Most Popular Books by Madeleine Albright

“One of the most diverting political bios in recent memory.” -- Entertainment Weekly Revised and updated with a new epilogue, Madam Secretary is the moving and inspiring memoir of one of the most distinguished public figures in American history, seven-time New York Times bestselling author and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright A national bestseller on its first publication in 2003, Madam Secretary is the riveting personal story of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. For eight years, during Bill Clinton’s two presidential terms, Albright was an active participant in some of the most dramatic events of our time—from the pursuit of peace in the Middle East to NATO’s humanitarian intervention in Kosovo. In this thoughtful memoir, one of the most admired women in American history shares her remarkable story, including thoughts on her upbringing in Czechoslovakia and her role as a wife and mother, and provides an insider’s view on global affairs during this period of extraordinary turbulence. Madam Secretary offers an inimitable blend of Albright’s warm humor, personal recollection, and riveting insight on events that shaped our nation and our world.

“Richly detailed. . . an intimate portrait of a diplomat.” —New Yorker From the seven-time New York Times bestselling author and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright—among history''s most admired and tireless public servants—a revealing, funny, and inspiring reflection on the challenge of continuing one’s career far beyond the normal age of retirement In 2001, when Madeleine Albright was leaving office as America’s first female secretary of state, interviewers asked her how she wished to be remembered. “I don’t want to be remembered,” she answered. “I am still here and have much more I intend to do. As difficult as it might seem, I want every stage of my life to be more exciting than the last.” In that time of transition, the former Secretary considered the possibilities: she could write, teach, travel, give speeches, start a business, fight for democracy, help to empower women, campaign for favored political candidates, spend more time with her grandchildren. Instead of choosing one or two, she decided to do it all. For nearly twenty years, Albright was in constant motion, navigating half a dozen professions, clashing with presidents and prime ministers, learning every day. After leaving the State Department, she blazed her own trail—and gave voice to millions who yearned for respect, regardless of gender, background, or age. Hell and Other Destinations reveals this remarkable figure at her bluntest, funniest, most intimate, and most serious. It is the tale of our times anchored in lessons for all time, narrated by an extraordinary woman who had a matchless zest for life.

Does America, as George W. Bush has proclaimed, have a special mission, derived from God, to bring liberty and democracy to the world? How much influence does the Christian right have over U.S. foreign policy? And how should America deal with violent Islamist extremists? Madeleine Albright, the former secretary of state and bestselling author of Madam Secretary, offers a thoughtful and often surprising look at the role of religion in shaping America’s approach to the world. Drawing upon her experiences while in office and her own deepest beliefs about morality, the United States, and the present state of world affairs, a woman noted for plain speaking offers her thoughts about the most controversial topics of our time. In The Mighty and the Almighty, Madeleine Albright examines the profound impact of religion on America’s view of itself, the effect on U.S. policy of the rise of the Christian right, the Bush administration’s successes and failures in responding to 9/11, the challenges posed by the war in Iraq, and the importance of understanding Islam. She offers a balanced but, when necessary, devastating analysis of U.S. strategy and condemns those of all faiths who exploit religious fervor to create divisions or enhance their own power. In this illuminating account, Albright argues that, to be effective, U.S. policy-makers must understand the power and place of religion in motivating others and in coloring how American actions are perceived. Defying the conventional wisdom, she suggests not only that religion and politics are inseparable, but that their partnership, when properly harnessed, can be a force for justice and peace.

#1 New York Times Bestseller Best Books of 2018 --The Economist A personal and urgent examination of Fascism in the twentieth century and how its legacy shapes today’s world, written by one of America’s most admired public servants, the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state A Fascist, observes Madeleine Albright, “is someone who claims to speak for a whole nation or group, is utterly unconcerned with the rights of others, and is willing to use violence and whatever other means are necessary to achieve the goals he or she might have.” The twentieth century was defined by the clash between democracy and Fascism, a struggle that created uncertainty about the survival of human freedom and left millions dead. Given the horrors of that experience, one might expect the world to reject the spiritual successors to Hitler and Mussolini should they arise in our era. In Fascism: A Warning, Madeleine Albright draws on her experiences as a child in war-torn Europe and her distinguished career as a diplomat to question that assumption. Fascism, as she shows, not only endured through the twentieth century but now presents a more virulent threat to peace and justice than at any time since the end of World War II. The momentum toward democracy that swept the world when the Berlin Wall fell has gone into reverse. The United States, which historically championed the free world, is led by a president who exacerbates division and heaps scorn on democratic institutions. In many countries, economic, technological, and cultural factors are weakening the political center and empowering the extremes of right and left. Contemporary leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un are employing many of the tactics used by Fascists in the 1920s and 30s. Fascism: A Warning is a book for our times that is relevant to all times. Written by someone who has not only studied history but helped to shape it, this call to arms teaches us the lessons we must understand and the questions we must answer if we are to save ourselves from repeating the tragic errors of the past.

“A riveting tale of her family’s experience in Europe during World War II [and] a well-wrought political history of the region, told with great authority. . . . More than a memoir, this is a book of facts and action, a chronicle of a war in progress from a partisan faithful to the idea of Czechoslovakian democracy.” -- Los Angeles Times Drawn from her own memory, her parents’ written reflections, and interviews with contemporaries, the former US Secretary of State and New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Albright''s tale that is by turns harrowing and inspiring Before she turned twelve, Madeleine Albright’s life was shaken by some of the most cataclysmic events of the 20th century: the Nazi invasion of her native Prague, the Battle of Britain, the attempted genocide of European Jewry, the allied victory in World War II, the rise of communism, and the onset of the Cold War. In Prague Winter, Albright reflects on her discovery of her family’s Jewish heritage many decades after the war, on her Czech homeland’s tangled history, and on the stark moral choices faced by her parents and their generation. Often relying on eyewitness descriptions, she tells the story of how millions of ordinary citizens were ripped from familiar surroundings and forced into new roles as exile leaders and freedom fighters, resistance organizers and collaborators, victims and killers. These events of enormous complexity are shaped by concepts familiar to any growing child: fear, trust, adaptation, the search for identity, the pressure to conform, the quest for independence, and the difference between right and wrong. Prague Winter is an exploration of the past with timeless dilemmas in mind, a journey with universal lessons that is simultaneously a deeply personal memoir and an incisive work of history. It serves as a guide to the future through the lessons of the past, as seen through the eyes of one of the international community’s most respected and fascinating figures in history. Albright and her family’s experiences provide an intensely human lens through which to view the most political and tumultuous years in modern history.

“Jewelry isn’t ordinarily a tool of political persuasion, but in this beautiful book, Madeleine Albright, American ambassador to the United Nations and then the nation’s first female secretary of state, tells the compelling story of how these small objects became part of her ‘personal diplomatic arsenal.’” — The Chicago Tribune From New York Times bestselling author and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, Read My Pins is a story and celebration of how one woman’s jewelry collection was used to make diplomatic history. Part illustrated memoir, part social history, Read My Pins provides an intimate look at Albright''s life through the brooches she wore. Her collection is both international and democratic—dime-store pins share pride of place with designer creations and family heirlooms. Included are the antique eagle purchased to celebrate Albright''s appointment as secretary of state, the zebra pin she wore when meeting Nelson Mandela, and the Valentine''s Day heart forged by Albright''s five-year-old daughter. Read My Pins features more than 200 photographs, along with compelling and often humorous stories about jewelry, global politics, and the life of one of America''s most accomplished and fascinating diplomats.

“A riveting tale of her family’s experience in Europe during World War II [and] a well-wrought political history of the region, told with great authority. . . . More than a memoir, this is a book of facts and action, a chronicle of a war in progress from a partisan faithful to the idea of Czechoslovakian democracy.” -- Los Angeles Times Drawn from her own memory, her parents’ written reflections, and interviews with contemporaries, the former US Secretary of State and New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Albright''s tale that is by turns harrowing and inspiring Before she turned twelve, Madeleine Albright’s life was shaken by some of the most cataclysmic events of the 20th century: the Nazi invasion of her native Prague, the Battle of Britain, the attempted genocide of European Jewry, the allied victory in World War II, the rise of communism, and the onset of the Cold War. In Prague Winter, Albright reflects on her discovery of her family’s Jewish heritage many decades after the war, on her Czech homeland’s tangled history, and on the stark moral choices faced by her parents and their generation. Often relying on eyewitness descriptions, she tells the story of how millions of ordinary citizens were ripped from familiar surroundings and forced into new roles as exile leaders and freedom fighters, resistance organizers and collaborators, victims and killers. These events of enormous complexity are shaped by concepts familiar to any growing child: fear, trust, adaptation, the search for identity, the pressure to conform, the quest for independence, and the difference between right and wrong. Prague Winter is an exploration of the past with timeless dilemmas in mind, a journey with universal lessons that is simultaneously a deeply personal memoir and an incisive work of history. It serves as a guide to the future through the lessons of the past, as seen through the eyes of one of the international community’s most respected and fascinating figures in history. Albright and her family’s experiences provide an intensely human lens through which to view the most political and tumultuous years in modern history.

“A sweeping, straightforward primer on foreign policy that revisits topics including the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, China, Pakistan and beyond.” — Miami Herald The former Secretary of State and New York Times bestselling author offers America’s next leader blunt advice for repairing and reinvigorating America’s standing in the world The next president will face the daunting task of repairing America''s core relationships and tarnished credibility after the damage caused during the past eight years. In Memo to the President, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright offers provocative ideas about how to confront the myriad challenges awaiting our newly elected commander-in-chief. Secretary Albright''s advice is candid and seasoned with humor and stories from her years in office, blending lessons from the past with forward-looking suggestions about how to make full use of presidential power without repeating the excesses of the Bush administration and how to revive America''s commitment to its founding ideals.

El siglo XX se define por el choque entre la democracia y el fascimso, una lucha en la que estaba en juego la supervivencia de la libertad humana y que dejó millones de muertos. Vistos los horrores de esa experiencia, cabría esperar que el mundo rechazara a los sucesores espirituales de Hitler y Mussolini si surgieran en nuestra época. Madeleine Albright recurre a sus experiencias de infancia en una Europa devastada por la guerra y a su distinguida carrera como diplomática para cuestionar esa suposición. El fascismo, tal como constata Albright, no solo sobrevivió durante el siglo XX, sino que ahora supone una amenaza más virulenta que en cualquier otro momento desde el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, pues determinados factores están debilitando el poder político en muchos países y propiciando el resurgimiento de regímenes extremistas. Escrito por alguien que no solo estudió historia sino que ayudó a darle forma, Fascismo es una llamada a la acción que nos enseña las lecciones que debemos comprender y las preguntas que debemos responder si queremos evitar la repetición de los trágicos errores del pasado.

El siglo XX se define por el choque entre la democracia y el fascimso, una lucha en la que estaba en juego la supervivencia de la libertad humana y que dejó millones de muertos. Vistos los horrores de esa experiencia, cabría esperar que el mundo rechazara a los sucesores espirituales de Hitler y Mussolini si surgieran en nuestra época. Madeleine Albright recurre a sus experiencias de infancia en una Europa devastada por la guerra y a su distinguida carrera como diplomática para cuestionar esa suposición. El fascismo, tal como constata Albright, no solo sobrevivió durante el siglo XX, sino que ahora supone una amenaza más virulenta que en cualquier otro momento desde el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, pues determinados factores están debilitando el poder político en muchos países y propiciando el resurgimiento de regímenes extremistas. Escrito por alguien que no solo estudió historia sino que ayudó a darle forma, Fascismo es una llamada a la acción que nos enseña las lecciones que debemos comprender y las preguntas que debemos responder si queremos evitar la repetición de los trágicos errores del pasado.

Un’analisi personale e accorata del fascismo nel Ventesimo secolo, e dell’influenza che ancora oggi esercita nel mondo, dalla penna di una delle figure più autorevoli della scena pubblica americana, la prima donna ad aver ricoperto la carica di segretario di Stato degli Stati Uniti. «L’impensabile – il diffondersi di tentazioni fasciste anche nelle democrazie che sembravano più consolidate – si sta davvero materializzando davanti a noi? E che cos’è davvero il fascismo? Dobbiamo prepararci alla possibilità che figure simili a Hitler o Mussolini riemergano anche nei Paesi avanzati?» La Lettura - Massimo Gaggi Il fascista, osserva Madeleine Albright, «è qualcuno che pretende di parlare per un’intera nazione o un intero gruppo, si disinteressa dei diritti altrui e usa la violenza o qualsiasi altro mezzo per raggiungere i propri scopi». Il Ventesimo secolo è stato segnato dallo scontro tra democrazia e fascismo, una lotta che ha minato la sopravvivenza della libertà e causato milioni di vittime innocenti. Sarebbe ovvio pensare che dopo quegli orrori il mondo sia pronto a respingere ogni erede di Hitler e Mussolini. Ma così non è, dimostra Madeleine Albright attingendo alle sue esperienze di bambina cresciuta in un’Europa straziata dalla guerra e di insigne diplomatica. Il fascismo non solo è sopravvissuto alla fine del Ventesimo secolo, ma oggi espone la pace e la giustizia planetarie a una minaccia mai tanto grave dalla fine della Seconda guerra mondiale. Il vento democratico che scosse il mondo con la caduta del Muro di Berlino ha invertito la rotta. Gli Stati Uniti, da sempre difensori della libertà, sono governati da un presidente che esaspera le divisioni sociali e disprezza le istituzioni democratiche. In molti paesi, fattori economici, tecnologici e culturali stanno rafforzando gli estremismi di destra e di sinistra. Leader come Vladimir Putin e Kim Jong-un stanno riportando in auge molte delle tattiche impiegate dai fascisti negli anni Venti e Trenta del Ventesimo secolo. Fascismo. Un avvertimento è un libro per i giorni nostri ma valido per tutte le epoche. Scritto con la sapienza di chi non solo padroneggia la storia, ma ha anche contribuito a forgiarla, è un monito a trarre gli insegnamenti utili e a porsi le domande giuste per non ripetere gli stessi tragici errori del passato.

Als Madeleine Albrights Amtszeit als Außenministerin der USA 2001 zu Ende ging, sprühte die 63-Jährige vor Ideen. Sie gründete ein politisches Beratungsunternehmen, lehrte an der Universität, unterstützte Hillary Clinton bei den Vorwahlen, schrieb Bücher und hielt viele aufsehenerregende Reden. In ›Die Hölle und andere Reiseziele‹ erzählt sie von ihrer persönlichen Entwicklung, aber auch von den politischen Ereignissen jener Jahre: von den Anschlägen des 11. Septembers, der Rolle der USA in der Golfregion, von der Finanzkrise, den Vereidigungen dreier sehr unterschiedlicher Präsidenten und dem Erstarken antidemokratischer Tendenzen in zahlreichen Ländern, auch in den USA. Ihr Blick zurück liest sich zudem als Geschichte einer Selbstermächtigung: Bis 1982 unterstützte die promovierte Politik- und Rechtswissenschaftlerin und Mutter von drei Töchtern vor allem die Karriere ihres Mannes, des Journalisten Joseph Medill Patterson Albright, und engagierte sich nur im Hintergrund bei den Demokraten. Erst nach der Scheidung startete sie beruflich richtig durch und fand den Mut zur eigenen, manchmal auch unpopulären Stimme.

Madeleine Albright is in 1997 net benoemd tot minister van Buitenlandse Zaken van de VS als ze tot de ontdekking komt dat haar grootouders van vaderszijde Joods waren en zijn omgebracht in de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Het is een grote schok; haar ouders hebben dat deel van hun familiegeschiedenis altijd voor haar verzwegen. De ontdekking is het begin van een zoektocht naar de wortels van haar familie, maar ook naar de gecompliceerde geschiedenis van Tsjecho-Slowakije, het land waarin Albright de eerste jaren van haar leven opgroeide en dat haar familie bij het utibreken van de oorlog is ontvlucht. Haar jeugd bracht ze door in ballingschap, eerst in Londen en later in de Verenigde Staten. In Praagse winter doet Madeleine Albright verslag van de eerste twaalf jaar van haar leven. De jaren 1937-1948 omvatten zowel de invasie van de nazi''s in Praag en het begin van de Holocaust alsook het einde van het fascisme en de opkomst van het communisme in de jaren na de oorlog. Ze laat zien hoe in deze perioden miljoenen burgers werden losgerukt uit hun vertrouwde omgeving en werden gedwongen om nieuwe rollen aan te nemen: die van leider in ballingschap of vrijheidsstrijder, verzetsheld of collaborateur, slachtoffer of dader.

Elle est l''une des femmes les plus remarquables de notre temps et la première dans l''histoire des Etats-Unis à avoir exercé la fonction de secrétaire d''Etat. Intervention de l''OTAN au Kosovo, entrée de la Tchéquie, de la Pologne et de la Hongrie dans l''Alliance atlantique, pourparlers de paix au Proche-Orient, établissement de relations nouvelles avec la Chine et l''Afrique..., pendant huit ans, au cours des deux mandats de Bill Clinton, ses fonctions ont appelé Madeleine Albright à faire face aux crises et aux conflits politiques les plus sensibles et déterminants pour l''ordre mondial. De son arrivée sur le sol américain en tant que réfugiée politique, fuyant avec sa famille la Tchécoslovaquie d''Hitler puis des communistes, à son infatigable action en faveur des droits civils et des droits des femmes, Madeleine Albright fait revivre les grands acteurs de ce monde et les batailles d''une femme dans un monde dominé par les hommes. Les portraits de Bill et Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, Vàclav Havel, Yasser Arafat, Vladimir Poutine, Ariel Sharon ou Kim Jong-il se mêlent à celui, méconnu, d''une femme ordinaire : une mère de trois enfants, séparée d''un des magnats de la presse, et pour qui la tardive découverte de ses origines juives fut une révélation capitale. Cette vie où les domaines privé et public, intime et international se rejoignent et se répondent, est passionnante de bout en bout. Derrière le parcours étonnant d''une " femme de pouvoir ", c''est aussi un regard différent sur les enjeux politiques et économiques de la planète, que nous propose ce témoignage exceptionnel.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright offers a persuasive, wide-ranging set of recommendations to the prospective winner of the 2008 Presidential election. Secretary Albright explains how to select a first-rate foreign policy team, how to avoid the pitfalls that plagued earlier presidents, how to ensure that decisions, once carefully made, are successfully implemented, and how to employ the full range of tools available to a president to persuade other countries to support U.S. objectives.