In today’s ‘Books ‘n Blogging’ you can read a review about a coffee table book: Obama, an intimate portrait, a book filled with images made by Pete Souza.

Obama, an intimate portrait – Summary

Here’s the summary I could read on Goodreads

‘This is the definitive visual biography of Barack Obama’s presidency, captured in intimate, unprecedented detail by his official White House photographer.

Pete Souza began photographing President Obama on his first day as a U.S. senator, in January 2005, and served as the chief official White House photographer for the President’s full two terms. Souza was with President Obama more often, and at more crucial moments, than any friend or staff member, or even the First Lady–and he photographed it all. Souza captured nearly 2 million photographs of Obama, in moments ranging from classified to disarmingly candid.

This large-format (12″x10″), exquisitely produced book presents more than 300 of Souza’s favorite and most iconic images from these historic years; many have never been seen before. This seminal work on the Obama presidency documents moments of national importance–including the historic image of the President and his advisors watching tensely in the Situation Room as the Bin Laden mission unfolded–alongside unguarded moments with the President’s family, his many encounters with children, and his time spent interacting with world leaders, members of Congress, White House staff, artists, musicians and more.

The photographs are paired with captions and stories providing behind-the-scenes context for each, and offer insight into the special relationship Souza and the President forged during their time together. The result is a stunning record of a landmark era in American history.

Souza’s work enabled us to feel that we knew the President. This book puts us in the White House with him.‘

Obama, an intimate portrait – My Thoughts

I have been following Pete Souza for some time now on Instagram. I like his photography and especially the many images he took during the presidency of Barack Obama.

This coffee table book contains so many images and it felt like the perfect addition after reading Obama’s autobiography earlier this year (see this post). My favourite photographs were the snapshots, the images that were taken by surprise. But actually, every single photograph tells a story. Souza added some stories and behind the scene context, but the images tell all you need to know!

Browsing through this book, you’re part of a life you’d normally never be part of… and you realise that even the first family of the United States of America have a normal life besides the glitter and glamour, the politics and governing, the travelling and the shaking hands.

Love, Kathleen