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The Education of an Idealist

By: Samantha Power
Narrated by: Samantha Power
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Publisher's Summary

The international best seller.

A New York Times notable book of the year.

An Economist book of the year.

A Times Literary Supplement book of the year.

What can one person do? 

In this vibrant, galvanising memoir, Human Rights Advocate and Pulitzer-Prize winning Writer Samantha Power offers an urgent response to this question. 

As she traces her path from Irish immigrant to war correspondent and activist to eventually becoming the youngest-ever US Ambassador to the United Nations, Power writes with a unique blend of suspenseful storytelling, vivid character portraits and disarming honesty. Her account illuminates the challenges of navigating the halls of power while trying to put one’s ideals into practice (and raise two young children along the way), and it shows how – even in the face of daunting challenges – each of us can make a difference.

©2019 Samantha Power (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

"Her highly personal and reflective memoir...is a must-read for anyone who cares about our role in a changing world." (Barack Obama)

"Samantha Power's book is honest, personal, revealing. It is about the development of a young woman's inner strength and self-knowledge. But it is also a political book, alert to both the power of political will and its limitations." (Colm Tóibín)

"It’s a profound, heart wrenching, uplifting, and emotional journey through her life and what she’s seen; starting in her youth in Ireland, and taking us through places like Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Sudan, and eventually the White House...All while navigating war zones and political culture as a woman and eventually a mother." (Sophia Bush)

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What listeners say about The Education of an Idealist

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Great book

Insightful, fascinating and well researched. Great book that’s hard to put down! What a life!

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Behind the scenes of power

I absolutely loved this book - and it’s even better as an audio book because you can hear how hard some of these personal and political stories were to tell. Great companion piece if you liked Becoming as an insight into the Obama years, but it’s much bigger than that: Power has honest, thoughtful things to say on everything from life as a working parent of little kids (mine are a similar age and it gave me perspective on how much easier my work juggle is!) or behind the scenes from the White House and the U.N.. Samantha would make the best dinner guest, she’s a great storyteller in the best Irish tradition. Can’t recommend this enough. Thanks for sharing your story.

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A role model

Brilliant book by an inspiring woman! So refreshing to experience a more humble yet genuinely caring approach to meaningful matters. Expanding horizons.

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Inspiring, informative and very interesting

Samantha’s story is a great read from an inspiring woman. Not only an insightful account of US and global political machinations, also a refreshingly honest story of an “on- purpose” woman and how she juggles her higher calling as an advocate with family and personal growth. Loved it and I’d love to meet the author. Monique

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An eye witness account. A compelling read

Samantha Power's vivid account of her life and work is both a time capsule of the recent past and a candid and personal window into the personal and moral struggles of a senior U.S. official dealing with among other things life and death.
The story is deeply personal, sketching a childhood and early career which is relatable and engaging. It provides a window on Power's personal politics, her ethics, and the moral quandaries that she grapples with throughout her life. Samantha Power is no ordinary diplomat and her account of events and her involve are testament to that.
The book is an evening in an Irish family home, a behind-the-headlines documentary, and a declaration of values and passions. A great read.

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Thoughtful and Inspiring

A thoroughly compassionate and inspiring woman. Her story is one that overcomes both personal and global challenges. It is told with grace and humilty.

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Essential reading

A window into workings of governments and international diplomacy. Educational, riveting, at times heartbreaking. Having personally experienced conflicts in Bosnia and Libya, this book gave another dimension to what was happening.

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  • Mia
  • 22-12-2021

Well worth listening

This is the great book both in terms of topics and the way it’s written

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What a women, what a story

I loved this from start to finish. A perfect mix of personal and professional stories that offer incredible insights and cause a great deal of reflection.

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Over performed and overall very disappointing

Personally I had high hopes about this book.
Perhaps I had to hear this book by the author but this was overall very disappointing and highly naive in its entirety.

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