The year was 1985.The place...the west African nation of Liberia.There had just been an attempted coup against dictator Samuel Doe. The coup failed. And government soldiers were rounding up Doe's critics. One was Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Today, she is the President of Liberia. But on that day 24 years ago, Sirleaf's fate rested in the hands of the soldiers who were driving her toward their barracks.

Lisa Mullins talked with President Johnson Sirleaf

From the publisher:

In this stirring memoir, Sirleaf shares the inside story of her rise to power, including her early childhood; her experiences with abuse, imprisonment, and exile; and her fight for democracy and social justice. This compelling tale of survival reveals Sirleaf's determination to succeed in multiple worlds: from her studies in the United States to her work as an international bank executive to her election campaigning in some of Liberia's most desperate and war-torn villages and neighborhoods. It is also the story of an outspoken political and social reformer who, despite danger, fought the oppression of dictators and championed change. By sharing her story, Sirleaf encourages women everywhere to pursue leadership roles at the highest levels of power, and gives us all hope that, with perseverance, we can change the world.