"Jacques Chirac is so alive in these memoirs - whether it's recounting meetings with the great figures of his time or sitting around a dinner table in conversation or fighting it out in the epic political battles of his career. This is a self portrait of a humanist concerned above all with justice, fighting extremism from any political quarter. In page after page, he offers a lucid view on life's big issues." - "Les Echos"

"What would the recent history of France be without Chirac?! It would be missing that jovial laughter, an expansive vision, which Chirac never stopped pointing at the world. It would be missing - I dare use the word - class. His memoirs prove that growing old needn't stop one from remaining young and relevant."-- "Le Point"

"When he speaks, the whole world listens! With his memoirs the former president steals the show even after leaving the presidential palace." -"Paris Match""

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"[Chirac] crafts tart, vivid critiques of people and policies, including extended attacks on Israeli policy toward the Palestinians and on Bush's rush into the Iraq War... revealing."--"Publishers Weekly"

"[A] candid memoir from France's former two-term president...Chirac offers American readers a close-up portrait of a truly old-school French politician...Citizenship, leadership and service combine in this memoir of a full political life."--"Kirkus Reviews"

Jacques Chirac is a lifelong French politician and one of the most charismatic figures of twentieth century politics. He was president of France from 1995 to 2007. He also served as Prime Minister of France twice in the 1970s and 1980s, and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995. He is best known for being one of the most prominent international opponents of the Bush administration's intention to go to war in Iraq. He also worked to abate nuclear armament, banning the further continuation of nuclear tests in France.