Customer Reviews

Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a jewelry maven and poltical junkie, I adored this book! The pictures are beautiful and the stories that go with them are fascinating. Madam Secretary Albright's plain-spoken manner and self-deprecating sense of humor shine through, and I enjoyed seeing pictures of her wearing the pins in the company of various world leaders, as well as the close-up stand alone pictures of the pins. A great gift for Christmas for any jewelry-loving lady.

Madeleine Albright, always savvy with her word, turns out to be equally savvy with her "wear"...in this case her collection of dozens of pins. It never occurred to me while watching her on tv that those pins actually meant something and in "Read My Pins" she tells us why. Whether needing a diplomatic push or simply creating a mood, Albright's pins convey power, warmth and style. She connects certain pins with historical significance and this really enhances the book. What's even more fun is finding one's favorite in her collection. Albright certainly has her own, and it's very personal for her.

The photography by John Bigelow Taylor allows the reader to see each pin up close...something impossible to do even if one were standing near the former Secretary of State. We've been through ping pong diplomacy and shuttle diplomacy but pin diplomacy is certainly the most colorful of all and this enchanting book is not to be missed.

Having always admired Mme. Albright, I was intrigued and eager to read her latest book. This was not a disappointment - it is loaded with fabulous photos, not just of the pins, but of Madeleine with world leaders, as well as well-told stories from her time served, peppered with snippets on the history of the brooch and other jewelry.

Not a novel, nor a biography, but still a great collectible worthy of anyone's coffee table or library.

A beautifully illustrated book, Read My Pins contains Miss Albright's many stories through her years in public service, and the innovative ways she found to use her vast pin collection to set the tone for meetings and events. As a female in often all-male situations, she discovered that her wardrobe of pins enabled her to creatively support and enhance her messages and positions. She often includes the stories of how she came to own specific pins, fascinating stories in themselves. I gave this book as a gift, and could barely part with it!

Over the years I always admired her pins. I have a pin collection and I found her a kindred sprirt. It was interesting and amusing to read how she used her pins to make a statement.

this is a wonderful book.
a mix of history and one woman's passion for unique jewelry.she was gifted most, bought some, but all have a story to them.
in her own words 'A LITTLE BIT OF POLITICS WITH A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR'
bees,butterflys,my favorite a dragon,all unique pieces. most were from heads of state, who learned of her passion for these.it fast became a custom to gift her one, when she went to another country doing her job.
definitely a conversation starter. will look good on your coffee table or anywhere you want to lose yourself in it.
great gift - we got this for a ladies birthday gift and liked it so much we got another for us.

I received this book for Christmas after reading an article about it. As I work in politics, I assumed I would enjoy the book but had no idea just how much. This is a fabulous book! It's far from just about jewelry - there are plenty of anecdotes about her travels as a diplomat during her time in the UN and her time as Secretary of State. She writes in such a manner that the reader feels as if she has gone to lunch with a friend and is hearing tales from the office. I was thoroughly surprised at the Secretary's wonderful sense of humor!

Even having received lavish gifts such as jewelry from Tiffany and Co. for Christmas, I can honestly say that this has been my most enjoyed gift of the year. I cannot wait to see the exhibit that is to follow.

I bought this book for a former employer who loves and collects pins/brooches. She LOVED this book! It is a large, glossy, clear book with many pages of photos of Madeline Albright's pins and unusual and charming stories of when and where she wore certain pins. There was some political history, memoirs, and of course, large photos of beautiful jewelry. Highly recommend!

This hard cover book is quite enjoyable to peruse and read. Makes a great coffee table book. It shows how Madeline Albright used her personal pin collection to reflect her approach to diplomacy. The photography is superb. It gives a whole different approach to how we can approach our own personal jewelry wardrobe. Instead of just accessorizing, we can use our collections to make a statement of mood or personal view.

Great book.

The photographs alone make this book worth the purchase. They are big, beautiful, full color closeups of an amazing collection of pins/brooches. Some are costume, some are gemstone and precious metal, most all are interesting. Any fan of either vintage or modern jewelry should purchase this book!