{"id":34621,"date":"2018-04-26T22:23:19","date_gmt":"2018-04-27T02:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=34621"},"modified":"2018-04-26T22:23:19","modified_gmt":"2018-04-27T02:23:19","slug":"review-of-obama-an-intimate-portrait-by-pete-souza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=34621","title":{"rendered":"Review of Obama: An Intimate Portrait, by Pete Souza"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Obama<\/p>\n

An Intimate Portrait<\/em><\/p>\n

by Pete Souza
\nFormer Chief Official White House Photographer
\nForeword by Barack Obama<\/p>\n

Little, Brown and Company, 2017. 352 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Okay, I\u2019ll admit it. I\u2019ve got a crush on Barack Obama.<\/p>\n

However, like so many of my crushes, the biggest thing I admire about him is how much he loves his wife and how dedicated he is to her. At this rate, I\u2019ll never fall for someone who\u2019s available.<\/p>\n

That sort of crush, though, encourages me by reminding me that faithful men who love and are committed to their wives exist<\/em>. In this case, I\u2019m also reminded that government leaders who honestly care about the people they\u2019re serving and are trying to help people do exist.<\/em> Even though he\u2019s out of office, he still gives me hope by providing an example of someone who honestly cared about people and tried to do good things. (I don\u2019t always agree as to what will be good \u2013 but it was obvious that\u2019s what he was seriously trying to do. You can see it in these pictures.)<\/p>\n

Okay, he\u2019s also a handsome, classy man with a gorgeous family. And he\u2019s adorably cute with small children. And not afraid to show emotion. And, yes, I enjoy looking at a book full of pictures of him.<\/p>\n

And Pete Souza is an amazing photographer. Barack Obama says about him:<\/p>\n

In fact, what makes Pete such an extraordinary photographer, I think, is something more than his ability to frame an interesting moment. It\u2019s his capacity to capture the mood, the atmosphere, and the meaning of that moment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pete Souza has documented 8 years of history in a powerful and moving way. Here are some of his words from the introduction:<\/p>\n

But in the 12 years I\u2019ve known him, the character of this man has not changed. Deep down, his core is the same. He tells his daughters, \u201cBe kind and be useful.\u201d And that tells you a lot about him. As a man. A father. A husband. And yes, as a President of the United States.<\/p>\n

This book represents the moments I captured of President Obama throughout his Presidency. The big moments and the small moments. Fun moments. Moments of crisis. Moments of laughter. Moments when I had to hide my own tears behind the viewfinder. Intimate family moments. Symbolic moments and historic moments.<\/p>\n

I have had the extraordinary privilege of being the man in the room for eight years, visually documenting President Obama for history. This book is the result of that effort; I gave it my all. I hope that the photographs that follow, accompanied by my words, will show you the true character of this man and the essence of his Presidency, as seen through my eyes and felt through my heart.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Reading this book makes me a little bit sad, yes. But it also gives me hope \u2013 still \u2013 that it\u2019s possible to have dignity and kindness and a servant\u2019s heart in the Oval Office. May that day come again.<\/p>\n

petesouza.com<\/a>
\nlittlebrown.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Nonfiction\/obama.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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