ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the current stream of books on the first African American candidate to achieve the presidential nomination of one the nation's two major parties. It discusses the books written by Senator Barack Obama on himself and the books written by others on him. The chapter describes that the "political campaign" books surrounding the Obama candidacy not only reveal the candidate, his background and family life, and motivations, they can also introduce the candidate to an interested and supportive public. The initial category, autobiographical studies, contains three books authored by Obama himself. The book, Obama: From Promise to Power relied upon exclusive interviews with Obama's closest aides, mentors, political adversaries and family and wife, Michelle, fills in all of the gaps and omissions. The book, Obama: In His Own Words is nothing more than a book of quotes taken from his speeches, talks, comments, and discussion.
