kpop_reads's review against another edition
3.0
2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: A book written by someone you admire
jilliegirl's review against another edition
3.0
A quick read by one of my favorite presidents. My reading of this was enhanced by the trip my Mom and I took to Plains, Georgia two years ago. Merry Christmas!
alisawilhelm's review against another edition
3.0
This collection of Christmas memories spans former president Jimmy Carter's entire life, from a farm boy in rural Georgia through his presidency and into his current life. His childhood stories are the most interesting ones, to me anyways.
Something that stood out to me was during his presidency, he couldn't afford to send out 100,000+ Christmas cards to his list of contacts and he didn't want to burden tax payers, so he asked the DNC to pay for it (and they did). Imagine the president caring about his personal tax burden! So foreign these days. Jimmy Carter is such a humble and admirable man.
PS the audiobook is read by Carter himself-- always a bonus.
Something that stood out to me was during his presidency, he couldn't afford to send out 100,000+ Christmas cards to his list of contacts and he didn't want to burden tax payers, so he asked the DNC to pay for it (and they did). Imagine the president caring about his personal tax burden! So foreign these days. Jimmy Carter is such a humble and admirable man.
PS the audiobook is read by Carter himself-- always a bonus.
jessferg's review against another edition
2.0
I find I have a complaint with this book that I have with lots of memoirs these days: you are not showing me how your experience was largely different than mine.
And I just had to say that about someone who was PRESIDENT!!! I'm not suggesting Carter's Christmases and mine were all the same, but he doesn't do anything to make me see why/how they were different.
Carter seems to spend a lot of time pointing out who was black when it doesn't totally matter and there are quite a few times when the story is mostly just a self-serving anecdote.
I suppose if you're really a die-hard Carter fan you'd enjoy this, otherwise it's nothing special.
And I just had to say that about someone who was PRESIDENT!!! I'm not suggesting Carter's Christmases and mine were all the same, but he doesn't do anything to make me see why/how they were different.
Carter seems to spend a lot of time pointing out who was black when it doesn't totally matter and there are quite a few times when the story is mostly just a self-serving anecdote.
I suppose if you're really a die-hard Carter fan you'd enjoy this, otherwise it's nothing special.
lyzhd's review against another edition
3.0
Even though this book isn't very old, the difference 15 years has made in discussion of equality of women, African Americans, & Muslims is astounding. The language isn't offensive; any racist comment - if you can call it that - is purely innocent & unintentional. I didn't know much about his presidency, so it was nice to hear a brief summary of some of the events during his time in the White House.
revslick's review
4.0
Imagine sitting on an old, front porch in the South listening to your grandfather tell about the old days communicating the message of faith, home, Christmas, and peace. Delightful late-night read filled with messages of peace from a former president that was way ahead of his time.
More...