An old-school, religious liberal looks at the impact of modern conservative thought, and fears for the direction of the country. If you are a church-going liberal, it's definitely worth reading, as Carter provides an interesting critique of the direction the country has drifted over the last 30 years.

I started reading this book two years ago and only got halfway through before getting annoyed with it. After reading it all the way through I can't say that it still doesn't annoy me, but I did appreciate Carter's points of view a little more this time. Carter raises some very salient issues about the poitical, religious, and social climate in the U.S. If the book had been solely about that I would have loved it, but Carter sometimes comes across as hypocritical and condescending on these issues.
For example, I admire the work Carter has done with the Carter Center and human rights, but his discussion of this in the book seems to be nothing more than an opportunity to take cheap jabs at the Bush Administration and Republicans. This would probably be expected and acceptable, except Carter spends one of the first chapters condemning party politics and rigid adherence to party ideologies. Carter takes on an air of being above the filth of politics, society, and religion, yet much of the book is spent (subtely) throwing dirt at each of those institutions. Yes, even religion. Carter spends an inordinate amount of space griping about the Southern Baptist Convention and all its shortcomings. I'm no SBC champion, but Carter again assumes the mantle of the "clear-seeing, above-the-filth, one-with-all-the-answers."
The other reason I disliked the book was because every argument Carter makes seems to be an apologetic justification for some failed aspect of his presidency. He comes across as trying to show everyone that he was really right back then and if the Republicans would have only listened to him our country wouldn't be in such a mess.
It wasn't all bad, I actually really liked parts of the book because I think some of Carter's foreign policy critiques are spot-on. If you are a Dem or a Carter fan you'll love it. If you are annoyed by party bickering (on both sides) you'll probably echo my sentiments.

Jimmy Carter is one of the finest, most honest politicians and presidents the U.S. has elected, as well as being one of the most intelligent, religious and well educated, and his insights, evaluations, warnings and frustrations are all laid bare here.

One of the things that struck me is the continued timeliness of the book despite having been published in 2005. His analysis of the Middle East situation is "spot-on" and his concerns for the long term thoughtlessness and selfishness of U.S. political decisions are prophetic after eleven years. Statistics and information are well documented.

This book should be a "must read" regardless of one's political philosophy.