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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir. The reason I picked it up was mostly to read about her life before becoming the first female Secretary of State and to see how she got there. That was probably about 1/3 of the novel and definitely one of the most interesting of any nonfiction book I've read. She has a great voice and that part of the novel was a great and quick read. The rest of the novel was about her times as Ambassador to the UN and Secretary of State. Equally amazing to read about - especially just taking note of all the issues she had to handle in the few years allotted and how she dealt with them all - but it was a bit less page-turning than the first third. That being said, this part also had a lot of interesting meat if you're into politics or international relations at all. Though it was obviously from Albright's POV, it still provides a historical view on many international wars, events, negotiations, etc. I definitely recommend this book.
slow-paced
This was an excellent book written by the first female US Secretary of State. Regardless of your political views or preconceived notions of this person, government, politics, etc. , it is an excellent read as she recounts her life journey to serving in this office. Along the way, the reader gets an excellent ring side seat on the inner workings of world events. She recounts the how and whys actions were taken or not. In the end, she notes her regrets.
Recently, I read this quote from Herbert Hoover - 'Being a politician is a poor profession. Being a public servant is a noble one.' Madeline Albright certainly represents the later in her account of her life's journey. As I noted before, good read and if you are not careful you'll learn a few things.
Recently, I read this quote from Herbert Hoover - 'Being a politician is a poor profession. Being a public servant is a noble one.' Madeline Albright certainly represents the later in her account of her life's journey. As I noted before, good read and if you are not careful you'll learn a few things.
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
A powerful memoir by a fascinating former Secretary of State who was the first woman to hold that position in the American government.
A highly interesting and candid memoir from a woman who made her way from the destruction of post-Second World War Europe to one of the highest governmental positions in the United States. Albright recounts her achievements and involvements in an engaging, forceful, and funny manner; while I don't agree with all her political stances or methods (she's perhaps a little one-size-fits-all in her advocacy of American-style democracy throughout the globe), I love that what she wants to be remembered for having taught her generation of women that you could get somewhere if you pushed hard enough, and for having showed to younger women the power of interrupting. Her descriptions of the negotiations in which she took part during her tenure as Secretary of State are lively and evocative, and give the sense of what it's like to be at the heart of such things, rather than on the outside looking in. Well worth the read if you have any interest in US foreign policy in the late twentieth century.
I enjoyed the first part of this book but bogged down into the second half. Her writing changes between the two parts of the book. In the first half, she is engaged in telling a remarkable story of her childhood and how she fought her way for respect as an adult. The second half, while interesting, becomes very detailed and loses its way as she discusses her time as Secretary of State. I find Madeleine Albright a fascinating person and encourage everyone to try this book.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced