Includes bibliographical references and index.

The bet -- Yes we can -- Renegade -- The good fight -- The world as it is -- In the barrel -- On the high wire.

In this anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency--a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.