Sharing Good Times

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: An amazing book by an amazing man. Discount the last reviewer. If he did read it, it must have been over his head, especially since he gives five star reviews to Prince albums. Nobody likes a hater, especially a nerdy loner with no taste. Jimmy Carter is an amazing man and we could all do well by learning something from him, myself and haters included.

Rating:
Summary: Fun with the Family Carter
Review: Former President Jimmy Carter's latest book is in many ways and addendum to some of his earlier works and it includes many stories that will be found in those previous works. In this book however, Carter adds to and builds on those previous stories and in a few cases adds details that he probably left out of his earlier books on purpose. President Carter may seem like an austere and serious individual but as one follows his adventures in this book his lighthearted and fun-loving side becomes obvious. In many instances I was reminded of the perpetual adolescence of Teddy Roosevelt.

In this book the former President chronicles many of the, "Good Times" in his life. He writes of vacations, side excursions to business trips, and his numerous hobbies. It seems that even on the most serious trips that President Carter makes for the Carter Center he takes at least some time for his hobby of bird watching. This is an addictive hobby that I share with Mr. Carter and can fully relate to his excitement when first spotting a new species. My wife often notes that around our house the birds will always have food whether we do or not.

The real story behind these tales of adventure however is the story of how the former President learned to fully include his family and friends in his adventures. Most Southern men who grew up in the pre World War II South have the common trait of being somewhat aloof. There is no doubt that these men love their families but they have a very hard time expressing or sharing that love. My father was born about ten years before President Carter and shared this same problem with him. I have found that sometimes I even have a little problem in this area and from both my own experience and my experiences with my father I can relate very well with Jimmy Carter's struggle. I have learned, as has Mr. Carter, that shared fun is the best kind of fun and I applaud the former President for the open way he has addressed this problem in this book.

Despite the serious nature of this book's main plot, this book is a very fun read. The more Mr. Carter writes the better he is at it and this may be his must enjoyable book yet. The stories are generally about activities that almost everyone can relate to right down to late night 'coon hunts. I once visited President Carter's church and watched as he showed off the TV stand he had made for the church. He talks about his woodworking in this book and admits that is one of the hobbies he enjoys pursuing alone. He does enjoy sharing the fruit of his labor with others though and I think he was as proud of that TV stand as he is of the Camp David Accords. Thankfully he also shares his private hobby of writing with the rest of us and he can be just as proud of this book as he is of that TV stand.

Rating:
Summary: Bad book by a bad president
Review: In this book the former President chronicles many of the, "Good Times" in his life.

I am sure he had many at the expense of the US taxpayers.

But Jimmy Carter should focus on the bad times of the lives that he has ruined. He should focus on the enemies of democracy that he has long supported.

This is a poorly written book by one of the worst presidents ever.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. President thanks for Sharing Good Times
Review: Sharing Good Times by President Jimmy Carter

President Carter has written another excellent book, this one is his 19th. I think that this book is unique in that he touches on and vividly describes his thoughts and feelings on very personal and private topics. He admits that he had difficulties sharing problems and tribulations early on in his life. He talks frankly of how he has made such a conscious effort to involve his wife and other family and friends in his affairs and he describes how beautifully this has paid off for him. In his first campaign, for example, he didn't even discuss this life changing decision with her until he was getting dressed to register as a candidate on his 38th birthday. Now he and his wife Rosalynn are such equal partners that this early beginning seems so unreal. I believe that this book will have a similar positive effect on historians and casual President Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter enthusiasts, as did his well-known book An Hour Before Daylight.
He provides the reader with an inside view of major personal events of his life. It begins with his early life growing up in a small Georgia town of Plains, Georgia, and continues to write of events up through August of 2004. This book gives his unique perspective of life before, during, and after his presidency. We are treated with wonderful stories throughout the book on many topics such as baseball, Navy life, traveling with his family, campaigns, sporting activities, White House vacations, and private hobbies. He has a few humorous stories concerning his eleven grandchildren, which are just delightful.
Most importantly, President Carter opens up about topics, which are dear to his and his wonderful wife's hearts; serving others. He provides insight of some of his volunteer work and he also writes of some of his activities at his real life's passion, the Carter Center. This modest man really glows throughout this book and I am very happy to see that he has allowed us to learn more about his current work at the Carter Center as he strives to "wage peace, fight disease and build hope", throughout the world.
Mr. President, thanks for "sharing" this great book with us.
Ricardo A. Fernandez
Orland Park, Illinois