Time Present, Time Past: A Memoir

In a memoir at once deeply felt, lively, and astute, Bill Bradley talks about his life, his country, his role in government, and his hopes for the American future.

He speaks with affection about his small-town, Missouri upbringing and the values shaped by it. He traces his road from childhood to Princeton to Oxford, through ten years of professional basketball to public service in the U.S. Senate. And then he brings vividly alive the world of a senator -- the rocky road to legislation, the invasiveness of the media, the power of money.

He shares his voyage from an intellectual commitment to the public interest to a belief that dictates of the heart count for more. He assesses not only what kind of political action is needed to reconstitute people's faith in government, but also their responsibilities to each other. He presents his view of a truth-telling leadership that inspires even as it confronts us with reality.

This remarkable memoir reflects the author's desire to get beyond that vagueness of politics to clear assessments of our national situation and what needs to be done. But, more than that, it is an audio about life, filled with humor, moral lessons, and empathy for the human condition. Above all, it is about America, and in it, Americans will see themselves.

Bill Bradley was a three-time basketball All-American at Princeton, an Olympic gold medalist, a Rhodes Scholar, and a professional player for ten years with the New York Knicks. Elected to the Senate from New Jersey in 1978, 1984, and 1990, he has authored extensive legislation, including the Tax Reform Act of 1986.