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

It seems if you blink there's yet another book from former President Carter, easily perhaps our most prolific former President. And while "Beyond the White House" is about his post-Presidential activities, it serves more as a survey level course in what he's been doing rather than an in-depth probe of the minutiae. Needless to say Jimmy Carter has been one busy man in many parts of the globe and in many aspects of society. "Beyond the White House" seeks to sum up these activities, but needless to say almost any one of them warrants a book of their own. Like the recent commercials, Jimmy Carter is likely the most interesting man in the room, he's always doing something very interesting and intriguing. Whether it's combating nuclear arms proliferation, witnessing elections, immunizing citizens, brokering diplomatic negotiations, or what, Jimmy Carter always seems to pop up. At times the chapters scream out for more details and I have no doubt Jimmy is secretly banging out a book as I wait and ponder. You start to wonder if the man ever sleeps. Reading over his biography on his mother "A Remarkable Mother" you understand where he gets that deep reserve of energy and drive! "Beyond the White House" ultimately serves as a sort of survey level introduction to what Jimmy Carter has been doing since 1981, and ultimately it screams out for more details. No doubt there are books about every facet of his life to come, but this is a nice introduction for those too young to remember him as President or his early years of attempting to redeem himself. By turns inspirational and challenging, "Beyond the White House" is a great read for anyone who wants to do more with their lives or who wants to better understand what motivates and drives Jimmy Carter.

Pulitzer Prize winner and former President Jimmy Carter presents his memoir/retrospective on twenty-five years of humanitarian work in Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope, now available in an unabridged audiobook on CD with tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking. Narrated by Tom Stechschulte and Barbara Caruso, Beyond the White House tells of Carter's travels to distant, often war-torn lands from Haiti to Ethiopia on missions of peacekeeping, as well as his efforts to combat disease. Though told in Carter's plain-spoken, folksy manner, Beyond the White House not only illuminates his world-spanning efforts to do good, but also challenges the listener to think and act in ways that promote responsible worldwide social ethics. Highly recommended. 7 CDs, 7 3/4 hours.

To do good works despite the stigma of the U. S. Government is a wish many of us share, and this book shows it can be done. Jimmy Carter is almost embarrassingly present on every page of this book, in the most oppressed, downtrodden and deprived corners of the world. It is not ego, but the ability to use the stature as a former president, that puts Jimmy Carter on these pages. As the author, he credits hundreds of others for their contributions to world peace, health, and improvement. Reluctantly he includes himself, and joyfully he adds Rosalynn, as the catalyst to uplifting change in the realms of politics, health, oppression, and human-caused tragedy around the world. In an encyclopedia or almanac format, short essays understate the enormous changes brought about by the ability to move important people to action on behalf of some of the most powerless. Beginning with election monitoring, and with a major portion on eliminating debilitating "forgotten diseases" that infect millions, he concludes with a vision for continuing this kind of work for the next 25 years. It becomes obvious that this book is not about Jimmy Carter, or the Carter Center, but about what change is possible. It is a challenge to the best in all of us to follow the example of the plain-spoken nuclear physicist from Plains to do what we can to improve the world. Don't give up; despite massive obstacles from powerful people, bringing the best of each human forward can still bring us all to a better world. You can read this as a biography, or as a promotion of the Carter Center, but at the end the possibility of positive change is the torch carried forward by this book.

Beyond the White House details the inspiring work that The Carter Center has accomplished across the globe. The audiobook is narrated by Jimmy Carter, and you don't get to be president of the United States without some vocal charisma. He is delightful as both narrator and author, and his work is an inspiration to all. From battling diseases written off as insignificant by larger NGO's, to monitoring the honesty of elections in third world countries, Carter has his hand in making the world a better place. His book will educate and inspire, while keeping the listener truly engaged from chapter to chapter. Jimmy Carter's wife Rosalynn also contributes - both to their foundation and to this audiobook production. She details her war against mental illness, and the way it has been swept under the rug by health officials. Their actions are infused by faith, and will inspire even the most cynical listeners.

Jimmy Carter seems to have had more impact on the world - for the better - after his presidency than before. He is an inspiration to all compassionate audiobook listeners, and his book is both entertaining and inspiring. If only more world leaders were this compassionate! Beyond the White House makes for a great non fiction audiobook. With plenty of public speaking experience, Jimmy Carter is a suburb narrator. His wife Rosalynn contributes, and her words of wisdom - especially about mental health issues- are equally engaging. Both of their hearts come through on this production, and you feel like you get to know not only their work, but to know them as individuals with caring souls. Listeners will learn about world health issues they have never heard of before, and see that individuals do have the power to make a difference. Carter's welcoming, personal style will be an inspiration to young and old listeners alike.