Listening to all 29 hours of this, read by Obama himself, shortly after Biden became the President-Elect was probably good timing. Had I read it with the prospect of four more years of the Orange Screaming Demon, I might have found Obama's eloquence, reason, empathy and morality too much to bear. Indeed, reading this after four years of The Angry Cheeto Blimp's insane tweetjaculations and incoherent gibberish made me lament for a time when political discourse was a little more rational, a little more thoughtful and a lot more grammatically accurate. In comparison, Obama's book stands out as an oasis of reason and decency.

The fact that these 700+ pages only serve as the first part of Obama's memoir is testament to both Obama's thoughtful, measured demeanour and his impressive verbosity. Chronologically, this first entry ranges from a brief look at his early life and, in particular the women who shaped him- his mother, grandmother and, of course, Michelle- through to his entrance into politics, his campaign for president and the first three years of his tenure, ending with an insightful account of the mission to bring down Bin Laden.

Obama makes this as engaging as a political memoir could be. His narrative is lucid, intellectually honest and empathetic, full of wit, charm, self-doubt and logical, nuanced reflection. He describes in detail the many frustrations and successes of his first years in office: from the pugilistic opposition he faced in an increasingly partisan political landscape, his interactions with other world leaders, his attempts to pass groundbreaking legislation and his responses to new and ongoing crises, including the financial meltdown, the BP oil spill and tensions in the Middle East. Throughout, he maintains an intellectual, liberal and objective outlook, but his visceral belief in American exceptionalism is notable across these accounts, which I suppose, as a former President, is understandable, if not a little idealistic. Say what you like about Obama, you cannot fault his idealism. He offers compelling and considered reflection on the myriad and conflicting pressures involved in being 'the leader of the free world', and though he wasn't always able to do or say what he wanted, wasn't always sure about the decisions he made, his evident belief in the possibility of a better world remains inspiring and hopeful.

Though most of the book focuses on policy, there are many touching and revealing asides and anecdotes about the man behind the office: his tender and often self-flagellating notes on his role as a husband and father, his de-stressing attempts with White House staffers, playing basketball or pool or his need to pop out for a quick cigarette break. He also, in what I'm sure will play a larger part in his next book, briefly touches upon the rise of Trumpism, offering the occasional ominous foreshadowing of what would happen after he left the Oval Office.

A serious commitment, but never a slog, 'A Promised Land' is a wonderful political memoir and an excellent read.