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93rd out of 98 books
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Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters
“Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and our granddaughters today we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and our granddaughters now t...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
July 29th 2008
by Doubleday
(first published 2008)
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I didn't think I was a fan of Pelosi, but I heard her interviewed this week by Joe Donahue on The Roundtable on WAMC (wamc.org). Radio is a great way to arrive unprejudiced to someone's views: I caught the interview midstream, and didn't know who was speaking until very near the end. Who IS this smart lady? ...lo and behold, it was Nancy Pelosi speaking such common sense & wisdom about women and power.
Wow. Surprise, surprise.
Wow. Surprise, surprise.
Maybe my expectations were too high, but it wasn't the kickass, take names book that I imagined. The tips I got out of the book were few and far between.
I was expecting more inspiration. Just a memoir listing the details of her (well-off) upbringing. Title is deceiving.
This book was fascinating. It doesn't delve into her politics too much, but is mainly about her family life and background. She has five children that she stayed home to raise and THEN became a member of Congress.
I learned that the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), which protects someone's job while, for instance, they are on maternity leave, was presented to the first President Bush and that he wouldn't sign it. President Clinton eventually did sign it. I had no idea this w...more
I learned that the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), which protects someone's job while, for instance, they are on maternity leave, was presented to the first President Bush and that he wouldn't sign it. President Clinton eventually did sign it. I had no idea this w...more
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If Nancy Pelosi had been a CEO of a bank, daughter of a banker and sister to bankers this book would be seen as an inspiring tale to young women of what can be done with guts, determination, and support from family and friends. Because she is a political figure it is not always read with a generous light. However, no matter what your political background -- credit does need to be given to her for a life of influence.
This book is a conversation -- it is not always sequential, but wh...more
This book is a conversation -- it is not always sequential, but wh...more
Know Your Power is the title of Nancy Pelosi's new book. She may be an incredible woman with a remarkable career, but after reading her "Message to America's Daughters" I have to say, please keep your day job. Her power is NOT in writing.
Although written with co writer Amy Hill Hearth, the narrative is strained. From the introduction to the epilogue, the tone is of obligation to women everywhere was to write all 170 pages of how she made it to the top. Well Nancy - this is ...more
Although written with co writer Amy Hill Hearth, the narrative is strained. From the introduction to the epilogue, the tone is of obligation to women everywhere was to write all 170 pages of how she made it to the top. Well Nancy - this is ...more
Except for the rabid right wing, I don't know anyone who doesn't admire or at least respect Nancy Pelosi. She made history as the first woman speaker but also has done more work to bring this Congress legislative victories than any other speaker before her.
The book has some good (but warmed over and sanitized) anecdotes about her upbringing and early years.
She loved hanging out in Ocean City, was forbidden to ride her bicycle in the street or swim out to far but did both, and was rai...more
The book has some good (but warmed over and sanitized) anecdotes about her upbringing and early years.
She loved hanging out in Ocean City, was forbidden to ride her bicycle in the street or swim out to far but did both, and was rai...more
this book is the story of nancy pelosi and her rise to power as the speaker of the house of representatives. the easy-to-read but pretty short-cut recapitulation of how this remarkable woman was propelled to the top is doing a disservice to all of the author's achievement. she manages, however, to get her message across: know your power, and do not fall into the pitfall of still too many women, unterrating their possibilites. if the storyline is sometimes superficial and of the brink to being pa...more
Here's a well-to-do white lady telling America's Daughters to know their power. Do you know what Pelosi's power is? Being a connected, rich white person. Her father was a Congressman and long time mayor of Baltimore, even her brother was also the mayor of Baltimore*. Do you know how she got her seat in Congress? Her dying friend bequeathed her vacancy representing California in the House of Representatives. Basically, Nancy Pelosi just puked on America's Daughters and probably laughed all the wa...more
I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected. For someone so polorizing I had expected a more guarded book which reads like a campaign ad or a book full of fiery political commentary railing against the other side, but it was as frank and open as a political biography can be while the subject is still in office. If you hate her already, she won't change your mind with this book, but if there is a soul out there who hasn't cast their opinion of Nancy Pelosi in iron yet, you might find he...more
I really liked a radio review I heard on this. There were some good sections that encouraged mothering and marriage and women getting involved. However, I was a little disappointed in what I felt were attacks on men, past government leaders, and republicans (I guess I must be one). Also, it suggests that women need more daycare options so that they can be involved in government rather than at home with the kids...wait a minute, I thought she was saying that her stay-at-home mothering was what...more
It is incredible that Nancy Pelosi rose to become Speaker of the House, the first woman to ever do so. In this book, Speaker Pelosi shares some warm and friendly lessons she learned along the way, like seize your opportunities, enjoy each phase of life you are in, etc. In a time when we are challenging whether a woman -- or man -- with young children can or should run for high office, it is really interesting to note that Speaker Pelosi did not run for Congress for the first time until her kid...more
This story chronicles Nancy Pelosi's experiences from childhood through motherhood & her time as Speaker of the House. She spends much time on the people who have helped to open doors for her, but does not go the extra step to make her unique experience one the reader can relate to through generalized lessons learned. Some outstanding take aways include "timing is everything....don't be afraid to wait and be prepared." and "we have a voice at the table. but we want more [women in ...more
I found this book to be inspiring and entertaining. The stories weave details about family and political life very smoothly. Clearly Nancy Pelosi enjoys her family thoroughly. Quite a few quirky family stories caused me to chuckle throughout the book. She intersperses quotes and words of wisdom gathered along the way. She offers quite a bit to think about. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I was very interested to read a book written by a professionally successful mother where she stated from the beginning that her biggest accomplishment is that of being a wife and mother. Although I greatly disagree with her politics I was reminded of the importance of how we as mother's present ourselves to our children. I believe that there are seasons in life for everything we'd like to accomplish and currently my focus is on my children. Nancy Pelosi seems to feel the same way but mentions...more
Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House in 2007 after serving twenty years in Congress. She and her husband Paul have been married for forty-five years, and she is the mother of five children and the grandmother of seven. When Nancy Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the House, she made history. She gaveled the House to order that day on behalf of all of America's children and said, "We have made history, now let us make progress." Now, in her book, she continues to inspire wome...more
Part biography, part political who's who, part inspirational message. I found her background information fascinating, the list of committees she's been on in the House less so. Overall, I'm glad I read it, but it's not the most engaging book.
I felt like she was very edited to make women like her more. It seems as though a woman with this sort of political power does not just have that power fall in her lap as the book seems to imply. I do appreciate the encouragement to women that any small effort helps and we should allude what we can to take part in the politics that govern our lives. I also agree that women need to know their power but that was the title and about a paragraph in the book. Not enough meat to truly be intriguing.
This would be a good book for high school girls. But it was nice to read about Nancy's life. Also she closes with some very nice thoughts about being involved and the the future.
Jill
added it
Love reading about any powerful woman's path to success. Whether one likes her or not, she's carved out another female notch in our political structure. Gotta give it to her!
I received this book at the California State Democratic Convention. I really enjoyed this autobiography of someone who was a wife & mother who made a career for herself, followed her own family values, and built onto the political career of her family.
I admire her even more now that I have read the book for her abililties and talents that she used to rise to the top in an arena that was not open to women.
And it is a short, good read.
I admire her even more now that I have read the book for her abililties and talents that she used to rise to the top in an arena that was not open to women.
And it is a short, good read.
Like many others who left reviews, I thought this would be more advice than autobiography. Still, it's a quick, easy read (almost too easy) and quite interesting.
Great book, well written, teachs to never loose faith in what you believe and set out to get done, point well taken that education is a must for all.
Lynn Vannucci
added it
Great title though the book was a disappointment. Bland read; a wasted opportunity for a powerful woman to speak to young women.
Don't be misled by the title; this is basically just a chatty autobiography, skimming the surface of NP's rise to power.
While this did have a couple of wise phrases to quote, all-in-all I was left feeling unsatisfied. It seemed to be more like just another autobiography of a politician explaining how she got to the point where she is today.
I enjoyed this book - it was a very quick and easy read but it was very interestig. I loved reading how Nancy advanced through her roles and incorporated motherhood (with its organizational needs) as a profitable experience for politics. It was also fun to read how Nancy went back in time and mentioned that when she went to Congress, her chair was crowded as she felt that Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, Susan B Anthony and other female history makers were with her.
I plan to a...more
I plan to a...more
This was a decent book. I liked reading about Nancy Pelosi's experiences going from a stay-at-home-mom/housewife all the way through the ranks to become the first woman Speaker of the House. For anyone that has any notion of a career in politics at any level, this is a good book to read. Even for Republicans. :) There weren't too many digs at Republicans - you can tell she was trying to write it to be as partisan-neutral as possible.
It was really more of an autobiography than giving advice to young women.
Ok. Kind of short. Not as much detail as I would have liked.
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Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before being elected Speaker in the 110th Congress, she was the House Minority Leader from 2003 to 2007, holding the post during the 108th and 109th Congresses.
Since 1987, she has represented the 8th Congressional District of California, which consist...more
More about Nancy Pelosi...
Since 1987, she has represented the 8th Congressional District of California, which consist...more
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