Madam Secretary (Random House Large Print)

Rating:
Summary: No Boring Parts
Review: This is an unusual political memoir. There are few long explanations of diplomatic and bureaucratic ins and outs. Albright focuses mainly on personalities, her family life, behind-the-scenes stories, and the Big Picture. In other words, she condenses all the parts I would have skipped anyway.

Albright's enthusiasm is evident throughout. She doesn't downplay her excitement at being appointed Ambassador to the U.N. and Secretary of State. She obviously wishes she still were Madam Secretary. She shows us a different side of world leaders. Hear Igor Ivanov, Russian foreign minister, singing in a revue; watch Albright cause Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to have an apoplectic fit. She talks about juggling day-to-day concerns with conducting world diplomacy (the big hats were for bad hair days). One of the best chapters is about her spur-of-the-moment trip to Poland, just as the Solidarity uprising was about to explode.

A fascinating book, a brilliant career, and a remarkable woman.