The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt

"I wanted with all my heart, a peaceful world. And I knew it could never be achieved on a lasting basis without greater understanding between peoples." ~ pg. 413 Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) said some pretty interesting things in her lifetime. I've collected many of her quotes as they inspire me. So it was really her motivating words that made me want to read about her life. And what an interesting life she led. Her whole life sounded to me like a life lived in service to others. After reading this book I came away with the impression that Eleanor Roosevelt was a very brave woman who truly wanted to understand the world and sought out every opportunity to do good in some way. Eleanor Roosevelt lived through two world wars and a serious depression. She was also married to Franklin D. Roosevelt and as a president's wife had many opportunities to influence those in power. I'd say she was one of the most influential people I've ever read about. In this book she records many interesting conversations she had with kings and queens and other world leaders. Even after her husband's death she continued to travel the world meeting with people who had the power to change history. I found Eleanor Roosevelt's writing style to be cozy and compelling. I was completely captivated by her life in her own words. I think you can learn a lot from this book no matter what political party you support. As someone who was never really that interested in history this book made history come alive for me. I also liked that Eleanor Roosevelt had a deep personal interest in the welfare of others. ~The Rebecca Review

I knew little about Eleanor other then she was wife of Pres. Franklin D Roosevelt. This was a very interesting and detailed writing about her whole life. I was quite amazed about her childhood time and all she was involved in during her life. She was a tireless champion for humanitarian needs around the world and for the rights of women. She was dedicated to her husband's government & presidential activities, and continued to be involved with the United Nations after his death. She was a host to dignitaries from around the world and made friends of them all. Somehow she found time with her children also. The issues she dealt with seemed so much like ours today.

The 2014 edition of "The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt", presented by her granddaughter Nancy Roosevelt Ireland, is what I consider an important work. The former first lady wrote and edited her autobiography over an extended period of time, reworking what had appeared in 3 volumes into one more compact account in 1958. This edition includes her earlier autobiography as well as autobiographical essays that she wrote in her final years -- the final one being written in 1961, after the inauguration of John F. Kennedy, for whom she campaigned in 1960. This edition of Eleanor Roosevelt is divided into four sections. The first three sections represent her earlier published autobiographies: 1) This is my Story; 2) This I Remember; 3) On my Own. The fourth section collects essays written during the last decade of six years of her life: 4) The Search for Understanding. While the first two sections bring us Eleanor Roosevelts memories of her family, upbringing, marriage, and eventually her work alongside her 6th cousin become husband Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the third and final fourth sections are more immediate. These are the writings of a mature woman, fully engaged in rebuilding the country world in the aftermath of two world wars. She confronts the dramatic issues and challenges that faced the world and the United States from 1945 to 1961. And she pulls no punches. She faces the adversaries of democracy, both foreign and domestic, ever ready to listen but equally ready to speak truth to power and assert the right in the face of abuse. Eleanor Roosevelt was the niece of a very popular president, Theodore Roosevelt, and the wife of another very popular president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was an orphan whose family tried to suffocate her spirit of initiative in order to make her a proper lady for the 19th Century, and as a young mother could never please her dominating mother-in-law. In meeting such personal adversity, she learned critical thinking and compassion, rising to become a spokesperson for the poor and oppressed of the 20th Century. She became a champion of the little people, a Peace-Maker, a facilitator of dialogue, a leader among women and men. It has taken me some time to complete my reading of this book, largely because I felt that I needed time to reflect on the author's words to be able to appreciate her contribution more thoroughly. My recommendation is that this book be proposed to all who would study the history of the United States and the United Nations in the determining years following World War II. I would also recommend the book to those interested in Women's Studies, in the American Presidency, and in family life for the upbringing of children.

My knowledge of Eleanor Roosevelt was limited. This autobiography brought her to live for me. Describing her life and the politics of that time from childhood to about 75 years of age. Having lived in the turbulent times of World War I and II, her insights are important reading. This should maybe be required reading for the politicians of today.

my hubby loved it

Great lady and book.

A woman of amazing strength and character and this autobiography was easy to read. Gave a good insight into the Roosevelt family and how their ideals shaped her into the woman she became.

Excellent autobiography

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) war eine Nichte von Theodore Roosevelt, einem der im Gestein des Mount Rushmore verewigten Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten. Nachdem sie ihre Eltern früh verloren hatte, war sie im Haus ihrer Großmutter mütterlicherseits aufgewachsen und heiratete in jungen Jahren einen entfernten Verwandten, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, damals Jurastudent, später Gouverneur des Staates New York und seit 1932 Präsident der USA, ein Amt, das er bis zu seinem Tod 1945 innehatte. Aus der Ehe gingen fünf Kinder hervor und neben ihren Aufgaben als Ehefrau und Mutter sowie den anfallenden Repräsentationspflichten musste Eleanor Roosevelt auch den Schicksalsschlag bewältigen, der die Familie traf, als ihr Mann im Alter von 39 Jahren an Kinderlähmung erkrankte und zeitlebens eine massive Gehbehinderung davon zurückbehielt. Doch im Laufe ihres Lebens entwickelte sie sich zu einer außergewöhnlich starken Persönlichkeit, die nicht nur als loyale Kraft an der Seite ihres Mannes wirkte, sondern allmählich selbst eine ausgesprochen aktive Rolle in Politik und Gesellschaft ihres Landes zu spielen begann. Aus dem - wie sie sagt - unsicheren, ängstlichen "hässlichen Entlein" ihrer Kindheit und Jugend, versehen jedoch mit einer gehörigen Portion Energie und Selbstdisziplin, war eine couragierte Kämpferin geworden, die unerschrocken für ihre Überzeugungen eintrat. Beim Lesen ihrer Autobiographie gewann ich den Eindruck, es mit einer intelligenten, geradlinigen, tatkräftigen, beherzten, uneitlen Frau zu tun zu haben, deren Art und Weise, sich dem Leben zu stellen, mir höchste Achtung und Sympathie abringt. Wer dieses Buch liest, sollte aber wissen, dass es nicht nur Einblicke in das Privatleben der Autorin gewährt, sondern auch sehr ausführlich über politische und gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen innerhalb und außerhalb des damaligen Amerika berichtet, was ein gewisses Maß an einschlägigem zeitgeschichtlichem Interesse voraussetzt, dann aber erhellende Informationen und Erkenntnisse zu vermitteln vermag.