Hell and Other Destinations

March 9, 2020
Former secretary of state Albright (Fascism: A Warning) weaves geopolitics with her own life story in this intelligent and personable memoir. Opening with her departure from the U.S. state department in 2001, Albright writes that she was determined to say “hell, yes” to all opportunities to help promote democracy and empower women. Though she criticizes fellow secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice for their failure to adopt a “logical strategy” to confront terrorism after 9/11, Albright also points out her own mistakes, including an insensitive answer to a 60 Minutes question about UN sanctions on Iraq. In several chapters, she highlights personal connections with women, including family members and old friends. She also describes her relationship with Hillary Clinton and the disappointments of the 2008 Democratic primary and the 2016 election, and promotes building educational opportunities for girls. Other chapters deal with lighter issues, including a Gilmore Girls cameo. Albright ends by lauding the power of the Constitution to protect American democracy and expressing confidence that, at age 82, she’s ready for new projects. She proves to be a capacious storyteller, willing to share personal disappointments, such as the dissolution of her marriage, as well as professional accomplishments. This appealing memoir will charm readers interested in contemporary politics and women’s issues.

March 15, 2020
The former secretary of state reflects on the world that has emerged since she left office in 2001. Following her previous memoir, Madam Secretary, and particularly the self-explanatory Fascism: A Warning (2018), Albright begins by confessing that the end of her tenure as secretary of state found her "a little overcooked." She was worn out, frazzled, and out of shape from too little home cooking and not enough exercise. Yet, she allows, she didn't want to retire, so, after ceding her post to Colin Powell, she examined her options: write a memoir, hit the lecture circuit, teach, establish "a small consulting firm, run primarily by women." Never one to be pinned down to one thing, she did pretty much all of them. She founded that firm, which had a hard take on its mission: Do good, and "whatever the cost to our bottom line, we didn't want our children to think of us as creeps." Therefore, no lobbying for big tobacco or the gun lobby, and by her account, Albright and colleagues steered big pharma into a few beneficial measures. The lecture circuit was a touch less satisfying, as was "the endurance test known as a book tour." But postgame diplomatic analysis turns out to be her thing, always from the perspective of one who understands that diplomacy is the art of persuading "each side to settle for part of what it wants rather than prolong a squabble by demanding all." Naturally, she despairs at the Trumpian approach, to say nothing of the man himself ("It was one thing to crave change; quite another to choose Donald Trump to define it"). And is he a fascist? Maybe not by dictionary definition, though not for want of trying--and in any event, Albright concludes, "he has the most antidemocratic instincts of any president in modern American history." Dishy, as policy-wonkish memoirs go, and a pleasure for readers interested in the art of negotiation.

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March 15, 2020
After leaving an illustrious career in government service, most notably as the first female secretary of state, at age 64, Albright could not have been faulted for wanting to rest on her laurels. But that's not Albright. Seemingly genetically predisposed to be constantly in motion, she tackled her post-government life with the same verve and determination she brought to her globe-crossing career as the nation's top diplomat. From forming her own consulting firm with other diplomatic corps alumni to serving on corporate boards to joining with fellow ex-ambassadors to address issues of global health, wealth, and security to writing such significant works as Fascism (2018), Albright not only said yes to new opportunities, she created bold new initiatives to address old challenges, domestic and global. Her engrossing memoir of 20 years of life outside the political arena is rich with insider anecdotes, while her self-deprecating humor and droll levity are the perfect counterpoints to riveting episodes of more sobering significance. Albright is a national treasure, and her continued engagement in public service is inspiring and indispensable.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from April 1, 2020

After her term as the first woman to hold the office of secretary of state ended in 2001, Albright contemplated life as a private citizen but ultimately opted to spend her time advocating for issues important to her. As a follow-up to her previous best seller, Madam Secretary: A Memoir, Albright's new book focuses on the past two decades of her life, and the initiatives and activities with which she is involved, ranging from starting her own consultant agency and giving speeches to teaching and chairing committees on international issues. She discusses major world events, such as the Arab Spring and the Iraq War, and her assessment of key players in those conflicts including her successors as secretary of state, from Colin Powell to Hilary Clinton to Rex Tillerson. Additionally, Albright relates more personal details of her life's story, particularly discovering her Jewish heritage and coming to terms with aging and other late-in-life transitions. She ends with her assessment of the Trump administration from a foreign policy perspective and her hopes for future national unity. VERDICT This passionately told account of Albright's "afterlife" will inspire readers to become involved in the issues meaningful to them. Recommended for all interested in politics, leadership, and women's studies. [See Prepub Alert, 12/1/19.]--Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2019

Since leaving office as America's first female secretary of state in 2001, Albright has been writing (six New York Times best sellers), teaching, traveling, campaigning, and working for women's rights. The many personal stories here aren't just a chronicle, though; they are meant to inspire others to see that any phase of life--including the last phase--can be rich, exciting, and productive. With a 250,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.