Barack Obama For Beginners: An Essential Guide is the fastest and most reliable way to get up to speed on the Democratic candidate for President of the United States. It condenses the personal and political history of the first African-American nominee for our nation's highest office to provide a complete introduction to the Senator from Illinois. The text covers the candidate's family history and life experiences and beliefs, and discusses his strengths and weaknesses as a campaigner, legislator, and manager of people and resources. Entertaining illustrations enliven the reading experience and highlight important details. Barack Obama For Beginners keeps the focus on the candidate and his record — accomplishments and missteps, praise and criticism — to allow readers to draw their own conclusions. 

Short enough to read in an afternoon or on commutes, For Beginners® Essential Guides provide reliable information from a neutral point of view about public figures and current events so that readers can arrive at informed opinions on topics that affect their daily lives. 

 
Bob Neer is writing his dissertation to complete his J.D.-Ph.D. degree in U.S. History at Columbia. He received his M. Phil. in U.S. History from Columbia in 2007, and a J.D. and an M.A. in U.S. History, both from Columbia, in 1991. He studied Southeast Asian politics as a Fulbright Scholar at the National University of Singapore and is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College. He is a Co-Founder and Editor of BlueMassGroup.com, the best-read political blog in New England. He lives in New York City with his wife, son and border collie dog.