Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died on Dec. 29 at age 100. Following his four-year presidency, Carter fostered a thriving career as an author.
The former president wrote 32 books in total, all of which were bestsellers. The subjects of the former president’s books ranged widely: foreign policy to religious theory, personal experience with faith to historic presidential moments, introspection to art and even tales for children. Carter took on a wide range of genres and told a great breadth of stories from his one-of-a-kind perspective.
Simon & Schuster published Carter’s final book, Faith: A Journey for All in 2018. The former president was “America’s most protean author,” said President and CEO Jonathan Karp, in a statement.
“In all of his books he maintained a voice of great integrity and intellectual honesty,” Karp wrote. “We are grateful to have published so many books by President Carter, books that will endure as a legacy for readers who want to appreciate the life and mind of one of the most inspiring and admirable world leaders of our time.”
Why Not the Best? (1975, 1996)
Carter’s first book, Why Not the Best? was how he introduced himself internationally — a Georgia governor that pushed Americans to strive for a better government.
A Government as Good as Its People (1977, 1996)
This book contains a culmination of Carter’s 62 most memorable public statements before he assumed the highest office in the country — including speeches, press conferences, statements at debates and excerpts from interviews.
Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President (1982, 1995)
In his first text about his time as president, Carter recounts major moments from his time in the Oval Office — like the hostage crisis in Iran and his success at the Camp David Middle East peace summit. He also writes of his experience with other world leaders and his personal life during his one-term presidency.
Negotiation: The Alternative to Hostility (1984, 2003)
As part of the Carl Vinson Memorial Lecture Series at Mercer University, this book outlines Carter’s ideas on pursuing long-lasting peace, including “bright thinking, unanticipated approaches and unorthodox ideas.”
The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East (1985, 1993, 2007)
In this political analysis, Carter — who paved the way for the Camp David Accords — outlines the historical and religious context behind the conflict and tensions in the Middle East.
Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life (1987, 1995)
Written with his wife Rosalynn Carter, this book follows Rosalynn and Jimmy’s marriage after the White House, including their work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center, as well as issues of health and their relationship.