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Tough Love
Recalling pivotal moments from her dynamic career on the front lines of American diplomacy and foreign policy, Susan E. Rice—National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations—delivers an inspiring account of a life in service to family and country.
Although you may think you know Susan Rice—whose name became synonymous with Benghazi following her Sunday news show appearances after the deadly 2012 terrorist attacks in Libya—in Tough Love, the author reveals the truth of her surprising story with unflinching honesty. Often mischaracterized by political opponents, Rice emerges as neither a villain nor victim, but a strong, compassionate leader.
Mother, wife, scholar, diplomat, and fierce champion of American interests and values, Rice connects the personal and the professional. Taught early, with tough love, how to compete and excel as an African American woman in settings where people of color are few, Susan shares wisdom learned along the way.
Laying bare the family struggles that shaped her early life in Washington, D.C., she also examines the ancestral legacies that influenced her. Rice’s elders—immigrants on one side and descendants of slaves on the other—had high expectations that each generation would rise. And rise they did, but not without paying it forward—in uniform and in the pulpit, as educators, community leaders, and public servants.
Susan too rose rapidly. She served throughout the Clinton administration, becoming one of the nation’s youngest assistant secretaries of state and, later, one of President Obama’s most trusted advisors.
Rice provides an insider’s account of some of the most complex issues confronting the United States over three decades, ranging from “Black Hawk Down” in Somalia to the genocide in Rwanda and the East Africa embassy bombings in the late 1990s, to Libya, Syria, a secret channel to Iran, the Ebola epidemic, and the opening to Cuba during the Obama years. With unmatched insight and characteristic bluntness, she reveals previously untold stories behind recent national security challenges, including confrontations with Russia and China, the war against ISIS, the struggle to contain the fallout from Edward Snowden’s leaks, the U.S. response to Russian interference in the 2016 election, and the surreal transition to the Trump administration.
Intimate, sometimes humorous, but always candid, Tough Love culminates with an appeal to the American public to bridge our dangerous domestic divides in order to preserve our democracy and sustain our global leadership.
Although you may think you know Susan Rice—whose name became synonymous with Benghazi following her Sunday news show appearances after the deadly 2012 terrorist attacks in Libya—in Tough Love, the author reveals the truth of her surprising story with unflinching honesty. Often mischaracterized by political opponents, Rice emerges as neither a villain nor victim, but a strong, compassionate leader.
Mother, wife, scholar, diplomat, and fierce champion of American interests and values, Rice connects the personal and the professional. Taught early, with tough love, how to compete and excel as an African American woman in settings where people of color are few, Susan shares wisdom learned along the way.
Laying bare the family struggles that shaped her early life in Washington, D.C., she also examines the ancestral legacies that influenced her. Rice’s elders—immigrants on one side and descendants of slaves on the other—had high expectations that each generation would rise. And rise they did, but not without paying it forward—in uniform and in the pulpit, as educators, community leaders, and public servants.
Susan too rose rapidly. She served throughout the Clinton administration, becoming one of the nation’s youngest assistant secretaries of state and, later, one of President Obama’s most trusted advisors.
Rice provides an insider’s account of some of the most complex issues confronting the United States over three decades, ranging from “Black Hawk Down” in Somalia to the genocide in Rwanda and the East Africa embassy bombings in the late 1990s, to Libya, Syria, a secret channel to Iran, the Ebola epidemic, and the opening to Cuba during the Obama years. With unmatched insight and characteristic bluntness, she reveals previously untold stories behind recent national security challenges, including confrontations with Russia and China, the war against ISIS, the struggle to contain the fallout from Edward Snowden’s leaks, the U.S. response to Russian interference in the 2016 election, and the surreal transition to the Trump administration.
Intimate, sometimes humorous, but always candid, Tough Love culminates with an appeal to the American public to bridge our dangerous domestic divides in order to preserve our democracy and sustain our global leadership.
496 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2019
930 people are currently reading
5806 people want to read
About the author
Susan Rice
2 books61 followersAmbassador Susan E. Rice is currently Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow at the School of International Service at American University, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. She serves on the board of Netflix and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and previously served on several nonprofit boards, including the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Rice earned her master’s degree and doctorate in International Relations from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar, and her B.A. from Stanford University. A native of Washington, D.C., and graduate of the National Cathedral School for Girls, she is married to Ian Cameron; they have two children. Rice is an avid tennis player and long-retired basketball player.
(source: Simon & Schuster)
Rice earned her master’s degree and doctorate in International Relations from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar, and her B.A. from Stanford University. A native of Washington, D.C., and graduate of the National Cathedral School for Girls, she is married to Ian Cameron; they have two children. Rice is an avid tennis player and long-retired basketball player.
(source: Simon & Schuster)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
July 8, 2020
Audiobook... Read by Susan Rice
This was an absolutely terrific audiobook.
I enjoyed listening to Susan Rice read her autobiography from beginning to end.
Kudos to the person who wrote the blurb. It’s perfect!!
“Mother, wife, scholar, diplomat, and fierce champion of American interests and values, Rice connects the personal and professional”
Susan did not shy away from sharing how painful aspects of her family life were... or her own failures.
A few times - I thought- “wow, I hope being ‘too’ honest won’t jeopardize her political career”.
Her parents were both academics- scholarly - driven to achieve. They taught their kids to do the same. Both Susan and her brother knew they were loved....
But....
the heavy fighting between the parents created a lot of stress and tension in their house.
Add a long drawn out painful divorce custody battle - later two households - Susan survived some tough years: tough love!
My impression of Susan Rice is that she has - not only a brilliant mind-not only dedicated to her beliefs - to serving our country -
but she also has an exceptional sixth sense.
Like the master chess player who can see many steps ahead - Rice sees solutions to complex issues; knowing when to move forward - and when to hold back.
Ambassador to the United Nations during Obama‘s first term—
she was the National SecurityAdvisor during his second term.
Prior to that she was a diplomat in charge of part of Africa
Rice talked about the challenges of being African American female while climbing the ranks in a white man’s world.
She attended Stanford University and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University. she has a masters and doctorate in international relations.
Born in Washington D. C.
If picked as Biden’s running mate as Vice President - I’d be happy.
Either way.....
This was one of my favorite ‘politically/ personal life stories’, that I’ve listen to.
Well written- entertaining-
engaging - informative,
and inspiring.
This was an absolutely terrific audiobook.
I enjoyed listening to Susan Rice read her autobiography from beginning to end.
Kudos to the person who wrote the blurb. It’s perfect!!
“Mother, wife, scholar, diplomat, and fierce champion of American interests and values, Rice connects the personal and professional”
Susan did not shy away from sharing how painful aspects of her family life were... or her own failures.
A few times - I thought- “wow, I hope being ‘too’ honest won’t jeopardize her political career”.
Her parents were both academics- scholarly - driven to achieve. They taught their kids to do the same. Both Susan and her brother knew they were loved....
But....
the heavy fighting between the parents created a lot of stress and tension in their house.
Add a long drawn out painful divorce custody battle - later two households - Susan survived some tough years: tough love!
My impression of Susan Rice is that she has - not only a brilliant mind-not only dedicated to her beliefs - to serving our country -
but she also has an exceptional sixth sense.
Like the master chess player who can see many steps ahead - Rice sees solutions to complex issues; knowing when to move forward - and when to hold back.
Ambassador to the United Nations during Obama‘s first term—
she was the National SecurityAdvisor during his second term.
Prior to that she was a diplomat in charge of part of Africa
Rice talked about the challenges of being African American female while climbing the ranks in a white man’s world.
She attended Stanford University and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University. she has a masters and doctorate in international relations.
Born in Washington D. C.
If picked as Biden’s running mate as Vice President - I’d be happy.
Either way.....
This was one of my favorite ‘politically/ personal life stories’, that I’ve listen to.
Well written- entertaining-
engaging - informative,
and inspiring.
November 11, 2019
Susan Rice was the Ambassador to the United Nations during Obama’s first term. She was the National Security Advisor during the second term. Prior to that she was a career State Department diplomat in charge of part of Africa.
The book is well written and researched. This is Rice’s memoir of her life to-date. She tells of the problems of being an African-American female attempting to excel in a white man’s world. Rice attended Stanford University. She won a Rhodes Scholarship and graduated from Oxford University with a master’s and doctorate in International Relations. She was born and raised in Washington, D. C. Rice tells of her personal and professional life. It is great to read about an ultra-high achiever. I enjoyed reading the interesting memoir. The book could have been a bit shorter, but it is a highly readable.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twenty-two hours and nineteen minutes. Susan Rice does a good job narrating her own book.
The book is well written and researched. This is Rice’s memoir of her life to-date. She tells of the problems of being an African-American female attempting to excel in a white man’s world. Rice attended Stanford University. She won a Rhodes Scholarship and graduated from Oxford University with a master’s and doctorate in International Relations. She was born and raised in Washington, D. C. Rice tells of her personal and professional life. It is great to read about an ultra-high achiever. I enjoyed reading the interesting memoir. The book could have been a bit shorter, but it is a highly readable.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twenty-two hours and nineteen minutes. Susan Rice does a good job narrating her own book.
January 3, 2021
Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For was an interesting and well-written memoir by Susan Rice. As the title suggests, Susan Rice is not afraid of kicking up a little dust; a trait she often attributes to her mother's Jamaican roots. Although she worked for the Clinton administration rising rapidly and becoming one of the youngest assistant secretaries of state, it was as Barack Obama's National Security Advisor and as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, that she was thrust onto the international stage of American diplomacy and foreign policy, most notably in the controversy surrounding Benghazi. This was an unflinching and honest tale of her family struggles and difficulties while growing up in Washington, D.C. A woman of color with her lineage reaching back to the time of slavery as well as her predecessors who immigrated from the Caribbean, this is a powerful story. In her own words, Ms. Rice hoped that in the telling of her story, others would find inspiration and empowerment. Throughout this book, she stresses "the importance of always doing your best; picking yourself up and dusting yourself off; and driving down the court to the bucket-all while maintaining grace under fire." Although I have long been an ardent admirer of Susan Rice, I came away from this book with a profound respect for her deeply held values and ideals, not only in her personal life but in her professional life and her hopes for this country. Ms. Rice is most certainly a beautiful example "maintaining grace under fire." Brava!
"We each have agency and responsibility. We can't be passive bystanders, victims, or vigilantes. We must each commit to unify and to heal. We must fear none, especially our fellow Americans."
"I still believe that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice, but nobody is going to do the hard bending, if not you and me. It's our choice, and I have always believed we must choose each other."
"Arguing with a firm command of the facts, combined with dead certainty, whether feigned or real, I would discover, was an effective means of besting your opponent."
"Trump's election felt like a stinging rebuke of all we believed in--unity, equality, dignity, honesty, hope, and progress. It presaged the wholesale unraveling of the accomplishments we had worked hardest to achieve and that would have the most lasting, positive impact on America and the world."
"The key questions that remain are whether our democratic institutions can withstand the sustained assault, and whether the American people will hold leaders accountable at the ballot box for placing party over country. I believe the answers to both questions is yes, but only if Americans fully understand what's at stake."
"We each have agency and responsibility. We can't be passive bystanders, victims, or vigilantes. We must each commit to unify and to heal. We must fear none, especially our fellow Americans."
"I still believe that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice, but nobody is going to do the hard bending, if not you and me. It's our choice, and I have always believed we must choose each other."
"Arguing with a firm command of the facts, combined with dead certainty, whether feigned or real, I would discover, was an effective means of besting your opponent."
"Trump's election felt like a stinging rebuke of all we believed in--unity, equality, dignity, honesty, hope, and progress. It presaged the wholesale unraveling of the accomplishments we had worked hardest to achieve and that would have the most lasting, positive impact on America and the world."
"The key questions that remain are whether our democratic institutions can withstand the sustained assault, and whether the American people will hold leaders accountable at the ballot box for placing party over country. I believe the answers to both questions is yes, but only if Americans fully understand what's at stake."
February 3, 2020
I started this book in October, but I put it aside because it wasn't the right time to read it. Too much was going on and I couldn't give the book focus the way I wanted to. Fast forward to January and I decided to make the intelligent decision to download the audiobook and give it a listen. This format worked much better.
I have loved politics and history for a very long time. My dream would be to work in the White House or be a US Senator, but in listening to Susan Rice I remembered I'm not nearly intelligent enough to be good for those jobs. (Similarly, this is how I remembered feeling while watching the West Wing.) I am a complete slouch compared to her. She is a truly awe-inspiring and it comes at no surprise given the house she was raised in. Her family is a true example of the American Dream and that you can put your mind to anything as long as you're willing to put in the work and are given an opportunity.
I enjoyed her experiences while working in the Obama Administration the most and found life as the UN Ambassador and later National Security Advisor fascinating. Based on everything else I have ever read about working with and for Barack Obama, I could only imagine what a pleasure it was to work in that administration. As much as I enjoyed listening to all aspects of her professional career, it also made me profoundly sad about what we are enduring today. The care and preparation in both the Clinton and Obama administrations just leaves me shaking my head at the absence of that today.
But back to the book....while I could rave about this book forever, I did find how long it was start to wear me down a little. I don't see how she could have cut anything out, but I was ready for this book to end when it did. However, I will still give it 5 stars for the amount of time that went into writing it and the research she did on her own family as well as introspection Ms. Rice provided on herself and her conduct throughout every aspect of her life. To be this honest with the reader about her shortcomings and mistakes must have been very challenging.
In conclusion, she leaves us with hope on how we can work together to bridge the political divide, but I'm afraid I have trouble feeling the same. Although I admit being discouraged, I will try my hardest to live by her example of doing the things I can to help make our country better.
Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster and Susan Rice for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 02/03/2020
Publication Date: 10/08/2019
I have loved politics and history for a very long time. My dream would be to work in the White House or be a US Senator, but in listening to Susan Rice I remembered I'm not nearly intelligent enough to be good for those jobs. (Similarly, this is how I remembered feeling while watching the West Wing.) I am a complete slouch compared to her. She is a truly awe-inspiring and it comes at no surprise given the house she was raised in. Her family is a true example of the American Dream and that you can put your mind to anything as long as you're willing to put in the work and are given an opportunity.
I enjoyed her experiences while working in the Obama Administration the most and found life as the UN Ambassador and later National Security Advisor fascinating. Based on everything else I have ever read about working with and for Barack Obama, I could only imagine what a pleasure it was to work in that administration. As much as I enjoyed listening to all aspects of her professional career, it also made me profoundly sad about what we are enduring today. The care and preparation in both the Clinton and Obama administrations just leaves me shaking my head at the absence of that today.
But back to the book....while I could rave about this book forever, I did find how long it was start to wear me down a little. I don't see how she could have cut anything out, but I was ready for this book to end when it did. However, I will still give it 5 stars for the amount of time that went into writing it and the research she did on her own family as well as introspection Ms. Rice provided on herself and her conduct throughout every aspect of her life. To be this honest with the reader about her shortcomings and mistakes must have been very challenging.
In conclusion, she leaves us with hope on how we can work together to bridge the political divide, but I'm afraid I have trouble feeling the same. Although I admit being discouraged, I will try my hardest to live by her example of doing the things I can to help make our country better.
Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster and Susan Rice for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 02/03/2020
Publication Date: 10/08/2019
September 22, 2025
I'm going to rave about this book, but I'll get my one complaint out first. I think it could have been edited better, because there were a lot of details at certain points that I thought could have been cut out. The audiobook was SO LONG, and eventually I had to listen to it at a faster speed than I normally would to get through it--and it still took me over a month to listen to it. I rated this 4 stars at first, but after I realized how many good things I have to say about it, I'm bumping it up to 5. I still think it would have been a smoother read if it was a bit shorter, but my feelings are overwhelmingly positive.
However, overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book if you are interested in the workings of government. Susan Rice is such an impressive person. She's smart, accomplished, tough, direct, and committed to her values. She'd also a team player who is deeply loyal to both get president and her team. She does talk about the tough love she herself has received--particularly a candid talk she received as Assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton administration, about how her leadership style was turning off members of her team, and the way she handled criticism and made changes. While I can easily imagine being intimidated by working for her, the way she reflected and dealt with the situation made me admire her all the more.
I really loved hearing about her career and her experiences in the Clinton and Obama administrations. And I have to say, I hope she'll be in at least one more--she's my dream VP pick for the 2020 election, or at least for my preferred candidate. She'd also be a fantastic Secretary of State.
This book begins with a lot of detail about Rice's childhood and early life, interspersed with tidbits of her time with Obama. Later it proceeds more linearly through her time in the Obama and Clinton administrations. There is a lot of information about world events during those times, as well as plenty of details about internal processes and negotiations she was involved in. There are also a few juicy stories about things that happened in the White House. To me, this was mostly really fascinating. As a political junkie, I loved hearing about these internal workings of politics.
Rice's telling of her time as National Security Advisor was especially engrossing, but also increased my already great respect and admiration for President Obama, who Rice portrays as a tough, thoughtful, kind, loyal, and pragmatic leader. Her descriptions of interactions with him were one of my favorite parts of this book.
Another one of the most fascinating parts of the book was how Rice became a target of right-wing media after the Benghazi attacks. As Ambassador to the U.N., she had no direct involvement, but because she happened to be the person sent to deliver the Intelligence Community talking points on the Sunday shows, she was demonized and smeared by Republicans and Fox News. The way Obama defended her while all this was going on made me love him all the more, and made it clear why he earned the loyalty of his staff.
Hearing about such superstars in government, who have given so much to our country, and who have done so much important work that many of us never even know about, makes me even more despondent about all we are losing during the current administration. I hope we still have enough non-partisan career civil servants to prop us up until we have an administration who actually cares about American ideals, but it's easy to lose hope. Rice does end on a note of optimism and hope for America's future, and if she can believe it, it gives me hope as well. I truly hope we see Susan Rice in government again, and I enthusiastically recommend this book to pretty much everyone.
*Used for PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge prompt "A book recommended by a celebrity you admire." (Recommended by President Obama!)
However, overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book if you are interested in the workings of government. Susan Rice is such an impressive person. She's smart, accomplished, tough, direct, and committed to her values. She'd also a team player who is deeply loyal to both get president and her team. She does talk about the tough love she herself has received--particularly a candid talk she received as Assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton administration, about how her leadership style was turning off members of her team, and the way she handled criticism and made changes. While I can easily imagine being intimidated by working for her, the way she reflected and dealt with the situation made me admire her all the more.
I really loved hearing about her career and her experiences in the Clinton and Obama administrations. And I have to say, I hope she'll be in at least one more--she's my dream VP pick for the 2020 election, or at least for my preferred candidate. She'd also be a fantastic Secretary of State.
This book begins with a lot of detail about Rice's childhood and early life, interspersed with tidbits of her time with Obama. Later it proceeds more linearly through her time in the Obama and Clinton administrations. There is a lot of information about world events during those times, as well as plenty of details about internal processes and negotiations she was involved in. There are also a few juicy stories about things that happened in the White House. To me, this was mostly really fascinating. As a political junkie, I loved hearing about these internal workings of politics.
Rice's telling of her time as National Security Advisor was especially engrossing, but also increased my already great respect and admiration for President Obama, who Rice portrays as a tough, thoughtful, kind, loyal, and pragmatic leader. Her descriptions of interactions with him were one of my favorite parts of this book.
Another one of the most fascinating parts of the book was how Rice became a target of right-wing media after the Benghazi attacks. As Ambassador to the U.N., she had no direct involvement, but because she happened to be the person sent to deliver the Intelligence Community talking points on the Sunday shows, she was demonized and smeared by Republicans and Fox News. The way Obama defended her while all this was going on made me love him all the more, and made it clear why he earned the loyalty of his staff.
Hearing about such superstars in government, who have given so much to our country, and who have done so much important work that many of us never even know about, makes me even more despondent about all we are losing during the current administration. I hope we still have enough non-partisan career civil servants to prop us up until we have an administration who actually cares about American ideals, but it's easy to lose hope. Rice does end on a note of optimism and hope for America's future, and if she can believe it, it gives me hope as well. I truly hope we see Susan Rice in government again, and I enthusiastically recommend this book to pretty much everyone.
*Used for PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge prompt "A book recommended by a celebrity you admire." (Recommended by President Obama!)
October 8, 2019
I have read many autobiographies through the years. There were some that I truly enjoyed reading, and in all honesty, I will admit there were a few that I just could not get into and never finished reading. However, I have never read one that completely captured my attention throughout the entire book...an autobiography that pulled me in from the opening prologue and held my attention to the point that I read the entire book in one sitting. That all changed when I read Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For by Susan Rice.
The prologue takes place during the last few hours of the Obama administration, and is perfectly titled Farewell to the Moral Universe. Sadly, that title still fits today's divided political climate. She relays her skepticism on that day, as well as her hope that the new administration will be successful. She talks about the sadness she feels, as well as looking forward to the next chapter in her life.
Of course, there are some people that will never give this book a chance, and that is truly unfortunate. This book discusses politics, but the overall substance of this autobiography is so much more than just politics. Many people only know who Susan Rice is due to her appearance on the Sunday news shows back in 2012 regarding Benghazi, and her role within the Obama administration...they do not know about the journey she went through to get to there. Some people might be surprised to learn that in addition to her B.A, from Stanford University, she was a Rhodes Scholar and received her master's degree and doctorate from Oxford University. In this book, Susan Rice highlights in great detail how she became the woman she is today, and the important role her family played throughout her life.
Her family history is truly fascinating...one side descendants of slaves...one side immigrants...but all deeply devoted to family and all striving to become the best they can possibly be. At a time when race could hold a person of color back, her family overcame the obstacles and used their drive and determination to excel. She tells their stories with an openness that truly brings her intriguing family history to life. She is brutally honest as she relays their triumphs as well as their struggles, and how tough love was taught early on in all of their lives.
Susan covers just about every aspect of her life, and there is no hesitation to discuss her achievements as well as her failures. She beautifully weaves together every thread of her life, and in the end, gives the reader a captivating look into her personal life as well as her political life. Tough Love is definitely an autobiography worth reading!
I would like to thank Susan Rice, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For. My views are my own, and are in no way influenced by anyone else.
The prologue takes place during the last few hours of the Obama administration, and is perfectly titled Farewell to the Moral Universe. Sadly, that title still fits today's divided political climate. She relays her skepticism on that day, as well as her hope that the new administration will be successful. She talks about the sadness she feels, as well as looking forward to the next chapter in her life.
Of course, there are some people that will never give this book a chance, and that is truly unfortunate. This book discusses politics, but the overall substance of this autobiography is so much more than just politics. Many people only know who Susan Rice is due to her appearance on the Sunday news shows back in 2012 regarding Benghazi, and her role within the Obama administration...they do not know about the journey she went through to get to there. Some people might be surprised to learn that in addition to her B.A, from Stanford University, she was a Rhodes Scholar and received her master's degree and doctorate from Oxford University. In this book, Susan Rice highlights in great detail how she became the woman she is today, and the important role her family played throughout her life.
Her family history is truly fascinating...one side descendants of slaves...one side immigrants...but all deeply devoted to family and all striving to become the best they can possibly be. At a time when race could hold a person of color back, her family overcame the obstacles and used their drive and determination to excel. She tells their stories with an openness that truly brings her intriguing family history to life. She is brutally honest as she relays their triumphs as well as their struggles, and how tough love was taught early on in all of their lives.
Susan covers just about every aspect of her life, and there is no hesitation to discuss her achievements as well as her failures. She beautifully weaves together every thread of her life, and in the end, gives the reader a captivating look into her personal life as well as her political life. Tough Love is definitely an autobiography worth reading!
I would like to thank Susan Rice, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For. My views are my own, and are in no way influenced by anyone else.
October 9, 2019
I have read many biographies and memoirs about powerful women, but this one really grabbed my attention. Susan Rice is known for appearing on Sunday shows about Benghazi, but this book thoughtfully and powerfully allows the reader to go on the journey with her to that point in history. She is honest and straightforward when explaining why she made the choices she had to. I found this to be a brilliant read and am hoping we hear more from Susan Rice in the future.
August 26, 2020
I have always admired Susan Rice because when she faced fierce undeserved attacks from the right, she responded with cool facts and reason. I picked this book before the vice presidential pick was made and I was hoping she would be our next vice president. I am glad Kamala Harris got the opportunity but Susan Rice would have been great too.
This memoir is lengthy and in depth. I enjoyed her story which is a tale of education and drive. It is also about being a tough capable woman in a man's world. I love too that she has a softer side connected to her role of mother and wife. In fact, my favorite parts of her story were those with her husband and kids and less with her political decisions. This is a very good memoir from a very admirable woman who will represent the United States in some capacity, maybe as Secretary of State, when Joe Biden wins in November.
This memoir is lengthy and in depth. I enjoyed her story which is a tale of education and drive. It is also about being a tough capable woman in a man's world. I love too that she has a softer side connected to her role of mother and wife. In fact, my favorite parts of her story were those with her husband and kids and less with her political decisions. This is a very good memoir from a very admirable woman who will represent the United States in some capacity, maybe as Secretary of State, when Joe Biden wins in November.
January 1, 2020
For me, the most enjoyable parts of this memoir were the personal recollections about her upbringing and her family. The bulk of the memoir, of course, focused on Rice's work during the Obama administration, as US Ambassador to the United Nations and then as National Security Advisor. The biggest take-away is a realization of the extreme complexity of decision-making for any President, especially in the area of foreign policy, as well as the unfortunate ease with which any decision can be misconstrued or used in a political attack. I had not followed Rice's career or known much at all about her before listening to this memoir, and can now offer my appreciation for a strong, intelligent, and dedicated public servant who gave more than twenty years of her life to efforts to protect and strengthen our nation.
Read
June 10, 2021In her book, “Tough Love”, Susan Rice reminds us that through even the greatest personal and professional challenges, the lessons that our families impart on us are often the things we come back to again and again to guide us. Susan has shown a relentless dedication to the pursuit of service throughout her career – something that we can all work to replicate in our own endeavors.
October 26, 2019
A Well-Crafted Memoir
I knew about Susan Rice from her public roles as UN Ambassador and National Security Advisor for President Obama. I knew little else until listening to TOUGH LOVE from beginning to end. Listeners will learn about her childhood, her education at Oxford, her work in politics and much more. I found TOUGH LOVE fascinating and well-done and worthwhile listening.
Rice is transparent about her family and other relationships. For example, you learn why she selected her Secret Service name as point guard (a position she played in college). Also you will learn about her son who led the Republicans at Stanford University. They have robust political discussions at the Rice home and it showed in the pages of TOUGH LOVE. I listened to this book from cover to cover and recommend it.
W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books Straight Talk From the Editor
I knew about Susan Rice from her public roles as UN Ambassador and National Security Advisor for President Obama. I knew little else until listening to TOUGH LOVE from beginning to end. Listeners will learn about her childhood, her education at Oxford, her work in politics and much more. I found TOUGH LOVE fascinating and well-done and worthwhile listening.
Rice is transparent about her family and other relationships. For example, you learn why she selected her Secret Service name as point guard (a position she played in college). Also you will learn about her son who led the Republicans at Stanford University. They have robust political discussions at the Rice home and it showed in the pages of TOUGH LOVE. I listened to this book from cover to cover and recommend it.
W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books Straight Talk From the Editor
September 2, 2020
Smart, informative, incisive, with a kernel of hope and a bittersweet view back to a different time in American diplomacy and international relations.
June 11, 2020
Stanford grad. Oxford Ph.D. Rhodes Scholar. UN Ambassador. National Security Advisor. Dr. Susan Rice's C.V. tells you she is accomplished, but her call sign, POINT GUARD, tells you she is a badass. At 5'3, Dr. Rice is not the person you expect to see on the basketball floor, or in sensitive, international negotiations. I'm sure many have, and continue to, underestimate her at their peril. Her memoir, Tough Love challenges many of the labels that others have assigned to her, and allows Dr. Rice to define herself.
Most of Dr. Rice's life has indeed been privileged. Born to driven, college-educated parents, graduate degrees were the minimum expectation. But as Dr. Rice explains, her life was not exactly the silver spoon existence we think. She describes her childhood, warts and all: as a seven-year old, having to be the referee between fighting parents, dealing with her highly critical mother; and the effect of shuttling between two homes as a weapon used by both parents. As an adult, she has dealt with racism and sexism, and balanced life roles as a mother, a high-ranking government official, and a daughter. She has also come to accept that her son often does not agree with her political values.
Dr. Rice's father gave her a mantra: "Don't take crap from anyone." In following this, she has had to throw some elbows, but to her credit, she also has the humility to ask and to heed the advice of those she respected, even when it was critical. She understood and performed her role as point guard admirably: view the field, call the play, make quick, incisive decisions, but acknowledge that you are not often the scorer.
What I found most enjoyable about Tough Love was Dr. Rice's willingness to honor the people who shaped her, her readiness to admit her faults, her ability openly recognize and correct her failings, and her analysis about how she would do things differently if given the opportunity. It is what makes Tough Love an enjoyable read, and makes me wonder what is next for Susan Rice.
Most of Dr. Rice's life has indeed been privileged. Born to driven, college-educated parents, graduate degrees were the minimum expectation. But as Dr. Rice explains, her life was not exactly the silver spoon existence we think. She describes her childhood, warts and all: as a seven-year old, having to be the referee between fighting parents, dealing with her highly critical mother; and the effect of shuttling between two homes as a weapon used by both parents. As an adult, she has dealt with racism and sexism, and balanced life roles as a mother, a high-ranking government official, and a daughter. She has also come to accept that her son often does not agree with her political values.
Dr. Rice's father gave her a mantra: "Don't take crap from anyone." In following this, she has had to throw some elbows, but to her credit, she also has the humility to ask and to heed the advice of those she respected, even when it was critical. She understood and performed her role as point guard admirably: view the field, call the play, make quick, incisive decisions, but acknowledge that you are not often the scorer.
What I found most enjoyable about Tough Love was Dr. Rice's willingness to honor the people who shaped her, her readiness to admit her faults, her ability openly recognize and correct her failings, and her analysis about how she would do things differently if given the opportunity. It is what makes Tough Love an enjoyable read, and makes me wonder what is next for Susan Rice.
October 25, 2019
Bright, outspoken lady. The book needed a good editor. Way too much extraneous information.
October 22, 2020
First I'd like to say that I have a deep respect and admiration for Susan Rice. She was actually the candidate I was hoping for, that would be selected as Biden's VP choice. Ultimately I felt Biden opted for Kamala because he had to counter the attack ads around him being soft on crime and being anti-police. I know that any job involving foreign service and international diplomacy is as complex as they come and I've long had a passion for this line of work and I've already read Fascism: A Warning by Albright and Susan Power's memoir. It's interesting to compare how similar events have been covered in each, from their individual perspectives.
Now that I've read Tough Love I think my perspective has changed a bit on Rice. It's not really worth speculating how Biden came to his decision but I have to wonder if he was worried a Rice pick would dig up every criticism of the past around Benghazi, or maybe he felt Rice didn't embody the characteristics of a VP given her at times hot headedness and her moments of extreme candor (not afraid to cuss someone out or give them the finger in official meetings).
From beginning to end this book began pretty well, sort of lulled in the middle where my enjoyment of the book waned, but came together eventually in the end with a pretty strong finish that was balanced, informative, and well-written. It's that middle portion that I will discuss that contained most of my grievances.
While Rice openly acknowledges her own character flaws and personal shortcomings she experienced interpersonally with her staff and the constructive criticism she received over the years, this book still often went on the defensive and felt a little too defensive. I get the compulsion to use your memoir as your chance to clear the air and provide clarity around your intentions and what really happened behind closed doors, but the defensive stance was so strong at times, it somewhat diminished this read for me. For every critical moment she went through where she received media attention for failing the American public, she would provide what felt like 15 or so lengthy quotes of praise she received from top leaders who came to her defense. Maybe this is really common and I just hadn't noticed it until now, but it felt unusual. Rather than simply saying, 'despite xyz, person A never wavered in their support, they fully had my back' or describing the action she took with the help of others, etc. No, Rice spends an uncomfortably long amount of time quoting other peoples words of praise during certain situations and then as a cherry on top, she concludes how awkward the praise felt because her praise shouldn't have been the focus of the situation, and yet it was worth being the focus of her retelling in this book. When writing a book I understand it will be necessary to quote but this should be about her perspective and she should largely be speaking for herself, and not sharing lengthy praise under the false premise that she really doesn't like the praise.
She also didn't shy away from cutting others down. Several times she did mention her own gaffes but I was surprised how often she would bring up a gaffe of someone else, just to make them look bad, when the gaffe wasn't immediately relevant to the particular gaffe she made, but seemed only to provide some foreground for the reader to judge that person. It would be more diplomatic and sufficient to say, 'We didn't always see eye to eye....' or 'We often clashed especially around xyz policy.' The attacks were often unnecessary, especially when you're discussing real events where people can Google these people themselves and surely read about gaffes if they wish to know more.
Other moments were just slightly cringe, for example when she discussed her friendship with former Israeli President Shimon Peres and how sexy he was. While at first glance it might seem like an innocent cheeky moment, it becomes obvious how unprofessional and gross this comment is when you imagine any prominent male public civil servant making a similar comment about a professional female foreign leader.
The end was fairly redemptive, and I'm glad I didn't give up on the muddy middle. Rice doesn't mince words in her analysis of the dire threat we face while being ruled under an undemocratic leader who threatens our democracy and safety out of ignorance and malice, and a blatant disregard for reality. How Americans are threatened by Trump's divisive actions and his seemingly successful efforts to undermine the media and ignoring criticism that reflects negatively on him, all while stoking the growing factions of far-right extremism, fueled by a fear of those who are different than us and growing intolerance of the truth and aversion from the facts. It's hard not to be inspired by her words in Chapter 23 and a dire call for our country to pull together and quit tearing ourselves apart.
I wish I could thank Rice for all the work she has done for our country and her role in aiding the Iran deal, protecting our embassies with increased fortitude in the event of future attacks, her efforts around Chinese relations, Ebola, and so many countless other moments. While this book didn't blow me away, I still have tremendous respect for her. Character flaws aside (we all have them) she deserves to be remembered as someone who tirelessly worked for our country and made lasting change on the world stage.
Now that I've read Tough Love I think my perspective has changed a bit on Rice. It's not really worth speculating how Biden came to his decision but I have to wonder if he was worried a Rice pick would dig up every criticism of the past around Benghazi, or maybe he felt Rice didn't embody the characteristics of a VP given her at times hot headedness and her moments of extreme candor (not afraid to cuss someone out or give them the finger in official meetings).
From beginning to end this book began pretty well, sort of lulled in the middle where my enjoyment of the book waned, but came together eventually in the end with a pretty strong finish that was balanced, informative, and well-written. It's that middle portion that I will discuss that contained most of my grievances.
While Rice openly acknowledges her own character flaws and personal shortcomings she experienced interpersonally with her staff and the constructive criticism she received over the years, this book still often went on the defensive and felt a little too defensive. I get the compulsion to use your memoir as your chance to clear the air and provide clarity around your intentions and what really happened behind closed doors, but the defensive stance was so strong at times, it somewhat diminished this read for me. For every critical moment she went through where she received media attention for failing the American public, she would provide what felt like 15 or so lengthy quotes of praise she received from top leaders who came to her defense. Maybe this is really common and I just hadn't noticed it until now, but it felt unusual. Rather than simply saying, 'despite xyz, person A never wavered in their support, they fully had my back' or describing the action she took with the help of others, etc. No, Rice spends an uncomfortably long amount of time quoting other peoples words of praise during certain situations and then as a cherry on top, she concludes how awkward the praise felt because her praise shouldn't have been the focus of the situation, and yet it was worth being the focus of her retelling in this book. When writing a book I understand it will be necessary to quote but this should be about her perspective and she should largely be speaking for herself, and not sharing lengthy praise under the false premise that she really doesn't like the praise.
She also didn't shy away from cutting others down. Several times she did mention her own gaffes but I was surprised how often she would bring up a gaffe of someone else, just to make them look bad, when the gaffe wasn't immediately relevant to the particular gaffe she made, but seemed only to provide some foreground for the reader to judge that person. It would be more diplomatic and sufficient to say, 'We didn't always see eye to eye....' or 'We often clashed especially around xyz policy.' The attacks were often unnecessary, especially when you're discussing real events where people can Google these people themselves and surely read about gaffes if they wish to know more.
Other moments were just slightly cringe, for example when she discussed her friendship with former Israeli President Shimon Peres and how sexy he was. While at first glance it might seem like an innocent cheeky moment, it becomes obvious how unprofessional and gross this comment is when you imagine any prominent male public civil servant making a similar comment about a professional female foreign leader.
The end was fairly redemptive, and I'm glad I didn't give up on the muddy middle. Rice doesn't mince words in her analysis of the dire threat we face while being ruled under an undemocratic leader who threatens our democracy and safety out of ignorance and malice, and a blatant disregard for reality. How Americans are threatened by Trump's divisive actions and his seemingly successful efforts to undermine the media and ignoring criticism that reflects negatively on him, all while stoking the growing factions of far-right extremism, fueled by a fear of those who are different than us and growing intolerance of the truth and aversion from the facts. It's hard not to be inspired by her words in Chapter 23 and a dire call for our country to pull together and quit tearing ourselves apart.
I wish I could thank Rice for all the work she has done for our country and her role in aiding the Iran deal, protecting our embassies with increased fortitude in the event of future attacks, her efforts around Chinese relations, Ebola, and so many countless other moments. While this book didn't blow me away, I still have tremendous respect for her. Character flaws aside (we all have them) she deserves to be remembered as someone who tirelessly worked for our country and made lasting change on the world stage.
March 6, 2021
This a very good book. So much Black history that helps a lot of things make sense. Also, a great documentation on both American History and US Military history. She's a good story teller; succinct and poignant. It's a long one, but I highly recommend.
May 28, 2020
This lady right here.... I can't even. Discovered her in college when I was scouting international organizations I wanted to work for, and found she was the US Ambassador to the UN, and that slice of reality gave me hope. Now reading her book, sis *WAITED* decades later to address and officially clear up all misrepresentation over the years, and the petty princess in me happily read this book for it.
Besides that, I enjoyed looking in that sphere from the other side to understand how things transpire or lack thereof. Personally, it's easy to see things from I guess my side of the table, and it sucks watching people get frustrated (self included), but her writings have illuminated the necessity to pause and think about things from her side of the table. Human nature dictates that we focus on things in a narrow vacuum but it behooves us to learn how to momentarily step back and assess situations from opposing or different viewpoints since in life we're usually unaware of the far reaching repercussions our actions can have. Susan allowed us a peek into her world more so than ever before to deduce her foundations which invariably catapulted her career to some of the most exclusive echelons of public service.
Now towards the end of the book, I honestly did have to lean back and simultaneously utter aloud "oh 💩" and "oOoo wee" a couple of times, because she was openly going too hard at the current cabinet without filter or a neutral statement that followed to clean up her opinions.
Random bits of info I thoroughly enjoyed: President Obama is a voracious reader who stays up late reading most of the memos and briefs that cross his desk. Both Obama and Rice aren't morning people: let the church say AMEN. She curses like a sailor (but she does carry intelligent conversations obviously as appropriate). LOVED: that in the moment of a verbal spar, instead of getting into an unproductive shouting match she gave the middle finger to her supervisor and let that nonverbal action simply convey everything. The person who caused her to examine whether or not to go to law school or pursue a career in public service, is the exact logic I was thinking. How glad I am she skipped entering an over saturated career field to create higher influential policy for the country.
Final thoughts: She has had her time in public service, but I wouldn't be surprised at all, if one day years from now she threw in her bid for POTUS or Secretary of State (we got plenty of time ya'll, look at Bernie & McCain - just let her have some time to rest and miss the game). She's got the pedigree, education, and more importantly the actual track record to successfully perform at that level. Ultimately I like that politics aside, mission comes first and protecting and elevating our society as well as humanity is what drives her decision making, that in my opinion is what makes a true leader. Do I agree with her on everything: no, but I do like her balls, ethics, and frame of mind. There isn't one or two particular groups who should read this book. If you're American or have an interest in public service domestically / internationally this book is for you to read.
Pull up a patio lounge chaise with an umbrella & enjoy! This review is whack - pretty sure I skipped a lot of my thoughts, oh well.
Besides that, I enjoyed looking in that sphere from the other side to understand how things transpire or lack thereof. Personally, it's easy to see things from I guess my side of the table, and it sucks watching people get frustrated (self included), but her writings have illuminated the necessity to pause and think about things from her side of the table. Human nature dictates that we focus on things in a narrow vacuum but it behooves us to learn how to momentarily step back and assess situations from opposing or different viewpoints since in life we're usually unaware of the far reaching repercussions our actions can have. Susan allowed us a peek into her world more so than ever before to deduce her foundations which invariably catapulted her career to some of the most exclusive echelons of public service.
Now towards the end of the book, I honestly did have to lean back and simultaneously utter aloud "oh 💩" and "oOoo wee" a couple of times, because she was openly going too hard at the current cabinet without filter or a neutral statement that followed to clean up her opinions.
Random bits of info I thoroughly enjoyed: President Obama is a voracious reader who stays up late reading most of the memos and briefs that cross his desk. Both Obama and Rice aren't morning people: let the church say AMEN. She curses like a sailor (but she does carry intelligent conversations obviously as appropriate). LOVED: that in the moment of a verbal spar, instead of getting into an unproductive shouting match she gave the middle finger to her supervisor and let that nonverbal action simply convey everything. The person who caused her to examine whether or not to go to law school or pursue a career in public service, is the exact logic I was thinking. How glad I am she skipped entering an over saturated career field to create higher influential policy for the country.
Final thoughts: She has had her time in public service, but I wouldn't be surprised at all, if one day years from now she threw in her bid for POTUS or Secretary of State (we got plenty of time ya'll, look at Bernie & McCain - just let her have some time to rest and miss the game). She's got the pedigree, education, and more importantly the actual track record to successfully perform at that level. Ultimately I like that politics aside, mission comes first and protecting and elevating our society as well as humanity is what drives her decision making, that in my opinion is what makes a true leader. Do I agree with her on everything: no, but I do like her balls, ethics, and frame of mind. There isn't one or two particular groups who should read this book. If you're American or have an interest in public service domestically / internationally this book is for you to read.
Pull up a patio lounge chaise with an umbrella & enjoy! This review is whack - pretty sure I skipped a lot of my thoughts, oh well.
March 3, 2020
This was a really good book. First get over the fact that Susan Rice is not a renowned author. This is more like a Diary/memoir . I recommend you buy the audio book because Susan reads it herself and hearing her you can feel when she is excited about something or sad or angry,
Susan holds nothing back. She goes into her complicated childhood … the ups and downs with ther relationship with her mother and her father. She shares her love with her husband another complicated relationship.
The inside look at politics-- the sacrifices she gives in order to follow her political career-- the pride at doing something good-- and more are all woven into this real treat of a book.
Granted it drags at times and you can also recognize gaps in some of the stories --either to save someone's pride or perhaps too classified to go into depth.
This is a must read if you wood like an inside glimpse into the sometimes mean and sometimes distorted world of politics. But you will also marvel at the path Susan took to have an impact-- to stand for herself Vs her gender or race -.
Susan holds nothing back. She goes into her complicated childhood … the ups and downs with ther relationship with her mother and her father. She shares her love with her husband another complicated relationship.
The inside look at politics-- the sacrifices she gives in order to follow her political career-- the pride at doing something good-- and more are all woven into this real treat of a book.
Granted it drags at times and you can also recognize gaps in some of the stories --either to save someone's pride or perhaps too classified to go into depth.
This is a must read if you wood like an inside glimpse into the sometimes mean and sometimes distorted world of politics. But you will also marvel at the path Susan took to have an impact-- to stand for herself Vs her gender or race -.
February 16, 2022
This was a much more time commitment than I had thought. Pretty hefty ebook with very thorough information and details. But it was an very interesting political biography so it was well worth a read.
November 21, 2019
I really enjoyed Tough Love. It is a book worth reading for so many reasons right now. I read bits every night before going to sleep. It was a treat to do so given all the reading I have been doing in law school. I agree with Ambassador Rice, "Today, our domestic political divisions constitute the greatest threat to our national security. Healing them is critical to the survival of our democracy and the preservation of America's global leadership." It is a well-written and honest memoir. I am grateful to have role models like Ambassador Rice. She also kindly signed my copy of the book and said, "Good luck with your studies and your service."
December 27, 2019
I have admired Dr Rice a long time, so I was very interested in reading this. The lady does not disappoint. Starting from her birth to extremely high-achieving parents who expected no less than her very best efforts (her mum actually sounded a lot like mine), to her service to her country as Obama's UN Ambassador and National Security Advisor, she offers a detailed recounting of events.
I really enjoyed the behind the scenes "in the middle of things" information. It helped me better understand why things fell out the way they did. It occurred to me that getting countries to agree is rather like herding cats.
I really enjoyed the behind the scenes "in the middle of things" information. It helped me better understand why things fell out the way they did. It occurred to me that getting countries to agree is rather like herding cats.
November 7, 2019
Fabulous and humbling. Susan Rice shares personal glimpses into her most extraordinary life. I thoroughly enjoyed “Tough Love” and felt like I got a mini course in ethics, national security, and civics. Her contributions to our country are amazing, as is she.
January 20, 2020
I found the book deeply disappointing. Besides the fact that the book needed a better editor: it is way too long. There is a real lack of any thoughtful or considered self-reflection. And too much humble bragging on herself. I wanted to love this book and hoped to learn something interesting about how certain internal policies were made. This didn’t happen.
December 11, 2019
An engaging, well written autobiography that is detailed throughout, frequently amusing, and brutally honest. I would definitely recommend it.
July 16, 2022
The reading journey of this book is similar to Einstein, or da Vinci - it took a while (over a year, to be exact) to warm up to this book but when I finally had the courage to pick it up again last month, it’s surprisingly interesting and I’m so glad I didn’t give up.
My favorite take-away of the book is how it ignites my interest in American policies and politics. It offered more than just insider view of many historical events, but an unique perspective on the challenges and struggles.
My favorite take-away of the book is how it ignites my interest in American policies and politics. It offered more than just insider view of many historical events, but an unique perspective on the challenges and struggles.
November 10, 2019
Tough apparently means profane.
Books by Susan Rice, Valerie Jarrett, Rachel Maddow and Madeleine Albright give readers a view of what happened during the 20th century in war, energy and petroleum industry people among nations affecting our current political situations in a data driven world of international business affairs.
Read them if you care to know.
Books by Susan Rice, Valerie Jarrett, Rachel Maddow and Madeleine Albright give readers a view of what happened during the 20th century in war, energy and petroleum industry people among nations affecting our current political situations in a data driven world of international business affairs.
Read them if you care to know.
November 15, 2019
Before an insane white supremacist occupied the White House, I never would have read this book because I've never been as interested in politics, especially foreign policy. Rice's detailed discussion of how she and first the Clinton and then Obama administrations dealt with foreign crises was both fascinating and frightening. Whether describing successful actions like solving the Ebola problem quickly, renewing ties with Cuba, or completing the nuclear agreement with Iran or discussing less successful (and at times disastrous) events like Rwanda, South Sudan, and the rise of ISIS, Rice shows how difficult and consequential foreign affairs work is. Even when the President, his Cabinet, and staff are smart, hard-working, and sane, things can go wrong. And right now our President is stupid and crazy. While captivated by the details of her foreign policy work, I still preferred the early discussion of Rice's family because they were prominent black people. I also enjoyed learning that Senator Michael Bennet was a friend from nursery school and former Russian Ambassador Michael McFaul was a fellow Stanford Rhodes scholar. Susan might not have known as many people as Gloria Steinem, but she was well-connected before she started working in the White House. She reminds me of Donna Brazile, who makes an amusing cameo appearance dancing with Susan's 89-year-old father. Both like to drink, dance, curse, and throw their weight around. But I preferred Susan, who is less narcissistic and more willing to admit mistakes. However, I suspect the comical Donna is more popular in Washington not only because of her humor, but also because she's darker and I assume taller than Susan. A bad ass, dark-skinned black woman is less annoying to white men than a tiny, light-skinned one, especially if the tiny, lighter black woman doesn't smile much.
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December 8, 2019I'm half way through Rice's book. At this point, I'd say this book would best be called Rice's memoirs--memoir with the S, like the books written by presidents and important men in earlier centuries. The material is detailed, describing in depth her childhood, schooling, and rise to public office. At first, I felt bogged down by the detail, but as I reach the halfway mark, I realize how much I appreciate her incredible historical documentation of the genocides in Africa, the Arab Spring, Benghazi and more. I feel like I'm getting an up close picture of these events that I watched in real time on the news but could never have understood quite so well as I am now. I value reading about the integrity, knowledge base, and commitment of career diplomats. Rice's story of things worth fight for is a worthy read.
Finished this book feeling deeply satisfied with the read. I learned so much about the nature of the job of National Security Advisor (and US UN Ambassador)and the way in which Rice tackled the job (s). Throughout the book, her record of history is illuminating and educational. Adds an interesting dimension to read this books as the impeachment hearings are underway and see how differently two administrations view diplomacy.
Finished this book feeling deeply satisfied with the read. I learned so much about the nature of the job of National Security Advisor (and US UN Ambassador)and the way in which Rice tackled the job (s). Throughout the book, her record of history is illuminating and educational. Adds an interesting dimension to read this books as the impeachment hearings are underway and see how differently two administrations view diplomacy.
December 27, 2019
This book is impressive on many levels, but mainly because Rice clearly wrote this herself. This means that there may be some infelicitous sentences here and there, but there’s none of that ghost writer boilerplate.
The sections on Rice’s early career are less easy to get through— pretty much 100% ambition memoir here, but things get more nuanced when she talks about the Obama years and what followed them.
This book is a very good record of how Obama’s personality infused American domestic and and foreign policy, and how things got worse after he left. In other words, reading this will make you sad.
One thing that struck me while reading this was that Rice’s political views don’t always align with my own; at the same time, I appreciated the fact that she articulates them with clarity and intellectual honesty. This seems to capture something of the essence of Susan Rice the person.
The sections on Rice’s early career are less easy to get through— pretty much 100% ambition memoir here, but things get more nuanced when she talks about the Obama years and what followed them.
This book is a very good record of how Obama’s personality infused American domestic and and foreign policy, and how things got worse after he left. In other words, reading this will make you sad.
One thing that struck me while reading this was that Rice’s political views don’t always align with my own; at the same time, I appreciated the fact that she articulates them with clarity and intellectual honesty. This seems to capture something of the essence of Susan Rice the person.
February 20, 2020
I love Rice's rough and ready voice. She's a pragmatist and she pulls no punches in this book. The one thing I wondered about consistently in this memoir though is that she always comes across as having called the politics right; which made me say, really? But, if you are enjoying all the Obama-er memoirs, this is a good one. It's a bit irreverent, and direct, which I liked, and Rice's story of growing up, being a women and a person of color in the high paced and intense national security realm is compelling. I also enjoyed her direct discussions of trying to balance motherhood, caring for aging parents and trying to keep up a marriage while also being a cabinet member. It's a balancing act that all working women know well, but I like hearing strong, public women talk about the challenges so openly.
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