First published 2019
Samantha Power chronicles her transformation from Dublin-born immigrant to America's youngest UN Ambassador. She begins as a war correspondent witnessing atrocities in Bosnia, then becomes a sharp critic of US foreign policy. Her writing catches Senator Barack Obama's attention, leading to work on Capitol Hill and his presidential campaign. When Obama wins the White House, Power shifts from activist outsider to human rights adviser, eventually becoming UN Ambassador in 2013. She navigates the tension between idealistic goals and political reality while managing a demanding national security role and raising two young children. Power reveals the personal cost of high-stakes diplomacy and the challenge of implementing moral principles within government power structures. The memoir demonstrates how one person can influence international human rights policy while showing the sacrifices required to serve at the highest levels of government.
Genres: international-relations, political-science, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, personal-sacrifice
Setting: America, Bosnia, Dublin, United Nations
Period: 21st-century
592 pages · Hardcover · Dey Street Books