I went into HE WAS OUR MAN IN WASHINGTON with the idea that author Owen Symes was going to give us a look at the presidency of Barack Obama---and in some ways he did. What the book ultimately does, however, is look at the America that made it possible for Obama to even RUN for office, what he was able to (and not able to) accomplish and how far his message of 'hope and change' really went. The history in this book is amazing, allowing us to see the America that dealt with slavery and other ills, how Obama thought he could fix the problems of a nation and its people---as well as the realities he faced. As Symes writes in the book even with his accomplishments in some ways Obama fell short of even his own expectations as well as those who supported him. What we learn is that one man cannot change a system the way some might hope. Even the one holding the office of the presidency has their limits. A fascinating look at the world that gave birth to the Obama Presidency and that which has followed, HE WAS OUR MAN IN WASHINGTON is an informative read. ~ Cyrus Webb, author of Words I Choose to Live By

He Was Our Man in Washington: A History of the Obama Years is a historical retrospective of the Obama administration (2008-2016). Chapters focus upon six major topics interconnected with the administration's policies: the War on Terror, the Great Recession, the problems of the margenalized, the Affordable Care Act, climate change, and problems affecting indigenous Americans. He Was Our Man in Washington neither lionizes nor demonizes the Obama administration; instead, every effort is made to critically evaluate the administration's results, while acknowledging that hindsight is 20/20 while decisions made in the moment do not necessarily benefit from such clarity of vision. He Was Our Man in Washington is expertly researched, thoroughly accessible, immensely fascinating, and highly recommended. ~ John Burroughs, Mid West Book Review

[This book] is a fresh and most welcome perspective. It is a provocative study for anyone wanting to get a better comprehension of the Obama administration. ~ Norm Goldman, Bookpleasures.com

He Was Our Man in Washington: A History of the Obama Years joins a host of other books about the Obama era, but offers a difference—it narrows its inspection to six key struggles and actions which marked Obama's legacy. Thus, it holds the opportunity to provide in-depth insights where more general Obama discourses only lightly touch upon these issues....Readers anticipating a one-sided laudatory review may be stymied by this critical treatise, but those who want a more even assessment of not just the pros but the cons of this administration's decisions will find He Was Our Man in Washington offers much food for thought...this book comes heavily footnoted with research supporting both the history and the author's analysis. This attention to detail provides not just facts, but more materials for further reading, for those who would pursue source materials and statistical references. The result is a fine, in-depth survey of a wide range of topics, from civil rights to the environmental and political issues which received decisive action and influence from the Obama administration. ~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Here is a comprehensively researched, well-argued, and balanced evaluation of Obama’s presidency. Given the hostile caricatures promoted by the Trump regime and its spokespersons, Owen Symes has produced a valuable assessment of hopes and promises, strengths and failures of an important chapter in US history. ~ Richard D. Wolff, Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Owen Symes is a rising young star who has created a masterful social history of the Obama years. This book clarifies the underlying contradictions of the Obama administration, linked to global capitalism. The clarification of Obamacare and other policies for health and human services is especially helpful. As we move forward, Symes’s analysis helps us shed our illusions so we can avoid making the same mistakes all over again. ~ Howard Waitzkin, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of New Mexico

I spilled blue Gatorade on this thing, hung it out to dry, and it’s still the best book on Obama in my entire collection. ~ John Dilascio, creator of the QueerPOTUS YouTube channel

In a stunningly perceptive debut, Owen Symes delivers a masterful, unique perspective in his non-fiction “He Was Our Man in Washington: A History of the Obama Years.” Owen stretches the relevance and impact of Obama’s tenure in the White House well beyond those eight years, bringing critical historical perspective from decades, even more than 150 years, into the full understanding of his presentation. Owen Symes brings a deceptive level of experience into his analysis of the Obama administration, adding a much larger historical context than today’s ‘soundbite’ prone conveyors provide. ‘He Was Our Man in Washington: A History of the Obama Years” is a vitally important offering in the historical tapestry of America’s executive leadership. ~ John Busbee for The Culture Buzz