The Promise: President Obama

In The Reality of HopeAlter takes the reader into the inner circles of Obama's intimates, those who were there from the start, and the gradually expanding circles, to show for the first time the emotions, rivalries, alliances of the extremely tight-lipped and disciplined administration: Biden, whom he chose because he had the experience even though he was not an early supporter, Hillary, whom he had long wanted for Secretary of State. There are stunning portraits of Obama's oldest friends, including Valerie Jarrett, and his early supporters; the Kennedys, Daschle, and of the more volatile newcomers, Rahm of course, and Larry Summers, and Geitner. Watch the president dominate his Cabinet with silences and stares (instead of shouting like Clinton or LBJ). Add to that the knowledge that leaking can lose you your job. (One advisor called Obama, 'The most unsentimental man I have ever known.') Obama is, in this portrait, self-aware and shrewd, well organized and confident, a natural leader who doesn't need or crave praise and is not given to spreading it around. (One intimate notes his praise is more likely to be 'What's next?' than 'Good job.') Nevertheless he is equable and attentive, and he listens. (It's one of his techniques.) In fact, if one doesn't have anything to say at his meetings, you may not be invited back. Alter characterizes Obama as a deductive thinker, and a fast one -- eager for action. It is said that Clinton's meetings always ran on too long and that Obama's may be too short.

About the Author :
Jonathan Alter is an award-winning historian, columnist and documentary filmmaker. An MSNBC political analyst and former senior editor at Newsweek, he is the author of three New York Times bestsellers: The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies; The Promise: President Obama, Year One; and The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope.

Review :
'French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and her pixie-like consort made an unnamed government official wait while they enjoyed a canoodle, according to a new book by Newsweek's editor Jonathan Alter. He says Carla confided as much to U.S First Lady Michelle Obama' Daily Mail 12/5 'Carla Bruni is not getting enough sex with her president husband. Nicolas Sarkozy, 55, is usually too busy to fulfil his 42-year-old wife's "physical needs". The claims are made in a new book by Newsweek editor Jonathan Alter, 52' Daily Star 12/5 'According to a new book by American journalist Jonathan Alter, the French First Lady and Mrs Obama discussed their sex lives at a meeting in the USA' Sunday Daily Star 9/5 'A fascinating account of Barack Obama's temper -- at odds with his public image of cool unflappability -- emerged yesterday in a new book. That the President's biggest outburst involved Afghanistan provided the clearest insight yet into the divisions inside his war Cabinet over the country. In The Promise: President Obama, Year One, the author Jonathan Alter describes a series of private explosions by Mr Obama, with his most enraged flare-up directed at General Stanley McChrystal, his ground commander in Afghanistan' The Times 10/5 'Ex supermodel Carla, 42, now a singer, made the steamy revelation to US First Lady Michelle Obama in a chat about their sex lives during a state visit, according to a new book about the Obama presidency' Sunday Mirror 9/5 'First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is said to have kept the Queen waiting while she had sex. Carla, 42, told Michelle Obama she was making love with hubby Nicolas, the French President, a new book claims' The Sun 10/5 'Randy French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni kept the Queen waiting while they had sex, an author claims. Stunning ex-model Carla, 42, is said to have made the steamy revelation to America's first lady Michelle Obama during a girly chat. US journalist Jonathan Alter writes in a new book about Barrack Obama: "Bruni wanted to know if, like them, Michelle and the President had ever kept anyone waiting that way. Michelle laughed nervously and said no." The book, The Promise, insists it was a head of state the frolicking Sarkozys kept waiting' The People 9/5 'Alter's book is an incredible document, full of information that in less distinguished hands might be called gossip. We are party to Obama's known view of his setbacks, and to the behind-the-scenes battle over healthcare reform -- Obama pursued it, Alter shows, against the wishes of every single one of his advisers' Four stars, Telegraph 29/5 'Gripping and revealing' Leeds Guide