Like many people, I’m sure, I was very excited to read President Obama’s memoir. As I do almost exclusively now, I listened to it and was delighted to find that he narrates it himself. It was absolutely delightful to listen to him speak for hours. I started my year off with this book as I hope it would set the proper tone for the new year. A whole lot happened while I listened to this book, namely the insurrection at the Capitol, so it was nice to have at least a little solace as the world continued to crumble down around us. I found this book to exceed my every expectation, which was no short order. I expected a great deal from this book and I was still surprised by how good it was. I found President Obama to be very forthright and more willing to discuss some of his mistakes that I assumed he would be. I tend to be very leery of memoirs, especially from really big figures but I must admit that when they include what feels like honest introspection and a willingness to discuss the hard and difficult things with which the dealt, I find myself willing to be a disciple for them. I felt the same way about Colin Powell’s and Bob Gates’ memoirs as well. I don’t like the Horatio Alger type memoirs in which someone overcomes everything thrown at them, never stumbles, and attempts to rewrite history. Especially, if it is history through which I lived. I ABHOR being gaslit and I feel that I have had a lot of practice at it recently. This memoir does not do that. In fact, reading this book at the end of the last administration drew such a clear and obvious contrast that it almost certainly impacted my opinion of it. All of that said, this is still one man’s view of his own life and by extension, his legacy. It is not completely objective but how could it be? I am very excited to read the second volume. There are certain things I would like to see President Obama discuss that would not be fun or happy sections, namely the “red line” in regards to Syria and the expansion of drone warfare. Both of those things revolve around my professional sphere and I’d like to see his honest thoughts about them.