelenting demands on the President of the USA and reveals glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

In his memoir Barack Obama recollects a trip to Oslo for something unexpected.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs A Promised Land, offering a unique and deeply personal account of some of the landmarks of his first term at the White House.

In today's episode, Obama receives an early morning phone call that pre-empts a trip to Oslo for something wholly unexpected. He also sets out to build his reputation overseas with a series of official visits. We eavesdrop on his first meeting with Vladimir Putin at his dacha in Russia where Obama is treated to a lengthy monologue, and touch down in China to discover the rigours of surveillance around Obama's team and an order by President Hu Jintao to the People's Liberation Army Orchestra to play one of Obama's favourite tunes.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land documents the unrelenting demands on the President of the USA and reveals glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

In his memoir Barack Obama recollects a trip to Oslo for something unexpected.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs A Promised Land, offering a unique and deeply personal account of his first term at the White House.

In today's episode, Obama confronts one of the key issues of any current world leader - what to do about climate change. Prompted by his own experiences of a Hawaiian childhood and driven by the need to create a safer environmental future for his daughters Malia and Sasha, he refuses to be blown off course. With the Kyoto Protocol set to expire in 2012 Obama is determined to negotiate a major international climate agreement. He travels to a summit in Copenhagen but is confronted by stalemate as world leaders refuse to compromise or, in some cases, to even engage with the issue. He decides the only way forward is to engage in a spot of gate crashing with Hillary Clinton.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. With extraordinary frankness he explores the opportunities and limitations that high office present, and offers intriguing glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama's compelling memoir turns to the challenges of combatting climate change.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs A Promised Land, offering a unique and deeply personal account of his first term at the White House.

In today's episode, Obama confronts one of the key issues of any current world leader - what to do about climate change. Prompted by his own experiences of a Hawaiian childhood and driven by the need to create a safer environmental future for his daughters Malia and Sasha, he refuses to be blown off course. With the Kyoto Protocol set to expire in 2012 Obama is determined to negotiate a major international climate agreement. He travels to a summit in Copenhagen but is confronted by stalemate as world leaders refuse to compromise or, in some cases, to even engage with the issue. He decides the only way forward is to engage in a spot of gate crashing with Hillary Clinton.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. With extraordinary frankness he explores the opportunities and limitations that high office present, and offers intriguing glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama's compelling memoir turns to the challenges of combatting climate change.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs A Promised Land, which offers a unique and deeply personal account of his first term at the White House.

In today's episode, Obama is approaching the mid-term elections and must confront the fact that his popularity is draining away and the limitations of his presidential power are becoming all too apparent. The polls show that he has not transformed peoples' lives in the way voters had hoped and now he must pay the price. He's back on the campaign trail until Colonel Gaddafi orders his security forces to fire into a crowd of civilians. As the situation escalates Obama must make a very difficult decision, but a visit to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro with Michelle and the girls reassures him that all is not lost.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. This book documents the unrelenting demands of high office, and reveals intriguing glimpses of family life at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

Barack Obama's memoir reaches the mid-terms and he must confront his waning popularity.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama reads the final episode from his new presidential memoir offering a unique and very personal account of the highs and lows of life in high office and the landmarks of his first term.

In today's episode, Obama meets Donald Trump for the first time, and is compelled to deal with birthirism - the movement brought about by Trump's questioning of his American citizenship. An early foreshadowing of a 'dark and alternative vision' he thinks, but there's no time to dwell, as his CIA advisors have a lead on Osama bin Laden's hideout. So begins the defining military action of his presidency, with Obama giving a blow by blow account of Operation Neptune's Spear as Navy SEALS raid the terrorist's compound in Pakistan and carry out their orders.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land documents the unrelenting demands on the President of the USA and presents intriguing glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

In Barack Obama's memoir the defining military action of his presidency commences.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

Barack Obama reads the final episode from his new presidential memoir offering a unique and very personal account of the highs and lows of life in high office and the landmarks of his first term.

In today's episode, Obama meets Donald Trump for the first time, and is compelled to deal with birthirism - the movement brought about by Trump's questioning of his American citizenship. An early foreshadowing of a 'dark and alternative vision' he thinks, but there's no time to dwell, as his CIA advisors have a lead on Osama bin Laden's hideout. So begins the defining military action of his presidency, with Obama giving a blow by blow account of Operation Neptune's Spear as Navy SEALS raid the terrorist's compound in Pakistan and carry out their orders.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. A Promised Land documents the unrelenting demands on the President of the USA and presents intriguing glimpses of family life with Michelle, Malia and Sasha at one of the world's most famous addresses.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.

In Barack Obama's memoir the defining military action of his presidency commences.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.

In his first UK broadcast interview since the 2020 presidential election and ahead of the release of his memoirs, former President of the United States, Barack Obama is interviewed by historian and broadcaster David Olusoga..

In this special programme, Barack Obama will discuss the first volume of his presidential memoirs, A Promised Land and his motivations for writing the book and the challenges he faced confronting political, cultural and racial divisions in America, as the first African American to hold the nation's highest office.

From Monday 14th December (09:45-10:00), BBC Radio 4 will broadcast an abridged reading of Barack Obama's A Promised Land, read by Barack Obama himself, serialised over two weeks as Radio 4's ‘Book of the Week'.

Producer: Julia Johnson.

Former President Barack Obama is interviewed by historian and broadcaster David Olusoga.

Barack Obama reads from the gripping first volume of his presidential memoirs.