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No Such Thing As a Bad Day: A Memoir
The former White House chief-of-staff recalls his youth in the civil rights-era South, his years in Washington during the Carter administration, and his battle with three different types of cancer.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 29, 2018
I love this man. I knew him well. A funnier, kinder, and smarter man has never lived. I have quietly thought if he was still alive that he would be the kind of president we need.
If you or a loved one has cancer or any struggles with health or if you’d just like to sit a spell with an incredible human, this book is worth the read.
If you or a loved one has cancer or any struggles with health or if you’d just like to sit a spell with an incredible human, this book is worth the read.
June 14, 2017
I enjoyed the mix of politics, history and health. It is one of those books that inspires readers to look deeper into some of the topics and issues raised by the author. Hamilton Jordan also writes very matter-of-factly about cancer. I appreciated the information and strongly recommend this book to others who are dealing with prostate cancer.
July 11, 2018
It’s interesting to go back in time with Jordan. His personal fights with three cancers, Agent Orange, the Vietnam War, early Georgia civil rights, Clinton and Carter all live in this short memoir. Plus it was calming to read some nice stories in a time of Trump.
Hamilton Jordan was a good man. We could use a few more of him in Georgia and DC.
Hamilton Jordan was a good man. We could use a few more of him in Georgia and DC.
May 24, 2023
This memoir inspired every emotion under the sun: I laughed, I cried, I became enraged, and more. I wish some of the accounts had been more detailed - I like a memoir that gets into the nitty gritty and delves deeper into a person's opinions and feelings. I would recommend this book to anyone because there is almost definitely some element that will appeal to every type of reader.
July 19, 2017
Then-cancer survivor story. A slim, easy read. Unfortunately Ham is no longer with us. I got to spend an afternoon with him while he was promoting this book and he was terrific company.
March 25, 2018
This book was an interesting and easy read, with lots of American political history tidbits and inspiration for those dealing with cancer (or really any type of recurrent challenge).
March 11, 2017
So what is this book? Is it the biography of a man deal with three different, and yet no less severe, forms of cancer over the years? Is it the story of a man's life as he experience historical events such as the Civil Right movement and the Vietnam War? Is it a defense of President Jimmy Carter? It's all those things and though I can enjoy a multi-layered story the way in which all these different elements and more are coming from the same person give the book, in my opinion, a lack of focus.
I picked this up because I am a like reading history. And though that is an aspect, it covers more width than depth. I was born in 1983 so Mr Jordan's political career was largely past by the time I became aware of politics. I had honestly never heard of Mr Jordan which is why I chose to pick it up as well. But I found the parts about smear campaigns by the owner of Studio 54, bitterness toward the Clinton's, and more petty and jealous.
Now I can see why this book would be beneficial to people battling cancer. It offers some positive and practical advice on dealing with those issues, but again I was looking for history/biography here not a top ten list of steps to take after being diagnosed with cancer.
I picked this up because I am a like reading history. And though that is an aspect, it covers more width than depth. I was born in 1983 so Mr Jordan's political career was largely past by the time I became aware of politics. I had honestly never heard of Mr Jordan which is why I chose to pick it up as well. But I found the parts about smear campaigns by the owner of Studio 54, bitterness toward the Clinton's, and more petty and jealous.
Now I can see why this book would be beneficial to people battling cancer. It offers some positive and practical advice on dealing with those issues, but again I was looking for history/biography here not a top ten list of steps to take after being diagnosed with cancer.
July 20, 2009
Heard Jordan interviewed on NPR recently - not sure why because this book was written in 2000... but he must have been interviewed for something and the book sounded good. It was an easy read - read it this afternoon - a beautiful summer day - perfect for this kind of thing. I can't say why I'm not exactly wild about it - perhaps I was expecting more - I don't know. There were a few times when I laughed out loud - sadly about his father's experience with the changing situation of the segregation of blacks in the south and the father's responses.
A good read about what it was like to deal with cancer - three times. Realistic, informative, inspiring woven between his time in Washington, relationship with Jimmy Carter and the politics of the time as well as the parts of the civil rights movement and Vietnam. Very interesting part about his Uncle who was the black sheep of the family - I won't spoil it for you as to why but it certainly shaped Hamilton in a good way.
A good read about what it was like to deal with cancer - three times. Realistic, informative, inspiring woven between his time in Washington, relationship with Jimmy Carter and the politics of the time as well as the parts of the civil rights movement and Vietnam. Very interesting part about his Uncle who was the black sheep of the family - I won't spoil it for you as to why but it certainly shaped Hamilton in a good way.
August 14, 2009
Great book I enjoyed reading about the adventures of his life I also did not know who this person was before reading the book. I thought it was amazing that he had 3 different cancers and survived all 3. After reading the book before doing my youtube review of it I did a wiki search of Hamilton Jordan to see what they posted and realized that he had cancer a 4th time totally different from the first 3 but this one he was not so lucky and passed away in May 2008... It adds a whole new meaning to the book. He lead a kind of Forrest Gump life with so many things happening to him and meeting so many famous people and being at the right place at the right time to do so.
Amazing life Mr. Jordan.
Great Job.
Amazing life Mr. Jordan.
Great Job.
August 30, 2014
Everyone remembers that Hamilton Jordan was Pres. Jimmy Carter's campaign manager and White House chief of staff. What many do not know is that Jordan later faced a monumental battle against cancer, which is detailed in this book, with some preventive tips. Jordan also details his experience in Vietnam when he was wounded and then rescued by a lawyer for whom I worked one summer while I was in law school. Small world, right? Cancer ultimately claimed Hamilton Jordan but not before he wrote this uplifting account of his life before and his fight against the killer disease.
December 9, 2008
This book is about Hamilton's very interesting journey through life with 3 different kinds of cancer, how he defeated them, and how his character has evolved. It shows how he learns to take life moment by moment and appreciate all the little things in life because you can lose them in the blink of an eye.
July 17, 2009
I really like biographies and memoirs because I like learning about people's lives. I wasn't as interested in the political part of this book as I was Hamilton's struggle with having cancer three times. His story is inspiring, especially since cancer has affected my family. I received this book after I ran a 5K for skin cancer here in Atlanta. I thought it was a great gift for all runners.
June 21, 2016
Not what the title implies, but a good read nonetheless. There were many bad days in this memoir, told in a matter-of-fact way with blame and some excusable bitterness. No bitterness about the cancers he endured, though. A hopeful look at how the difficulties life throws our way can help to make us better people.
May 22, 2008
He had 3 different cancers and beat them. It was a very interesting book and encouraging and gave some good ideas for cancer patients.
October 15, 2010
AMAZING! Well written. Really puts things in perspective!
January 16, 2011
Quick, enjoyable read. Mixes up front and personal bout with 3 cancers with some stories of the Carter Admin. Very interesting as personal history. A good read
January 31, 2016
Unremarkable in itself; but immensely sentimental.
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February 10, 2013A great and inspiring work by an outstanding American, who was also a UGA graduate.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews