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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 62 votes)
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62 reviews
April 26,2025
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this is really an enjoyable read. the book centers on family, charity, and the hobbies of the former President and his family.

I loved all of the stories of travels to climb mountains, fish, bird watch, etc. The Carters love of nature is evident in this book.

The relationship between Jimmy and Rosalyn is to be admired. Both having their separate lives, yet still being very much a couple and enjoying great experiences together along with working to change the world.

The book can jump around a little, but the personal accounts are enjoyable.

Jimmy Carter is truly inspirational in many ways and I am eager to read more of his writings.
April 26,2025
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Jimmy Carter was president back in the years when I really didn't take much interest in who was leading our country. I was in elementary school and honestly don't think I cared much for him, mostly because I thought he had a funny southern accent, which seems very superficial of me, even as a kid. Nowadays, I wish I'd paid more attention. I think he was one of the good guys and it's a shame we can't say that about most of our political leaders these days.

I've not read any of Carter's other memoirs, although he has apparently written quite a few. I didn't really know much about his personal life, other than the peanut farming business, so it was nice to get some background and learn some personal information. But as a memoir, and as a book in general, the only word that really comes to mind when reading this, was that it was very "dry." Perhaps it was because Jimmy himself read the audio & maybe another reader could've given it a little more life. Or maybe not. I'm not sure. Overall, a fairly interesting and informative memoir, but definitely not the best I've read.
April 26,2025
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His point seems to be it's good to have friends. Stick to public policy Jimmy.
April 26,2025
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Years ago, when former president Jimmy Carter was in the news I told a couple of my co-workers that he was a far better ex-president than he was a president. His list of accomplishments in the economic and political arenas are very impressive and he has met with many of the major world leaders. Especially interesting was his rendition of his time with North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung. There is the real belief that had Kim Il-Sung not died soon after, there could have been a comprehensive deal between the United States and North Korea.
This book is a non-sequential memoir of Carter’s life, starting with his childhood in rural Georgia. While readers familiar with Carter’s boyhood will learn nothing new, those passages are short. What is really interesting are his travels around the world, his hunting and fishing in remote places and his activism in improving the lives of people in the Third World.
The Carter Center is one of the leading advocates for human rights and one of the leading organizations in monitoring elections around the world. Carter is also a very hands-on person in building houses under the Habitat for Humanity program. As Carter mentions in this book, Habitat for Humanity is a world-wide organization, something that is not well-known.
From climbing mountains to jogging in remote places to traveling to other countries and meeting with their leaders, Jimmy Carter and his wife ‎Rosalynn Carter have indeed kept busy since he became an ex-president. It is clear that they have enjoyed their life since then, whether it be in events involving family or just the two of them on yet another adventure. Jimmy Carter also demonstrates once again that he is a very good writer, the prose is simple and understandable. This is a fun book to read, far more than a simple, “How I spent my retirement”synopsis.
April 26,2025
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Very dry, lots of facts. It looks as if Mr. Carter went through his journal & just copied it down. Not a lot of it made me feel like this , or I was thinking this way. Maybe I was just expecting more from a charismatic Christian president.
April 26,2025
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Bounces all around throughout Carter's life. Some interesting parts, especially how the family campaigned and traveled before and after his political posts.
April 26,2025
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In this book President Carter talks of the importance of sharing good times. I is I guess a memoir of the good times he has shared with family and friends.
April 26,2025
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I knew almost nothing about Jimmy Carter's personal life before listening to him read this memoir. While a lot of the memoir feels a touch like name-dropping (and then, the head of the parks department who used to work for me when I was Governor of Georgia took me bird watching...and then we were invited to stay at the ski lodge owned by Prince so-and-so...), I enjoyed the book. Carter describes with remarkable honesty what lousy husband he was during his early years of marriage (when he made major decisions without even telling his wife, much less considering her opinion) and talks about his process of becoming a partner with his wife and a more full participant in his family life.

The book also focuses on Carter's many hobbies and activities -- woodworking, bird watching, fishing, hunting, mountain climbing, skiing, travel, family vacations, etc. I think he's correct that pursuing, with some seriousness, these sorts of non-work activities leads to a more fulfilling life and also helps maintain interest and growth during retirement.
April 26,2025
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A simple selection of memories from the past, of experiences with family and friends. Carter gives the reader insight into his values and how relationships have shaped his life. A bit surface at times, and he can be forgetful of the every man/reader when describing his worldly trips with family and friends to exotic destinations as the guest of heads of state and corporate leaders. An extremely quick read though...I finished in a day. All in all it was worth the time.
April 26,2025
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July 11, 2011: I enjoyed this book for what it was - Jimmy Carter sharing good times that he experienced with his wife, his family and his friends and professional associations over the years. Jimmy Carter has had an amazing life; definitely cannot call it dull. this is yet another memoir-type book of his life, where he reminisces over his past accomplishments, hobbies and "issues" he's had and at times will reflect on how he perceives these actions today.

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I have been enjoying the books by Jimmy Carter for quite a while now - this one appears to be strictly a memoir of his life, focusing on family and friends.
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