You'd practically have to live under a rock to avoid the realization that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama grew up on this rock — he was born in Honolulu and educated at Punahou School before moving to the Mainland for college and his career.

"The Dream Begins: How Hawai'i Shaped Barack Obama" by Stu Glauberman and Jerry Burris, looks at how growing up in this multicultural state helped Obama to flourish and learn values such as tolerance, compromise and mutual respect.

A quote from wife Michelle Obama on the cover demonstrates what the book means to accomplish: "You can't really understand Barack until you understand Hawai'i."

In the book, set to hit the stands Sept. 1, Glauberman and Burris attempt to help readers understand both.

Burris contributes political analysis and commentary to The Honolulu Advertiser. Glauberman retired this year as director of corporate communications for Aloha Airlines. Both authors are former Advertiser staffers.