"These memoirs of an unusually wise and perceptive American diplomat provide rare insight into America at the apogee of its global power. Ambassador Newsom reminds us throughout that one of our greatest strengths is the diplomatic power of the United States in a complex world."-- Nicholas Burns, Professor, Harvard University, and former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs"David Newsom's memoirs are a deeply personal, witty, and wise account of the life of one of America's finest diplomats. Newsom combined an intuitive grasp of foreign cultures with a wry, self-deprecating sense of humor. During three decades in the field and in Washington, he was truly 'in the eye of the storm' as he met some of the major challenges our nation faced abroad. Crises brought out his most sterling qualities: competence, courage, and discipline."--Roscoe S. Suddarth, former U.S. Ambassador to Jordan