Reviews

The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir by Samantha Power

hrobison11's review against another edition

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5.0

Nonfiction is not usually my genre, but I did like this recommendation from President Obama's reading list awhile back.

Power did a great job sharing the facts of the issues she was dealing with, as well as presenting it in a relatable fashion.

It was weird hearing someone talk about the logistics of things I had seen on the news, but there was definitely really good insights in this.

I'd highly recommend this to anyone who wants to read about politics, current affairs, global affairs, or even an immigrant story of perseverance.

bridgewidge's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

4.5

peachikeenz's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Reading this book as a young woman in politics made me so so so happy. This memoir had political commentary without siloing it off from what it’s like to be a woman, mother, and most of all an empathetic, idealistic human trying to work in systems that aren’t always accommodating to those characteristics. This book is smart and enjoyable and I will very likely be picking it up again (,: 

kristianawithak's review against another edition

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5.0

This memoir was inspiring and hopeful. Power served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Obama’s second term, in this memoir she covers her upbringing and ideology. She discusses her convictions and her choices throughout her career, before and during her time at the UN. This book reminds me that people can make a difference and that we are responsible for caring about those who need help in this world.

msformed's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was very good but also straight up took me two years to read. I dragged myself through it. Ms. Power reads the audiobook herself, so I highly recommend listening to it - that is how I managed to finish it.

ehershkovitz's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

4.0

nicwn's review against another edition

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1.0

I gave it a 1 star bcoz conservative, the rare reading ones, are more likely to see it. Read this book, and you’ll have a glimpse of the kinds of thinking, strategizing, reflecting, that goes into every single decision in the Obama administration. As compared to the level of incompetence that was Trump ending up at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, it’s almost laughable. Also you should read Alexander Hamilton to see what an honorable upstanding man should be like.

abbywatson8's review against another edition

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4.0

i enjoyed learning about a key player in diplomacy and ambassadorship that I didn’t know about before. i throughly loved learning about Samantha’s journey to the U.S. from Ireland as a young girl. She shared deeply about grief and regret, which I very much connected with. this book is a admiration about President Obama’s administration. the only downside of this book was it felt dragged out towards the end.

brigid_'s review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.0

sticksanddirt's review against another edition

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informative inspiring medium-paced

4.25