Former president Jimmy Carter died on December 29, 2024 at the age of 100. He was the 39th president of the United States, and is perhaps best remembered for his passion to resolve humanitarian issues.
James “Jimmy” Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. He graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1946, and went on to serve in the U. S. Navy for seven years until his father died. He then returned home to Plains to manage the family peanut farm. Carter got his start in politics when he served on the local board of education. He won the election as a Democrat to the Georgia state senate in 1962, and was reelected to that position for a second term in 1964. While he did not secure a third term as senator, he did go on to be elected governor in 1970.
Just before his term as governor ended in 1974, Carter announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president. He campaigned against President Gerald R. Ford, and won the election by a narrow margin in November of 1976. During his presidency, Carter was devoted to remaining a man of the people. He dressed in casual attire, spoke informally, and held frequent press conferences. He championed for international human rights, and successfully pursued the Camp David Accords, the Panama Canal Treaties, and the second round of Strategic Arms Limitations talks.
While Carter did not secure a second term as president, he continued to achieve greatness post-presidency. Carter pursued diplomatic efforts with the Middle East, North Korea, South Africa, and beyond. In 1982, he founded the Carter Center, a non-profit organization with the purpose of advancing human rights and alleviating human suffering in more than 80 countries. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to provide peaceful solutions to international conflicts and advance human rights. He was also dedicated to helping Americans in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, Harvey, and Irma.
Carter was also a prolific author, and penned over 30 books on a variety of topics. Continue reading to discover our selection of the best books by and about former president Jimmy Carter.
President Carter
Stuart Eizenstat worked as Chief Domestic Policy Adviser during Carter's presidency, and famously brought legal pads to every meeting. He drew on over 5,000 pages of his notes and hundreds of interviews to craft this definitive history of the Carter administration. From achievements like the return of the Panama Canal and brokering peace between Israel and Egypt to presidential blunders like the Iranian Hostage Crisis, this is a detailed and incisive account of four crucial years in the White House.
Jimmy Carter in Africa
In the mid-1970s, the Cold War was still playing out in Africa. This book examines how Jimmy Carter responded to challenges in Rhodesia and the Horn of Africa, while simultaneously grappling with pervasive racial injustice at home in the States, and argues that both issues were intertwined. Choice calls this account “an impressive historical work in every respect.”
A Full Life
In this book, Carter reflects on his long, successful life at 90 years old. He includes information about both his private and public lives, such as his youth in rural Georgia, his near-death experiences in the Navy, and his relationships with his parents and spouse. He discusses his greatest successes and admits to things he wishes he had done differently. This intimate survey of Carter’s life is the perfect book to gain a closer understanding of the former president and to honor his legacy.
This book was also the recipient of the 2016 Grammy Award for the Best Spoken Word Album.
A Call to Action
This bestselling book written by Carter explores what, in his opinion, is the most pervasive yet ignored violation of basic human rights: global violence against women. Carter addresses religious texts to reveal the key verses that are often omitted by male religious leaders to justify their treatment of women, which in many countries, becomes the basis for violence and abuse. Carter employs his own anecdotes as well as testimonies from courageous women around the world to bring the unjust treatment of over half of the world’s population to light.
Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis
Carter’s passionate belief in the separation of church and state comes to life in this book which touches upon the main topics frequently under debate as they pertain to Christianity and American law: abortion, homosexuality, the death penalty, women’s rights, and more. As a believing Christian himself, Carter warns against fundamentalism's deliberate blurring of the lines between politics and religion. Although this book was published in 2005, these topics remain extremely pervasive in today’s political climate, making this book a timely and informative read.
An Hour Before Daylight: Memories Of A Rural Boyhood
This powerful reflection on Carter’s youth in Depression-era Georgia offers insight into the racism and segregation of the South. Carter reflects upon his father, a strict segregationist who treated the Black workers on his farm differently, and his mother, a loving nurse who cared for all of those in need, regardless of their skin color. He touches upon his dear boyhood friends who could not attend the same school, and the eminent Black bishop who would stand in the front yard to discuss crops and politics with his father, but refused to come to the back door. This glimpse into his childhood explains the kind and equality-driven man Carter became in adulthood.
Everything to Gain
After becoming president, it would be hard to get the sense that any subsequent accomplishments hold the same amount of importance in your life. In this inspiring memoir by Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, the couple gives an earnest account of how they created new, full lives following their time at the White House.
From the Carters’ marriage to their humanitarian efforts, Everything to Gain uses the Carters’ personal experiences to instruct any couple undergoing a major career transition on how to renew their commitment to each other, and enjoy emotional, spiritual, and physical health.
