ARVIN: Obama shows skills that make old ideas seem new again

By Nick Arvin

Published August 8, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.

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In 1995, Barack Obama published a book. He was 33 years old, a recent law school graduate, and the book, Dreams From My Father, received favorable reviews from The New York Times and others. It is a memoir, earnest, soul-searching and even-handed.

Reportedly, at the time that he was writing it, Obama had begun to speak to friends about the possibility of entering politics, but it's difficult to detect an aspirant to national office in the pages of Dreams From My Father. For one thing, the entire book revolves around issues of race - a topic that Obama spent this year avoiding until the Rev. Jeremiah Wright forced the matter. Dreams From My Father sold about 8,000 copies and then fell from sight, which may sound a little dismal but is pretty typical for a literary book.

After Illinois elected Obama to the Senate in 2004, he wrote a second book, The Audacity of Hope. Although politicians "write" books all the time, such books are almost always ghostwritten by others. Obama, however, is known for writing The Audacity of Hope himself. Moreover, he began Dreams From My Father years before he ran for office. In other words, he was a writer first, then a politician.

Most politicians have a simple reason for employing ghostwriters: Writing a good book is hard. In fact, I will tell you: Merely writing a halfway-decent, mostly readable book is hard. It requires a certain mind-set to pursue a single topic through hundreds of pages, and to do it well demands skills that are difficult to learn and require ongoing practice. It also takes a great deal of time.

I'd like to suggest that the fact that Obama is a writer - not just a typer of e-mails and compiler of legal briefs but a writer of literary quality with the ability to craft compelling narrative and interrogate his own feelings on the page - tells us some things about him that are worth considering as he competes for the presidency. These ideas flow from a few simple observations about writers generally.

Writers like words. Perhaps only a writer could become involved in a fight about the efficacy of words, as Obama did in the face of criticism from Hillary Clinton during the primaries, and stunningly take the side of words. But a writer who labors to create hundreds of manuscript pages must have some faith in the power of words to affect lives. Writers also know that words are, as Sartre expressed it, like bullets, a stray can be deadly. Perhaps in no career is this lesson more crucial than in the politician's, where regrettable word choices can end careers (and often do). Obama, indeed, tends to speak carefully and seems to think before speaking. As many writers do.

Writers like good sentences. Which might be extended a bit to say: Writers sometimes like artfully constructed sentences that at first glance might seem weird and require a moment of consideration to understand. This could be the only weakness in Obama's widely praised speeches. For example, an Obama speech in February included the phrase, "We are the ones we've been waiting for." It requires a moment to examine this phrase and see that it reworks a common sentiment: We can't wait for others to improve our condition, we have to do it ourselves. "We are the ones we've been waiting for," in its succinctness and rhythm, has an almost poetic appeal that a writer might like (I do), but at a glance it can seem merely eccentric, or even pseudo-religious, perhaps not the best choice for a speech of national importance. And, indeed, Obama's detractors have raised the quote from time to time as an example of hubris and a cult-like campaign.

Writers hate cliches. Any wordsmith learns early that good writing avoids cliches, and Obama's best speeches display a resolute aversion to cliches, not only generic cliches but also the political cliches of our time, the phrases that offer quick stand-ins for familiar ideas and codes for partisan inclinations. By refusing these cliches, by casting an old idea into a new phrase ("we are the ones we've been waiting for" is an example of this, which, perhaps, goes a touch too far), Obama gains the ability to make old ideas seem new again and even to draw in people who might otherwise reflexively dismiss him as a candidate offering tired dogma from the wrong end of the political spectrum.

Writers understand narrative. Narrative isn't a technique exclusive to writers - all of us tell stories - to demonstrate how events interconnect and to illustrate the personalities of the people we know. Narrative works powerfully to shape understanding, and it's become common for political pundits to speak of a presidential campaign as a process of "competing narratives."

Any successful politician must grasp the general utility of narrative and the potency of a good anecdote. But, while an anecdote is small and good for a laugh or scoring a point, narratives can be much larger and deeper, encompassing more than any single anecdote, creating linkages through structures of theme and explorations of character. This grasp of complex narrative may be the most intriguing of a writer's skills to contemplate in a president. It suggests the possibility of a leader who can develop fresh expressions of American themes and character that would gather the various threads of our country to establish a renewed sense of a national narrative, and with it a sense of common purpose and future.

Could Obama actually make this transition from literary narrative to political narrative to national narrative? Who knows? I don't. Each step is vast and rather improbable. But I can't help thinking that having a background in the narrative craft wouldn't hurt. And I do know that, whatever happens, whether Obama wins the presidency or loses it, I'm eager to see what he writes about the experience.

Nick Arvin is the author of the novels "In the Electric Eden: Stories" and "Articles of War." He lives in Denver.

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Comments

August 9, 2008

1:36 a.m.

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Ofearghail writes:

Having read part of Senator Obama's book (I could not stand to continue), I fail to see what Mr. Arvin found to be literary or compelling about it. Besides, the good senator most likely just dictated to someone else who actually did the writing. Mr. Arvin seems to be just another gushing Obama sycophant, and his charactarization of the senator's "work" as literary certainly calls into question his own writing prowess.
August 9, 2008

2:09 a.m.

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clyde writes:

The Messiah coudn't possibly have had anyone's help in ghostwriting his book. After all, he's... he's... he's... OBAMA!!!
August 9, 2008

6:25 a.m.

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Mike846 writes:

I guess the point is we poor, cheerful, indolent fools who cling to our guns and our God need an intellectual like Mr. Arvin to explain to us in detail why we are ignorant if we don't see and understand the complete genius and inate talent of the new Messiah of the Left. Cults of personality have been a dangerous thing since early in Man's history. Obama is only the latest practitioner, and its still dangerous. Mike
August 9, 2008

8:08 a.m.

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vudumom writes:

Obama wrote another book in 2004 after being elected to the senate? What amazes me is he's elected to do a job, he writes a book while supposedly doing that job and takes care of his family?
I don't buy it. Something in his life is being neglected.
His senate job? He accomplished what?
His writing job? It takes quite a bit of time to write and publish a book.
His family commitments? Is he involved at all with his children? When does he have the time?
Obama is not superman.
August 9, 2008

11:52 a.m.

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mikeyg writes:

"Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" will have the legacy as "Mein Kampf" if Obama becomes president. Just like Hitler laid out his beliefs and values to the German people, so too does Obama for the American people. Problem is just like the Germans so many Americans are bedazzled by charisma, and don't bother reading the words (and if they do they impart the most benign meaning to them, willingly suspending their disbelief).

To wit: "To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist Professors and the structural feminists and punk-rock performance poets." - Barack Obama's "Dreams From My Father", pages 100-101.

Just like he chose black liberation theology advocate Rev. Jeremiah Wright carefully. So carefully in fact he named his second book, "The Audacity of Hope" after one of his sermons.

Folks, you can fall in love with the celebrity and charisma of Obama being force fed to America by a sycophant media, just like Germans were fed the celebrity and charisma of Hitler. The irony of seeing 200,000 screaming Germans at an Obama pep rally in Berlin is not lost on us.

Read his books yourselves folks, don't take this Obama supporter's review of them at face value. There's disturbingly more to them. Mein Kampf translates to My Struggle. Eerily similar description of the pages Obama has penned.

For more on Obama's true nature check out the link to American Thinker: http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/0...
August 9, 2008

6:50 p.m.

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Jeph writes:

The only thing I agree with in the comments so far is that everyone should read the books themselves. Even if you don't want to buy it, go to a bookstore and read a chapter that interests you. Everyone should do that with something McCain has written too. And for that matter read something Mr. Arvin has written - he is a gifted (and award winning) writer.

What Nick Arvin is saying is that it is very refreshing to have a candidate who has an analytical mind and grasp of how important words can be. For my part, I see that the rest of the world has been shocked by US actions over the last 8 years and we could use some well chosen words of inspriation to improve our energy policy, our environment, our education system, and our relations with other countries. We will regain the respect of the world when we communicate and work with them analytically - rather than reacting with only emotion, fear, and brute force. Why care what the rest of the world thinks? Because we're all in this together - decide for yourself which candidate understands and communicates that better.
August 10, 2008

12:26 a.m.

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mikeyg writes:

Yes, read the books yourselves, especially pay attention to pages 100-101 in "Dreams From My Father". You will see where this man's allegiances lie, and it ain't with the USA or with capitalism. Obama is a Marxist, an internationalist who has no loyalty to this nation or what has made us the beacon of hope to the world for generations.

Obama would rather "get along" with socialist and envious nations around the globe than promote American interests. I, for one, believe that the USA has nothing to apologize to any other nation for. Yet, Obama believes we have much to apologize for in order to "get along" with other nations. Hogwash. Apologize for the USA to Germans? That is obscene!

I know he's only saying what you leftists believe to be true about the USA, But it ain't so, and it isn't what the majority of Americans think and isn't how you win presidencies in America. Exactly how well have Obama's poll numbers been since he had his rally in Germany?

I'm no big fan of McCain, don't get me wrong, but an Obama presidency is akin to electing Hitler to Chancellor of Germany in 1933. All charisma, plenty of ideas about "change", but none of them what Germans would have thought their country would become in a decade. Both these truly evil men did their countrymen the service of spelling out their ideas for the future. Trouble was, their countrymen didn't bother reading the words of their struggles (Mein Kampf, Dreams From My Father), or only attributed the most benign meanings to their words. Your choice America.
August 10, 2008

11:40 a.m.

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Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:

Jeph writes:

"For my part, I see that the rest of the world has been shocked by US actions over the last 8 years"

Depends who you ask. A rational critique would involve both positives and negatives.

Did the rest of the world really love us prior to eight years ago? Depends who you ask.
August 11, 2008

10:02 a.m.

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T1anda writes:

Thumbs up Mikeyg!! Couldn't agree with you more!!
August 11, 2008

3:57 p.m.

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jjez writes:

Vudumom: to answer your question, they're only in DC 10 weeks out of the year. They get the entire months of Aug & Dec off. So he had plenty of time to write. They're supposed to use those weeks to do their work in their home constituancy. Get to know what the people really want. But golfing with some lobbyists and guys from special interest groups isn't really work. So that could be how he managed to write.
August 11, 2008

4:11 p.m.

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jjez writes:

"Obama seems to think before speaking". That's because, as a writer, he has to compose what ever it is he wants to says. Has to craft it just right so that he doesn't appear to be an idiot. Or it could be because he has to consult his staffers so he doesn't make a serious blunder. Wouldn't want to contradict himself. I read his speech about Rev. Wright. He seemed to speak in a circle. A circle which if you were listening was probably lost on you, but reading it shows that by the end of the speech he completely reversed himself. I was so confused by his rhetoric, that by the time I was done, I had no idea what his position was. Typical of most politicians. They speak out of both sides of their mouths. They tell you what you want to hear, but do the opposite when in office. So just because he's running on a campaign of "change" it isn't likely to happen. Unless 2/3rds of the congress is also Democrat. Because without the approval of Congress, he can't change a thing.
August 11, 2008

5 p.m.

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mikeyg writes:

I know a lot of lobbyists, and don't buy into the lobbyist as a dirty word thing that is popular today. Some are bad, will lie and cut corners to get what they want. But the vast majority of them are doing work that our system of governance needs, in fact begs from citizens. They are fulfilling the "right to petition the Government for a redress grievances" roll in our constitution's First Amendment.

Like a clean environment, thank a lobbyist. Like safe pharmaceuticals, thank a lobbyist. Like clean cars, thank a lobbyist. Like bike paths, thank a lobbyist. Like food delivered to your grocer safely, thank a lobbyist. Like safe work places, thank a lobbyist. Like owning your home, thank a lobbyist. Like keeping more of what you earn in your pocket than in a bureaucrat's pocket, thank a lobbyist. Like the quality schools in your neighborhood or prefer school reform like vouchers, thank a lobbyist. There isn't a thing you do in life, in your work, in your home, in your recreation that lobbyists haven't helped shape the public policy that lets it happen, or prohibits it.

Lobbyists provide information to elected officials, information that they don't know or even have a clue about before a lobbyist speaks for you. Good elected officials get information from lobbyists from all sides of an issue before they take a position that most closely fits their own values. If Obama was so busy writing about what he already knows, himself, in his time off from DC, rather than meeting with the people who will help give him all sides of an issue, that means he continues to vote on issues as an ignorant know-it-all.

I know there are a lot of folks who think lobbyists are evil and the less a politician has to do with them the better. But the fact is if elected officials shun lobbyists they are shunning citizens and ignoring your constitutional right "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." That kind of arrogance is an omen about how deeply authoritarian Obama would be as president. You will do as he says, because he knows better for you.
August 11, 2008

5:49 p.m.

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BO writes:

vudumom-
You're probably right. Something must be neglected, after all here's some great conservative authors who have written numerous works of political literature:
Rush Limbaugh- 3 divorces
Ann Coulter- 46 and not married (I wonder why..she's such a peach).
Bill O'Reilly- Oh wait, he is married..but he enjoys harassing women at Fox.
John Edwards- has he written anything?

I don't know if Obama's book is any good or not. The whole argument is stupid. BTW- Lots of people write books and balance a career and family, and do it very successfully.
August 12, 2008

8:47 a.m.

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MileHighPatriot writes:

Wow, there's a lot more repub's on this site than I expected, or from when I last visited.

"Dreams of my Father" definitely is 'earnest' and very honest about Barack H. Obama's mentality on race. Goes right in line for the work he did for the Black Panthers.
August 12, 2008

5:08 p.m.

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Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:

Jesus was black. The white man has oppressed the true superior race, the black man. The black man must regain superiority over the entire human race.

Jesus was black.
August 12, 2008

5:52 p.m.

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jjez writes:

lowtax: Jesus was Jewish. From the Middle East, not Africa. He wasn't European, like so many artists have tried to make Him out to be. But he wasn't black either. And I really hope you're being facetious about who should be superior. Because no one race should be superior to another, no matter how much or little pigment they have in their skin.
August 12, 2008

6:16 p.m.

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jjez writes:

mikeyg--I didn't say a thing against lobbyists. I just said they golf with them. And thank you for refreshing my memory about what lobbyists do. Aside from golfing (just kidding!)
August 13, 2008

9:55 a.m.

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Elaina writes:

Obama's book left out a lot of key elements, like the controversies surrounding his birth, citizenship, etc. I'd love to know if he really did use an Indonesian passport to go visit him Mom when he was 19 years old, as has been reported. We can't even find out what hospital he was born in, no records from his colleges or from his community organizing days, nothing in his books about his Uncle Frank (father figure) who was also an avid Communist, and nothing about his 'other' name: Barry Soetoro. Obama carefully crafted his life story to leave out the parts that might cause voters to feel he was too great a risk for President.

Or would the world be just as intrigued with this candidate if he were running as Barry Soetoro, adopted son of Lolo Soetoro and a former (?) Indonesian citizen. Maybe the world wouldn't care, but would America care? Does America deserve to know the truth about this man before the election?

Home › Opinion DNC › DNC Speakout

ARVIN: Obama shows skills that make old ideas seem new again

By Nick Arvin

Published August 8, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.

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