The Education of an Idealist is a memoir by Samantha Power, the former US Ambassador to the United Nations. The book chronicles her journey from a young idealistic journalist covering the war in Bosnia to becoming a leading voice in international diplomacy and advocacy for human rights. Power shares her experiences working”The Education of an Idealist” is a memoir written by Samantha Power about her journey from a struggling Irish immigrant to a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, human rights advocate, and US Ambassador to the United Nations. The book provides a detailed account of Power’s formative years, her education at Yale, her work as a war correspondent, and her involvement in some of the world’s most catastrophic conflict zones, including Bosnia, Rwanda, and Syria.
Power also shares her views on America’s role in promoting democracy and human rights abroad and provides insights into her experiences working for President Obama’s administration. Additionally, the book offers an honest reflection on the challenges of balancing personal and professional responsibilities, and the value of listening, diplomacy, and empathy in effective leadership. Overall, “The Education of an Idealist” is a compelling story of one woman’s journey to make a difference in the world.
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The Education of an Idealist
- A Memoir
- Narrated by: Samantha Power
In her memoir, Power offers an urgent response to the question “What can one person do?” and a call for a clearer eye, a kinder heart, and a more open and civil hand in our politics and daily lives. The Education of an Idealist traces Power’s distinctly American journey from immigrant to war correspondent to presidential Cabinet official. In 2005, her critiques of US foreign policy caught the eye of newly elected senator Barack Obama, who invited her to work with him on Capitol Hill and then on his presidential campaign. After Obama was elected president, Power went from being an activist outsider to a government insider, navigating the halls of power while trying to put her ideals into practice. She served for four years as Obama’s human rights adviser, and in 2013, he named her US Ambassador to the United Nations, the youngest American to assume the role.
Power transports us from her childhood in Dublin to the streets of war-torn Bosnia to the White House Situation Room and the world of high-stakes diplomacy. Humorous and deeply honest, The Education of an Idealist lays bare the searing battles and defining moments of her life and shows how she juggled the demands of a 24/7 national security job with the challenge of raising two young children. Along the way, she illuminates the intricacies of politics and geopolitics, reminding us how the United States can lead in the world, and why we each have the opportunity to advance the cause of human dignity. Power’s memoir is an unforgettable account of the power of idealism and of one person’s fierce determination to make a difference.
“This is a wonderful book…. The interweaving of Power’s personal story, family story, diplomatic history and moral arguments is executed seamlessly and with unblinking honesty.” (Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times Book Review)
“Honest, personal, revealing…about the development of a young woman’s inner strength and self-knowledge.” (Colm Tóibín, author of Brooklyn and Nora Webster)
I wish I could refrain from flatter but this book is simply extraordinary! A rare insight into the world of US and global politics, as well as personal life of a brilliant woman, presented in elegant and exquisite language.
