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Hugs from Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Warmth and Wisdom of President Barack Obama
A photographic celebration of Obama’s warmth and compassion
America needs a hug from Obama now more than ever, and this beautiful collection of photographs and quotations showcases President Obama’s wit, grace, wisdom, and warmth. As you pore over these pages, you'll be transported back to an era when leadership and dignity went hand in hand. Alongside touching images of our 44th president embracing his fellow citizens are some of his most inspirational and timely quotes, such as, “There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America – there’s the United States of America” and “We’re the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
America needs a hug from Obama now more than ever, and this beautiful collection of photographs and quotations showcases President Obama’s wit, grace, wisdom, and warmth. As you pore over these pages, you'll be transported back to an era when leadership and dignity went hand in hand. Alongside touching images of our 44th president embracing his fellow citizens are some of his most inspirational and timely quotes, such as, “There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America – there’s the United States of America” and “We’re the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2018
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162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 29, 2019
I highly recommend this book to all Americans who loved President Barack Obama. You'll enjoy every page and photos......guaranteed! Our #44 was....GREAT!!
September 30, 2018
4.4 STARS
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
It has been 617 days since, with heavy hearts, we waved goodbye to the Obama administration and ushered in that of Trump. Six hundred seventeen days of me continuously asking, "When can I get off this merry-go-round?" Six hundred seventeen days when I wonder what has happened to my America. The America shaped and grounded in respect and civility; not in divisiveness and hate. Six hundred seventeen days since I followed the news regularly. Now, I find myself spending my evenings catching up on Spongebob Squarepants. (Please do not judge).
Then, my husband brings home this book. Hugs from Obama reminded me of what I have been missing over the past year and a half. In a little over 100 pages, I was transmitted back in time when compassion, civility and humanity were the White House norms. Reading the quotes and seeing the images of Sweeney's work, reminded me of when I was growing up and my parents and grandparents would reminisce about Kennedy and King. Then, like now, seems like a generation ago.
Everyone will not be moved by this book, like I have been. I know that. I understand that. There were moments when I found myself tearing up as I looked at some of the pictures and read some of the quotes. But, that's the point. We don't have to agree with each other, on everything. Yet, we can respect the fact that we do have differences. Everything doesn't have to be a fight. That's sooooo exhausting. We don't have to tear down someone else, in order to lift ourselves up. (Okay, I'll put my soapbox away).
I'll close with a few quotes found in the book:
I hope you'll take the time to read the remainder for yourselves.
It has been 617 days since, with heavy hearts, we waved goodbye to the Obama administration and ushered in that of Trump. Six hundred seventeen days of me continuously asking, "When can I get off this merry-go-round?" Six hundred seventeen days when I wonder what has happened to my America. The America shaped and grounded in respect and civility; not in divisiveness and hate. Six hundred seventeen days since I followed the news regularly. Now, I find myself spending my evenings catching up on Spongebob Squarepants. (Please do not judge).
Then, my husband brings home this book. Hugs from Obama reminded me of what I have been missing over the past year and a half. In a little over 100 pages, I was transmitted back in time when compassion, civility and humanity were the White House norms. Reading the quotes and seeing the images of Sweeney's work, reminded me of when I was growing up and my parents and grandparents would reminisce about Kennedy and King. Then, like now, seems like a generation ago.
Everyone will not be moved by this book, like I have been. I know that. I understand that. There were moments when I found myself tearing up as I looked at some of the pictures and read some of the quotes. But, that's the point. We don't have to agree with each other, on everything. Yet, we can respect the fact that we do have differences. Everything doesn't have to be a fight. That's sooooo exhausting. We don't have to tear down someone else, in order to lift ourselves up. (Okay, I'll put my soapbox away).
I'll close with a few quotes found in the book:
...each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, helped us find our path.
Our Constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift. But it's really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its own. We, the people, give it power--with our participation, and the choices we make.
All of us share this world but for a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an affort--a sustained effort--to find common ground.
I hope you'll take the time to read the remainder for yourselves.
April 2, 2019
I cried. And cried. Jeez louise I love this man.
September 20, 2018
This book made me sad not for it's content, but for the difference in our current administration.
With Obama, most of the quotes are "we". With the administration following his, it's "me", "mine", and "I". That difference alone explains a lot of sadness going on today.
With Obama, most of the quotes are "we". With the administration following his, it's "me", "mine", and "I". That difference alone explains a lot of sadness going on today.
November 7, 2023
I miss him.
November 15, 2020
Reading this book was like a hug for my soul. Each image of President Obama is paired with a quote from one of his speeches. Just seeing the pure joy on the faces of those with whom he interacted, comforted, shared a laugh, and of course hugged was like a balm to my soul. It was also a bit of a depressing reminder of how far this country has fallen in the past four years. But I want to believe again that people are generally good, and this book made me have hope. I checked this out from the library, but I definitely want to get a copy that I can pull out when everything sucks and I feel like I just hate the world.
July 4, 2019
This seemed like a good way to spend part of my Fourth of July. Tears and an aching heart as I miss all that this man stood for and stands for. An inspirational read. I plan to keep it out as a reminder of what we can do if we work together and believe: “love of country, justice for ALL, and hope for the future.”
June 9, 2020
Dang. I miss this guy. I long for his message of unity and hope. His compassion and inspiration. Our current leader spreads hate, division, and lies. We need to rise above and continue the journey Obama inspired us to travel.
May 1, 2019
You can see the wisdom of Obama in this pictures. If you touch the pages you can feel the warmth. And if you forget to take the medication you might even hear the guy preach.
July 7, 2019
Beautiful and inspirational. This is a must-have for any believer in hope.
June 10, 2019
We all need a hug from Obama right now. We really, really do.
This coffee-table book is simply Obama quotes + pictures of him hugging people (and animals). At this point in 2019, this book is a single beacon of light in the sea of horror that has become the day-to-day political reality of America.
This coffee-table book is simply Obama quotes + pictures of him hugging people (and animals). At this point in 2019, this book is a single beacon of light in the sea of horror that has become the day-to-day political reality of America.
December 24, 2019
Review forthcoming.
December 25, 2019
Enjoyed the variety
December 31, 2020
This collection of photos of Barack Obama portrays his personal encounters with people of all ages, races, notable leaders and unknown citizens. Each photo is faced with examples of the wise words he used to inspire leadership, unity, hope, change and progress. We see laughter, compassion, sympathy, and love which he imparts equally to anyone he meets. Barack Obama was a President for all the Americans, because he made an effort to listen to people from every walk of life. Particularly, I loved the photos of his encounters with children and senior citizens.
May 11, 2019
Hugs from Obama is a reminder that “sincerity, leadership and kindness are the American values that will stand the test of time.”
October 12, 2020
Loved this book. Easy to read, beautiful pictures and a wonderful message.
October 19, 2020
Delightful
November 19, 2020
What a great book of photographs and quotes.
Read
December 20, 2020A great "coffee-table book" full of pictures and statements by President Obama that inspire hope in the America we know we can be; again. You will adore the pictures.
October 15, 2018
As more and more Obama-related books get added to my shelves, I feel like I'm accidentally becoming a connoisseur - where I'm able to recommend certain picture anthologies over others, that seems a little far in.
This was a nice photo collection with inspirational quotes from Obama, and I feel like it might have impacted me more had I not already read Obama: An Intimate Portrait, which collected Pete Souza's photographs along with his contextual descriptions. The latter work was much more comprehensive and meaningful, whereas this work paired random pictures with quotes from his administration. It was still heart-warming, but in the same slapped-together way that most collections of quotes are.
So if you're a huge Obama fan or looking for a pick-me-up, sure, but this isn't really anything that we haven't seen before.
This was a nice photo collection with inspirational quotes from Obama, and I feel like it might have impacted me more had I not already read Obama: An Intimate Portrait, which collected Pete Souza's photographs along with his contextual descriptions. The latter work was much more comprehensive and meaningful, whereas this work paired random pictures with quotes from his administration. It was still heart-warming, but in the same slapped-together way that most collections of quotes are.
So if you're a huge Obama fan or looking for a pick-me-up, sure, but this isn't really anything that we haven't seen before.
October 13, 2019
Won't lie, totally cried reading this. I will never ever understand how we went from a country who elected this beautiful human being to electing the biggest pile of garbage in the country. The faces of these people with Obama in these pictures speaks volumes to who he was as a person and as a president. To have such a hate filled, pathological lying facist pig as president now is truly disgusting and heartbreaking.
I have to read these books to remind myself that it wasn't always like this and it doesn't have to be anymore. We WILL resist and we WILL beat that POS who has the audacity to call himself President
We love you President Obama and miss you immensely every single day
I have to read these books to remind myself that it wasn't always like this and it doesn't have to be anymore. We WILL resist and we WILL beat that POS who has the audacity to call himself President
We love you President Obama and miss you immensely every single day
January 11, 2019
The book “Hugs From Obama” is a photographic remembrance that captures the President’s inspiration through an embrace of pictures and textual HIGHLIGHTS. The book was edited by M. Sweeney, and published by Castle Point in 2018 under a St. Martin’s Press copy-write. I read ‘Hugs’ while listening to classical harp music in the stillness of my family room. It is an incredible book; and a reading-listening experience I will long remember and cherish. (P)
April 8, 2023
Hugs. Mind blowing. What a theme! Brilliant.
This is a book which pages goes to infinity, because each photograph are pages of a thousand words. I envy the photographers for having such a good eye, for being there in such a good timing to tell a story through the eyes of their subjects.
I salute and thank Sweeney for putting all these together. I can't imagine how much energy and time have been contributed.
This is a book which pages goes to infinity, because each photograph are pages of a thousand words. I envy the photographers for having such a good eye, for being there in such a good timing to tell a story through the eyes of their subjects.
I salute and thank Sweeney for putting all these together. I can't imagine how much energy and time have been contributed.
December 27, 2018
This book was a gift from a dear friend and it made my heart soar when I opened the box. Filled with pictures from Barack Obama’s presidency as well as inspirational quotes from some of his speeches it provided me my own literary hug from the former president. This is a book I will reread in the future especially when I need a lift in my mood or a bit of encouragement.
February 14, 2019
Something I noticed about all these photos is that everyone is happy to see him, happy to have the opportunity to give him a hug, happy to just be in the same room as him. The quotes in the book are all about hope, love, and unity. Lifting each other up instead of putting each other down. What an amazing man. I’d love to meet him one day. #ThanksObama
October 7, 2024
This somewhat dewy-eyed coffee table book gives us a look back at the Obama years via a combination of photographs and quotes from his speeches, interviews and writings. I was struck by the optimism and inclusiveness of his words, in sharp and unfortunate contrast to so many others in the political arena.
January 18, 2019
A wonderful testimony to a great leader. To read through these quotes by President Obama in early 2019, his time in office feels like a million years ago. We clearly live in a different world now.
This was a very nice pick me up.
This was a very nice pick me up.
September 16, 2018
Great pictures and quotes, but let's face it -- either you're going to love this and "get" this, or you'll hate it, and you know where you fall. :)
September 24, 2018
Loved the quotes from Obama and the pictures. Bought the book for a gift for a friend.
December 19, 2018
Wonderful photographs capturing Obama caring for the people around him along with intelligent quotes from his speeches. I miss the civility he brought to the White House.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews