Ten Letters
The American People in the Obama Years
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Every day, President Obama read ten of the letters he received from citizens across America. Here are ten of those letters, along with President Obama's responses and the stories behind them. • From the Pulizter Prize–winning reporter
The letters come from people of all ages, walks of life, and political points of view. Some are heartbreaking, some angry, some hopeful. Indeed, Obama reads as many letters addressed “Dear Jackass” as “Dear Mr. President.” Eli Saslow, a young and rising star at the Washington Post, became fascinated by the power of these letters and set out to find the stories behind them.
Through the lens of ten letters to which Obama responded personally, this exceptionally relevant and poignant book explores those individual stories, taking an in-depth look at the misfortunes, needs, opinions, and, yes, anger over the current state of the country that inspired ten people to put pen to paper. Surprisingly, what also emerges from these affecting personal narratives is a story about the astounding endurance and optimism of the American people.
Ten Letters is an inspiring and important book about ordinary people and the issues they face every day—the very issues that are shaping America’s future. This is not an insider Washington book by any means, but a book for the times that tells the real American stories of today.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Saslow, staff writer at the Washington Post, samples the American mood by surveying the letters sent to President Obama in this disappointingly superficial survey. Every day, 20,000 Americans write the president, and the White House mail staff selects, and the president reads, 10 letters and e-mails each evening he considers them "his most important daily reading." The author selects 10 such letters, tracking down their writers, and reporting on their backstories in an effort to personify, if not dramatize, issues including health care reform, failing schools, gay bullying, and immigration reform. As Saslow notes, "the unmistakable message" of these missives is that America is struggling, but while he notes that the White House mail staff picked the most representative 10 pieces daily, he neglects to reveal the basis for his own 10 selections. The president claims that he "learned more about key issues from some letters than he did from his own staff" and admits revealingly that he is often frustrated that he can't help the letter writers on an individual basis and be their "social worker" and "advocate." There is much that is moving in such passages, but the writers of the letters and the issues themselves do not emerge clearly enough to sustain our interest or really edify us on the issues at hand.
Customer Reviews
Great stories!
What a great book, filled with uplifting stories of my fellow Americans. We are fortunate to have such an amazing President!