by Jimmy Carter
First published 2015
Jimmy Carter examines his journey from rural Georgia to the presidency at age ninety. The former president and Nobel laureate shares memories of his childhood, marked by racial tensions and his family's relative isolation. He recounts his naval service, including dangerous submarine duty and a pivotal encounter with Admiral Rickover. Carter discusses his mother's lasting impact and his complex relationship with his father. He admits to major decisions made without consulting his wife Rosalynn, including leaving the Navy and entering politics. The book covers his presidency, his disappointment over losing reelection, and how he and Rosalynn built meaningful second careers afterward. Carter offers candid assessments of subsequent presidents and world leaders while discussing his humanitarian work. He focuses particularly on women's rights and poverty in developing nations. This memoir reveals both Carter's pride in his accomplishments and his regrets about missed opportunities.
Genres: history, 20th-century, autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, second-chance
Setting: Georgia, Navy, Presidency
Period: Childhood, Presidency, Retirement
257 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster