Obama’s first book was written when he had no idea he might some day run for President. I have only looked at a few passages in the book—at least when he was in high school he seems to have had a lot of anti-white feelings. I don’t know if he portrays himself as shedding those attitudes later. If not, the book may provide useful insights into the person he is now.
I have a different take on that. I think Obama has, for a very long time, planned on being "king of the hill." The books, IMO, were part of the carefully crafted mythology of the man who pretends to be a "post racial" uniter and unifier, but who is, in reality, a narcissist and far-left radical who has been immersed in Marxism since he learned it at his mother's knee.
Narcissists are not stupid, however, and typically believe that all those whom they intend to enthrall are not capable, or ready, to accept the ultimate truth that they, as superior beings, bring, so he dumbs it down to euphemisms and vague rhetoric designed to appeal to all those people he has utter contempt for -- not least of which are people of color. He is so enthralled with his own image, however, that the setbacks dealt by his pastor's brutal truth as to the nature of the real game afoot are enough to send him into a state of confusion, where I hope he remains for the duration of the primary.