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Staying True Audiobook
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(3.00) - 455 listener ratings
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In this candid and compelling memoir, the first lady of South Carolina reveals the private ordeal behind her very public betrayal—and offers inspiration for anyone struggling to keep faith during life’s most trying times. She’s been a successful investment banker, a mother of four, and the campaign manager for one of American politics’ rising stars—her husband, Mark Sanford of South Carolina, once widely hailed as a possible candidate for president in 2012. Yet to most Americans, Jenny Sanford is best known for the one role she refused to play—that of conventional political spouse standing silently by while her husband went before the media and confessed his infidelity. Instead, she stayed true—to herself, to her faith, and to her highest ideals of parenthood and public service. She chose to let Mark Sanford deal with the embarrassment and political fallout from his own actions while focusing her own efforts privately on raising their children to be men of character, even in the face of the lies their father has told. In Staying True, Jenny Sanford recalls her shock and anguish upon discovering that her husband was having an affair with a woman in Argentina, and the further pain when she learned—just a day ahead of most Americans—that he had not ended the affair when she believed he had. She reveals the source of her determination to be honest and forthright instead of the victim in the tabloid passion play that gripped the nation in June 2009. But her story neither begins nor ends with Mark Sanford’s astounding fall from grace. Writing with uncommon candor from a deep well of spiritual strength, Sanford shares personal stories and life lessons from before and after she stepped into the public realm. She recounts the many stresses—as well as the myriad joys—that she experienced on a daily basis while living in the governmental spotlight. (Just try keeping four young boys out of mischief in the governor’s mansion!) And she describes the many ways that the seductions of power can drive apart even the most committed couples. At every step along her journey, Jenny Sanford has made choices: She gave up her career, moved far from her home state of Illinois, even changed her religious practices. Every choice was a glad concession to harmonious married life and, in some cases, to the support of her husband’s political aspirations. But the one thing she never gave up was her sense of self, her inner moral compass. Her remarkable poise and decency make her a role model for men and women alike. Her story will empower anyone who has fought to maintain independence and integrity—within a marriage or elsewhere in life.
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"This was a good book. Despite great faith, solid midwestern values, a willingness to help her husband in any way possible, and dedication to family life, it takes two to make a good marriage. He simply was not as committed to the relationship or the family, and it was disturbing to discover this."
— MaryHelen (4 out of 5 stars)
Staying True Listener Reviews
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" Take out the religious mumbo jumbo and this book could be 1 chapter long. Pathetic chapter at that. Condensed version : Two religious nut-jobs marry with wife wanting to breed, nest and raise many religious nut-job kids. Hubby ambitious and wants to bang as much poon-tang and climb as many mountains as possible. Match made in hell. "
— Junaid, 2/13/2014 -
" Very good book and this lady is one in a million! She has the patience of Job and such a forgiving nature in her. A worthy read for ladies. "
— V.K., 2/12/2014 -
" awesome story about how she persevered through her husband's scandalous affair and kept her sanity and perspective on life. Every woman who's been scorned should read this book to see how a class act gets through it. "
— Quinlanq, 2/5/2014 -
" I listened to this book. I was interested in her version of her relationship with Mark Sanford, philandering governor of South Carolina and hypocritical family values politician. I knew there would be some mention of God and religion but she stuck to the story, pretty much, and was amazingly fair to the jerk she was married to. "
— Mary, 2/2/2014 -
" "Its a good book. It makes you wonder why she married him to begin with." "
— Becky, 2/1/2014 -
" Having not stood by her husband and having decided to leave him as he publically spoke of his lover being his soulmate, I was curious about Jenny Sanford. Unfortunatley, she comes across as "holier than thou." There is no real emotion; rather, it is a recitation of facts and events. There had to be raw pain and rage but you never get any sense of that. I wish it had been a truer snapshot of her. "
— Joel, 1/30/2014 -
" This lady talked about God. A LOT. Yeah, I get it - she's from a republican Catholic family and married a Southern right-wing freak, but really now? That's a lot of God talk and Bible quotes I never want to know about. Maybe it's because I'm grossed out by religion, but I could have done without all the preaching. Good story about the inner workings of a political southern family, so, you know, whatever. "
— Casey, 1/29/2014 -
" Interesting book. Happy a political wife finally left her cheating husband. "
— Carrie, 1/16/2014 -
" They're both idiots. "
— Cheri, 1/11/2014 -
" This books is okay. However she lets Mark Sanford off to easily by making excuses for his behavior. "
— Cherita, 1/8/2014 -
" An interesting autobiography of Mrs. Sanford and her life standing by her political husband, Mark. She shows what a strong woman she is and how she got through the difficulty of her husband's public infidelity. "
— Kathy, 12/19/2013 -
" More about her husband's life than about hers, but it does explain much about Sanford's demons. "
— Amanda, 12/14/2013 -
" true to husband, not true to self. disappointing fall for a woman who should have read the signs. "
— Sherry, 11/23/2013 -
" Good book. Enough background information to tell the complete story. I really admired the strength she showed. "
— Angela, 11/11/2013 -
" Finally someone who does what is right instead of what is politically expedite. "
— Anita, 10/27/2013 -
" Completely by coincidence, I have been reading this book while also reading "When A Woman Meets Jesus" by Dorothy Valcarcel. Jenny Sanford could easily fit in among Valcarcel's lineup of women who were dealt less than desirable circumstances yet emerged victorious because of their faith in God. "
— Sarah, 9/21/2013 -
" Well written and fascinating. I read it in one day. "
— Karen, 7/9/2013 -
" Its a good book. It makes you wonder why she married him to begin with. "
— Theresa, 6/16/2013 -
" Bought it in the airport since it was marked down and read it on the plane. "
— Wendy, 3/10/2013 -
" Great book! Tough story. "
— Tina, 1/8/2013 -
" This book was much more about Jenny's walk of faith through a very difficult time in her life than it was any kind of expose or tell-all book about her husband's very public betrayal of their marriage. I found it to be a testimony of how God prevails no matter what...when we choose to believe Him. "
— Bednarzterry, 10/31/2012 -
" A quick read - I enjoyed reading an intellegent account of how one woman compromised in order to be married and raise a family. Sanford speaks with strength and focus about herself , her family, her marriage,faith, politics, and moving on! I found this book insightful. "
— Emily, 8/19/2012 -
" This memoir by the cheating S.C. governor's ex-wife suffers b/c the only interesting part of her story is the actual details of the cheating--and she starts with her and her husband's childhoods! "
— Diana, 7/7/2012 -
" Interesting story about a failed marriage and a very public humiliation. Based on the stories she recounts it seems that she should have known from the start that her husband was not a nice man. It seemed that she used religion to explain away much of his self-centered behavior. "
— Stacey, 6/21/2012 -
" A story of a broken marriage and a political career destroyed.....two strong minded people, the choices they made and the results of not assuming the responsibilities that go with every advantage. A story told by one of them. "
— Susan, 3/23/2012 -
" Didn't share much more information than has already been reported in the news. I saw her on the "View" where she shared that she has started dating. She seems like a very strong person who has moved on. "
— Patti, 3/15/2012 -
" I was impressed with Jenny Sanford's faith and resilience. I didn't know until reading this book that she's Catholic, though she practiced her husband's faith while with him. I think I liked Elizabeth Edwards' memoir better, but Ms. Sanford's is worth a read, too. "
— Grace, 4/21/2011 -
" If she was seeking sympathy in writing this book (which I'm not entirely sure she was, but...), she will not get it. Her husband was a cad, though her behavior wasn't any better. "
— Elizabeth, 4/7/2011 -
" This books is okay. However she lets Mark Sanford off to easily by making excuses for his behavior. "
— Cherita, 4/2/2011 -
" Interesting story about a failed marriage and a very public humiliation. Based on the stories she recounts it seems that she should have known from the start that her husband was not a nice man. It seemed that she used religion to explain away much of his self-centered behavior. "
— Stacey, 3/10/2011 -
" An interesting autobiography of Mrs. Sanford and her life standing by her political husband, Mark. She shows what a strong woman she is and how she got through the difficulty of her husband's public infidelity. "
— Kathy, 2/2/2011 -
" Three quarters through, So far it appears Jenny Sanford has written a tribute to her husband. I'm wondering how stupid she is/was. <br/>Finished and I think this woman needs to get a backbone. Yes, she did finally divorce her husband but she was an idiot for giving him as much rope as she did. "
— Cyn, 1/10/2011 -
" A story of a broken marriage and a political career destroyed.....two strong minded people, the choices they made and the results of not assuming the responsibilities that go with every advantage. A story told by one of them. "
— Susan, 10/12/2010 -
" I really liked this book, I think she's a very admirable woman. I think very few people manage to deal or face such struggles with such finess and with such grace. "
— Sherine, 10/12/2010 -
" A quick read - I enjoyed reading an intellegent account of how one woman compromised in order to be married and raise a family. Sanford speaks with strength and focus about herself , her family, her marriage,faith, politics, and moving on! I found this book insightful. "
— Emily, 8/30/2010 -
" I liked Jenny Sanford, but man, she was married to a selfish jerk. His behavior was crazy, and tainted how I felt about the book. "
— Marla, 8/9/2010 -
" 2.5 I initially had some regard for this woman after she kicked the bum out, but this book made me not care for her much. Too much religion and a best friend called Lalla. Ugh. "
— Lynn, 7/25/2010