Not for the Faint of Heart: Lessons in Courage, Power, and Persistence

Sherman started her career as a community organizer and social worker in the early 1970s and retired in 2015 as an ambassador under the Obama administration. In this position, she led the team creating the treaty that limited Iran's nuclear program. Before joining the State Department in 1993, Sherman had worked in state government and on the Hill with former U.S. senator Barbara Mikulski. This book combines personal memoir with descriptions of her policy posts and political jobs. Her account of the Iran treaty negotiations is well explored but the narrative is leavened by her commentary on women in powerful positions and the unique issues they face. Likewise, sketches from her private life illustrate the conflict and accommodations between her demanding professional roles and her personal joys and obligations.