Her dismissal from post in Kyiv marked a cruel end to the illustrious career of one of the most respected diplomats in the U.S. “Ambassador Yovanovitch was the victim of a vicious ‘political mugging,’ driven by the private interests of numerous individuals in Ukraine and America, including, most shockingly, the President of the United States. More than essential reading, Lessons from the Edge is thoroughly engaging, and impossible to put down, showing us how a very private, even introverted, career diplomat, overcame the most vicious of smear campaigns to become a foreign service legend.”

Her deeply personal account is essential reading for anyone interested in how diplomacy really works, and how a selfless public servant can stand up to even the most powerful man in the world. “First through the breach, Ambassador Yovanovitch showed Americans what courage and patriotism looks like when she risked everything by speaking truth to power, and exposing corruption in the highest offices in the land. Lessons from the Edge follows the arc of her career as she develops into the person we came to know during the impeachment proceedings. She has reclaimed her own narrative, first with her lauded congressional testimony, and now with this memoir.Ī child of parents who survived Soviet and Nazi terror, Yovanovitch’s life and work have taught her the preciousness of democracy as well as the dangers of corruption. But it came as a shock when, in early 2019, she was recalled from her post after a smear campaign by President Trump’s personal attorney and his associates-men operating outside of normal governmental channels, and apparently motivated by personal gain. Her courageous participation in the subsequent impeachment inquiry earned Yovanovitch the nation’s respect, and her dignified response to the president’s attacks won our hearts.

AlbrightĪn inspiring and urgent memoir by the ambassador who electrified the nation by speaking truth to power.īy the time she became US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch had seen her share of corruption, instability, and tragedy in developing countries. “ Lessons From the Edge is a brilliant, engaging, and inspiring memoir from one of America’s wisest and most courageous diplomats-essential reading for current policymakers, aspiring public servants, and anyone who cares about America’s role in the world.” -Madeleine K.

Lessons from the edge a memoir