Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
I really enjoyed Madeleine's humor and frankness. There were some instances where I lost focus and zoned out. It is really very long, but understandably so because she accomplished so much in her life. It is really interesting to hear her insights of world affairs, details that are not shared on the news or in textbooks.
So I really enjoyed this book, I thought Albright did a fantastic job narrating her own book. it did feel a little dry at times, but I think that's understandable considering she is a politician talking about some really in-depth details about history. but those details are very well laid out. I do think that she does assume a bit too much about the readership. that is, that we know a lot or at least some basic knowledge about history, and, as a millennial, I did not or do not know much about history before Clinton at least in that period of my early life and leading up to it.
For that period it was a little difficult for me to keep up, but once we get past that and into the conflict with Israel and with Afghanistan it became a very engaging read. I'm intrigued to read more by her despite the fact that I may get a little lost at times because she clearly knows what she's talking about. she doesn't hesitate to admit when she was wrong, but she stands by her decisions, despite conflict at times, when she trusts her gut. I admire her for this. I think it is fantastic that she stands what she believes in. I love that she talks about how the one take away she really wants us to get is that she did her best. And I think that's true for most politicians.
I liked the bit where she explored her early life I thought it was interesting and full of details. I'm interested in reading other memoirs by her where she explores her early life in more detail. still one thing that really stood out for me in her early life and into her early adulthood was her desire to learn and improve herself. To me, that is one of the most admirable qualities a person can have. And it is one of the many reasons that I can't help but admire her as politician, as a woman, and just is a person in general.
Now one more problem I had with the book was that when it came to people disagreeing with her she did not go very deep into the opposing side of the argument. she would introduce it but she would refute it with her own logic and without really exploring the other side in depth. I'm curious to hear a less biased point of view. Perhaps there are details she's leaving out; I doubt she would do so intentionally. I get the impression she is trying to be honest and up front, but given it is her perspective it's going to be inherently biased. Nevertheless, it is still amazingly detailed. it's well done, and I am interested in reading more books by her simply because I think she knows what the hell she's talking about.
For that period it was a little difficult for me to keep up, but once we get past that and into the conflict with Israel and with Afghanistan it became a very engaging read. I'm intrigued to read more by her despite the fact that I may get a little lost at times because she clearly knows what she's talking about. she doesn't hesitate to admit when she was wrong, but she stands by her decisions, despite conflict at times, when she trusts her gut. I admire her for this. I think it is fantastic that she stands what she believes in. I love that she talks about how the one take away she really wants us to get is that she did her best. And I think that's true for most politicians.
I liked the bit where she explored her early life I thought it was interesting and full of details. I'm interested in reading other memoirs by her where she explores her early life in more detail. still one thing that really stood out for me in her early life and into her early adulthood was her desire to learn and improve herself. To me, that is one of the most admirable qualities a person can have. And it is one of the many reasons that I can't help but admire her as politician, as a woman, and just is a person in general.
Now one more problem I had with the book was that when it came to people disagreeing with her she did not go very deep into the opposing side of the argument. she would introduce it but she would refute it with her own logic and without really exploring the other side in depth. I'm curious to hear a less biased point of view. Perhaps there are details she's leaving out; I doubt she would do so intentionally. I get the impression she is trying to be honest and up front, but given it is her perspective it's going to be inherently biased. Nevertheless, it is still amazingly detailed. it's well done, and I am interested in reading more books by her simply because I think she knows what the hell she's talking about.
4.5 stars. This was a long read but it was enjoyable. Albright's humor and writing made the content readable. It was a good balance of history, personal commentary, and reflection. Albright is truly an incredible woman for her dedication to her passions and to serving her country. There is one thing all readers can gather from this memoir: this read really showed how human the individual political actors are. It reminded me that presidents, prime ministers, and diplomats in general are all subject to the same emotions we are. We can all throw tantrums and make decisions just to spite others. We all make mistakes and wish we did things differently in hindsight. In short, I enjoyed this memoir because it put a human face to history and politics. They're not just words on a page or a shape on a map. They are people led by individuals who are only human.
I enjoyed this a lot. I only had a vague sense of Madeline Albright's life before reading this, and her personal story is fascinating.
It was also very interesting to read in detail about international events that I remember hearing the names of on tv in the background of my childhood. I was too young growing up to pay attention to what was happening in the world. This book helped me fill in a bit of a gap I didn't really know existed.
It was also very interesting to read in detail about international events that I remember hearing the names of on tv in the background of my childhood. I was too young growing up to pay attention to what was happening in the world. This book helped me fill in a bit of a gap I didn't really know existed.