Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House

by Jared Cohen Narrated by Kevin R. Free

Overview

New York Times Bestseller

New York Times bestselling author of Accidental Presidents explores what happens after the most powerful job in the world: President of the United States.

Former presidents have an unusual place in American life. King George III believed that George Washington's departure after two terms made him “the greatest character of the age.” But Alexander Hamilton worried former presidents might “[wander] among the people like ghosts.” They were both right.

Life After Power tells the stories of seven former presidents, from the Founding to today. Each changed history. Each offered lessons about how to decide what to do in the next chapter of life.

Thomas Jefferson was the first former president to accomplish great things after the White House, shaping public debates and founding the University of Virginia, an accomplishment he included on his tombstone, unlike his presidency. John Quincy Adams served in Congress and became a leading abolitionist, passing the torch to Abraham Lincoln. Grover Cleveland was the only president in American history to serve a nonconsecutive term. William Howard Taft became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Herbert Hoover shaped the modern conservative movement, led relief efforts after World War II, reorganized the executive branch, and reconciled John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency in American history, advancing humanitarian causes, human rights, and peace. George W. Bush made a clean break from politics, bringing back George Washington's precedent, and reminding the public that the institution of the presidency is bigger than any person.

Jared Cohen explores the untold stories in the final chapters of these presidents' lives, offering a gripping and illuminating account of how they went from President of the United States one day, to ordinary citizens the next. He tells how they handled very human problems of ego, finances, and questions about their legacy and mortality. He shows how these men made history after they left the White House.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Informative...Mr. Cohen shows himself to be a gifted artist in his own right.... [A] highly readable sequel that confirms the promise of the author’s earlier work.” —Wall Street Journal

“Displays an impressive breadth of sources and erudition... Life After Power is a richly rewarding and thought-provoking read.” —David J. Garrow, Free Beacon

“An affable exploration of life after the presidency. With a storyteller’s verve, he profiles seven presidents... [A] fresh and informative take on presidential history. —Publishers Weekly

“The author packs this expansive sweep of presidential history with enough storytelling verve and grounded research to legitimize these presidents’ underrepresented post-term stories... An engaging dip into the history of the presidency.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

“A captivating look at how we find purpose and forge identity in the wake of major transitions. Life After Power breaks new ground by revealing who presidents become once they leave office. This isn’t just a riveting read for people fascinated by history, politics, or power—it’s brimming with insights for anyone who’s ever wondered, 'What’s next?'"—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking

“Most of us will face a dilemma as we grow older: how to have a next act in life that’s fulfilling. The greatest of all these transitions are made by people who suddenly find themselves as former presidents. Jared Cohen tells fascinating tales, filled with color and life lessons, of how seven of them handled it, from Washington to George W. Bush.” —Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Elon Musk and Steve Jobs

“For anyone facing a big career transition, Life After Power stands as a master class in professional reinvention, strategic adaptation, and even personal growth. This book shows how a number of former Presidents significantly increased their impact after stepping away from the world’s most powerful job. The lessons in this immensely readable work of applied history can be valuable to everyone. Highly recommended!” —Reid Hoffman, Co-founder of Linked-In, Co-Founder of Inflection AI

“Jared Cohen takes a unique and fascinating look at how seven individuals made the transition from the most powerful position in the world to consequential and fulfilling private lives post-presidency. The stories of Life After Power reveal a great deal about the true character of a leader.” —Condoleezza Rice, 66th Secretary of State and Director of the Hoover Institution, Stanford University

"In Life After Power, Jared Cohen has tackled a fascinating question: How do you find purpose after having wielded unimaginable power? His portraits of seven presidents provide seven different models. You will learn something new from each one and together they will make you reflect on what gives meaning to life, especially after the bright lights have dimmed and the crowds have gone away." —Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS and author of Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World

"Life After Power is for those who want to keep building whether entrepreneur, leader, or anyone else who's navigating their next phase in life." —Marc Andreessen, cofounder, Netscape and Andreessen Horowitz

"Jared Cohen captures, with great humor and depth, the introspection and actions taken by Americans who have been entrusted with great power finding purpose when their time on the main stage is over. The wonderful mix of the personal and historical will leave every reader asking themselves about purpose in life. Read it!" —Mike Pompeo, 70th secretary of state

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2024-01-04
A survey of the rewarding post-term afterlives of seven U.S. presidents.

“Between their last day in office and their last day on earth, former presidents have a finite amount of time to make their marks upon the world,” writes Cohen, an executive at Goldman Sachs. This follow-up to Accidental Presidents focuses on seven former presidents who made the most of their remaining time. In some cases, their post-term accomplishments far exceeded those made in office, greatly enhancing their legacies. Thomas Jefferson’s years of political service, including two presidential terms, were less satisfying to him than his dream of designing and establishing the University of Virginia. John Quincy Adams’ second act as a House Representative provided him with a platform to lead the abolitionist movement. Grover Cleveland became the only president who, after leaving office, would later serve another term. Lackluster one-term presidents William Howard Taft and Herbert Hoover had more success later, as well: Taft served as chief justice of the Supreme Court for a decade, and Hoover’s post–World War II humanitarian efforts eclipsed his notoriously unpopular presidential term during the early years of the Great Depression. Cohen’s recent examples are Jimmy Carter, who “transformed being a former into a platform” in what is the lengthiest post-term period to date, tirelessly attending to altruistic causes throughout the world, and George W. Bush, who chose to remove himself from politics altogether, which increased his approval rating and allowed him to dedicate time to personal pursuits such as painting. The author packs this expansive sweep of presidential history with enough storytelling verve and grounded research to legitimize these presidents’ underrepresented post-term stories. Cohen effectively proves that, for these seven men, “life doesn’t end with the job that will be the first line of their obituaries.”

An engaging dip into the history of the presidency.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159208392
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	02/13/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	818,133

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