Lessons from the Edge

A Memoir

By: Marie Yovanovitch

Narrated by: Marie Yovanovitch

Length: 17 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | An inspiring and urgent memoir by the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine—a pioneering diplomat who spent her career advancing democracy in the post-Soviet world, and who electrified the nation by speaking truth to power during the first impeachment of President Trump.

By the time she became US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch had seen her share of corruption, instability, and tragedy in developing countries. But it came as a shock when, in early 2019, she was recalled from her post after a smear campaign by President Trump’s personal attorney and his associates—men operating outside of normal governmental channels, and apparently motivated by personal gain. Her courageous participation in the subsequent impeachment inquiry earned Yovanovitch the nation’s respect, and her dignified response to the president’s attacks won our hearts. She has reclaimed her own narrative, first with her lauded congressional testimony, and now with this memoir.

A child of parents who survived Soviet and Nazi terror, Yovanovitch’s life and work have taught her the preciousness of democracy as well as the dangers of corruption. Lessons from the Edge follows the arc of her career as she develops into the person we came to know during the impeachment proceedings.

“A brilliant, engaging, and inspiring memoir from one of America’s wisest and most courageous diplomats—essential reading for current policymakers, aspiring public servants, and anyone who cares about America’s role in the world.”—Madeleine K. Albright

“At turns moving and gripping and always inspiring … a powerful testament to a uniquely American life well-lived and a remarkable career of dedicated public service at the highest levels of government.”—Fiona Hill, New York Times best-selling author of There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century

©2021 Marie Yovanovitch (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Heroic patriot's amazing story

I pre-ordered this book months in advance and finished the whole thing in a day and a half. I love the author, she has inspired me to a career in the foreign service, and I found the book as fascinating as her testimony.

Brave telling - common yet extraordinary story

Brave. Heroic. Every woman should read... so they know they are not alone.
Makes us proud of the Foreign service and without pomp drives home the devastating behavior of the prior administration that jeopardized us as a nation and jeopardized the Brave people of other nations .... yes even we in the US can fall under a thug regime.

But so remarkable was also the story of a woman just doing her best and believing in integrity and the greater good for herself and as a duty we should all inherently share. And so beautiful that it was so clear that she unremittingly believed in that for all nations.

Rising above the systemic and systematic subterfuge that women in any kind of authority or whose intelligence and ability poses a threat frequently experience.. it is hopeful.. against the worst odds (an orchestration by the oval offce).. this book is an American's friend, an international citizen's friend and a friend to any woman with an awful lot to give but continually facing terribly hard times.

Don't stray from integrity, don't stray from your deepest hopes for humanity.

Thank you for this book. 🌿

Must read

I am touched by the author’s willingness to share. Public servants are people who should be treated with respect. She deserved better treatment than she got. She paid quite a price for serving.

Excellent

Loved it Very well written and interesting from start to finish I really enjoyed her presentation.

So much more

Her life is so much more than the footnote of being targeted by the previous administration. This is a fascinating look at the need for diplomacy and the amazing people who do it.

The most important book of our time!

The most important book of our time. A must read for everyone. Very well done!

Thank you for your courage and your service to our country and democracy.

Every American should read this book so that we can all be on the same footing and learn and look forward from this historical event and to ensure that United States diplomats are supported in spreading democracy around the world. Americans also need to understand how we cannot play into the hands of the Russians and their spreading of misinformation which is destroying our democracy. Thank you for your courage and for Rising.

A Story that needed to be told.

I watched the impeachment hearings and was so impressed with Ambassador Yovanovitch. Her book shows her professionalism, bipartisanship and compassion. A true Patriot. Her love for her family and the countries she cared so much about is a wonderful story.

my hero!

Fascinating, prescient, autobio from another under-utilized, brilliant, fearless woman who meticulously followed the rules of government service, was part of history making events for 30 years, and bore the brunt of a vindictive man's witch hunt. Me too. You are my hero.

Excellent

Riveting telling of current events. Clear telling of personal experience within a misogynistic US bureaucracy.