Preface and Introduction

Introspection and Research Questions

Discussion Questions

  1. What did you learn about Obama from reading the preface and the introduction?  What was of most interest to you?  What do you need more information about?  What, if anything, was confusing to you? 

  2. Why do you think Dreams from My Father includes both a preface and an introduction? What are the differences between them?

  3. What does Obama mean by his “voice” as a writer? What words would you use to describe his writing voice? What examples from the book seem to best illustrate his writing voice?  Do you agree with Obama’s observations about his writing voice? Why or why not?

  4. What has changed in Obama’s life and in the world between the first publication and the second publication of Dreams from My Father? Why does Obama list these changes?

  5. What is your interpretation of the “particular truth” that Obama discusses on page xvi? Why does he suggest that this truth is “part of what this book’s about”? Find examples to support your ideas.