Wendy R. Sherman

Wendy Sherman was Undersecretary of State during the Obama administration and lead negotiator on the Iran deal. This book covers her experience as a political activist as well as her time at State. It's an interesting behind-the-scenes look at high diplomacy, as well as a manifesto of the morality that can be expressed in what's often seen as a cynical line of work. Sherman also writes about the lessons and conclusions she drew from her experience in a way which is relevant to a wide range of lives and workplaces, but never tries to stretch the analogy too far to fit (a book that was written with an eye to how it would be promoted might have tried to explain how her negotiation experience was relevant for a pay negotiation or a conversation with a family member - fortunately Sherman never does that).… (plus d'informations)

During her years of distinguished service in the State Department, Ambassador Sherman seems to have adopted the style of diplomatic writing. That's not a criticism, because despite the stereotyped description of that style, it is concise and factual. But after three decades of reading and writing it, I'm tired. Amb. Sherman transcends the style quite often in this memoir framed by the lengthy negotiations that achieved the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aka the Iran deal. She can't relate everything she knows about the negotiations but she skillfully summarizes the tenor of talks, the juggling act that eventually balanced the concerns of all the parties to the agreement and the success of the negotiations. She doesn't discuss the negative effects of President Trump's decision to withdraw from the agreement, but her account makes it clear what we are losing by doing so. Ambassador Sherman's book will not be read widely, and that is a damned shame!… (plus d'informations)