An Hour before Daylight (Abridged): Memories of a Rural Boyhood Audiobook, by Jimmy Carter Play Audiobook Sample

An Hour before Daylight (Abridged): Memories of a Rural Boyhood Audiobook

An Hour before Daylight (Abridged): Memories of a Rural Boyhood Audiobook, by Jimmy Carter Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Jimmy Carter Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: January 2001 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780743563703

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

8

Longest Chapter Length:

47:05 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

39:24 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

44:11 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

19

Other Audiobooks Written by Jimmy Carter: > View All...

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.

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"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

Overall Performance: 3.71428571428571 out of 53.71428571428571 out of 53.71428571428571 out of 53.71428571428571 out of 53.71428571428571 out of 5 (3.71)
5 Stars: 8
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 7
2 Stars: 3
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Like him or not, he was raised with amazing values. An excellent read. "

    — Patty, 1/25/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " you will like it "

    — Ammar, 1/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book gave me the clearest picture yet of what my father's generation was all about. "

    — Jim, 9/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A wonderful read about President Carter's growing up in Plains. Highly recommended. "

    — Jim, 9/2/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Nice perspective. "

    — Ruth, 4/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Stale with a few high points. "

    — Kathleen, 12/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " bought it at his house in georgia. reminds me of my grandpa's stories about growing up "

    — Amanda, 9/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is the greatest book ever written by a former President!!!!!!! "

    — Renee.serra, 10/28/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 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.