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The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience
She couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old. "Go ahead, ask your question," her father urged, nudging her forward. She smiled shyly and said, "You're my hero. Who's yours?"
Many people - especially girls - have asked us that same question over the years. It's one of our favourite topics.
HILLARY: Growing up, I knew hardly any women who worked outside the home. So I looked to my mother, my teachers, and the pages of Life magazine for inspiration. After learning that Amelia Earhart kept a scrapbook with newspaper articles about successful women in male-dominated jobs, I started a scrapbook of my own. Long after I stopped clipping articles, I continued to seek out stories of women who seemed to be redefining what was possible.
CHELSEA: This book is the continuation of a conversation the two of us have been having since I was little. For me, too, my mom was a hero; so were my grandmothers. My early teachers were also women. But I grew up in a world very different from theirs. My pediatrician was a woman, and so was the first mayor of Little Rock who I remember from my childhood. Most of my close friends' moms worked outside the home as nurses, doctors, teachers, professors, and in business. And women were going into space and breaking records here on Earth.
Ensuring the rights and opportunities of women and girls remains a big piece of the unfinished business of the twenty-first century. While there's a lot of work to do, we know that throughout history and around the globe women have overcome the toughest resistance imaginable to win victories that have made progress possible for all of us. That is the achievement of each of the women in this book.
So how did they do it? The answers are as unique as the women themselves. Civil rights activist Dorothy Height, LGBTQ trailblazer Edie Windsor, and swimmer Diana Nyad kept pushing forward, no matter what. Writers like Rachel Carson and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie named something no one had dared talk about before. Historian Mary Beard used wit to open doors that were once closed, and Wangari Maathai, who sparked a movement to plant trees, understood the power of role modeling. Harriet Tubman and Malala Yousafzai looked fear in the face and persevered. Nearly every single one of these women was fiercely optimistic - they had faith that their actions could make a difference. And they were right.
To us, they are all gutsy women - leaders with the courage to stand up to the status quo, ask hard questions, and get the job done. So in the moments when the long haul seems awfully long, we hope you will draw strength from these stories. We do. Because if history shows one thing, it's that the world needs gutsy women.
Many people - especially girls - have asked us that same question over the years. It's one of our favourite topics.
HILLARY: Growing up, I knew hardly any women who worked outside the home. So I looked to my mother, my teachers, and the pages of Life magazine for inspiration. After learning that Amelia Earhart kept a scrapbook with newspaper articles about successful women in male-dominated jobs, I started a scrapbook of my own. Long after I stopped clipping articles, I continued to seek out stories of women who seemed to be redefining what was possible.
CHELSEA: This book is the continuation of a conversation the two of us have been having since I was little. For me, too, my mom was a hero; so were my grandmothers. My early teachers were also women. But I grew up in a world very different from theirs. My pediatrician was a woman, and so was the first mayor of Little Rock who I remember from my childhood. Most of my close friends' moms worked outside the home as nurses, doctors, teachers, professors, and in business. And women were going into space and breaking records here on Earth.
Ensuring the rights and opportunities of women and girls remains a big piece of the unfinished business of the twenty-first century. While there's a lot of work to do, we know that throughout history and around the globe women have overcome the toughest resistance imaginable to win victories that have made progress possible for all of us. That is the achievement of each of the women in this book.
So how did they do it? The answers are as unique as the women themselves. Civil rights activist Dorothy Height, LGBTQ trailblazer Edie Windsor, and swimmer Diana Nyad kept pushing forward, no matter what. Writers like Rachel Carson and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie named something no one had dared talk about before. Historian Mary Beard used wit to open doors that were once closed, and Wangari Maathai, who sparked a movement to plant trees, understood the power of role modeling. Harriet Tubman and Malala Yousafzai looked fear in the face and persevered. Nearly every single one of these women was fiercely optimistic - they had faith that their actions could make a difference. And they were right.
To us, they are all gutsy women - leaders with the courage to stand up to the status quo, ask hard questions, and get the job done. So in the moments when the long haul seems awfully long, we hope you will draw strength from these stories. We do. Because if history shows one thing, it's that the world needs gutsy women.
15 pages, Audio CD
First published October 1, 2019
About the author
Hillary Rodham Clinton
86 books2,963 followersHillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26, 1947) was the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the cabinet of President Barack Obama. In 2016, she became the first woman in U.S. history to win a major party's presidential nomination, and the first woman to win the popular vote in a presidential race - despite losing the election.
She was a Senator from the state of New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd, President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, Hillary served as First Lady from 1993 to 2001. In the 2008 election Clinton was a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
A native of Illinois, Hillary Rodham attracted national attention in 1969 when she was chosen by her peers to be the first student commencement speaker at Wellesley College. As a graduate of Yale Law School, Class of 1973, she served temporarily as a Congressional legal counsel. Rodham moved to Arkansas in 1974, marrying Bill Clinton a year later. Hillary Rodham Clinton co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in 1977, and became the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation in 1978. Named the first female partner at Rose Law Firm in 1979, she was twice listed as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America. First Lady of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1992 with husband Bill as Governor, Clinton successfully led a task force to reform Arkansas's education system. She has served on the board of directors of Wal-Mart as well as several other prominent corporations.
In 1994 as First Lady of the United States, her major initiative, the Clinton health care plan, failed to gain approval from the U.S. Congress. However, in 1997 and 1999, Clinton played a role in advocating for the establishment of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and the Foster Care Independence Act. Her time as First Lady drew a polarized response from the American public. She is the only First Lady to have been subpoenaed, testifying before a federal grand jury in 1996 due to the Whitewater controversy, but was never charged with any wrongdoing in this or any of the other investigations during her husband's administration. The state of her marriage was the subject of considerable speculation following the Lewinsky scandal in 1998 that spurred Articles of Impeachment to be issued against her husband, Bill Clinton.
In January of 2000, Clinton was elected as senator to the State of New York after moving to the small suburban hamlet of Chappaqua in Westchester County. That election marked the first time an American First Lady had run for public office; Clinton was also the first female senator to represent New York. In the Senate, she initially supported the Bush administration on some foreign policy issues, including a vote for the Iraq War Resolution, subsequently opposing the administration on its conduct of the war in Iraq, and most domestic issues. Senator Clinton was re-elected by a wide margin in 2006. In the 2008 presidential nomination race, Hillary Clinton won more primaries and delegates than any other female candidate in American history, but narrowly lost to Senator Barack Obama. As Secretary of State, Clinton became the first former First Lady to serve in a president's cabinet
She was a Senator from the state of New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd, President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, Hillary served as First Lady from 1993 to 2001. In the 2008 election Clinton was a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
A native of Illinois, Hillary Rodham attracted national attention in 1969 when she was chosen by her peers to be the first student commencement speaker at Wellesley College. As a graduate of Yale Law School, Class of 1973, she served temporarily as a Congressional legal counsel. Rodham moved to Arkansas in 1974, marrying Bill Clinton a year later. Hillary Rodham Clinton co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in 1977, and became the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation in 1978. Named the first female partner at Rose Law Firm in 1979, she was twice listed as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America. First Lady of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1992 with husband Bill as Governor, Clinton successfully led a task force to reform Arkansas's education system. She has served on the board of directors of Wal-Mart as well as several other prominent corporations.
In 1994 as First Lady of the United States, her major initiative, the Clinton health care plan, failed to gain approval from the U.S. Congress. However, in 1997 and 1999, Clinton played a role in advocating for the establishment of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and the Foster Care Independence Act. Her time as First Lady drew a polarized response from the American public. She is the only First Lady to have been subpoenaed, testifying before a federal grand jury in 1996 due to the Whitewater controversy, but was never charged with any wrongdoing in this or any of the other investigations during her husband's administration. The state of her marriage was the subject of considerable speculation following the Lewinsky scandal in 1998 that spurred Articles of Impeachment to be issued against her husband, Bill Clinton.
In January of 2000, Clinton was elected as senator to the State of New York after moving to the small suburban hamlet of Chappaqua in Westchester County. That election marked the first time an American First Lady had run for public office; Clinton was also the first female senator to represent New York. In the Senate, she initially supported the Bush administration on some foreign policy issues, including a vote for the Iraq War Resolution, subsequently opposing the administration on its conduct of the war in Iraq, and most domestic issues. Senator Clinton was re-elected by a wide margin in 2006. In the 2008 presidential nomination race, Hillary Clinton won more primaries and delegates than any other female candidate in American history, but narrowly lost to Senator Barack Obama. As Secretary of State, Clinton became the first former First Lady to serve in a president's cabinet
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 746 reviews
October 27, 2022
This is one of the books that our society needs in this new era of awakening and inclusion.
There are a lot of stories of real-life gutsy women in this book who were valiant in challenging society's preconceived notions to fight for rights and equality.
My favorite three lines from this book.
This book will be on the bulkier side, with 464 pages. But you won't feel the size of the book when reading about the amazing stories of the 105 women mentioned in this book. I don't know why this book didn't get the love it deserves. This is a must-read book you should never miss.
There are a lot of stories of real-life gutsy women in this book who were valiant in challenging society's preconceived notions to fight for rights and equality.
My favorite three lines from this book.
"Thousands of women came forward in response to publicly share their own experiences of ending a pregnancy—but why should it fall to women to share their most personal stories in order to defend a right we've had in America for more than forty-five years? What's more, why are legislators focused on limiting reproductive choices rather than solving the real challenges pregnant women confront?"
"Her sage advice has resonated throughout the years: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."
"Everyone thinks women should be thrilled when we get crumbs, and I want women to have the cake, the icing, and the cherry on top, too." —Billie Jean King"
This book will be on the bulkier side, with 464 pages. But you won't feel the size of the book when reading about the amazing stories of the 105 women mentioned in this book. I don't know why this book didn't get the love it deserves. This is a must-read book you should never miss.
October 11, 2019
I loved everything about this. Hillary and Chelsea are clear, concise, thoughtful, funny writers and I’m thrilled about the diverse group of women they included in this book. I’ve added so many memoirs from the women featured in this to my Want To Read list. I learned a lot from this book.
October 31, 2019
I was very excited to know about the release of this book when I think I first saw Hillary and Chelsea on Stephen Colbert’s show and have been waiting to read it since then. Obviously it had a bit of a waitlist at my library(why am I surprised), so it took me this long to get to it.
As someone who doesn’t know much about American history (because I never studied it), the only knowledge I have gained is through TV shows, documentaries, articles and maybe a few books, in the past 5-6 years. And it’s not a surprise that when I am exposed to history through pop culture, I tend to learn more about men than the women. So this book is very helpful to someone like me who wants to know more about women who have made remarkable impact on the country or the world.
I don’t want to take any specific names because this book talks about 105 brilliant and gutsy women, but I appreciated getting to know their stories. These are women who refused to go along with the status quo, challenged the established norms, fought battles every step of the way to make sure their voices are heard (either with or without the support of their families) and never stopped fighting till they could. These are trailblazers who never cared about whether they got recognition for the work they were doing, they just wanted the work to be done and leave the world a better and more equitable place for the future generations of women. Some of them are still fighting and and I hope they inspire more women leaders to fight for their causes.
While most of the stories are historical accounts, some from just a couple of decades ago, the ones that resonated with me and affected me the most were the stories of the mothers and young women fighting for gun control. As someone who comes from a country where getting a gun license as a private citizen is literally impossible, I never understood the reasoning behind having guns in homes but just dismissed it as a quirk of America. But as I have watched school shootings, and other gun related violent incidents increase in the past 8 years while I’ve lived here, it has only made me more scared for my future hypothetical kid. So I will always be grateful to the activists who are fighting everyday against a behemoth that is the NRA and the politicians in its pocket who deploy the second amendment as a weapon against those who are fighting just to ensure that our children get to live long lives.
To conclude, I just want to say that this is an important book to read, especially to realize that despite having so many fearless women fight for our rights for decades, the fight is not yet over and there is a lot to be done. You will get to know little glimpses of women from all walks of life spanning centuries and across the globe who stood up for their convictions and brought us a bit closer to the goal of equality which still eludes us. I think every reader will find something in this book that speaks to them. You can read it all at once or just in small doses, whenever you need a bit of courage - but I promise it will make you feel empowered to know these great and gutsy women.
As someone who doesn’t know much about American history (because I never studied it), the only knowledge I have gained is through TV shows, documentaries, articles and maybe a few books, in the past 5-6 years. And it’s not a surprise that when I am exposed to history through pop culture, I tend to learn more about men than the women. So this book is very helpful to someone like me who wants to know more about women who have made remarkable impact on the country or the world.
I don’t want to take any specific names because this book talks about 105 brilliant and gutsy women, but I appreciated getting to know their stories. These are women who refused to go along with the status quo, challenged the established norms, fought battles every step of the way to make sure their voices are heard (either with or without the support of their families) and never stopped fighting till they could. These are trailblazers who never cared about whether they got recognition for the work they were doing, they just wanted the work to be done and leave the world a better and more equitable place for the future generations of women. Some of them are still fighting and and I hope they inspire more women leaders to fight for their causes.
While most of the stories are historical accounts, some from just a couple of decades ago, the ones that resonated with me and affected me the most were the stories of the mothers and young women fighting for gun control. As someone who comes from a country where getting a gun license as a private citizen is literally impossible, I never understood the reasoning behind having guns in homes but just dismissed it as a quirk of America. But as I have watched school shootings, and other gun related violent incidents increase in the past 8 years while I’ve lived here, it has only made me more scared for my future hypothetical kid. So I will always be grateful to the activists who are fighting everyday against a behemoth that is the NRA and the politicians in its pocket who deploy the second amendment as a weapon against those who are fighting just to ensure that our children get to live long lives.
To conclude, I just want to say that this is an important book to read, especially to realize that despite having so many fearless women fight for our rights for decades, the fight is not yet over and there is a lot to be done. You will get to know little glimpses of women from all walks of life spanning centuries and across the globe who stood up for their convictions and brought us a bit closer to the goal of equality which still eludes us. I think every reader will find something in this book that speaks to them. You can read it all at once or just in small doses, whenever you need a bit of courage - but I promise it will make you feel empowered to know these great and gutsy women.
November 26, 2019
This is a phenomenal collection of essays about women who have made a lasting difference in the world. Some of them I had heard of before. Many of whom I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't. This collection of their stories is rich with diversity of race, nationality, physical abilities, time in history, and reason for celebrating their accomplishments. I honestly think this should be required reading for anyone who wants to consider themselves well educated in the achievements of women across the globe who have made an impact.
November 18, 2020
I am so glad that the Clinton ladies wrote this book about amazing women. There currently has been lots of books for young children about amazing women, so I am so glad that the Clinton's wrote one directed at adults. This was definitely a feel good book that taught me the history of women. It was very empowering to read!
"She couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old. "Go ahead, ask your question," her father urged, nudging her forward. She smiled shyly and said, "You're my hero. Who's yours?"
Many people - especially girls - have asked us that same question over the years. It's one of our favourite topics.
HILLARY: Growing up, I knew hardly any women who worked outside the home. So I looked to my mother, my teachers, and the pages of Life magazine for inspiration. After learning that Amelia Earhart kept a scrapbook with newspaper articles about successful women in male-dominated jobs, I started a scrapbook of my own. Long after I stopped clipping articles, I continued to seek out stories of women who seemed to be redefining what was possible.
CHELSEA: This book is the continuation of a conversation the two of us have been having since I was little. For me, too, my mom was a hero; so were my grandmothers. My early teachers were also women. But I grew up in a world very different from theirs. My pediatrician was a woman, and so was the first mayor of Little Rock who I remember from my childhood. Most of my close friends' moms worked outside the home as nurses, doctors, teachers, professors, and in business. And women were going into space and breaking records here on Earth.
Ensuring the rights and opportunities of women and girls remains a big piece of the unfinished business of the twenty-first century. While there's a lot of work to do, we know that throughout history and around the globe women have overcome the toughest resistance imaginable to win victories that have made progress possible for all of us. That is the achievement of each of the women in this book.
So how did they do it? The answers are as unique as the women themselves. Civil rights activist Dorothy Height, LGBTQ trailblazer Edie Windsor, and swimmer Diana Nyad kept pushing forward, no matter what. Writers like Rachel Carson and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie named something no one had dared talk about before. Historian Mary Beard used wit to open doors that were once closed, and Wangari Maathai, who sparked a movement to plant trees, understood the power of role modeling. Harriet Tubman and Malala Yousafzai looked fear in the face and persevered. Nearly every single one of these women was fiercely optimistic - they had faith that their actions could make a difference. And they were right.
To us, they are all gutsy women - leaders with the courage to stand up to the status quo, ask hard questions, and get the job done. So in the moments when the long haul seems awfully long, we hope you will draw strength from these stories. We do. Because if history shows one thing, it's that the world needs gutsy women."
"She couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old. "Go ahead, ask your question," her father urged, nudging her forward. She smiled shyly and said, "You're my hero. Who's yours?"
Many people - especially girls - have asked us that same question over the years. It's one of our favourite topics.
HILLARY: Growing up, I knew hardly any women who worked outside the home. So I looked to my mother, my teachers, and the pages of Life magazine for inspiration. After learning that Amelia Earhart kept a scrapbook with newspaper articles about successful women in male-dominated jobs, I started a scrapbook of my own. Long after I stopped clipping articles, I continued to seek out stories of women who seemed to be redefining what was possible.
CHELSEA: This book is the continuation of a conversation the two of us have been having since I was little. For me, too, my mom was a hero; so were my grandmothers. My early teachers were also women. But I grew up in a world very different from theirs. My pediatrician was a woman, and so was the first mayor of Little Rock who I remember from my childhood. Most of my close friends' moms worked outside the home as nurses, doctors, teachers, professors, and in business. And women were going into space and breaking records here on Earth.
Ensuring the rights and opportunities of women and girls remains a big piece of the unfinished business of the twenty-first century. While there's a lot of work to do, we know that throughout history and around the globe women have overcome the toughest resistance imaginable to win victories that have made progress possible for all of us. That is the achievement of each of the women in this book.
So how did they do it? The answers are as unique as the women themselves. Civil rights activist Dorothy Height, LGBTQ trailblazer Edie Windsor, and swimmer Diana Nyad kept pushing forward, no matter what. Writers like Rachel Carson and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie named something no one had dared talk about before. Historian Mary Beard used wit to open doors that were once closed, and Wangari Maathai, who sparked a movement to plant trees, understood the power of role modeling. Harriet Tubman and Malala Yousafzai looked fear in the face and persevered. Nearly every single one of these women was fiercely optimistic - they had faith that their actions could make a difference. And they were right.
To us, they are all gutsy women - leaders with the courage to stand up to the status quo, ask hard questions, and get the job done. So in the moments when the long haul seems awfully long, we hope you will draw strength from these stories. We do. Because if history shows one thing, it's that the world needs gutsy women."
October 9, 2019
This is, essentially, an encyclopedia. If you approach as such - and as a stepping off point for further exploration of prominent and influential women - you will avoid some disappointment others might feel.
We are all going to have certain women we think should be in a book like this, but who don't make it, for whatever reason. I won't hold that against Clinton^2, because it is an inherent limitation to any project of this sort. My biggest criticism is that the book doesn't do enough with the material. You, the reader, will get short bios of a generous spread of gutsy women (Clinton^2 do a good job of trying to get an international cross-section of women and to cover a number of different areas of influence), but that is about all you'll get. With the authors being two women who have lived very prominent and influential lives, themselves, I was really hoping for up to the final third of the book to be an analysis of how to foster such gutsiness in women/girls/daughters and where to go from here.
Whether or not that was too much work or would have potentially made the book more controversial than they wanted, in order to reach a broader audience, we are left with these (admittedly well-written) encyclopedia entries. I should clarify that it's not like Clinton^2 copied and pasted Wikipedia entries. HRC has written a number of books at this point, and she is a talented non-fiction writer. There are a number of personal interactions recounted along the way, and the authors make a point of adding how certain women inspired them personally.
I hope that this book isn't pigeon-holed as a book just for women, because, while women may be the primary audience, the book can also serve as an important blind spot patch for men who may not have been exposed to information about a lot of the included women in classrooms, home life, or through various media sources. HRC's brand of feminism has never been about tearing down men, but instead focuses on removing barriers to letting women reach their full potential. This should be a bit more palatable to male readers than works that label men as "the problem" and place the burden of change almost entirely upon them.
We are all going to have certain women we think should be in a book like this, but who don't make it, for whatever reason. I won't hold that against Clinton^2, because it is an inherent limitation to any project of this sort. My biggest criticism is that the book doesn't do enough with the material. You, the reader, will get short bios of a generous spread of gutsy women (Clinton^2 do a good job of trying to get an international cross-section of women and to cover a number of different areas of influence), but that is about all you'll get. With the authors being two women who have lived very prominent and influential lives, themselves, I was really hoping for up to the final third of the book to be an analysis of how to foster such gutsiness in women/girls/daughters and where to go from here.
Whether or not that was too much work or would have potentially made the book more controversial than they wanted, in order to reach a broader audience, we are left with these (admittedly well-written) encyclopedia entries. I should clarify that it's not like Clinton^2 copied and pasted Wikipedia entries. HRC has written a number of books at this point, and she is a talented non-fiction writer. There are a number of personal interactions recounted along the way, and the authors make a point of adding how certain women inspired them personally.
I hope that this book isn't pigeon-holed as a book just for women, because, while women may be the primary audience, the book can also serve as an important blind spot patch for men who may not have been exposed to information about a lot of the included women in classrooms, home life, or through various media sources. HRC's brand of feminism has never been about tearing down men, but instead focuses on removing barriers to letting women reach their full potential. This should be a bit more palatable to male readers than works that label men as "the problem" and place the burden of change almost entirely upon them.
November 23, 2019
I'm sad to say that as an adult woman who has considered herself a feminist since the 1960's, I was disappointed in this book. It's not the content - the selections of gutsy women they included and the descriptions of their challenges and achievements was first rate. I liked the organization as well, and the fact that in the audio version the names of the women came up like chapter headings. This was not important when the woman under discussion was already familiar to me; more so when the name was new, and even more so if it was not European, and thus more difficult for me to visualize as it would appear on paper and to remember.
I had two problems with the book. One was the narration. Hillary's voice isn't particularly pleasing but I was happy with her matter-of-fact delivery. Chelsea had a tendency to add emphasis by lingering on a word or trying to add emotional content. That really wasn't necessary because the stories of the gutsy women spoke for themselves.
But what really bothered me was the name dropping. I didn't mind Hillary's occasional political references, probably because I would have expected that. If Shirley Chisholm paved the way for Hillary's future presidential campaign, it makes sense that Hillary would mention it.
The problem for me was the steady commentary about how both authors had met so many of the gutsy women, gone to school with them, given them awards, or stood on platforms with them. I couldn't help feeling they were trying to "bask in the reflected glow" of the courageous women they wrote about. Nothing in the promotional material prepared me for these intrusive comments, and to put it bluntly, they got on my nerves. To me they came across as evidence of their privilege.
I do admire both authors, Hillary especially. She's worked hard, put up with a lot, and achieved a lot. She's not perfect, but then again, most male politicians have serious failings that we may not even be aware of since they are so much less scrutinized. I just wish I could have enjoyed the book more.
I had two problems with the book. One was the narration. Hillary's voice isn't particularly pleasing but I was happy with her matter-of-fact delivery. Chelsea had a tendency to add emphasis by lingering on a word or trying to add emotional content. That really wasn't necessary because the stories of the gutsy women spoke for themselves.
But what really bothered me was the name dropping. I didn't mind Hillary's occasional political references, probably because I would have expected that. If Shirley Chisholm paved the way for Hillary's future presidential campaign, it makes sense that Hillary would mention it.
The problem for me was the steady commentary about how both authors had met so many of the gutsy women, gone to school with them, given them awards, or stood on platforms with them. I couldn't help feeling they were trying to "bask in the reflected glow" of the courageous women they wrote about. Nothing in the promotional material prepared me for these intrusive comments, and to put it bluntly, they got on my nerves. To me they came across as evidence of their privilege.
I do admire both authors, Hillary especially. She's worked hard, put up with a lot, and achieved a lot. She's not perfect, but then again, most male politicians have serious failings that we may not even be aware of since they are so much less scrutinized. I just wish I could have enjoyed the book more.
October 17, 2019
Fantastic! I saw Hillary and Chelsea's interview on CBS Sunday Morning and realized I needed to learn more about these Gutsy Women. I picked it up at the library and was discouraged by it's heft. It's more like a coffee table book, not one I could easily stuff in my bag to read at lunch. But it was the perfect book to read during commercials and I thought I'd just skim. I couldn't put it down. Every gutsy woman was about 4 pages; a length I could manage and packed with interesting facts that captured my attention, kept me reading and gave me something to talk about at the water cooler. There were woman I heard of and women I knew only their cause and women I'm glad I now know more about. Makes me wonder . . . what has man done??
October 29, 2019
This is the kind of book that I would actually buy then keep on reading again and again. Written by a dynamic mother daughter duo, they have listed so many wonderful examples of female protagonists from whom I can learn and want to learn much more. I am enjoying listening to both Hilary and Chelsea’s voices and their personal experiences as well as those selected females trail blazers and heroines. While they talk about many well-known figures such as Nightingales, Amelia Earhart, Madam Curie, and Harriet Tubman, they also talk about many modern women who were the pioneers in various professional field that I have never heard of. It is an encyclopedic list of those who paved the way for all of us. The freedom and woman’s right that I enjoy was not just given; there were many woman who paved the ways toward equality and justice. To break the glass ceiling, there were many who made the brave first steps. As I listen to education pioneers, earth defenders, explorers and inventors, healers, athletes, advocates and activists, storytellers, elected leaders, ground breakers, woman’s right campions from all era, ages, races, and background, I found some commonalities.
• They (or their ideas/platforms) were not always popular
• Many had a single defining moment where they could have chosen the wider and more accepted path; instead followed their deep conviction and passion
• All of them were persistent, regardless of persecution, judgement, or any other form of adversity
• None of them were perfect but still inspiring and made difference in their and other’s lives
As I look back my first 50 years of my life, I was passive, compliant, obedient (to the rules, and mom and dad, and society. My focus was on the peace of family and my identity was connected with my loved ones. Life has been good overall, regardless of some challenges and struggles. God has been with me and blessed me. As I face the second and even better half of my life, I want to be outrageous, rule-breaker (?), and adventurous. I want to speak out my belief and live out my passion. With so much anticipation and encouragement from those who have gone the path, I am ready…
• They (or their ideas/platforms) were not always popular
• Many had a single defining moment where they could have chosen the wider and more accepted path; instead followed their deep conviction and passion
• All of them were persistent, regardless of persecution, judgement, or any other form of adversity
• None of them were perfect but still inspiring and made difference in their and other’s lives
As I look back my first 50 years of my life, I was passive, compliant, obedient (to the rules, and mom and dad, and society. My focus was on the peace of family and my identity was connected with my loved ones. Life has been good overall, regardless of some challenges and struggles. God has been with me and blessed me. As I face the second and even better half of my life, I want to be outrageous, rule-breaker (?), and adventurous. I want to speak out my belief and live out my passion. With so much anticipation and encouragement from those who have gone the path, I am ready…
Want to read
October 28, 2020“Each of these women has fought and won the kinds of victories that pave the way for progress for all of us,” said Clinton.
Maybe, but she lost the 2016 Presidential election. She lost it. That's What happened.
https://amp.theguardian.com/books/201...
UPDATE
Maybe she thinks she's the gutsiest of them all....
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theg...
UPDATE
The next edition of this book should include Tulsi Gabbard. She's really gutsy.
🤫
UPDATE
https://www.refinery29.com/amp/en-us/...
Maybe, but she lost the 2016 Presidential election. She lost it. That's What happened.
https://amp.theguardian.com/books/201...
UPDATE
Maybe she thinks she's the gutsiest of them all....
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theg...
UPDATE
The next edition of this book should include Tulsi Gabbard. She's really gutsy.
🤫
UPDATE
https://www.refinery29.com/amp/en-us/...
November 4, 2019
This is a good book to give to young women. Young women are often given the message that they are not good enough. Or, they can't do this or that because they're girls. I have young nieces and it breaks my heart when I hear them spout these things that they hear. This book is the perfect antidote. You get listings of wonderful women who have accomplished great, even "impossible" things. It's inspiring and gives hope. I listened to the audiobook and it's always a bonus to listen to the authors narrate.
November 1, 2019
Was looking forward to learning about the stories of these women, unfortunately the entire book was tainted with Hillary's bitter political comment through out. This could of been a completely totally enjoyable audio book, but instead I would cringe and seriously consider if I even wanted to listen to any more every time I had the listen to her bitter political digs.
November 21, 2019
What a delightful informative look at the gutsy women of the world. I did not know:
• On her third trip to the south to rescue her husband, Harriet Tubman found that he had remarried, so she decided that “if he could do without her, she could do without him.” She went on to bring hundreds of slaves to freedom.
• Helen Keller confounded the ACLU.
• When “Sesame Street” aired on PBS in 1969, a Mississippi state commission voted to ban the show. Public outcry forced its reinstatement.” I had the good fortune of attending the 25th year celebration of Sesame Street, which has now reached a 50 year milestone.
• Mary McLeod Bethune was the first black woman to serve as president of an HSBC.
There are too many Nobel Prize winners to list, but almost all were the first woman or first black to receive this honor.
• in fact, Marie Curie was the first person ever to win a Nobel in two disciplines — physics and chemistry. And, her daughter also won one in chemistry.
Numerous women who faced gender and racial prejudice still managed to achieve incredible success in the fields of medicine, the environment, sports, dance, science, comedy, politics, space and business. These women all accomplished so much, while fighting racism, xenophobia, gun violence, Islamophobia and stupidity. They did this in (to name a few) South Africa, Yemen, Colombia, Iraq, Ireland, Nigeria, Australia, and the United States: Florida, Arizona, Oklahoma, Sandy Hook, NYC, Washington DC, Chicago....
These stories/tributes not only detail accomplishments, but also discuss family dynamics, physical trials and circumstances that led to their activism.
“They all made the world better.”
I applaud Hilary and Chelsea for their in-depth stories of famous and not-so-famous women who have had a positive influence on the world.
• On her third trip to the south to rescue her husband, Harriet Tubman found that he had remarried, so she decided that “if he could do without her, she could do without him.” She went on to bring hundreds of slaves to freedom.
• Helen Keller confounded the ACLU.
• When “Sesame Street” aired on PBS in 1969, a Mississippi state commission voted to ban the show. Public outcry forced its reinstatement.” I had the good fortune of attending the 25th year celebration of Sesame Street, which has now reached a 50 year milestone.
• Mary McLeod Bethune was the first black woman to serve as president of an HSBC.
There are too many Nobel Prize winners to list, but almost all were the first woman or first black to receive this honor.
• in fact, Marie Curie was the first person ever to win a Nobel in two disciplines — physics and chemistry. And, her daughter also won one in chemistry.
Numerous women who faced gender and racial prejudice still managed to achieve incredible success in the fields of medicine, the environment, sports, dance, science, comedy, politics, space and business. These women all accomplished so much, while fighting racism, xenophobia, gun violence, Islamophobia and stupidity. They did this in (to name a few) South Africa, Yemen, Colombia, Iraq, Ireland, Nigeria, Australia, and the United States: Florida, Arizona, Oklahoma, Sandy Hook, NYC, Washington DC, Chicago....
These stories/tributes not only detail accomplishments, but also discuss family dynamics, physical trials and circumstances that led to their activism.
“They all made the world better.”
I applaud Hilary and Chelsea for their in-depth stories of famous and not-so-famous women who have had a positive influence on the world.
October 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. The stories are interesting and personal, and the structure of the book is well done.
November 8, 2021
I am emotionally hot-wired from reading this book because it exceeded my expectations. I knew I would read about gutsy women, but I had no idea just how gutsy these women were. I was familiar with many of the women Hillary and Chelsea Clinton mentioned who I was familiar with, but oh my goodness, there were so many other courageous women from around the world I did not know. While some people think that this book is from a political standpoint, that would be an incorrect assumption and assessment.
This book contains stories about women who risked everything and became pioneers in education, environmental protection, advocates and activism, literature, health and wellness, exploration, invention, elected leaders, women's rights champions, and groundbreakers. They stood up not only for women but for all people, regardless of race, gender, creed, or color.
The women mentioned in this book were gutsy and resilient indeed. They were historical movers and shakers, and their stories have encouraged me to stand up more for what is just. I think this book should be required reading for men as well.
This book contains stories about women who risked everything and became pioneers in education, environmental protection, advocates and activism, literature, health and wellness, exploration, invention, elected leaders, women's rights champions, and groundbreakers. They stood up not only for women but for all people, regardless of race, gender, creed, or color.
The women mentioned in this book were gutsy and resilient indeed. They were historical movers and shakers, and their stories have encouraged me to stand up more for what is just. I think this book should be required reading for men as well.
February 12, 2020
This is a great book about women who have made a huge impact not just in the U.S. but across the world. These gutsy women came from all walks of life and affected not just women but mankind in areas such as medicine, civil rights, science, etc. Some names are well-known and others we've never heard of and will likely never hear of again.
I listened to the audio which was read by the authors, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton. They really did their homework. It was also interesting getting a little slice of their own stories as Chelsea talked about her grandmother's admiration for one of the gutsy women. It is not a political book, but a couple of times Hillary threw in a little snark in her commentary about what some of the women endured and you could tell she was referencing her election cycle. But I give her a pass - if I had lost to a self-acknowledged pussy grabber and grifter I too would look like I was sucking on sour lemons.
Definitely recommend this book. While I enjoyed hearing the Clintons' voices, the audio was over 14 hours and it took forever to get through. This would make a better hard copy to be savored from time to time. It's also a great gift to important women and men in your lives.
I listened to the audio which was read by the authors, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton. They really did their homework. It was also interesting getting a little slice of their own stories as Chelsea talked about her grandmother's admiration for one of the gutsy women. It is not a political book, but a couple of times Hillary threw in a little snark in her commentary about what some of the women endured and you could tell she was referencing her election cycle. But I give her a pass - if I had lost to a self-acknowledged pussy grabber and grifter I too would look like I was sucking on sour lemons.
Definitely recommend this book. While I enjoyed hearing the Clintons' voices, the audio was over 14 hours and it took forever to get through. This would make a better hard copy to be savored from time to time. It's also a great gift to important women and men in your lives.
December 27, 2019
This was a great book to listen while I walked each morning.
I did know a little bit here & there about many of the women in this book, but the background was a little deeper & more personal. Chelsea & Hillary took turns talking & gave some personal insight about many of the women.
The book was split into sections depending on where these "gutsy" women made their name in history- Athletes, Healers, Education etc....it was pretty lengthy.
I enjoyed learning "more" about the women I was familiar with & also learning anew about women I was unfamiliar with ....
I did know a little bit here & there about many of the women in this book, but the background was a little deeper & more personal. Chelsea & Hillary took turns talking & gave some personal insight about many of the women.
The book was split into sections depending on where these "gutsy" women made their name in history- Athletes, Healers, Education etc....it was pretty lengthy.
I enjoyed learning "more" about the women I was familiar with & also learning anew about women I was unfamiliar with ....
October 12, 2019
Truth is, I only read about 40 pages when I realized this is probably a book best read by 6th to 9th graders. Two or three pages devoted to each woman, very simplistic language and just not worth time for me to read it alone. However, I most likely will be reading it along with my 9 y/o granddaughter, who is a bit young to red it all by herself, but probably will enjoy reading it together and talking about each woman's accomplishments.
December 11, 2019
I am giving this book a 3.5 star review for the novel “The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience” by Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton.
I loved the biographies of all the “Gutsy” women in this book. The history was fascinating. I even found myself reading some of them over again. A lot of the women mentioned in the book are people in the news or historical figures that I knew about already. But a lot of the women mentioned, I had never heard about and loved to read about how they impacted the world we live in now!
The novel included the following chapters:
• Early inspirations
• Education
• Earth Defenders
• Explorers and Inventors
• Healers
• Athletes
• Advocate Activists
• Storytellers
• Elected Leaders
• Groundbreakers
• Women’s Rights
I did not like the commentary from Hillary and Chelsea. It almost was like taking away from the biographies and the “Gutsy Women” that they were talking about in the novel. Both authors would name drop, talk about their personal lives, and/or talk about their careers. I personally felt like it took away from the people that they were honoring in the novel. I can see if the book had these off to the side for you to read or skip over. Additionally, I felt like at times, it was like a college or high school essay, where they would define words that they thought the reader would not understand. I also did not like how they discussed their own political views throughout the novel. I think this took away from the women that they were speaking about and had the spotlight on Hillary and Chelsea. I am surprised that Chelsea did not add Hilary and vice versa for a chapter in the novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and learned a lot about women who made this crazy world that we live in now, a lot better. I learned a lot and found inspiration in many of their stories. Some were brave, courageous, fought for others, etc. I would have given this novel a better score if some of those small things did not irk me. I still encourage everyone to read this novel.
I loved the biographies of all the “Gutsy” women in this book. The history was fascinating. I even found myself reading some of them over again. A lot of the women mentioned in the book are people in the news or historical figures that I knew about already. But a lot of the women mentioned, I had never heard about and loved to read about how they impacted the world we live in now!
The novel included the following chapters:
• Early inspirations
• Education
• Earth Defenders
• Explorers and Inventors
• Healers
• Athletes
• Advocate Activists
• Storytellers
• Elected Leaders
• Groundbreakers
• Women’s Rights
I did not like the commentary from Hillary and Chelsea. It almost was like taking away from the biographies and the “Gutsy Women” that they were talking about in the novel. Both authors would name drop, talk about their personal lives, and/or talk about their careers. I personally felt like it took away from the people that they were honoring in the novel. I can see if the book had these off to the side for you to read or skip over. Additionally, I felt like at times, it was like a college or high school essay, where they would define words that they thought the reader would not understand. I also did not like how they discussed their own political views throughout the novel. I think this took away from the women that they were speaking about and had the spotlight on Hillary and Chelsea. I am surprised that Chelsea did not add Hilary and vice versa for a chapter in the novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and learned a lot about women who made this crazy world that we live in now, a lot better. I learned a lot and found inspiration in many of their stories. Some were brave, courageous, fought for others, etc. I would have given this novel a better score if some of those small things did not irk me. I still encourage everyone to read this novel.
February 22, 2021
Knyga sudėta iš trumpų istorijų apie moteris iš skirtingų pasaulio vietų, laikotarpių, kurių gyvenimai iliustruoja tai, ką reiškia atkaklumas ir valia, kai aplinka tik gniuždo ir riboja. Sportininkės, menininkės, politikės, medicinos darbuotojos – girdėtos ir negirdėtos, lietuviškam kontekstui dažniausiai nežinomos, iki šiol neaprašytos, todėl atradimo džiaugsmo ir nuostabos skaitantiems čia bus su kaupu.
Nors man kartais atrodo, kad tas priėjimas prie moterų teisių temos per įkvepiančios lyderystės pavyzdžius gerokai supaprastina visą vaizdą (visas sistemiškai slegiančias aplinkybes, kurioms vieniša individualizuota lyderystė gali būti tik lengvas kąsnelis) – autorės pateikia įtikinančių argumentų, kodėl svarbi ir tokia prieiga. Autorės rašo, kad „viena bebaimė moteris gali sukelti grandininę reakciją savo bendruomenėje“, nes „kaskart, išdrįsusi pabandyti, moteris parodo kelią.“
Knyga parašyta apmąstant ir pačių autorių asmenines patirtis, gyvenimo įvykius, vyresnioji Clinton atskleidžia ir kai kurias savo politinės karjeros detales. Man labai patiko tos vietos, kai autorės pasidalina prisiminimais apie aprašomas moteris, nes nemažą dalį tų moterų jos buvo sutikusios gyvai (neblogai, ką). Tada knyginė asmenybės biografija pasipildo subjektyviomis detalėmis. Svarbiausia, kad ši knyga tikrai skatina pasidomėti giliau, pasigūglinti, o gal net nusipirkti kokią biografinę knygą, kuri pratęstų pažintį su viena ar kita asmenybe.
Nors man kartais atrodo, kad tas priėjimas prie moterų teisių temos per įkvepiančios lyderystės pavyzdžius gerokai supaprastina visą vaizdą (visas sistemiškai slegiančias aplinkybes, kurioms vieniša individualizuota lyderystė gali būti tik lengvas kąsnelis) – autorės pateikia įtikinančių argumentų, kodėl svarbi ir tokia prieiga. Autorės rašo, kad „viena bebaimė moteris gali sukelti grandininę reakciją savo bendruomenėje“, nes „kaskart, išdrįsusi pabandyti, moteris parodo kelią.“
Knyga parašyta apmąstant ir pačių autorių asmenines patirtis, gyvenimo įvykius, vyresnioji Clinton atskleidžia ir kai kurias savo politinės karjeros detales. Man labai patiko tos vietos, kai autorės pasidalina prisiminimais apie aprašomas moteris, nes nemažą dalį tų moterų jos buvo sutikusios gyvai (neblogai, ką). Tada knyginė asmenybės biografija pasipildo subjektyviomis detalėmis. Svarbiausia, kad ši knyga tikrai skatina pasidomėti giliau, pasigūglinti, o gal net nusipirkti kokią biografinę knygą, kuri pratęstų pažintį su viena ar kita asmenybe.
December 23, 2019
When I first heard this book was being released I had such high hopes for it. I love reading books about strong women who paved their own path when the odds were stacked against them.....this book left me feeling like there could have been more....something. I cannot put my finger on it exactly but I think I have a good idea of why I struggled to finish a book that otherwise I would have zipped through. I just did not appreciate how Hillary compared herself throughout this book to the other women. I appreciate the background as to why her and Chelsea chose these fine women in history, however it disappointed me how often she interjected herself into these historical women’s stories. In reading these women’s stories I wanted to rate this book five stars. In reading the parts of comparison and interjection I was annoyed and wanted to rate it a 2 star book however I settled on a 3. The writing was ok. The narrative was eh, ok. And I felt as though there were other women in history that should have been included in a book written about “gutsy” women in history. So for me, a person who usually loves historical books, I gave my rating an ok.
I know everyone has their own opinions and some people may absolutely love this book but if I have to force myself to finish something and not thoroughly enjoy it, well this is how I rate it.
I know everyone has their own opinions and some people may absolutely love this book but if I have to force myself to finish something and not thoroughly enjoy it, well this is how I rate it.
January 2, 2020
Everyone needs to read this book. It was fantastic. The majority of the women listed in this book I’ve never heard of which is fantastic. I requested countless books from my library about the women listed in this book. I won’t lie, I got emotional reading about what some of these women have done. I feel proud of them.
Coming from a historian background I liked the conciseness of the writing about each women. It provided enough background and explained why they left an impact while not feeling like you had to read through so much extra stuff that makes it not enjoyable.
I appalled Hillary and Chelsea.
Coming from a historian background I liked the conciseness of the writing about each women. It provided enough background and explained why they left an impact while not feeling like you had to read through so much extra stuff that makes it not enjoyable.
I appalled Hillary and Chelsea.
October 31, 2019
This is a truly important book. It raised my respect for Hillary and Chelsea Clinton even higher. I learned things about them that I didn't know. Both truly remarkable women.
But more than that they paid homage with the stories of so many women of courage. I'm happy to know their stories.
The book inspired me to ask my friends what their "Gutsy" time was and have been inspired by the stories, many of them I didn't know. I think the best legacy of this book is for us to tell our stories of courage and persistance. We all have them.
But more than that they paid homage with the stories of so many women of courage. I'm happy to know their stories.
The book inspired me to ask my friends what their "Gutsy" time was and have been inspired by the stories, many of them I didn't know. I think the best legacy of this book is for us to tell our stories of courage and persistance. We all have them.
January 24, 2020
Excellent anthology of great women over time. From the 19,20and 21 centuries. Hillary and Chelsea Clinton are very good writers and their list of women who had “guts” is very extensive and well worth reading. A very important read. Very enjoyable too!
February 9, 2020
So many of my heroes' stories are in this book, as well as the stories of many women of whom I'd never heard. Brave, independent, fierce women need to be celebrated and learned from and this book highlights them all.
October 17, 2019
A great compilation of all kinds of gutsy women throughout history.
October 27, 2019
So many stories of courage
This is a very long book, justifying so. Women, especially women of color have historically been taught to remain silent. Thanks to Hillary and Chelsea for bringing their stories to the light of day. I would add a few more names for consideration, possible for another book: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Oprah Winfrey, Chanel Miller, Sister Joan Chisiter (sp?), Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa, and, hopefully soon, the first woman President of the United States of America.
This is a very long book, justifying so. Women, especially women of color have historically been taught to remain silent. Thanks to Hillary and Chelsea for bringing their stories to the light of day. I would add a few more names for consideration, possible for another book: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Oprah Winfrey, Chanel Miller, Sister Joan Chisiter (sp?), Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa, and, hopefully soon, the first woman President of the United States of America.
October 19, 2019
This is a great book! There are so many wonderful women featured, and it was refreshing to read about them! The particular selection of each women is excellent and enlightening. Women have come a long, long way thanks to the brave, resilient, courageous, hardworking, and marvelous lives dedicated to enabling women to shine. to further complete equality, to be valued and treasured, and to succeed. We must keep up the great work!
February 7, 2020
This book was such an inspirational read that I would recommend to any and everybody man or woman. While it covers the names that we all know and respect such as Anne Frank, Florence Nightingale, Jane Goodall and so many others, it covers even more names that I ashamedly did not know but was eager to learn about. The amount of women that have positively impacted the world is astounding, and if you read this I hope that you become inspired to do your part (however small it may feel) too.
January 22, 2020
I enjoyed the range of persons they presented and the personal manner of their presentation. I listened to the book and also enjoyed the their voices.
Their work is most likely targets young persons who are learning the names of important leaders. It is a good first resource as it allows the reader to learn about these women quickly and in a personal manner.
Their work is most likely targets young persons who are learning the names of important leaders. It is a good first resource as it allows the reader to learn about these women quickly and in a personal manner.
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