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Every Day Is Extra
- Narrated by: John Kerry
- Length: 28 hrs and 25 mins
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Every Day Is Extra
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Summary
In 2004 he ran for president against the incumbent, George W. Bush and came within one state – Ohio – of winning. In Every Day Is Extra he explains why he chose not to contest widespread voting irregularities in Ohio, fearing that after the 2000 election went to the U.S. Supreme Court, another challenge would undermine confidence in the voting system.
Kerry returned to the Senate, endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in 2008, and when Clinton resigned in 2012 to run for the presidency, Kerry was confirmed as Secretary of State. In that position he tried – and like all his predecessors, failed – to find peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (he is critical of both sides but especially Prime Minister Netanyahu); dealt with the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS; negotiated the Iran nuclear deal; and signed the Paris climate accord.
This is a personal book, sometimes angry, sometimes funny, always moving. Secretary Kerry describes some of the remarkable events of his life, such as discovering that his paternal grandfather committed suicide – something his father never told him – and that this grandfather was Jewish, not Irish (he changed his name to Kerry from Kohn, and also converted to Catholicism). His account of his experiences in Vietnam is riveting. His story of his first real meeting with John McCain, another Vietnam veteran, is one of the most moving stories in the book; his respect for McCain is genuine and inspiring. Every Day Is Extra shows listeners how arduous it is to run for president and how demanding the role of secretary of state is.
Listeners of this audio book, whatever their political persuasion, will come away grateful that we have public servants who are prepared to spend their lives in service to their country. They will also come away with a new appreciation of John Kerry, a man often portrayed as aloof and stiff, but as this book reveals, funny, warm, and dedicated.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christopher S.
- 30-06-22
A truly fantastic book!
I find some political memoirs to be dry and dull. The language is often definitive and factual. Kerry suffers none of this. Not only has he led a remarkable life, he is also a talented story teller.
I found the subjects covered contributed to an interesting pace. Unlike other autobiographies I have read, Kerry does not devote heaps of time to his childhood. This provides the reader with a more focused look at his early and political careers.
A balance is struck between granular detail and more general musings which make the book satisfying.
Highly recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 24-11-20
Very long book
Lot of information on john kerry life and us political life good book I highly recommend it
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Fraser
- 02-06-21
An evocative reading of a familiar history
This book is a deeply personal account of a contested history. Kerry tells his story with poise and grace and, in doing so, he seemingly comes to terms with his successes, his failures, and those of his country, too. Given how varied Kerry's life has been, I was quite surprised by how short his autobiography is. Naturally, some episodes of his life are described in greater detail than others, but I was looking forward to reading slightly more on his involvement with the anti-war movement, his experience as a Vietnam veteran more generally, and how, many decades on, he, personally, relates to his own involvement in a war he fundamentally objected to. The chapters on his time as Secretary of State were, for me, the highlight of the book, positing many of the key questions that American foreign policy makers will be contending with for decades.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jordan Fleming
- 18-01-20
Fascinating
A really fascinating look at some momentous moments in our recent history- from Vietnam to the senate to running for president to Secretary of State. Great insight into Israel/Palestine, climate policy too!
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