No Such Thing as a Bad Day

This book, written by the former Carter Administration insider, tells the story of the author's bouts with cancer and is interspersed with tidbits about his upbringing and his government experiences. It's a short work, but it packs emotional punch. Tom Stechschulte narrates the book with authority and clarity. He reads with passion when called for and relates Jordan's life experiences in an even, confident tone. Stechschulte creates vivid characters from Jordan's past, including an assortment of Southerners ranging from his uncle to Jimmy Carter. He also gets to do some singing, and he can certainly carry a tune. What Stechschulte does best though is to give us a sense of Jordan's urgency once he's diagnosed with cancer. He speaks well for Jordan and shows us his will to live. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

January 3, 2000
Political reflections mingle with cancer war stories in this memoir by former presidential aide Jordan. In the last two decades of the 20th century, after serving as Jimmy Carter's chief of staff, Jordan (who caused a scandal in the Carter White House when it was reported that he'd used cocaine and insulted the wife of the Egyptian ambassador at a state dinner--charges he unequivocally denies) was diagnosed with cancer--three times. A strong advocate for aggressive treatments--he chose chemotherapy for his lymphoma and surgical removal of his prostate for his prostate cancer (his third bout of cancer involved a skin lesion, which was removed)--Jordan reflects on the lessons he's learned while surviving cancer. He gives his "ten top tips for cancer patients"; advises others to research their prognosis and treatment and to find experienced physicians; and advocates investigating the mind/body connection (studies have shown, he notes, that patients with strong relationships and a positive attitude survive longer). Along the way, he emphasizes his belief that his treatments were successful because he took responsibility for his medical care. But he also reflects on his life more generally: convinced that his cancers were caused by exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Jordan takes some time to discuss the war as well as his southern Georgia childhood and his political career. He thoughtfully contrasts his beloved, but racist, father with a cousin who was a civil rights activist, and he also settles some old scores in a somewhat mean-spirited fashion--including one with President Clinton, whom he clearly dislikes. Although artlessly written and at times randomly assembled, this book is a quirky, feisty addition to the growing stack of memoirs by late-20th-century presidential aides. 100,000 first printing; 6-city author tour.