by John Kerry
First published 2018
John Kerry recounts his decades in American public service in this personal memoir. The diplomat's son graduated from Yale, then enlisted in the Navy in 1966 to serve in Vietnam. He came home decorated but opposed to the war, testifying before Congress as a young veteran. Kerry worked as a Massachusetts prosecutor and lieutenant governor before winning a Senate seat in 1984. He served five terms, ran as the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, and lost by one state. Kerry chaired the Foreign Relations Committee and became Secretary of State in 2013, succeeding Hillary Clinton. He pursued Middle East peace, managed the Syrian civil war while fighting ISIS, and negotiated both the Iran nuclear deal and Paris climate agreement. Kerry shares stories about colleagues like Ted Kennedy and John McCain, plus President Obama and other major political figures. He describes recovering his faith during his Senate years and criticizes the partisan divisions plaguing Washington. This account reveals Kerry's wit and authenticity while making the case for diplomacy and American leadership in an interconnected world.
Genres: biography, history, american, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, political-career
Setting: Massachusetts, Middle East, Syria, Vietnam, Washington
Period: 1960s, 1980s, 2000s, 2010s
640 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster