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Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance | 
 enlarge | Author: Barack Obama
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $7.89
You Save: $7.06 (47%)
New (98) Used (87) Collectible (8) from $7.50
Rating:  380 reviews
Sales Rank: 30
Media: Paperback
Pages: 480
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8 x 4.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 1400082773
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.04960730092
EAN: 9781400082773
ASIN: 1400082773
Publication Date: August 10, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 375 more reviews...
 Dreams from my Father January 6, 2009
Christopher Horner (LA, USA)
Surprisingly well written personal history...not always a page-turner, but Obama
gives real and honest insight about the very specific emotions of growing up
the way he did. As such, it really reveals the kind of man he is...and the point
view he's likely to bring to the presidency. An interesting, touching and
very instructive read.
Barack Obama January 6, 2009
Sherrie L. Chapman (Plainfield)
This book is great.It gives insite into the life of Barack Obama. I bet no other president has EVER been so read about, or sold so many books, tapes and buttons. Barack Obama(Mr President) is a great man! His background contributes to his greatness.
WORTH THE READ! January 4, 2009
R. Nichol (orange, new jersey United States)
I finally finished Dreams From My Father last night. And while I confess I rarely leave reviews. I realized this morning how important these reviews are at helping me make decisions to buy a book or not... With that being said, I must whole-heartedly recommend this book. If you are at all interested in the nature and character of our 44th President - it is a must read!
I AM AN OBAMA FAN! I fully acknowledge that, but I think this book will even help the skeptics among us. By all indications we have done well America. We have elected a man, not a god certainly, but someone who is willing to be transparent, with real substance and a passion for people based on a very diverse background. All the way through the book that's what I kept thinking. He was the right choice for president.
Chicago seemed a real microcosm of the problems the President is now facing in the US. Somehow you gain a since that it was his practice run. The other thing I like about the book is that it takes a lot of the media sound bites we've heard over the past couple of years and puts them in perspective of the life of a real person, struggling to come to terms with identity and self - as we all are - if we are honest about it.
The surprising thing for me was that President Obama is also a gifted writer at that. I could hardly put the book down. I am no literary giant but I found it engaging, well paced and easy to read. My only regret is that I did not buy a hardcover copy. Because for me it's definitely a keeper, a book I want to add to my permanent library. So if I had to sum it up I would use words like: inspiring, informative, honest, a journey -that even caused me to do a little soul searching myself...
A tale of hope January 3, 2009
Mr. Gordon V. Conroy (Sydney Australia)
I decided to read this book to find more about the man the world has enthusiatically endorsed as its new leader. That may seem funny to US citizens but in a survey in Australia over 70 percent of people said they supported Senator Obama . With all its power and influence the US calls the shots certainly it does in Australia . When reading the book I thought at time Obama was concentrating on the US Black / White issue as he said he might in the introduction. But thinking more I believe the book is more about the human condition. It is great that he has had such experience in some many environments hawaii, Indonesia, Kenya, New York , Chicago to bring to the presidency. I felt empathy to all the people he described so well even thought I have not had his experience as a white middle class australian.
He writes as weel as his speeches and I truly hope HE CAN bring new hope to a trouble world.
 an astute and deeply personal account of growing up January 2, 2009
Matt Hill (Santa Cruz Mountains, Ca)
A very candid and revealing look at the background and genesis of our new president. The pain (and painful honesty) of Barack Obama's life growing up in Indonesia and Hawaii are offset by his personal and astute observations of the racial terrain in America. As someone in both black and white worlds, he has a rare viewpoint of the ways of these two conflicting cultures.
This is an engaging memoir of confronting the past in the process of self-discovery, of growing up "fatherless" in a single parent world. Obama's struggle and coming to terms with his absent father and his candor of this as he travels to Kenya to find answers - this has been written up in compelling and eloquent language. Although this book was penned 14 years ago, it remains indispensable for the fundamental understanding of this man who is to now to lead this country.
I agree with the reviewer from Ankeny, Iowa about how the reader needs to be listening to the core messages in this text, regardless of political orientation. This is about a man who has overcome much in his pursuit of an absent father and the quest to reconcile with that absence. As such, it is about a courageous journey of self-discovery, one that inspires and encourages.
This text is Barack Obama defining himself in his earlier years; for his years in the political arena, THE AUDACITY OF HOPE is an engaging read that picks up the thread of his fascinating life. There are excerpts from this book at the end of the 2004 revised edition of DREAMS FROM MY FATHER. Highly recommended.
Parataxis
The Cloud Reckoner
Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts
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| Worthwhile Reading | Car GPS Navigation Systems - A Buyers Guide
By Nicola Carr
In 1973 the U.S. Department of Defence launched the Navstar GPS network. This consisted of 24 satellites orbiting the earth every 12 hours and five ground stations. This positioning system was made available for public use. With this capability, consumer location devices were produced to accurately determine location and other data such as current and average speed, directional heading, and elevation. These GPS devices need an unobstructed view of at least four satellites to provide a reliable 3D fix.
The GPS receiver overlays this location data onto map files stored on the unit, to give a current position on the map as well previous track. The receiver constantly recalculates position, giving real time position.
A typical GPS device contains:
- 12-channel receiver - the quality of the receiver determines how long it takes the device to acquire a 3D fix.
- Antenna to capture satellite signals - positioned to get a clear view of the sky.
- CPU to process the data and overlay on maps
- DVD Hard-drive - where maps on DVD's or available online are uploaded and stored. Some cheaper units do not upload the maps, but reference them off the DVD or CD.
- Display Screen - mostly color with handheld units using black and white
- Voice Interface - more advanced units
How The GPS Device Gets A Fix
The first time you start your GPS device, its data store is blank so needs a to collect satellite information to determine your position. This is known as a cold start. Some units only take 30 to 45 seconds to acquire a 3D fix during a cold start, while others can take several minutes. Subsequent position updates only take 3 to 4 seconds. If you go out of range from losing line of sight, such as passing behind a large building or through a tunnel, a good receiver will instantly recover, whereas weaker units will require more time to reacquire a 3D fix.
How Different GPS Navigation Units Differ
Location of Antenna - A factory installed in-dash unit antenna is integrated into the dashboard where it has an unobstructed view of the sky. Many portable models have a suction-cup-mounting device to position the device on the windshield. Add-on antennas are also available. Regardless of the type of unit and antenna, the important thing is to keep the antenna visible to the greatest area of sky possible. Choose a unit where this can be done AT THE SAME TIME as being able to maintain a clear view of the screen.
Screens and Display - important to check how bright these are, and if they are clearly visible from the mounted position in bright day light. Onboard navigation systems are generally color screens, and portable units are black and white to save power. Larger screens and integrate better with other vehicle electronics.
Input Buttons - most enroute buttons are on the display screen. Ensure these are easy to use when driving; that is they are big enough and colored sufficently to see without causing a driving hazard.
Map Media - Earlier models were CD-based, requiring multiple discs to cover the entire United States. Newer in-dash systems are DVD-based; only 1-2 DVD's required for an entire country of maps.
Cost - In-dash systems are usually more expensive than portable counterparts. Aftermarket in-dash models usually require professional installation and can be just as expensive as the factory models.
Upgrading - always check how easy it is to upgrade the firmware and maps on your GPS unit. Some units detach a portion to be connected to the computer via USB, whereas others are done using a DVD. Those units which can be upgraded online, are much more convenient.
Added Features of GPS Units
Apart from giving you a current position, a number of GPS navigation devices can give you: - A track of where you have been - the number of tracks and waypoints stored varies from unit to unit. You may also want to save on part of a track for future use.
- A path from your current position to your destination
- Maintain commonly used navigation paths for reuse.
- Points of Interest - user sets the types of points of interest, such as tourist, bank ATM, petrol stations, historical, accommodation, restaurants etc.
- Real time traffic reporting to avoid traffic delays. This can also include road works.
- Voice recognition to receive destination instructions, and voice guidance to give driving instructions
- Weather updates
- Street name navigation - instead of just turn left 200m it was say 'Turn left into Stanley St'
- Integrated Multimedia players - MP3 players, image viewers, and audio books.
- Onboard or Portable GPS Navigation
The downside of onboard GPS Navigation units are susceptible to theft; and you cannot take them with you to use in other vehicles or when travelling abroad. Portable units, such as the Garmin StreetPilot 2720, can be used in multiple cars; being easily moved from car to car. Depending upon the power supply and portability, portable and handheld units can be taken when travelling or used on cycles, boats, private aircraft etc.
For more information on Go-Reviews.com Car Electronics Section.
Nicola Carr - Nicola is a technology strategist and publisher of Go-Reviews.com. She provides product reviews and buying guides on a wide range of technology. Nicola is also a feature writer for Electrosmart Digital Publishing and RichMediaMix demonstrating how technology is integrating into business and media.
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