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Diplomats and Diplomacy
Pot Shards: Fragments of a Life Lived in CIA, the White House, and the Two Koreas
Pot Shards is a memoir, based on the author's memorable experiences. He served as a CIA's agent on the island of Saipan, during ten years in Japan, a tour in Burma, four years tied up in the Vietnam War, two tours in Korea, the second time as ambassador, and ten years in the White House, where he worked for Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. Bush.
- GenresBiography
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 19, 2014
ITM. Congratulatuons on a sucsessful career. Enjoyed reading a clear eyed perspective of North Korea. This story will make a great gift for a young person.
January 3, 2015
As part of the "sacred texts" of the No Agenda Show, uncle Don's book is a must read.
August 24, 2015
Incredibly interesting set of tales!
In the morning!
I really enjoyed this book. Have to admit I wasn't sure I would, but it turned out to be enjoyable and interesting.
The short tales of various moments of the authors life were very well told. Not bogged down by too much detail, you get a satisfying impression of each moment and move on to the next.
There was a lot of stuff I wouldn't have expected, and much of the insight provided led to my own re-examining of some issues, politically or regarding historical understanding. I greatly appreciated finding some intriguing insider information on certain historical moments we don't always hear enough about.
I am so glad to have had this book recommended to me by the insightful minds of the No Agenda Show!
This was an amazing read, had a hard time putting it down, would highly recommend this to anyone.
In the morning!
I really enjoyed this book. Have to admit I wasn't sure I would, but it turned out to be enjoyable and interesting.
The short tales of various moments of the authors life were very well told. Not bogged down by too much detail, you get a satisfying impression of each moment and move on to the next.
There was a lot of stuff I wouldn't have expected, and much of the insight provided led to my own re-examining of some issues, politically or regarding historical understanding. I greatly appreciated finding some intriguing insider information on certain historical moments we don't always hear enough about.
I am so glad to have had this book recommended to me by the insightful minds of the No Agenda Show!
This was an amazing read, had a hard time putting it down, would highly recommend this to anyone.
September 12, 2015
Fantastic book.
The jumping around in timeline can be a bit odd, at points, but each section is trying to revolve around a central topic, so it works. Donald Gregg uses his life experience in the CIA, Presidential Advisor, and Ambassador to Korea to paint a refreshing look on diplomacy. Sometimes all the other person wants is a little respect, but we demonize them for political clout ruining progress.
Well worth a read.
The jumping around in timeline can be a bit odd, at points, but each section is trying to revolve around a central topic, so it works. Donald Gregg uses his life experience in the CIA, Presidential Advisor, and Ambassador to Korea to paint a refreshing look on diplomacy. Sometimes all the other person wants is a little respect, but we demonize them for political clout ruining progress.
Well worth a read.
September 2, 2017
ITM! Great book from Uncle Don. Couldn't put it down.
October 9, 2016
An extraordinary life -- for a reason
Pot Shards, Fragments of a Life Lived in the CIA, the White House, and the Two Koreas, by Donald P. Gregg, is an autobiography which is impressive in scope, and hard to put down.
Like the pot shards of the title, the author has fashioned a mosaic of his life. Amazingly, despite the fact that his life is so vibrant and full, he is able to stay on course and keep the reader fascinated from the beginning to where he leaves off. He is still busy, going strong, and living a happy life with his wife and family.
The book is basically broken down into Part One: his early life, which encompasses his graduation cum laude from Williams. This reviewer believes that his family and his professor of philosophy at Williams imbued him with the depth to break away from the pack and think for himself, always. Every single time he acts, later in his life, he does the ethical thing.
Part Two: titled Intelligence, spans a massive and fascinating time during which he was in Japan. It also covers JFK and Vietnam, the Pike Committee, and the Carter White House.
During Part Three he has moved into the White House. He discusses his years with Reagan and Bush, particularly his six and a half years as Vice President Bush's national security advisor. He traveled with him to 65 different countries during this time, and expresses his high regard for Bush's diplomacy and brilliance. However, the author has no party allegiance. He simply has an amazing sense of what is right and what is wrong and how to get things done.
Part Four discusses his Diplomacy and Attendant Travels. During this period, he served as Ambassador in Seoul.
This part also offers an eye opening meeting he had with Richard Nixon, who was then living in New York, a very clear commentary on Iran-Contra, a discussion of the "October Surprise", and an overview of what it meant.
During Part Six he writes of his attempt to assist the street gangs in California by promoting and exchange program Korean kids. He discusses his love of jazz.
Sadly, he also brings his crushing disillusionment with Goldman Sachs. He was hired by them to serve in an administrative position due to his vast experience in Asia. He speaks of how he chose to dump his stock after he learned the truth about the company.
Although this book can be harsh and is always frank, it is frequently funny as well. Ambassador Gregg has a wonderful way with words and loves the world. Through the photos you see of him and his family, and the thoughts of the author, you learn a lot.
I especially liked the ending, where he in effect goes back to his beginnings as a child. He and also quotes he favorite Williams' philosophy professor, J.W. Miller:
"Man does not have a nature. He has a history, for which he is responsible.
Cut behind appearance to reality,
Never treat a human being like an object.
Civility does not exist in the abstract; it comes as part of a shared human endeavor."
This book is recommended by this reviewer for reading by anyone who is interested in history, humility and the distant and recent past.
Also recommended as a teaching tool for classes in political science.
May 10, 2020
With the caveat that I know the author, I thought this was a great book. Along with really interesting anecdotes, it provides an inside look at the evolution of intelligence policy and execution in Asia/Southeast Asia from the Vietnam War through the Obama administration. A fascinating read!
October 14, 2015
Informative read
It was an entertaining and informative read. At times a few comments to the side disrupt the narrative, but few and far between. A must read to gain a rare insight into Korea with the added bonus of a few gems about The Vietnam war.
It was an entertaining and informative read. At times a few comments to the side disrupt the narrative, but few and far between. A must read to gain a rare insight into Korea with the added bonus of a few gems about The Vietnam war.
February 3, 2016
Great book. A very interesting look into Korea.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews