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Obama: The Call of History
Nominated for a 2017 NAACP Image Award: Best Biography or Memoir
Peter Baker’s authoritative history of the Obama presidency is the first complete account that will stand the test of time. Baker takes the measure of Obama’s achievements and disappointments in office and brings into focus the real legacy of the man who, as he described himself, “doesn’t look like all the presidents on the dollar bills.”
With vivid color photographs by New York Times photographers and others of the events, major and minor, public and behind-the scenes, that defined Barack Obama’s eight years in office, Obama: The Call of History is a portrait in full of America’s first African-American president against the background of these tumultuous times.
Peter Baker’s authoritative history of the Obama presidency is the first complete account that will stand the test of time. Baker takes the measure of Obama’s achievements and disappointments in office and brings into focus the real legacy of the man who, as he described himself, “doesn’t look like all the presidents on the dollar bills.”
With vivid color photographs by New York Times photographers and others of the events, major and minor, public and behind-the scenes, that defined Barack Obama’s eight years in office, Obama: The Call of History is a portrait in full of America’s first African-American president against the background of these tumultuous times.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2017
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About the author
Peter Baker
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Peter Baker has been a journalist for the Washington Post and the New York Times. He covered President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, resulting in the book The Breach. As the Post's Moscow bureau chief, he wrote the book Kremlin Rising. He is married to the journalist Susan Glasser.
Peter Baker has been a journalist for the Washington Post and the New York Times. He covered President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, resulting in the book The Breach. As the Post's Moscow bureau chief, he wrote the book Kremlin Rising. He is married to the journalist Susan Glasser.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 26, 2022
Good, fair overview of an uneven Presidency, but simply an account of Obama's years as President, not a full bio.
July 14, 2020
Beautiful photography. This was a good book. It provided a well rounded summary of President Obama's presidency and I did not find it to be biased. As another reviewer mentioned, it weighs four pounds so I also got my exercise reading this book.
March 19, 2018
I just finished reading this book about Obama's Presidency titled, A Call to History written by, Peter Baker...
"'His first line in the history books was written the day he won office as the first African-American president, but he was determined to offer more than simply a new complexion in the Oval Office.' So writes Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for the New York Times, about the 44th president of the United States.
This coffee table book is made up of beautiful full page photographs and the telling of the events,(at home and throughout the world) that transpired during the eight years of Obama's tenure in office. This book shines a light upon Obama's greatest policy accomplishments and his failures here in America and on the world stage.
To me, Obama was the greatest President in my life...so visionary and forward thinking! Even in the worse of times, I felt secure knowing his hand was at the helm. He brought dignity, elegance, and glamour to the office, as well as hope too.
"'His first line in the history books was written the day he won office as the first African-American president, but he was determined to offer more than simply a new complexion in the Oval Office.' So writes Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for the New York Times, about the 44th president of the United States.
This coffee table book is made up of beautiful full page photographs and the telling of the events,(at home and throughout the world) that transpired during the eight years of Obama's tenure in office. This book shines a light upon Obama's greatest policy accomplishments and his failures here in America and on the world stage.
To me, Obama was the greatest President in my life...so visionary and forward thinking! Even in the worse of times, I felt secure knowing his hand was at the helm. He brought dignity, elegance, and glamour to the office, as well as hope too.
November 17, 2019
A very good account of Obama's successes and failures as president of the US. The author covers all of the major events that took place and gets into sufficient detail without getting bogged down and boring. We learn about the human side of Obama, his celebration of triumphs and his frustrations with the political divide that he was unable to harness. While the book paints Obama in an overall heroic light, it does not exaggerate and pays equal attention to both his accomplishments and mistakes. The account covers the 2016 election of Trump and what a blow that was to the Obama presidency given the very low opinion that Obama had of Trump, Trump's attacking of Obama with false rhetoric while he was president and Trump's promise to dismantle all of Obama's accomplishments. I enjoyed reading the book, my only complaint is that there are no photos!
June 17, 2019
4.5 stars.
While it doesn't have the emotional depth or resonance that Ben Rhodes' book did, Obama: The Call of History benefits from its even-keeled perspective in a variety of ways.
Perhaps the best result of this objective approach is that it gives a more full, more informed vision of who Obama is as a man, and who he was as a President. It was especially interesting to read how his progressive nature battled against the antiquated and conservative gears of DC, and how - sometimes - his ideas did not win.
While bittersweet, given the trajectory of 2016, this is an excellent account of Obama's tenure in the White House and is required reading for anyone interested in US politics.
While it doesn't have the emotional depth or resonance that Ben Rhodes' book did, Obama: The Call of History benefits from its even-keeled perspective in a variety of ways.
Perhaps the best result of this objective approach is that it gives a more full, more informed vision of who Obama is as a man, and who he was as a President. It was especially interesting to read how his progressive nature battled against the antiquated and conservative gears of DC, and how - sometimes - his ideas did not win.
While bittersweet, given the trajectory of 2016, this is an excellent account of Obama's tenure in the White House and is required reading for anyone interested in US politics.
July 5, 2019
While this picture book brings back memories of the Obama presidency in beautiful it also provides a piece of history that we will not see for some time. In the print pages, we get a string of Obama’s successes in DC and the world.
While praising the Obama’s accomplishments in office, the book also calls attention to several problems that remain with us. For example, the capture and death of Osama bin Laden is the high point of Obama’s international accomplishments (p. 102) \.
The book also points to international and domestic issues that are not resolved.
The book is exceptional in using pictures of Obama and his context to show us has happened in the past 10 years. The strength of the book is the clarity and the images of the pictures.
While praising the Obama’s accomplishments in office, the book also calls attention to several problems that remain with us. For example, the capture and death of Osama bin Laden is the high point of Obama’s international accomplishments (p. 102) \.
The book also points to international and domestic issues that are not resolved.
The book is exceptional in using pictures of Obama and his context to show us has happened in the past 10 years. The strength of the book is the clarity and the images of the pictures.
December 27, 2017
I don’t think this book could figure out what it was meant to be. Is it a coffee table picture book? Is it a historical written look at the Obama presidency. In the end, for anyone who read the daily paper on a semi-regular basis, there was little, if anything new. Also, the size of the book, it is big, made it hard to read while lounging in bed, or on the sofa - which would seem to lean toward it being meant as a picture book - but why writing then? In the end, I liked the stroll down memory lane, where for eight years we were a shining city on the hill. Now we are embroiled in fake news, and a disgrace of a person in the White House. My mind reels.
March 7, 2021
It was good, though I probably read it too soon after Obama’s presidency. His style is easy to read and he covered most of the big stuff. Hard to fit 8 years into one book.
I was kinda disappointed when I saw that there were no pics. But of course everyone just looks them up on the Internet now! Even obscure moments can be found with a quick search on the phone that never leaves my side. It’s such a powerful addition to the story, being able to see all of those moments instead of trying to imagine them.
I was kinda disappointed when I saw that there were no pics. But of course everyone just looks them up on the Internet now! Even obscure moments can be found with a quick search on the phone that never leaves my side. It’s such a powerful addition to the story, being able to see all of those moments instead of trying to imagine them.
September 24, 2017
Absolutely wonderful!!! Who actually reads these "coffee table" books!?? This is well worth the time. Shows Obama as a president with a strong moral center. Is honest and balanced in its approach. Not all compliments, but presents highlights of the Obama years with openness and candor. Pictures are worth the book. Don't get as an e-book. This is a book to keep and flip through after reading.
February 4, 2018
A good first attempt at history. It includes anecdotes that I hadn't come across before and provided some clarity and insight into some of Obama's decision making. However, this is a first attempt at covering a historical presidency and over time will likely be filled with more explanation and clarity.
I liked his previous book on the Bush administration: Days of Fire and hope for a similar book on the Obama Administration once we're a few years removed from it.
I liked his previous book on the Bush administration: Days of Fire and hope for a similar book on the Obama Administration once we're a few years removed from it.
January 14, 2020
Pete Baker of the NY Times has written a fairly comprehensive retrospective of President Obama's two terms in office. It's all here, folks--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Don't expect this to be a detailed analysis of what happened. It's way too early for that. But it's a pleasure to remind oneself that we once had a President who was thoughtful, wanted to know everything he could about an issue, put his country first, and treated people with fundamental decency. I weep for those days.
September 9, 2018
Readable, and the photographs are wonderful, so it's a nice, easy book. But it didn't have much depth. I've enjoyed many of his articles in the NYT and his commentaries on TV, so perhaps my expectations were too high for this book. It provides nice memories and looks good on the coffee table, but I'm waiting for someone to write and in-depth, balanced biography of Obama.
July 26, 2020
Fun way to view the life and times of a President. The oversized format worked well to really allow the pull quotes and pictures to pop. Didn't really learn anything as the President was just President, but it was good to remember the past.
November 27, 2017
Doesn't go super in-depth, but nice overview of President Obama's time in office, both successes and failures. Beautiful package.
December 3, 2017
'Tough decisions' (to summarize in 2 words).
February 3, 2018
Good 30,000 foot view of the Obama White House. Not the insider gossip- but more a reflective history and analysis. Great photography from NYT-ers like Mills and Hicks.
May 22, 2018
Beautiful photos and back stories.
April 19, 2019
Baker gives a good overview of the Obama presidency, along with beautiful photos and some data.
September 25, 2019
I crave such a book in the Indian context. Helps you understand the flaws of the man.
April 26, 2020
The written content is good, though not the best book about Obama. What makes the book truly outstanding are the pictures and quality of the book as a display piece for any Obama fan.
August 5, 2024
It didn’t move me enough for 5 stars, but definitely a great read I would recommend to all.
April 28, 2018
This is a book I enjoy picking up periodically and reading passages. It has outstanding photographs, i.e."Touch it, dude", five yr. old Jacob Philadelphia, wants to know if his hair is just like Pres.Obama's.
Obama replied see for yourself, Jacob was pleased to discover it feels the same. President Obama enjoyed having children from his staff meet with him.
The book has many outstanding personal stories...
The most gripping, the mass shooting of 20 children and 7 staff at Sandy Hook Elementary, connecticut, totally shocked and consumed Pres. Obama. He describes the moment as his worst time in the White House.
Among his many accomplishment listed in the "Promises and Results":
Fix the economy: ...passed a stimulus package, bailed out the auto industry and took other measures to prevent a new Great Depression. Unemployment was cut by half (and fell each year from 2010 to present... resulted in lowest ever unemployment in 2018 among black population).automakers roared back to life. markets shot back up..( s&P shot up from 8000 to 19,700 at the end of Obama's term in office, almost 150% increase) . unfortunately most of the gains benefited the wealthy. Initiatives by Pres.Obama were thwarted by the Republican control of Congress.
End wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ..With Obama's actions , American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan fell about 175,000 leaving a modest 13,000 troops by late 2016.
Regulate Wall Street;
pushed through Dodd-Frank law that set up a consumer financial prothection bureau. imposed rules that curbed abusive practices . Ponzi schemes that established loans to people that could not afford or pay back.
End Bush tax cuts: ..restoring tax rates on incomes over $400,000 per year.
Reach out to enemies: restored diplomatic ties with Cuba and opened travel between the US and Cuba. Reached agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program.
Liberalize immigration: used executive authority to allow young people brought into the country illegally as children to stay without fear of deportaion (DACA) Republican obstructionist stopped any efforts to revise descriminatory immigration laws.
Expand Health Care: Established Affordible Health Care (Obama Care) law. expand health coverage to more than 20 million more Americans. creating state-based marketplaces and offering subsidies while enrolling additional working poor in Medicaid.
International agreement on climate change; restrict power plant emissions.
I hope to continue to check this book out occasionally and used as a reference for Obama's legacy!
I enjoy reading the struggles Obama had to overcome in leading the economic recovery. In spite of the opposition he found a way to save the auto industry and the major banks. His policies restored the confidence of the stock market from a low of 8000 to 20,000; initiated the Dodd Frank bill that established the consumer finanicial protection agency to protect the future from reckless ponzi schemes of the financial industry. reduced unemployment and restored jobs. While 2 % growth was not great it clearly puts the American economny on a firm footing again and restores confidence. The rate of increase of the deficit was lowered. The republicans fought him all the way and obstructed any efforts to progress.
Obama replied see for yourself, Jacob was pleased to discover it feels the same. President Obama enjoyed having children from his staff meet with him.
The book has many outstanding personal stories...
The most gripping, the mass shooting of 20 children and 7 staff at Sandy Hook Elementary, connecticut, totally shocked and consumed Pres. Obama. He describes the moment as his worst time in the White House.
Among his many accomplishment listed in the "Promises and Results":
Fix the economy: ...passed a stimulus package, bailed out the auto industry and took other measures to prevent a new Great Depression. Unemployment was cut by half (and fell each year from 2010 to present... resulted in lowest ever unemployment in 2018 among black population).automakers roared back to life. markets shot back up..( s&P shot up from 8000 to 19,700 at the end of Obama's term in office, almost 150% increase) . unfortunately most of the gains benefited the wealthy. Initiatives by Pres.Obama were thwarted by the Republican control of Congress.
End wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ..With Obama's actions , American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan fell about 175,000 leaving a modest 13,000 troops by late 2016.
Regulate Wall Street;
pushed through Dodd-Frank law that set up a consumer financial prothection bureau. imposed rules that curbed abusive practices . Ponzi schemes that established loans to people that could not afford or pay back.
End Bush tax cuts: ..restoring tax rates on incomes over $400,000 per year.
Reach out to enemies: restored diplomatic ties with Cuba and opened travel between the US and Cuba. Reached agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program.
Liberalize immigration: used executive authority to allow young people brought into the country illegally as children to stay without fear of deportaion (DACA) Republican obstructionist stopped any efforts to revise descriminatory immigration laws.
Expand Health Care: Established Affordible Health Care (Obama Care) law. expand health coverage to more than 20 million more Americans. creating state-based marketplaces and offering subsidies while enrolling additional working poor in Medicaid.
International agreement on climate change; restrict power plant emissions.
I hope to continue to check this book out occasionally and used as a reference for Obama's legacy!
I enjoy reading the struggles Obama had to overcome in leading the economic recovery. In spite of the opposition he found a way to save the auto industry and the major banks. His policies restored the confidence of the stock market from a low of 8000 to 20,000; initiated the Dodd Frank bill that established the consumer finanicial protection agency to protect the future from reckless ponzi schemes of the financial industry. reduced unemployment and restored jobs. While 2 % growth was not great it clearly puts the American economny on a firm footing again and restores confidence. The rate of increase of the deficit was lowered. The republicans fought him all the way and obstructed any efforts to progress.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews