Lippman's biography is balanced, fair and an enjoyable read. You'll come away with a clear sense of Albright's strengths and special qualities as well as her weaknesses as a leader. You'll learn how her style differs from that of Christopher and Powell. I would have liked a little more clarity and depth on how she justified women's issues as a foreign policy imperative. Her comments about enslavement of women and the likelihood of war under women political leaders hinted at her views. I suspect, however, there's more to her arguments than the book covered. Albright's perspective and the national security establishment's reaction to it may color our relations with Arab allies, the Chinese and other important global players. I also would have liked to explore more how her personal history influenced her views on the Middle East. Lippman kept mentioning that Albright showed unusually little compassion for Palestinians yet I never learned why.

"Madeleine Albright and the New American Diplomacy" is a seasoned reporter's lensview of "classic Albright" and the political, cultural and diverse complexities involved in the politiking of American diplomacy at the beginning of the 21st century. This book is the first up-front and up-close skillfully crafted exposé of the unyielding and seemingly overwhelming intricacies of the first Information Age secretary of state's practice of diplomacy. This book details from an American reporter's point of view the articulation of, and the simultaneous architecturing of Albright's personal and public political art and science of what I call "real-time" international human relations. This highly timely and acutely valuable book, which is an engaging read on American diplomatic practice in the Information Age, commences what will be a long series of critical evaluations of this period. This book merits an attentive reading for a variety of reasons. First, it provides a multi-dimensional insider's view of the behind the scenes collaborative (and at times coercive) "maneuvering" from all the respective domains, i.e., State Department, press, White House, Congress, foreign diplomats etc., which induced the outcomes of this new diplomacy. Second, it is the first book on the new diplomacy to provide a discerning profile of Madeleine Albright, the diplomat, as the reengineering diplomatic practitioner she has had to become in assuming the role of an information age secretary of state-a position the job description of which is just beginning to formulate its definition. Notwithstanding, it would have chartered its own course, Lippman in a lucid and vivid writing style demonstrates how Secretary Albright decisively sets Post-Cold War diplomacy on a new course. Third, this book educates us to some degree on the extreme difficulty in selling real-time civic-humanitarian (RTC) diplomacy convincingly to the American people-even though this era will demand more of global citizens than has traditional diplomacy. Fourth, Lippman details the critical relationship-building skills which are, and will continue to be, crucial as this revolution in American diplomatic affairs continues to chart its course. Fifth, Lippman does not foreclose, but aptly demonstrates, the intensity of plural flexibility which is required of new civic and governmental diplomats. Sixth, in as much as Madeleine Albright is the central figure around whom this book is written, this book is as much about the inevitable funeral of traditional diplomacy the world once knew and the birth of a civic revolution in American diplomatic affairs, as it is the inevitability of the emergence of creative and diverse meanings of the term "diplomacy' bringing new and diverse forms of diplomatic practice, i.e., website/Internet diplomacy, OP-Ed diplomacy, NGO-host diplomacy, public forum diplomacy, red-eye diplomacy, media diplomacy, etc. In the end Lippman's book demonstrates the unpredictable nature of RTC diplomacy in our new world even when you have the best resources, a steel will, the strategic means and noble motives as well as the most highly skilled and well intentioned of diplomats. Seventh, this book gives us a realistic look at who Madeleine Albright is and what she is about while at the same time demanding that diplomacy be broadly redefined "as whatever it takes in the context of ethical international human relations to reach the high ground of the, or some, moral excellence of peace." Eighth, this book provides one American male journalist's story of how an American diplomat has courageously role modeled for American citizens their own respective ownership of the American diplomatic process. Ninth, Lippman allows us to learn from Secretary Albright that American diplomacy for the cause of peace is something we must fight for-it is not a passive American past time in which American citizens have no investment-but that American diplomacy is an enterprise which the American people have an intimate role and responsibility to direct the future of, and to support-this message could not have come at a more appropriate time than during this UN proclaimed International Year of the Culture of Peace; Ten, this book is as much about the coming of [information] age of the press and the field of journalism as it is of the diplomats and diplomatic correspondents who are the moves and shakers of this RTC diplomacy. This book reflects the adjustment the media has had to make in reaction to, and commensurate with, the new demands of RTC diplomatic practice. Notwithstanding these commendable accomplishments the book is not without its flaws. The book being the first of many diplomatic affairs Information Age-time piece publications is understandably more concerned with recording the multitudinous diplomatic actions Madeleine Albright executed during her term rather than focusing on an academic impact study of the high technology information age revolution on her practice of diplomacy-- this comes through only as a backdrop to her diplomatic maneuvers. In other words, those criteria which make "the new diplomacy" new are so intricately woven into the fabric of Albright's "management of world affairs" that any study of the impact of her diplomacy on their outcome is expectedly obscured by the diplomatic war to overcome them. Third, being the fresh, first book of its kind this book subjects itself to the very scrutiny to which its main character is also subject-that of being a trail blazer with no previous model on which to depend-this is both a positive and negative factor. For the most part, this factor makes it more difficult to measure the merit of this type of book. If this book, through the active parlance of diplomacy of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, is designed to speak to and warn the diplomats of today and tomorrow, man or woman, governmental or nongovernmental of the intensity of, as well as the types of battles, confrontations, frustrations, criticisms and crises, both at home and abroad, they will continue to face in an unpredictable world of real-time civic humanitarian diplomacy of the 21st century it does just that. Finaly, Lippman accomplishes this while emphasizing the necessity to fully engage Americans in the role of incorporating "America" into the public enterprise and the international domains of American diplomacy.

Grab a tissue and get ready for the first chapters of this wonderful book. Dobbs succeeds not only in conveying the confusion and pathos of Albright's early life, but also in giving readers a vivid, heart-rending view of one family's devastation as it confronted the Third Reich. The Korbel's (Madeleine's parents) narrowly escape death, rebuilding their life in America. The story of Madeleine's assimilation as an American and her marriage into one of the country's most powerful media families is nearly as riveting as her rise to professional power in Washington, D.C. Dobbs knows how to get the inside facts, tell a great story and give enough analysis to be insightful but not overbearing. The parts which deal with the revelation of Albright's Jewish heritage, and Dobbs' confrontation with Albright about her history, are fascinating. The additional intrigues around possible stolen art work turn parts of this great biography into a good mystery as well. Thank you to Michael Dobbs for being bold and fair in revealing the inside story of one of the most amazing women of our time.

What a fabulous book! I couldn't put it down. Having read this book, I have a new appreciation for Madeleine Albright as a woman who raised her children and then started a career which took her to the top. Dobbs is deeply sensitive to this, and you get the feeling that even as she climbs the ladder to her ultimate success, she wonders whether she is up to the job that lies ahead. Don't we women all have this experience at one time or another, even as we stop what we are doing to raise our children? Dobbs seems to have presented Albright with the only family tree she has even seen. He found branches of her family she never knew existed. The tragedy which befell her family in the Holocaust is not in vain - at the end of a century which molded and shaped her family, she has found them all again. A riveting story and it's beautifully written - I highly recommend this book.

Michael Dobbs is the journalist who broke the story of Madeleine Albright's Jewish roots: his new book on America's first female Secretary of State is fascinating and masterfully written - THE book on how a Czech refugee girl made it to become the most powerful woman in the U.S. government. Dobbs has done a great deal of legwork, uncovering a number of new and revealing facts about Albright's past and her role model father.

Based on his extensive research Dobbs now argues that Albright almost certainly knew she was from a Jewish family - many of whom perished in the Holocaust - well before she has said that she did. Like many immigrants from Europe, Joseph Korbel, her father, wanted to put a fire wall between the tragic past and his new identity in the West. He instilled that drive for a new identity in his ambitious daughter, Dobbs says, and it propelled her to the top.

In light of the current Kosovo situation, with Albanian refugees fleeing their homeland in a harkening back to WWII, this first-rate book is mandatory reading for anyone who wants to understand the mind set of the Secretary of State and why we are involved in Kosovo.

The book begins by giving some personal information of Madeleine Albright's life and how she got into the position. Then the book moves into what the United Nations do as an organization. There is focus on peace and trying to better the world through commutation. The book explains how the United Nations brings food, shelter, and protection to countries around the world. The color photos in the book help to understand how much work the United Nations do on a daily basic. The pictures add to the well-written description of the United Nations and what Madeleine Albright does in her job. In the back of the book is a listing of dates that United Nations marks as observances as well as listings of others dealing with the United Nations.

"Seasons of Her Life" is an interesting biography about Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The author of this book, Ann Blackman, did a wonderful job examining the finer details of Albright's life. Blackman interviewed numerous people, including President Clinton, and other close friends and colleagues of Albright, which helps the reader understand the importance of Albright in the worldwide community. Yet, all of these interviews and information are buried in the back of the book. Blackman spends too much time focusing on Albright's father, Josef Korbel, and how Madeleine Albright's family ended up in the United States. While this information is important in understanding why Albright believes in the politics that she believes in, it does not do the reader any good if they cannot get through the inital chapters. This is a well researched and through book on Albright's life, a decent book if you do not get lost in the history.

A biography of just 300 pages, pernicious to any politician who would like to be taken as serious, as a US diplomat definitely probably would, it leaves the reader a mudlark about Madeleine Albright's successes as Secretary of State or achievements as a politician. I already have it gift-wrapped for my mother, who will probaly enjoy it more than I did (as a graduate in political studies).

Neither sassy nor seeking learned patronage, Blackman does nothing more than bandy a load of facts in her first book. One becomes reticent to believe she could ever have risen to be a deputy chief editor for a famous magazine because the reporting style used throughout is so unembellished.

The story of Madeleine's childhood and then time spent in London during the Second World War is very long, the future ambassador to the UN is still a young girl half-way through the book. There are some Eastern details of politics, of which I know little, so that was a highlight. It's arbitrary the importance of the cabinet positions and all the jobs of Madeleine Albright's father. Several recurring lengthy accounts are here of the publicized discovery of the fate of her grandparents during the war, and the cousin's life, who remained in Czechoslovakia, is also underpinned.

An example of the repetition: 'From an early age, she had learned to adapt, whether in language, culture, academic mores, or national politics' p.197.

Mostly, it seems that Blackman and Albright did not cooperate much in the production of this biography, probably because of the disparities and oppositions in the way their individual careers evolved: Albright does appear to have been in the catbird seat for a long time after her arrival to America, before slipping into highly responsible, visible and plum political roles. She had, after all, married newspaper magnet man Joseph Albright, and she had all the right connections and was well set for the political perfection which followed, with some of her own hard work and contacts (note the Golden Girls' supper reunions).

This is, simply, not a biography illustrated by the political career for which the subject is more known for.

It's hard to put this book down. The book is filled with such intriguing details, vivid historical background and fascinating personal information about Madeline Albright, her family and those around her throughout her life. Ann Blackman's style of writing makes the words fly off the page into the readers imagination. This coupled with the extensive variety of sources used for relaying insight into the individual, Madeline, make this book a must read. The remarkable road to Secretary of State, and the Seasons of her Life, Madeline Albright are a testimonial for American opportunities.

I work "inside the beltway" and Mr. Blood's book should be praised for its attempt to put Secretary Albright on a pedastal. The media today takes great pleasure in tearing down the character of politicians, atheletes, etc. But this book cannot be taken seriously; it is too one-sided in its portrayal of Ms. Albright and the issues Mr. Blood writes about are too "cut and dried" by his account. Shame on him - with his experiences in Washington he should know such issues are imbued with plots, subplots, and unknown factors. Mr. Blood's experience as a lobbyist comes through in his writing, as he could no doubt convince Americans that Washington DC has cool, dry summers. I wish Mr. Blood better luck in his future attempts.

I was really dissapointed by this book. Maybe if the author could have been able to get past his admiration for Albright, the book would have been a little bit more focused and not so gushy. Albright could do no wrong in this book. She was made to look flawless; to me, she was not credible. I really respect Madeline Albright, but this book was just so jaded with flattery and soft liberal overtones. I would recommend Ann Blackman's Season of Her Life; it is a little bit better.

Political biographies have more than there share of critics .Everyone thinks they could do a better job than that of the person holding office. Blood did a good job of showing the history of Madeline Albright and what she was bringing to the table. It was refreshing to 'not see' the usual bashing of a Washington Woman who Blood himself called "tough-as-nails." The only biographies most people think are "balanced' are those that tear apart the subjects accomplishments. After reading this book I felt positive and hopeful for other women in politics and passed it along to my daughter, a political science major at Harvard.(she also enjoyed it.)

I agree with the other reviewers. I, too, was looking forward to a critical and well-argued review of Albright's career. Instead, this book is page upon page of thin fawning and simplistic worship. Just for fun, I tried to find one single paragraph critical of Albright in the chapter on her relationship with Powell. I couldn't find one.

Where was the editor when this book was being written? Why was this author chosen to write this biography? Surely there must be credible authors able to recount a far more analytical and balanced story than Thomas Blood.

The fact that this book even got published makes my head smart with incredulity; there is no political objectivity or critical analysis to be found anywhere on the printed pages nor is there any scholarly, in-depth research on the life of our country's first woman Secretary of State. In the author's eyes, if one can call him that, Madeline Albright is the goddess of the State Department, and that's that. This book is astounding in that it is so terrible; it is nothing but shoddy work -- a meandering diatribe that resembles a poorly written fifth grade book report. To say more would be a waste of space and time...

Very disapointing. I picked up this book to find out about how Secretary Albright became what she is now. I was looking forward to reading about her upbringing, college years, and her climb up the diplomatic ranks. Instead, I read pages upon pages of flattering, completely subjective, congratulatory material that to me, seemed to serve only one purpose -- to show why Albright is the best Secretary of State American people have ever had and will ever have. The author is entitled to his own opinion, of course, but I would expect a more academic, probing, and interesting analysis of a great stateswoman's career in a definitive biography. Every sentence in this book is permeated with utter love and enthusiasm for the Clinton Administration and Secretary Albright, with a very little layer of objective examination of the subject at hand. I think I'll pick up a different biography of Madelaine Albright next time.