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Summary: The Story of Leaders in the Democratic Party
Review: Anyone trying to provide leadership in the Democratic Party today NEEDS to read this excellent book. It is written so that the general public will know all that Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have done - and it is a great deal! The forces that guide the couple are analyzed thoroughly, including their strong faith in religion and family. In the years ahead, the Carters' leadership in the world will be a force to reckon with, as Douglas Brinkley realized when he authored THE UNFINISHED PRESIDENCY.
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Summary: Response to critical reviewer
Review: I believe that most of the other reviews reflect my opinion of the book, and the man. While he has his flaws, ego not being the least of them, he has done more in his post-presidency than virtually any other individual who has held that office in the last century. What I would like to point out, however, is that the one very negative review below has false or grossly misleading statements in it. Far from supporting Daniel Ortega, Jimmy Carter was the person who persuaded the former President and Sandinista leader to concede his electoral defeat, very likely averting a civil war. Almost every scholar and political analyst will tell you that Carter also helped avert a potentially devastating war on the Korean Peninsula by his travel there in 1994. I suspect that many leaders, while they may be reluctant to admit it, take his advice deadly seriously.
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Summary: A failed ex-President as well....
Review: I don't buy the argument, advanced by some of the reviewers, that Jimmy Carter is a great ex-President. I belong to the camp that believes that Jimmy Carter is not only a failed President but a failed ex-President as well. Carter prides himself as our unappointed world ambassador, but I believe history will show that he is ineffectual and meddlesome. In Nicarauga, for example, Carter strongly believed that the Sandanistas would win the free elections, as Carter had encouraged the overthrow of Somoza and welcomed the Sandanistas as liberators. Carter opposed the Persian Gulf War, and appeased the North Koreans when he travelled there. Other than write a handful of mediocre books, I can't think of a single constructive, intelligent thing Carter has done since he has left office. Nixon, with all of his flaws, was at least considered a statesman by not only Reagan and Bush, but Clinton as well. I doubt history will record that any active President ever followed Jimmy Carter's advice on any issue of national importance.
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Summary: Gives the Carters their due
Review: I loved this book. It struck me as an honest portrayal of a yes, flawed (aren't we all?) but well meaning fascinating individual. I like how it wasn't purely idolatry. Brinkley states when Carter gets angry, or how he snapped at a particular individual, or when his views caused problems for others. It's nice to find a biography written that way.Jimmy Carter is a fascinating individual. You may not agree with his political views, but as Brinkley says, even his critics agree that his post-presidency has been exemplary. Please do yourself a favor, and set your political views aside, and dive into a fascinating portrayal of a rare individual who lives his life and beliefs.
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Summary: Balanced, interesting book
Review: I loved this book. It struck me as an honest portrayal of a yes, flawed (aren't we all?) but well meaning fascinating individual. I like how it wasn't purely idolatry. Brinkley states when Carter gets angry, or how he snapped at a particular individual, or when his views caused problems for others. It's nice to find a biography written that way. Jimmy Carter is a fascinating individual. You may not agree with his political views, but as Brinkley says, even his critics agree that his post-presidency has been exemplary. Please do yourself a favor, and set your political views aside, and dive into a fascinating portrayal of a rare individual who lives his life and beliefs.
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Summary: Very Well Written, Informative Book!
Review: If you are even slighly interested the post-presidential career of Jimmy Carter, this book is a great work of art! I knew that President Carter was a hard working, great man; I just did not realize How Hard Working, Caring, and Diligent President Carter actually is. He is defintely a man that is a great role model for all people that are interested in running for a political office, or wish to live peacefully on planet earth. Mr Brinkley does a fabulous side of pulling us in to the Carters' world, educating us, and entertaining us. This is a GREAT book!
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Summary: A revealing portrait of an underrated man
Review: Jimmy Carter is usually considered a mediocre president at best, totally incompetent at worst. Nothing could be further from the truth. This book lists his presidential successes and goes on to show how they led to his influential post-presidential activities. We now can see Jimmy Carter for what he truly is, a human rights champion and a shining example to us all.
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Summary: An Explanation of the Man and What he Does
Review: Just watching the news and reading the papers over the years one would see a story here and there about Jimmy Carter, but until I read this book I really did not have a good appreciation for just how many issues / events he has been involved with over the years. This book covers the last 15 + years sense he was President. What really interested me was not the good work he does for Habitat for Humanity, but the freelance diplomatic work he seams to always be getting involved with. The list of countries and wars he has visited and worked to bring peace on is a top ten list of some of the least pleasant places on the planet. It is clear to me that he is doing the work for a greater propose then getting a free trip. I also did not realize the level of his ego; it could possibly be the most unattractive character trait that came through in the book. Many times I was thinking to my self that Carter really did not have the status to be demanding from the current Presidents all the information and private briefings that he asks for and receives. We can all see that he does help, but the flip side of the issue is that some times he probably can cause extra difficulty for the current administration. A case in point would have been the Gulf War. I found the descriptions of his interacting with the Presidents after him to be the most interesting part of the book. Overall this was an interesting and insightful book. I did not realize that Carter was involved in so many good projects. My only complaint is that I found the non-political stuff less interesting, but it was needed to give a full picture of the man. If you have an interest in Jimmy Carter or just global politics in the last 20 years then you will probably enjoy this book.
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Summary: The Carter Presidency through the prism of time
Review: Not only has Jimmy Carter accomplished prodigiously since he was president, but his acts and deeds, and that of his partner Rosalynn, reflect a different view of his acts and deeds as president. We did not know him well as he appeared from out of nowhere as a one term Georgia governor to become president, and we easily and readily attributed acts to the usual political acts of the usual politician who occupies the office of president. We now know he was not a usual politician, but a man of integrity and character and values who reflected the best of the values and character of the American people. Doug Brinkley's book reflects well much of the details of the past past twenty years, although not the most recent. Bless Carter's energy and his commitment to cut against the grain and speak the essential truths of his mind, guided by the strongest of values and his deep character.
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Summary: An Incredible Journey
Review: One of the most important themes that the reader discovers in this book is that Mr. Carter sincerely believes in what he does. You will find that some of his actions made him unpopular with the presidents who succeeded him, but that never deterred him from pressing on. Above all else, you learn of the sincerity of the man, his undying determination to make the world a better place, a safer place, a healthier place. Mr. Brinkley's research is thought out, and his writing is easy to understand. I found some of the chapters to be a little confusing in their organization, and would have preferred more chapters...with less material covered in them. But that is a small criticism that should not prevent you from adding this book to your political/historical bibliography.
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