The definitive account of Barack Obama’s life before he became the 44th president of the United States – the formative years, confluence of forces, and influential figures who helped shaped an extraordinary leader and his rise – from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Bearing the Cross.
‘Phenomenal … one of the most impressive and important books of the year. It’s a masterwork of historical and journalistic research, Robert Caro-like in its exhaustiveness, and easily the most authoritative account of Obama’s pre-presidential life we’ve seen or are likely ever to see. It’s also a terrific read’ Politico
'Revealing … Probing … [Garrow] tells us how Obama lived, and explores the calculations he made in the decades leading up to his winning the presidency' Washington Post
'The authoritative biography of Barack Obama’s pre-presidential years … Illuminating … Impressively researched … Readers will be richly rewarded' Library Journal
'A convincing and exceptionally detailed portrait … Political history buffs will be fascinated' Publishers Weekly
'Garrow is a demon for research … Eminently solid … Consistently readable – an impressive work' Kirkus Reviews
David J. Garrow is Professor of Law & History and Distinguished Faculty Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is the author of four books, including ‘Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography. He is a regular contributor to the Washington Post, New York Times, and The American Prospect. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.