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Book cover: The Education Of An Idealist by Samantha Power

December 2019

The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power

Samantha Power's memoir The Education of an Idealist traces her path from a childhood in Ireland through her work as a war correspondent in Bosnia to her roles as a human rights advisor on the National Security Council and as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama. Power reflects candidly on her idealism and her efforts to advance human rights within the constraints of American foreign policy.

Most will remember Samantha Power as the former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, from 2013 to 2017, under Barack Obama. Power had previously been a Special Assistant to Obama and responsible for multilateral affairs and human rights on the National Security Council.

She previously wrote, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, and compiled and edited Realizing Human Rights: Moving from Inspiration to Impact; Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World; and The Unquiet American: Richard Holbrooke in the World.

This book, a memoir, follows Power through her childhood in Ireland, work as a war correspondent in Bosnia, and academic career to when Barack Obama, then a senator, noticed her critiques of US foreign policy and her following work on his ultimately successful presidential campaign and as part of his administration.

Power is frank and open about her idealism and desire to contribute to the betterment of society.

About this article

First published in Mondial, Vol. 3, Issue 2 (December 2019), US edition.

Mondial has been published in print twice a year since 2017 by Citizens for Global Solutions and World Federalist Movement – Canada.

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