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Obama's presidential memoir 'A Promised Land' to be published after election on November 17

First volume of high-anticipated book will hit bookshelves 

Gino Spocchia
Thursday 17 September 2020 17:09 BST
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Former president Barack Obama will release the first part of his memoir two weeks after election day, his office has said.

The book, called "A Promised Land", will hit bookshelves on 17 November, detailing the Democrat’s swift and historic rise to the White House and his first term in office.

The publication date for the second volume has not yet been determined.

"I've spent the last few years reflecting on my presidency, and in 'A Promised Land' I've tried to provide an honest accounting of my presidential campaign and my time in office,” said Mr Obama in a statement on Thursday.

"In the book, I've also tried to give readers a sense of the personal journey that Michelle and I went through during those years, with all the incredible highs and lows.”

“And finally, at a time when America is going through such enormous upheaval, the book offers some of my broader thoughts on how we can heal the divisions in our country going forward and make our democracy work for everybody — a task that won't depend on any single president, but on all of us as engaged citizens," said the statement.

He added that the United States was still dealing with the “political, economic, and cultural forces that my team and I had to confront” during his time in office.

As with his previous titles, Mr Obama’s latest book will be released by Crown, a division of Penguin Random House.

The 768-page book is among the most anticipated presidential memoirs in memory, with the title expected to showcase Mr Obama’s literary talent - and revelations.

He has been called the most literary president since Abraham Lincoln and has already written two highly praised, million-selling books: "Dreams from My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," both of which have been cited as aiding his presidential run in 2008 and making him the country's first Black president.

Mr Obama’s memoir is expected to be priced at $45 (£35), with an initial printing run of 3 million.

Additional reporting by Associated Press. 

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