by Susan Rich
First published 2019
Susan Rice opens her memoir by addressing the Benghazi controversy that made her a household name, then takes readers back to her beginnings in Washington, D.C. The daughter of immigrants on one side and descendants of slaves on the other, Rice learned early how to compete as an African American woman in predominantly white spaces. She chronicles her rapid ascent through government service, from the Clinton administration where she became one of the youngest assistant secretaries of state, to her role as Obama's trusted National Security Advisor. Rice examines major foreign policy crises she helped navigate, including the Somalia intervention, Rwanda genocide, embassy bombings in East Africa, and later challenges like ISIS, Russian election interference, and the transition to Trump's presidency. She reveals behind-the-scenes details of diplomatic negotiations with Iran, responses to the Ebola outbreak, and opening relations with Cuba. Throughout, Rice connects her professional experiences to personal struggles, showing how family expectations and ancestral legacies shaped her approach to public service. The book concludes with her call for Americans to overcome political divisions to protect democracy and maintain global leadership.
Genres: international-relations, african-american, autobiography, memoir, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-journey, political-insider
Setting: Africa, Cuba, East Africa, Iran, Rwanda, Somalia, United States, Washington D.C.
Period: 21st Century, Clinton Administration, Obama Administration, Trump Presidency
496 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster