Jimmy Carter was born in 1924, in Plains, Georgia. His mother worked as a registered nurse at the hospital where he was born, and he is actually the first person to become President of the United States who was born in a hospital. I thought that was a really interesting fact. His family made their living as cotton farmers, going back several generations. Some of his relatives owned slaves, though slavery was outlawed by the time President Carter was born. His father did treat his black workers respectfully and allowed his son to interact with them, but he was firmly of the segregationist mindset. He attended public school, where he was a good student. He also played on the basketball team and joined Future Farmers of America. Of course there are a lot more facts about President Carter than just these basic ones, but this book does focus on his childhood experiences, not his Presidential ones.

I did appreciate that he didn't write this book to make himself appear grand or hide his family's issues. A lot of people try to present themselves and their families in the best possible light, and it did seem like he was very open and honest about things. I've lived in Tennessee my entire life, except for a couple of years in Georgia, so I am familiar with a Southern childhood. I find that I had several personal experiences that were similar, though across generations. A lot of these issues mentioned in this book still occur in the present day South, and if anyone tells you different, they are blind or lying. Overall, I found the book to be a pleasant read and interesting. If you are interested in Presidents, this might be a good book for you.