The Audacity of Hope facts for kids
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| Author | Barack Obama |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Political convictions |
| Publisher | Crown / Three Rivers Press |
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Publication date
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October 17, 2006 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 362 |
| ISBN | 978-0-307-23769-9 |
| 973/.04960730092 B 22 | |
| LC Class | E901.1.O23 A3 2006 |
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream is the second book written by Barack Obama. It became a very popular book in late 2006. It was a number one bestseller on the New York Times list and Amazon.com. This happened after famous TV host Oprah Winfrey supported Obama.
In the book, Obama shares his ideas on many topics. These ideas later became important parts of his 2008 campaign to become president. Obama announced he would run for president in February 2007. This was just over three months after his book came out.
Contents
Where Did the Title Come From?
The title of The Audacity of Hope came from a sermon. A sermon is a speech given by a religious leader. This sermon was given by Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright.
The Painting That Inspired a Sermon
Pastor Wright heard a lecture in the late 1980s. It was about a painting called Hope by G. F. Watts. This painting shows a blindfolded woman sitting on top of the world. Her clothes are torn, and her harp is almost broken. It only has one string left.
In 1990, Pastor Wright gave a sermon based on this painting. He talked about how the woman, despite everything, still had the courage to make music. She used the one string she had left. He said this was "the audacity to hope."
Obama's Famous Speech
Obama heard Pastor Wright's sermon. He later changed the phrase "audacity to hope" to "audacity of hope." This became the title for his important speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. It also became the title of his second book.
In 2004, Obama was running to become a Senator. He gave the main speech at the Democratic Convention. This speech, titled The Audacity of Hope, made him very well-known across the country. In less than 20 minutes, Obama became famous. Many people started to think he might run for president in the future.
In 2006, Obama released his book, The Audacity of Hope. The book went into more detail on the ideas he first talked about in his convention speech.
What Obama Said About Hope
In his 2004 speech, Obama spoke about the importance of hope. He said:
In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope? John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism here — the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. That's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a millworker's son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope.
Obama explained that hope isn't just wishing for things to get better. It's a strong belief in a better future, even when things are hard. He gave examples of people who held onto hope, like slaves dreaming of freedom or immigrants seeking new lives.
What's Inside the Book?
The book has nine chapters. In these chapters, Obama explains his political and spiritual beliefs. He also shares his thoughts on different parts of American culture and society.
Images for kids
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Obama signs copies of The Audacity of Hope at a town hall meeting in Elkhart, Indiana, in 2009.
