Play Audiobook Sample
An Hour before Daylight (Abridged): Memories of a Rural Boyhood Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.02) - 1,005 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
In an American story of enduring importance, Jimmy Carter recreates his Depression-era boyhood on a Georgia farm, before the civil rights movement that changed it and the country. Carter’s clean and eloquent prose evokes a time when the cycles of life were predictable and simple, and the rules were heartbreaking and complex. In his singular voice and with a novelist’s gift for detail, Jimmy Carter creates a sensitive portrait of an era that shaped the nation.
Download and start listening now!
"During the '07-08 Presidential campaign, I became obsessed with Presidential history. I saw the bio-documentary on Carter--Jonathan Demme's MAN FROM PLAINS--and then began reading books by and about Carter. This one is lovely--a spare, quiet account of his childhood in Plains, GA. You learn so much about him--the man he is, the way he approached governing, why he may have failed as a politician and returned to Plains exactly the same person he was when he left. You get a deep sense of life on an entrepreneurial farm in post-depression America, and of life in the rural South--what's changed and what hasn't. If you're interested in rural or small-farm life, and not at all interested in politics or Jimmy Carter, you'll still enjoy this a lot, maybe even more."
— Sonya (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“More than just an engaging memoir, this book is first-rate social history, a portrait of a subculture of America…a genetic road map of the making of a president.”
— Baltimore Sun -
“Carter’s recollections make abundantly clear the high principles that shaped not only his youth but his entire life.”
— Booklist -
“Not since Abraham Lincoln have Americans become as familiar with another humble U.S. President raised in the heart of farm country as they are with Jimmy Carter…an inspirational story of a family pulling together during tough times while living with dignity and the resultant respect and goodness that propelled a young boy to become a kind and revered leader.”
— AudioFile -
“Carter’s great strengths as a memoirist are his fairness in critiquing the past and his appreciation of what he gained from living in a closely-knit community…As he describes his family, his high school years, and a simpler way of life he vividly evokes a place that offered a priceless sense of belonging to something larger than self.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
-
A New York Times bestseller
-
A 2002 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Biography/Autobiography
An Hour before Daylight Listener Reviews
-
" Jimmy Carter's memoir of his childhood in rural Georgia. Okay, not really a five-star book, but definitely a five-star author. "
— Elizabeth, 2/17/2014 -
" This book gives the reader a wonderful insight into why President Carter has such a wonderful spirit and is in such close touch with the common man. "
— Gary, 2/6/2014 -
" I got very interested to Jimmy Carter though I didn't know him a lot before I read this book. I'm very eager to know what happened to his term as a president of the United States of America because of this wonderful book. "
— Allen, 1/29/2014 -
" Like him or not, he was raised with amazing values. An excellent read. "
— Patty, 1/25/2014 -
" you will like it "
— Ammar, 1/19/2014 -
" This was mainly an account of life in the depression as told from Jimmy Carter's family perspective. It was interesting and he has a nice writing style. "
— Patrick, 1/2/2014 -
" As fast as the world moves these days, it's a shame everyone's parents and grandparents don't write a memoir like this. "
— Scott, 12/30/2013 -
" Great memoir by the former president of his growing up years. Definitely you can see how important Plains is to him. "
— Debbe, 10/14/2013 -
" Great picture of what life was like in the first half of the 20th century, chamber pots and straw mattresses. Also an interesting portrait of the Carter family. "
— Kevin, 10/3/2013 -
" I read this for a book group. It was better than I thought it was going to be, but a little boring for me. "
— Christa, 10/3/2013 -
" This book gave me the clearest picture yet of what my father's generation was all about. "
— Jim, 9/20/2013 -
" A wonderful read about President Carter's growing up in Plains. Highly recommended. "
— Jim, 9/2/2013 -
" Enjoyable. Exactly what the subtitle says: Memories of a Rural Boyhood. It could have been any boy growing up in Atlanta. And then you stop and think, "this little country boy grew up to be a President of the US. Huh!" "
— Kristen, 7/27/2013 -
" This should be required reading for all teenagers. Its a perfect slice of what life was like back when Carter was a teen. Times sure have changed! Dont worry, he doesnt discuss politics. :) "
— Princessfaz, 7/17/2013 -
" I'm not exactly sure why, but I really enjoyed this book. I liked hearing about rural GA at the beginning of the 20th century and it was refreshing to hear how much respect Carter had for his parents. "
— Ginger, 12/31/2012 -
" Interesting to read his thoughts on why he didn't question the relationship between his family and blacks. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of life in south Georgia compared to my mother's memories of growing up in Atlanta at about the same time. "
— Becca, 12/3/2012 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Some of the images painted by words brought me back to remembered scenes of my own childhood in rural MS and the blessed goodness that neighbors shared amongst themselves. "
— Leslie, 11/23/2012 -
" Good but not great book. Anyone who has read this however would have a much better appreciation for his recent comments about racism. "
— Alisa, 7/21/2012 -
" Carter writes an endearing portrait of growing up in the rural South without glossing over some of the stark realities of how he, his family, and his community treated African-Americans. "
— LWA, 7/13/2012 -
" Nice perspective. "
— Ruth, 4/24/2012 -
" Very enjoyable book. Completely free of politics. Loved to hear in incredible detail what it was like growing up in the south in the '40s, '50s and beyond "
— Phil, 2/28/2012 -
" Stale with a few high points. "
— Kathleen, 12/18/2011 -
" bought it at his house in georgia. reminds me of my grandpa's stories about growing up "
— Amanda, 9/30/2011 -
" This was a very nice read (or more accurately I should say listen since I was driving). I don't remember too much of Mr. Carter's presidency since I was young, but I'm glad to hear he is doing so much for world peace today. "
— Suzanne, 7/31/2011 -
" Interesting and revealing history of a president who had a lot of problems to deal with, but who still did as much as he could, and had a very productive post-presidency. Very interesting reading. "
— Kaworu, 4/17/2011 -
" ugh - over my head, not ready for such a politically steeped book. I gave it a shot - about 100 pages - but not enough time to sort it all out. "
— Katie, 2/5/2011 -
" This is the greatest book ever written by a former President!!!!!!! "
— Renee.serra, 10/28/2010 -
" I enjoyed the "inside view" of the Carter Whitehouse. "
— Chris, 9/26/2010
About Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter was the thirty-ninth president of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. In 1982, he and his wife founded the Carter Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people around the world. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He is the author of thirty books, including A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety; A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power; An Hour Before Daylight: Memoirs of a Rural Boyhood; and Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis.