I was drawn to DEMOCRACY while listening to a popular morning politically oriented roundtable news program, known for its diverse and opinionated participants. They verbally joust and interrupt one another good-naturedly throughout their discussion of current events. Their guests routinely appear in five-minute segments, but if they’re especially interesting, the discourse may stretch to 10 before a commercial break.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was recently introduced at the top of the hour to talk about her book. This often rowdy bunch of journalists and political dignitaries sat, mesmerized, for a solid 35 minutes listening to her articulate responses to their astute questions as she talked about what democracy is, was, can be and, most importantly, could become in today’s tumultuous world.

"I must confess that when I hear the tribal names almost daily on the news...it’s confusing. Rice clearly and concisely describes the differences, the history and the ongoing struggles to bring, if not lasting peace, then at least co-existence to the war-torn region. "

I promptly fired off a request to my Bookreporter editor because I wanted to know more and share my thoughts.

This review is not a defining discourse on the contents of this meaty volume; that would fill pages. Rice’s illustrious background in international affairs qualified her to deal at the highest levels of diplomacy with foreign leaders --- from sheikhs to kings to authoritarian rulers, prime ministers, Arab monarchs, UN and NATO leaders, and heads of state of every description while holding key cabinet positions under two American presidents. She writes in the first person of these experiences while imparting thoughts on the democratic principles involved.

As Socrates famously stated, “There is no solution. Seek it lovingly.” And, of course, Winston Churchill has been quoted often as saying, “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others.” Democracy is hard, Rice simply states. And creating a democratic society is even harder. She covers the developing democracies in Kenya, Colombia, Poland, Ukraine and more. Fluent in the Russian language, she met with Russian leaders from Gorbachev to Putin and offers sobering insights into each Russian ruler.

I must confess that when I hear the tribal names almost daily on the news --- Shia, Sunnis, Kurds --- it’s confusing. Rice clearly and concisely describes the differences, the history and the ongoing struggles to bring, if not lasting peace, then at least co-existence to the war-torn region. These segments are among the most compelling sections of DEMOCRACY and alone are worth the price of this fascinating book.