Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For by Susan Rice

Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For by Susan Rice is a captivating and inspiring memoir from a lifelong public servant. In her book, Rice takes us from her childhood growing up in a politically active family and civil rights lawyers in Washington D.C., to her educational background and career in foreign policy.

As the daughter of a foreign policy specialist who served as a tugboat captain in the U. S. navy, Rice’s upbringing was a unique and interesting experience. In her own words she explains how her youth was spent in a “bubble of privilege and security,” where she was able to observe how foreign policy operated at a very young age. Rice’s schooling at National Cathedral and her placement at Stanford University enabled her to take up a series of prestigious positions in government, notably as President Clinton’s National Security Council staffer, Ambassador to the United Nations, and National Security Adviser to the Obama Administration.

It was through her roles in all these posts, along with her personal life, that Rice discovered the “things worth fighting for.” These became apparent to her first through the process of building bridges with other nations and debating foreign policy, then through more intimate experiences, such as her son’s severe illness and her parents’ battles with cancer. All of these experiences shaped Rice’s worldview.

Rice starts the book with a clear outline of her objectives and takes us through her personal journey. Rooted in her own experiences, the author brings together the various strands of her life, making them tangible and personal. In the second half, Rice moves towards a blending of the political and personal. Having experienced such trials and tribulations, she presents her readers with the same beliefs that she has used to shape her career: dedication, determination, and a strong commitment to justice.

Tough Love presents Rice as a woman who goes beyond trying to change the world, she is determined to make it a better place. It is an inspiring read that will leave the reader with a passion to fight for those things they find worth fighting for. Rice eloquently and powerfully illustrates how her personal life has shaped her view of the world and how that view has helped shape our affairs in foreign policy. Her story is a useful primer for those interested in international relations and public policy, as well as a source of guidance for anyone who desires to make a real difference.