An Hour Before Daylight Audiobook By Jimmy Carter cover art

An Hour Before Daylight

Memories of a Rural Boyhood

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An Hour Before Daylight

By: Jimmy Carter
Narrated by: Jimmy Carter
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The former president and best selling author of Sources of Strength and The Virtues of Aging writes about the powerful rhythms of countryside and community in a sharecropping economy of Depression-era Georgia. He renders an unforgettable portrait of his father, a brilliant farmer and strict segregationist who treated black workers with his own brand of "separate" respect and fairness, and his strong-willed and well-read mother, a nurse who cared for all in need - regardless of their position in the community.

Carter describes the other people who shaped his early life (only two of whom were white), including the boyhood friends who could not attend the same school, and the eminent black bishop who refused to come to the back door but would stand in the front yard discussing crops and politics with Jimmy's father.

Carter evokes a time when the cycles of life were predictable and simple while the rules were heartbreaking and complex. An Hour Before Daylight is a sensitive portrait of an era that shaped the nation.

©2001 Jimmy Carter, All Rights Reserved (P)2001 Simon & Schuster, Inc., All Rights Reserved Americas Historical Politics & Activism Presidents & Heads of State United States

Critic reviews

  • Grammy nominee, Best Spoken Word Album

"Candid...an inspirational story." (AudioFile)
Vivid Rural Imagery • Historical Significance • Captivating Narration • Engaging Personal Anecdotes • Colorful Descriptions
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I first saw Jimmy Carter when he was in Williamsburg for a Presidential debate. I was so inspired by his words after the debate, and I remain so today. What a remarkable, decent, courageous, and faithful man.

President Carter

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A great book that is told with the utmost care and properly guided direction. It’s read with perfect intonation and inflection and I highly recommend this book!

A life changing book

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Life on a farm in the early years after the depression in a small rural town. I liked hearing about how people survived back then. He was very frank when telling how his family was better off than others especially the Blacks. I still enjoyed listening to him tell how he spent his time and what he learned growing up from his parents and others. My parents had a similar upbringing and never really liked to share the details. I'm sure it was much the same so it fills in the gaps. I recommend it to young and old.

Good history lesson from President Carter

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After the last presidential election, I felt enormous foreboding and worry — and decided I needed to hear the perspectives of a trustworthy leader. This book is what I chose to listen to — and I’m so glad I did. Hearing Jimmy Carter’s familiar voice as he recounted his childhood and young adult life reminded me that the wealthy didn’t always control this nation. May he rest in peace.

Need to hear from an honest, compassionate leader?

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this book was so wonderful. I true view of a time in history of great change and of a wonderful kind man that lived through it. What a wonderful reflection of a life of a wonderful man.

Not a great president, but a truly great man

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If you could sum up An Hour Before Daylight in three words, what would they be?

Beautiful, genuine, moving

What does Jimmy Carter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

That voice! No one else could bring this story to life like the author.

Any additional comments?

This is one of my all-time favorite Audible purchases. Throw all your political views aside: this is a beautiful historical portrait of a time, a place, and a childhood. Four stars only because for the life of me I can’t fathom why it’s abridged. Give us the unabridged version, please!

Great story, incredible voice, why abridged?!

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I think this book would be riveting even if it wasn’t written by our 39th presidents. I grew up in South Georgia but my childhood only had glimpses of the memories that President Carter recalls so vividly. A good read that puts you right into the Jim Crow era south.

A vivid look at rural childhood in the 30’s

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A wonderful telling of a time when life was harder, but you appreciated what you had and experienced. Where family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances are treated and regarded as siblings. A lost time where everyone looked out for and took care of each other - not out of necessity, but because it was the right thing to do. This type of lifestyle is quickly dissappearing, even in our smaller towns, and the country is growing poorer by the minute beacuse of it.

Wonderful Story of Simpler Times

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I grew up in the country too, and so I loved that about this book, his stories about country life.

Grew up a country boy

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Wonderful account of how a country boy grew up to be a high achiever. The author and narrator is able to relate his story extremely well and it is fascinating. You learn a great deal about Mr. Carter's upbringing as well as about agriculture and life in the rural southern USA in the early 20th century. The relationship of Mr. Carter to his father and his subsequent development of a powerful work ethic is memorable.

An Hour Before Daylight

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