xiv, 297 pages, [16] pages of plates : 25 cm

"Barack Obama, father of the American president, was part of Africa's "independence generation" and in 1959 it seemed his star would shine brightly. He came to the U.S. from Kenya and was given a university scholarship. While in Hawaii, he met Ann Dunham in 1961, and his son Barack was born. He left his young family to gain a master's degree from Harvard. After that, Obama's life became progressively more complicated. He was a brilliant economist, yet never held the coveted government job he felt should have been his. He was a polygamist, an alcoholic, and an ardent African nationalist unafraid to tell truth to power at a time when that could get you killed. Father of eight, nurturer of none, he was an unlikely person to father the first African American president of the United States. Yet he was, like that son, a man moved by the dream of a better world. Now, thanks to dozens of exclusive new interviews, prodigious research, and determined investigation, Sally Jacobs tells his full story"--

"This is a biography of the senior Barack Obama, who is President Barack Obama's father"--

Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-285) and index

The old man -- Winyo Piny Kiborne -- A Maseno boy, almost -- Miss Mooney -- "Who the hell is that?" -- The world's greatest university -- The Nairobi men -- Lions, tigers, and lies -- "Even God does not want me."

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews