Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me

This is like the first chapter in the life of Condoleezza Rice. It starts with her family's history and ends just after George W. Bush's inauguration in 200l. She has another memoir coming out shortly that details her time as the first black woman Secretary of State. So if the reader is looking for insights into her actual political career they won't find them in this volume. They will find many of the people and events that helped mold her personality, philosophy and work ethic. This is a very positive story about growing up in a very strong family in the midst of "1950's Birmingham, Alabama, where black people lived in a separate world, segregated from their white neighbors." The segregated world of her youth matched the history described in two other recent memoirs--Edward Brooke's Bridging the Divide: My Life and From The Hood To The Hill by Barry C. Black. In all those cases the family life of the black middle class was much stronger and healthier than it is today. The church was a much stronger influence and in most cases black families were able to form a cocoon-like protective pouch around their children. In many ways America really was two different worlds, but at least black families could prosper and raise their kids in the relatively safety of two parent homes with large extended family connections. This book mentions that family safety net without comparing what has happened to black family life since LBJ's Great Society set in motion government policies of welfare that literally destroyed two parent families--black or white. John and Angelena Rice sacrificed their entire lives so that their only child Condoleezza would have the skills and training necessary to develop her full potential. They knew that education was one of the keys and they rented instead of buying in order to provide their precocious daughter with continuing music and ice-skating lessons and to pay her school tuitions. John was a Presbyterian minister and his sermons were always short and conducted in a logical, quiet, lecture style manner minus any of the "call and response" or "Amen's" of the high-energy surrounding Baptist Congregations. The family lived in the back of the church and since the church was the center of his congregations social life with events taking place nearly every evening of the week, they were never lonely or lacking in something to do or somebody to help. Her father later continued his education and became a teacher as well. Angelena was an English teacher who also coached the debate team and produced and directed student plays and musicals. "Her most famous student, though, was neither a debater nor a thespian. Mother taught American baseball legend Willie Mays and, despite her lack of sports acumen, knew that he was special." She remembered telling Willie "You're going to be a ballplayer. If you need to leave a little early for practice, let me know." Angelina would bring home records that they often listened to together. They included "Aida" and the "Triumphal March." On Saturdays they listened to radio broadcasts of the New York Metropolitan Opera. Condi's father loved jazz and taught his daughter to dance--one of the reasons Condi was happy they were not Baptists who were not allowed to dance. She and her father also watched the National Football League on television every Sunday after church. Condoleezza is still an avid sports fan and was a member of her school's marching band. This book is obviously intended for the younger audience--it's meant to inspire young people to be all that they can be--to steal a slogan from the army recruiters. Her mother registered as a Democrat and was asked who the first President of the United States was. Having answered correctly she was registered to vote as a "Yellow Dog Democrat"--someone who would rather vote for a yellow dog than a Republican. The officials didn't like the looks of her father and asked him how many jellybeans were in the huge glass jar behind the desk. He was not allowed to register to vote. One of the family friends told him to go see a certain person at city hall and tell them he wanted to register as a Republican. Since the party was desperate for new voters, Condi's father was able to register to vote and gratefully became a life-long Republican. While this book doesn't go into many details of Condoleezza's recent life, it does take the reader through her educational career and points out how much of an academic creature she really is. Almost all of her work has been for universities, think tanks and the government. She isn't afraid to admit she was greatly helped by affirminative action and has some very interesting comments about what is wrong and what is right about affirminative action. The book takes her through her work with George Herbert Walker Bush and then through her years as Provost of Stanford University. She does relate some interesting inside information about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the breakup of the Soviet Union. "It turns out that the most momentous event in forty years of international history occurred thanks to a gigantic bureaucratic screw-up in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). To stem the exodus of its citizens, the East German government decided to develop new, liberalized travel polices that would give East Germans the ability to leave the country. The hope was that in making it easier to travel back and forth people would visit other nations but ultimately return home. Interior Ministry officials intended to have these relaxed restrictions apply to the border between East and West Germany, but not in Berlin, which had a different status. That point, however, was somehow left out of the draft regulations...People began to flock to the Berlin Wall, which for decades had been both the symbol and the reality of Europe's division. The Interior Ministry guards didn't know what to do. Faced with the flood of people, the commander made a historic decision: he ordered his troops to withhold fire. The Berlin Wall collapsed in joyous celebration." Happy accidents do sometimes happen when least expected and that's a good thing.

Very readable, but some of the political intricacies were hard to understand as a lay person. But what a remarkable woman!

This is an extraordinary book written by a woman I've long admired. CONDOLEEZZA RICE: A MEMOIR OF MY EXTRAORDINARY, ORDINARY FAMILY AND ME won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teens. But even an old white geezer like me was able to dovetail its messages into my ordinary life and realize that special people are inspirations to be listened to and emulate.Reading for enjoyment is my most important goal. But learning from what I read is almost as important and sometimes ignored. In Dr. Rice's book I heard three important messages; cherish your parents and the heritage they have given you, keep your vision strong and focused, and don't give in to lesser urges that threaten to disrupt your life's journey. I have bumbled through three-quarters of a century skirting the edges of all three.I have followed the career of this beautiful and skilled woman, never failing to be moved by her lifework. Her remarkable rise to be Secretary of State for the United States of America is a story every person, young or old, should honor. Her spirit, willingness to accept any challenge, and ability to overcome obstacles of race, gender, and age are traits unlike any other I've witnessed. I see pride, devotion, and a certain pugnacious attitude towards criticism that has propelled her to the forefront of world leaders.We may never know the true story of her behind-the-scenes comportment. I sensed a certain resistance to interference with her priorities in her writing. I suspect that she voiced opinions that were so strong and well-grounded that opposition was seldom exercised. Her racial opinions are reasoned and forceful, yet easily accepted by all except those who don't really deserve a platform. And she plays the piano beautifully, a talent not easily attained. I feel certain that there was immense respect for her with perhaps undertones of resentment and jealousy. Those negative feelings were probably shed by Dr. Rice with graceful ease.This book is important, I think, because of the message it sends to people everywhere that there's really only one right way to pursue life, and that's with a dedication to doing the "right" thing. We all know in our hearts the definition of the "right" thing. Following that knowledge without wavering is the answer to being a happy and valued member of this world. It sounds lofty, but is certainly identifiable and within reach. But it does take effort, something on which Dr. Rice didn't skimp.A big part of that effort is maintaining the love and involvement of your family. Dr. Rice's love of her parents is presented in the strongest and most unapologetic expression I've ever read. It's clear that making sure they understood her love was her most cherished accomplishment.This book is inspirational and full of momentous life lessons from a remarkable person, a must read.Schuyler T WallaceAuthor of TIN LIZARD TALES

This kindlebook of Condoleeza Rice: A Memoir Of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me by Condoleeza Rice touches on various facets of her family life and how they positively influenced other areas of her life. Rice shares how both of her parents met each other. Additionally, I like the candid details included on how certain moves across schools andor states affected each of them (her parents, herself etc.). A person does get the sense that Condoleeza greatly loves both of her parents from this kindlebook and she kindly acknowledges the blessing of having the love of both of her parents. Condoleeza Rice also indirectly shares her love of learning throughout this book and indirectly makes the connection from how her family life influenced her ambition. Rice also shares how the hardships of what she had survived and lived through propelled her determination (such as how a certain tragic event involving her dad’s church affected not just her dad, but her own feelings about what was happening at the time, and she shares details in a way that a person can guess how others around her must have also felt). There is so much more in this kindlebook that makes it a meaningful read.

Condoleezza has a wonderfull way of expressing her thoughts that brings the reader into conversation like you are partisapent. Well done.

Condoleezza Rice writes about her life up to the point where she became the Ntional Security Advisor to President G W Bush. Many historians will be disappointed that she did not take her autobiography beyond this point. However, she has given us a detailed account about her early life and attitudes. Many of the great and the good avoid doing that, preferring to concentrate on their time in office, so this book is unusual. Paying homage not only to her parents but to her grandparents and others as well, she also describes what it was like to be growing up in a black neighbourhood in the 1960s. Living through the the civil rights troubles, she followed advice to be twice as good to succeed in the wider world by studying hard. Her dedication to music and the piano in particular is also explained, along with her love of watching sport. She describes the sacrifices her family made for her, the challenges and decisions she faced and her mistakes and faults with a refreshing frankness. But then, she always appeared to this reviewer to be the most self-effacing yet technically competent Secretary of State when she held that post (not covered in this book). If you are interested in recent history or social mobility, then you will probably read this more than once.

Enjoyable read. Ms Rice and her family's story is very touching and inspiring. She's obviously brilliantly smart and extremely hard working, but I still find her experience a little incredible, so the book would be even better if it gives a bit more about how she achieved what she achieved.

This was a really insightful expose on who Ms Rice is, her background and professional contributions and accomplishments - written in easy to read prose and humanising momentous times in the history of this generation (i.e break up of the soviet union). This is a biography I will certainly be reading again.

Very good book!!!

Great role model