The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt traces Roosevelt’s life from her childhood in New York through marriage, family life and her growing involvement in public affairs. She describes her early insecurities, education and marriage to Franklin D. Roosevelt, before recounting how political campaigns and social work gradually gave her a more independent public role.

Much of the book concerns the Roosevelt years in government, including Franklin Roosevelt’s governorship, the presidency, the New Deal and the Second World War. Eleanor Roosevelt reflects on her work as First Lady, her extensive travels and her engagement with social and political questions. The later sections follow her life after her husband’s death, including her work with the United Nations and the Commission on Human Rights, overseas travel and continued political activity. Combining personal recollection with accounts of public events, the book presents twentieth-century history from Roosevelt’s perspective as both participant and observer.