Not for the Faint of Heart

Lessons in Courage, Power, and Persistence

By: Wendy R. Sherman

Narrated by: Wendy R. Sherman

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Distinguished diplomat Ambassador Wendy Sherman brings listeners inside the negotiating room to show how to put diplomatic values like courage, power, and persistence to work in their own lives.

Few people have sat across from the Iranians and the North Koreans at the negotiating table. Wendy Sherman has done both. During her time as the lead US negotiator of the historic Iran nuclear deal and throughout her distinguished career, Wendy Sherman has amassed tremendous expertise in the most pressing foreign policy issues of our time. Throughout her life - from growing up in civil-rights-era Baltimore to stints as a social worker, campaign manager, and business owner to advising multiple presidents - she has relied on values that have shaped her approach to work and leadership: authenticity, effective use of power and persistence, acceptance of change, and commitment to the team. 

Not for the Faint of Heart takes listeners inside the world of international diplomacy and into the mind of one of our most effective negotiators - often the only woman in the room. She shows why good work in her field is so hard to do, and how we can learn to apply core skills of diplomacy to the challenges in our own lives. 

©2018 Wendy R. Sherman (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"This is an indispensable insider's account of America's negotiations with Iran and North Korea and a timely reminder of the importance of diplomacy. Sherman and her colleagues' struggles to make peace underscore how recently expertise and careful strategy were tangible realities of foreign policy, rather than lost arts. This book is also the personal saga of a woman navigating a generation of change in American politics. At an inflection point in our national conversations about diplomacy and gender, this book is illuminating on both fronts." (Ronan Farrow, contributing writer, The New Yorker, and author of War on Peace)

"Sharp and genuine, the book is as much a testament to [Ambassador Sherman's] accomplishments as it is a call to 'find common ground...[and] do good' in an increasingly polarized world. Insightful reading." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Wendy doesn't just write about the value of courage, power, and persistence, she lives it. She's an example that a strong negotiator can also be a humane mentor. Her work helped prevent a war and a stop a nuclear arms race. As someone who has been privileged to be Wendy's teammate and even more grateful to remain her friend, I know every reader will learn much from her story but even more from her example." (John Kerry, 68th US Secretary of State and author of Every Day Is Extra)

This book got me through marathon training

I loved listening to this. It was as if I got to sit down with Ambassador Sherman with a very large cup of tea, and then wine. For women looking for advice that beautifully harmonizes the personal and professional, I recommend without reservation. Very glad, also, that I listened to this. It works beautifully as an audio book.

This book was very informative.

I wanted lessons in courage, power, and persistence. I lost interest. I didn't hear lessons. I heard a boring monotone narration of the author's experience. Very informative, but wasn't helpful to me.

Wish I was president ...

...so that I could name Wendy Sherman to be Secretary of State. This book moves around chronologically but it isn't a history book. If anything it is psychological. In this book we don't simply see how negotiations end (we can see that in the newspaper). Instead we get insights into what it feels like to negotiate things like the Iran deal and having to handle relationships with multiple countries and different viewpoints at home.

This is not a review, but a correction

In Chapter 4 Mrs Sherman discusses flying into Baghdad. However, she references “Bagram”, which is in Afghanistan. I believe she meant “BIAP”. The correction should be made for future editions.

This book is amazing

Wow! This book is amazing! I identified with the author and am amazed at how good it is and so down to Earth. Perfect.

Profited much from this

Amy is another diplomat-author with rare talent to allow reader to permit others to " Listen to her THINK," AND, her thoughts "on the go" is extraordinarily, not unlike Dean Acheson, George Schultz, and Colin Powell's writings. I thoroughly enjoyed her stamina, sheer intellectual and emotional fortitude.

I was less impressed with her commitment to breaking personal promises, although that practice is rampant in our culture today.

I DO admire here promotion of women's interests, even though she does that in a forceful, harsh manner. I share her admiration of Madeleine Albright, but could not Disagree more with her promotion of the SOULLESS Hilary, even though I was forced to vote for Hiliary, because of Trump.

Author lacks personal qualities for TRUE GREATNESS .

An Encouraging Inside View of a Committed Person

On one hand the story of the completely unpredictable life of a person committed to living a useful life. On the other hand the inside story of dedication and persistence in negotiating a really difficult agreement under immense pressure, the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA). I give the story only 4 stars because I would have liked to hear even more of Sherman's story.

What a lady!

Mz. Sherman is straightforward and refreshing. I’m so proud of the work she did for us, and I’m so sad it was dissolved. I hope she has a chance to help rebuild what we can.