Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope

by Jimmy Carter

book data

61 ratings, 3.59 average rating, 13 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		18%
4		36%
3		32%
2		13%
1		0%

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published

October 31st 2007 by Simon & Schuster Ltd (first published October 2nd 2007)

details

Hardcover, 288 pages

isbn

184737171X (isbn13: 9781847371713)

description

Carter recounts his adventures over the last twenty-five years, including founding the Carter
Center and putting it and himself to the task of public,…more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 124)

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Nov 25, 2009

Stephen rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

Read in November, 2009

Ex-Presidents enjoy many privileges and "Beyond the White House" demonstrates that one of them is getting mediocre books published.

"Beyond the White House," has the feel of many loose-ends, however interesting and worthy of recounting, carelessly stitched together.

There is no narrative to speak of. Only the single-thread of a post-presidency binds these tales of the Carters' (husband and wife) forays into battle against disease, dictatorship and pove...more

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May 18, 2009

Shawn Sorensen rated it:

(review of isbn 0743570219)

bookshelves: graphies--auto-or-bio, national-and-international-affairs

This is one of the most important books written in the last ten years, and should serve the American voter, student, professor - and leader of any level - for a long time to come.

Jimmy Carter has done more in each year of his post-presidency than most presidents do in a full four-year term (the jury's still out on Obama). The issues and issues are simple but profound - ensure free and fair elections in HUNDREDS of countries, fight diseases that save TENS of MILLIONS of lives mainly ...more This is one of the most important books written in the last ten years, and should serve the American voter, student, professor - and leader of any level - for a long time to come.

Jimmy Carter has done more in each year of his post-presidency than most presidents do in a full four-year term (the jury's still out on Obama). The issues and issues are simple but profound - ensure free and fair elections in HUNDREDS of countries, fight diseases that save TENS of MILLIONS of lives mainly in lower-income countries, and broker peace between warring leaders or leaders and their populace. Carter urged Daniel Ortega - a leftist - to step down from power after he lost a monitored election in Nicaragua, and ensured Hugo Chavez - another leftist - stayed in power after a free and fair recall election in Venezuela. Among many other things, Carter has built homes for Habitat for Humanity, has kept up a work-out routine to stay healthy (a good example for others), and has encouraged senior citizens to make their remaining years productive and positive. Think of what American presidents and other leaders could do with even a fraction of Carter's efforts and ideas.

Part of how Carter operates, in addition to being issues-based instead of partisan, is to let leaders of other countries take credit for any instances of progress in peace or prosperity (instead of the Carter Center) and to get at least tacit support from Washington before any major foreign policy initiatives.

The audio book is read by President Carter in a confident, urgent tone. It is abridged, so maybe in the full version Carter examines his deeper personal motivations for spreading peace and prosperity throughout the world, or shows more about how the rest of us can make a positive difference in our increasingly inter-connected international environment.

Still, this is a book that Americans should and will come back to often.

At the end, when Carter mentions stepping down slowly from his wide-ranging activities, he comments clearly about how the Carter Center will continue to run efficiently and how it will boldly continue to keep taking on intransigent and broad-based challenges.

All I can say is Thank God Carter is an American president who has done so much good throughout the world. Whatever the media reports, the millions of people Carter has helped won't forget. And neither should we.

May this book be a stepping stone for even greater endeavors. (less)

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Apr 10, 2009

Nora rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

Read in May, 2009

Although Carter's style is a bit dry (and I have to confess I didn't closely read the chapters on topics/geographic areas I wasn't interested in), overall this book is a fascinating account of he and wife Rosalynn's years after they left the White House. I have always admired Carter's commitment to democracy and human rights abroad and I'm sorry it didn't occur to me to read his memoirs of peacekeeping and electoral observation for any of my college papers about these topics. I even felt like a ...more

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Nov 04, 2007

fbuser592362238 rated it:

Read in August, 2007

recommends it for: everyone

Is President Carter a cranky old man who goes off half-cocked, or is he a wise and thoughtful friend of world peace who chooses to tell it like it is because he realizes there's no benefit at all in doing otherwise? Wondering about that, after I read this book I comfortably concluded the latter to be correct and not the former. As seems his custom, he pulls no punches and does what some people find hard to handle: tells the unvarnished, un-spun truth to 'friends,' who may not be used to being...more Is President Carter a cranky old man who goes off half-cocked, or is he a wise and thoughtful friend of world peace who chooses to tell it like it is because he realizes there's no benefit at all in doing otherwise? Wondering about that, after I read this book I comfortably concluded the latter to be correct and not the former. As seems his custom, he pulls no punches and does what some people find hard to handle: tells the unvarnished, un-spun truth to 'friends,' who may not be used to being taken to task by such a prominent figure in such a public manner. While I have not performed a fact check on Carter's material I cannot think of a reason to feel that to be especially necessary in evaluating his writing in this volume; his record in this respect is quite good. Because he pretty thoroughly, it seems, goes all around the table and discusses people, policies and nations without hesitation, and with the characteristic bluntness that he has come to be known for, everybody he mentions gets their turn in the barrel. Some come out of that experience as very sympathetic figures, and some not so well as he portrays their playing politics with critical and oft-times life-threatening issues for reasons or in furtherance of goals he views with distain. Do we get upset with him because Jimmy Carter doesn't let any prominent figures, at least those depicted in this book, off easy as he assesses and portrays their actions and the resulting consequences? Or do we accept an important gift of honest appraisal from an old man who's been around the block more than a few times, as a wake-up call based in deep-seated understanding and love for his fellow humans? In assessing the value with which we may view his writing and his appraisals of important situations worldwide, some can say, if they please, that the man has become known for being less than delicate in the manner in which he speaks and writes about current affairs and leading figures. It seems important, though, to admit of this: he's certainly no arm-chair observer. His constant work, his travels and tasks, which might seem daunting to a person half his age, his remarkable range of contacts and sources make two things about this book quite difficult to dismiss: his depth of knowledge about the issues, situations and events he addresses; and his commitment to readily abandon that which does not meet a stated need and turn to methods, solutions and possibilities that, while perhaps upsetting some politician's apple cart of reserved, bland, pointless dissemblances, consistently appear to accomplish a very good deal of desperately needed work.

So, which is the more admirable: his unceasing(less)

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Sep 02, 2009

Laura rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

Read in January, 2009

Jimmy Carter is one of the very few mainstream leaders I truly admire and this book articulates why. His vision, humility, and dedication really inspire me.

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Nov 01, 2007

Devon rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

bookshelves: non-fiction

Read in January, 2009

recommends it for: those interested in foreign policy, NGOs, or humanitarian work

An interesting look into the humanitarian work that the Carters have done in the time since his presidency. The book, surprisingly enough, wasn't overtly political except for a few comments regarding foreign policy. I learned quite a bit regarding issues in developing nations, particularly health-related, that I previously had no idea were even a concern. Not as motivating as Three Cups of Tea, but still a worthwhile book to read.

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May 02, 2008

Delight rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

Read in May, 2008

No matter what you thought of Pres. Carter when he was in office, one can't help but admire the work he's done post-presidency. While most former presidents are making millions giving speeches and sitting on corporate boards, President Carter decided he would devote his life to mediating conflict and eradicating diseases that no-one is addressing. The 4 stars are a reflection of the admiration and respect I have for the work he describes. Makes me want to be an intern for the Carter Center.

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Feb 05, 2008

Kevin rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

Read in January, 2008

Some might say that Jimmy Carter was a do-nothing President. This book focuses on the life of Carter after his years in the White House and truly highlights some of the amazing medical, social, political and economic issues he has truly been at the forefront of. Though it is a book meant to "brag" in a way, the book is an amazing historic perspective almost in memoir form about what makes Carter not just a good President, but a good human being.

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Oct 29, 2007

Donna rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

Read in April, 2009

This book discusses everything The Carter Center has accomplished in the last 25 years (and where they hope to go from here). It was very infomative about foreign struggles over the last few decades, and helped me understand better some of the challenges around the world. It is easy to read for those who are not very internationally politically astute (like me). Well worth the time.

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Oct 01, 2009

Nicole Braden Lewis rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

Read in November, 2009

The initial chapters about waging peace around the world were a little hard to follow, but the section about fighting disease in Africa was truly fascinating. The Carter Center deserves a medal just for wiping out Guinea worm. Seriously, have you seen what this parasite does?!

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Jun 02, 2008

Wendi rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

Who knew that Jimmy Carter was doing so much good in the world? It certainly gave me a lot of new information and a new perspective on our foreign policy (sigh). My husband asked me to stop explaining about the worms... too awful to think about and a problem with so simple a solution. GOOOO Carter!

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Sep 16, 2008

Beri rated it:

(review of isbn 1416558802)

A very interesting look at Jimmy Carter's life. I have always admired him but found him to be even more interesting when learning of how hard he has worked his whole life and how well-rounded his experience is. Excellent, although slightly heavy read.

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