Well-written and informative but weighed down by too much detail that was unnecessary. An editor would have gone a long way to improving the flow of the book.

Memoirs, especially those written by public personalities, do need to be approached with a careful dosis of intellectual caution.
As a political memoir, it has interesgting information regarding the global efforts of Obama administration (1+2), including the negotiations with Iran or the positioning within the UN. Given Rice´s own academic knowledge in the field of African studies and her early involvement under Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a friend of her late mother, one may also caught some relevant details about the US policies in Africa, often full of contradictions and sometimes irrelevant from the point of view of the realities on the ground. But, in Rice own words: ´(...) US influence has limits. America cannot compel recalcitrant warring parties to make peace, even when they are poor and substantially dependent on us for assistance`.
Although relevant for her personal and professional journey, I´ve found that the personal details took way too much space from the book. At the ridiculous price that, for instance, the dramatic diplomatic crisis in Libya when the ambassador was murdered is worth a paragraph in a sea of details about her well deserved family summer vacation. As a sidenote, as descendant of slaves on one side of the family, she was not bothered of being offered the scholarship infamously named after the slave trader Rhodes.
Political gambits are taking a lot of time and energy in the Capitol Hill and no matter who you are networking and lobbying are part of the everday journey of professional success within the establishment, but I expected a bit more of a vision from Rice. One may want to become secretary of state, but what is your diplomatic vision, what do you want to achieve? What do you believe in?
Otherwise, an useful material for anyone aiming to understand the Obama years under the diplomatic perspective.

I started this book in October, but I put it aside because it wasn't the right time to read it. Too much was going on and I couldn't give the book focus the way I wanted to. Fast forward to January and I decided to make the intelligent decision to download the audiobook and give it a listen. This format worked much better.

I have loved politics and history for a very long time. My dream would be to work in the White House or be a US Senator, but in listening to Susan Rice I remembered I'm not nearly intelligent enough to be good for those jobs. (Similarly, this is how I remembered feeling while watching the West Wing.) I am a complete slouch compared to her. She is a truly awe-inspiring and it comes at no surprise given the house she was raised in. Her family is a true example of the American Dream and that you can put your mind to anything as long as you're willing to put in the work and are given an opportunity.

I enjoyed her experiences while working in the Obama Administration the most and found life as the UN Ambassador and later National Security Advisor fascinating. Based on everything else I have ever read about working with and for Barack Obama, I could only imagine what a pleasure it was to work in that administration. As much as I enjoyed listening to all aspects of her professional career, it also made me profoundly sad about what we are enduring today. The care and preparation in both the Clinton and Obama administrations just leaves me shaking my head at the absence of that today.

But back to the book....while I could rave about this book forever, I did find how long it was start to wear me down a little. I don't see how she could have cut anything out, but I was ready for this book to end when it did. However, I will still give it 5 stars for the amount of time that went into writing it and the research she did on her own family as well as introspection Ms. Rice provided on herself and her conduct throughout every aspect of her life. To be this honest with the reader about her shortcomings and mistakes must have been very challenging.

In conclusion, she leaves us with hope on how we can work together to bridge the political divide, but I'm afraid I have trouble feeling the same. Although I admit being discouraged, I will try my hardest to live by her example of doing the things I can to help make our country better.

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster and Susan Rice for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

Review Date: 02/03/2020
Publication Date: 10/08/2019

I have spent many a day stuffing envelopes a practice not done anymore on political campaigns. That said anytime I can read a backstage account of how the machine works are hours I am happy to spend. Ms Rice does not disappoint I would extend the praise to an unflinching approach to life in service in this country. I was glued from the front to the back of this astonishing account of a life of purpose and devotion to country and her fellow man. Please pick up a copy and gift this one around after reading. Happy reading

I have read many biographies and memoirs about powerful women, but this one really grabbed my attention. Susan Rice is known for appearing on Sunday shows about Benghazi, but this book thoughtfully and powerfully allows the reader to go on the journey with her to that point in history. She is honest and straightforward when explaining why she made the choices she had to. I found this to be a brilliant read and am hoping we hear more from Susan Rice in the future.

I have read many autobiographies through the years. There were some that I truly enjoyed reading, and in all honesty, I will admit there were a few that I just could not get into and never finished reading. However, I have never read one that completely captured my attention throughout the entire book...an autobiography that pulled me in from the opening prologue and held my attention to the point that I read the entire book in one sitting. That all changed when I read Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For by Susan Rice.

The prologue takes place during the last few hours of the Obama administration, and is perfectly titled Farewell to the Moral Universe. Sadly, that title still fits today's divided political climate. She relays her skepticism on that day, as well as her hope that the new administration will be successful. She talks about the sadness she feels, as well as looking forward to the next chapter in her life.

Of course, there are some people that will never give this book a chance, and that is truly unfortunate. This book discusses politics, but the overall substance of this autobiography is so much more than just politics. Many people only know who Susan Rice is due to her appearance on the Sunday news shows back in 2012 regarding Benghazi, and her role within the Obama administration...they do not know about the journey she went through to get to there. Some people might be surprised to learn that in addition to her B.A, from Stanford University, she was a Rhodes Scholar and received her master's degree and doctorate from Oxford University. In this book, Susan Rice highlights in great detail how she became the woman she is today, and the important role her family played throughout her life.

Her family history is truly fascinating...one side descendants of slaves...one side immigrants...but all deeply devoted to family and all striving to become the best they can possibly be. At a time when race could hold a person of color back, her family overcame the obstacles and used their drive and determination to excel. She tells their stories with an openness that truly brings her intriguing family history to life. She is brutally honest as she relays their triumphs as well as their struggles, and how tough love was taught early on in all of their lives.

Susan covers just about every aspect of her life, and there is no hesitation to discuss her achievements as well as her failures. She beautifully weaves together every thread of her life, and in the end, gives the reader a captivating look into her personal life as well as her political life. Tough Love is definitely an autobiography worth reading!

I would like to thank Susan Rice, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For. My views are my own, and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

To be honest, this book didn’t live up to my expectations. Ultimately, I didn’t finish it. While I appreciate Rice’s family background, there was just too much cramming everything into this book. I also got sort of a non-committal feeling from her particularly when it comes to race and gender. Or perhaps her privilege has made her more neutral on those subjects, which, while valid, is a bit disappointing.