This is a really great memoir. I wasn’t familiar with the author before reading this, but I was really moved by her approach to life.

✍️ Generally, memoirs like this, telling stories of self-made individuals, are divided into two parts. The first part narrates the unfavorable environment in which the person was born and grew up, while the second part details the road to success. What I like and found freshing about this memoir is its focus on Ruth Simmons' childhood and teenage years. Simmons writes clearly about every transitional moment she experienced during her schooling years, against the backdrop of her family's poverty and the segregated America of the 1950s.

Yeah - this wasn’t for me. It was verbose for no reason - and the parts of the authors life I was most interested were summarized in the last 5 pages

Remarkable subject matter but the narrative is rather dry and superficial. Reads like a first or second draft.

Ruth Simmons memoir | From daughter of sharecroppers | To a college prez

Such an incredible story: born to sharecroppers, one of twelve children, she would eventually become the first Black president of an Ivy League university. This felt like part one of what would be an extraordinary story, but the book ended. And I wanted, needed, more. I found her childhood stories inspiring and wanted to hear more about her academic admiration journey. Hoping we see more in the future.

This book is beautiful written and moving, Ruth has such an inspiring story and I would recommend this read to anyone

Very moving and thoughtful. Recommended reading about the first African-American woman to serve as President of Smith College and Brown University.