75 pages 2 hours read

Barack Obama

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1995

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, a memoir by Barack Obama, recounts his journey to understand his racial identity and his father's legacy, spanning from his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia to his community work in Chicago, culminating in a trip to Kenya. Along the way, he navigates family dynamics, societal expectations, and personal growth, eventually embracing his heritage and life purpose.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father is lauded for its eloquent prose and profound reflection on race, identity, and heritage. Readers appreciate its candid narrative and emotional depth. However, some critics note its occasional verbosity and nonlinear structure. Overall, it is praised as a powerful memoir offering valuable insights into Obama's formative years.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Dreams From My Father?

Readers who appreciate deeply personal memoirs with rich reflections on identity, race, and heritage will enjoy Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father. This audience may also find interest in books like Richard Wright's Black Boy and Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which similarly explore complex personal and social themes.

Recommended

Reading Age

16+years

Lexile Level

910L

Book Details

Themes

Relationships: Daughters & Sons

Topics

Race / Racism

History: World

Politics / Government

Genre

Biography