The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt by Eleanor Roosevelt is the author's story of her life. Eleanor lived a long and full life from 1882 to 1962. She lived her life the way she wanted according to her own beliefs. The book illustrates her development as a person, from a shy young girl to a respected figure on the international scene. She was sought after by heads of state and royalty.

Orphaned at an early age, she was raised by her grandmother and other relatives. After attending boarding school in England and traveling through Europe, she returns to New York for her "coming out." She meets a dashing young law student named Franklin Roosevelt, who is a very distant relative. She is engaged at nineteen and married soon after.

Eleanor, coming from a privileged background, must learn how to cook, manage a household and raise children. At first, she relies totally on her mother-in-law to make her decisions. But Franklin is interested in politics, which thrusts the shy Eleanor into the public view. She learns how to deal with it and develops into her own person, with her own views and making her own decisions.

Her life centered around her husband and children. She supported Franklin in whatever he did, feeling that this was the proper role for a wife. Many times she did not even ask what his plans were or discuss any of his plans. No matter what her personal preferences were, she supported her husband in whatever he chose to do, as he moved through the ranks of New York democratic politics to his three terms as U.S. President.

Eleanor came into her own after Franklin's death when she had to be independent and makes her own decisions. She was named a delegate to the United Nations and served as the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights. Throughout her life, she wrote a newspaper column and remained active in the Democratic Party.

She traveled around the world, meeting heads of state and royalty in her travels and at the White House and at Hyde Park. Basically a pacifist, Eleanor's objective in life was to work for world peace, and this was often the reason for her travels during both times of war and peace. She cared about people and tried to help improve their living conditions.

Throughout the book Eleanor gives her views about the many public figures she met during her life. The book is about her travels and the various people she has met. She does present her views about many topics such as war, Communism and its dangers, and the conditions of the places she has visited. The reader watches her develop into a strong person over the course of the book and into the great lady that she became.