Leaving office in 2001 as America's first female Secretary of State, Albright considered the possibilities: she could write, teach, travel, give speeches, start a business, fight for democracy, help to empower women, campaign for favored political candidates, spend more time with her grandchildren. Instead of choosing one or two, she decided to do it all. Her memoir of the past twenty years is a haze of constant motion: navigating half a dozen professions, clashing with presidents and prime ministers, learning every day.

Afterlife -- Voice lessons -- From the ground up -- "Do not be angry" -- Quicksand -- Clubbing -- Professor Maddy -- Bulls -- Democrats with a small d -- A foothold -- Things unseen -- Advise and dissent -- Companions -- Digging out -- Making of the President 2008 -- First light -- Thought and purpose -- The serpent's tale -- Muscles in Brussels -- A bigger sea -- Puzzles -- Inferno -- R-E-S-P-E-C-T -- "You are just like your grandmother" -- Leaving -- Cradle of civilization -- Breathless -- Midnight -- A warning -- Unhinged -- Renewal -- Shadows and light -- Journal of Růžena Spieglová.