Fit to Serve Audiobook By Ambassador James C. Hormel, Erin Martin cover art

Fit to Serve

Reflections on a Secret Life, Private Struggle, and Public Battle to Become the First Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador

Preview

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Fit to Serve

By: Ambassador James C. Hormel, Erin Martin
Narrated by: Richard Waterhouse
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

This is the memoir of James C. Hormel - a man who grew up feeling different not only because his family owned the Hormel “empire” and lived in a 26 bedroom house in a small Midwest town, but because he was gay at a time when homosexuality was not discussed or accepted. Outwardly he tried to live up to the life his father wanted for him - he was a successful professional, had married a lovely woman, and had children - but as volatile changes in the late 1960s impeded on the American psyche, Hormel realized that he could not hide his true self forever. Hormel moved to New York City, became an antiwar activist, battled homophobia, lost dear friends to AIDS, and set out to become America’s first openly gay ambassador, a position he finally won during the Clinton administration. Today, Hormel continues to fight for LGBT equality and gay marriage rights. This is a passionate and inspiring true story of the determination for human equality and for attaining your own version of the American Dream - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness without exception.

©2011 James C. Hormel and Erin Martin (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
Biographies & Memoirs Business Diplomacy LGBTQ+ Studies Personal Success Politicians Racism & Discrimination New York Equality Inspiring
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Editorial reviews

The life of an ambassador is likely to contain at least a few book-worthy features - excitement, political drama, access to international powerbrokers - and certainly the life of James C. Hormel has these in spades. But Ambassador Hormel is notable also for being the first openly gay U.S. ambassador, a fact that has added to his life challenges and triumphs recounted with insight and good humor in Fit to Serve: Reflections on a Secret Life, Private Struggle, and Public Battle to Become the First Openly Gay U. S. Ambassador. Narrator Richard Waterhouse, though much younger than Ambassador Hormel, brings an energy and a clarity to this autobiographical account of a life lived at times in secret, at times in conflict with itself, and ultimately with great integrity.

What listeners say about Fit to Serve

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    32
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    33
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    29
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fit to Serve against All Odds. A credit to all.

What a marvellous story. What an incredible man. Written with honesty and humour. Narrated with warmth and understanding. Have recommended it to all I see and hope everybody who may read this review will buy the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating Read

This book brought back a few memories. I was actually coming out during this time and had faced similar questions from my family and coworkers. I will reread this again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What an interesting life!

Ambassador Hormel’s life covers a long span. It’s fascinating to see how he came out & was so open & the lies that were perpetuated by Right Wingers & the Religious Right to keep him from being a US Ambassador. Fortunately, he & his team prevailed, making him an LGBTQIA hero & pioneer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!