Fascism: A Warning

Fascism: A Warning by Madeline Albright, 288 pages. Narrated by the author.

Secretary of State under President Clinton and currently a Professor of  Diplomacy at Georgetown University, Albright has written several books on political affairs and her role in them, now gives us a history of Fascism, from Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany, to many of our modern fascists. She gives us several defining attributes of "this extreme form of authoritarian rule," and tells us that in the end it is the leader's actions and not labels that are important.
Chapters on Hitler's rise and fall, Stalin and the early Cold War, Milosevic, and Putin are all informative and make for interesting reading. Albright has a great perspective on all of this and it is well-written, and a great book to listen to, as well.

Read My Pins

Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box by Madeleine Albright 176 pp.

Former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright is a collector of pins and brooches. Most of her collection is costume jewelry with some more expensive pieces. Some she purchased, others were gifted to her. The collection itself is not particularly remarkable. The intriguing part was how she used her pins as tools in her diplomatic duties. Frequently, her stance on issues was displayed right there on her dress or suit. The press learned to check on her jewelry before important meetings and negotiations. This is a quick, light read.