Daring to Be Ourselves:Influential Women Share Insights on Courage, Happiness, and Finding Your Own Voice [Paperback]

Marianne Schnall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2010

This impressive collection brings together words of wisdom from many of today's most renowned and influential women, including Maya Angelou, Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, Cameron Diaz, Melissa Etheridge, Alice Walker, Eve Ensler, Isabel Allende, Elizabeth Lesser, Jane Goodall, and many others. Together, their voices speak to women of all ages and walks of life, addressing issues like equality, overcoming adversity, finding balance, and being more connected to the earth. Experience the power of their words as they share their passions and struggles, life philosophies, and hopes and dreams for the future. Let them inspire you in your own life to find your voice, speak your truth, and make a difference in the world.

"From a lifetime of interviewing diverse women, Marianne Schnall has chosen quotations that address big questions, then clustered them around turning points in life. Daring to Be Ourselves is a gift, a joy and a rescue." --Gloria Steinem

Editorial Reviews

Review

Marianne Schnall has gathered up a provocative, soulful, and deeply helpful book of women, wisdom, and ways to move us all forward. It is a gift!!! --Eve Ensler

Daring to Be Ourselves is lovely and useful and true. --Alice Walker

Daring to Be Ourselves is a profoundly empowering book filled with quotes written by some of the most influential women of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, such as Jane Fonda, Cameron Diaz, Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, Melissa Etheridge, Natalie Portman, and many more. They all share opinions about issues of equality, caring for the earth, self-love, and words of wisdom to young girls.

I feel deeply fortunate to have had the chance to read this book. Women are constantly putting themselves down and trying too hard to be perfect, like the artificial women we see on glossy magazines. It's crucial for women to know that we don't need to duplicate those images we see in the media.

Marianne Schnall has produced a book that will not only empower young women, but make them see how amazing it is to be a woman. She shows us that with a little more self-confidence we too can be as strong and liberated as the women whom she quotes. --Lauren Kearney, Teen Voices

About the Author

Marianne Schnall is a widely published writer and interviewer. She is also the founder of the women's website Feminist.com and cofounder of EcoMall.com, a website promoting environmentally-friendly living. Marianne has worked for many media outlets and publications. Her interviews with well-known individuals appear at Feminist.com as well as in publications such as O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, In Style, The Huffington Post, The Women's Media Center, and many others. Through her writings, interviews, and websites, Marianne strives to raise awareness and inspire activism around important issues and causes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Blue Mountain Arts, Inc. (November 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598425323
• ISBN-13: 978-1598425321
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #535,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marianne Schnall is a widely published writer and interviewer. She is also the founder and executive director of Feminist.com, a leading women's website and nonprofit organization. For over fifteen years, Feminist.com has been fostering awareness, education, and activism for people all across the world. Marianne is also the cofounder of EcoMall.com, one of the oldest environmental websites promoting earth-friendly living.

Marianne has worked for many media outlets and publications. Her interviews with well-known individuals appear at Feminist.com as well as in publications such as O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, In Style, Entertainment Weekly's web site EW.com, The Huffington Post, the Women's Media Center, and many others.

Marianne was a contributor to Robin Morgan's anthology "Sisterhood is Forever: The Women's Anthology for a New Millennium", co-writing (with Amy Richards) the chapter titled "Cyberfeminism: Networking on the Net."

Her new book, "Daring to Be Ourselves: Influential Women Share Insights on Courage, Happiness and Finding Your Own Voice" will be out in November 2010.

Through her writings, interviews, and websites, Marianne strives to inspire change by bringing attention to important issues and causes that affect our world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Woman--of Every Age--Must Have This Book, November 18, 2010

By 

Barbara Grufferman (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daring to Be Ourselves:Influential Women Share Insights on Courage, Happiness, and Finding Your Own Voice (Paperback)

I knew about Marianne Schnall before buying this fantastic and powerful book. Her interviews with famous women often appear in Huffington Post and women's magazines. She is also the founder of feminist.com, a website devoted to the well-being, enrichment and empowerment of women.

This lovely, inspiring book, which I have already given to several women, including my own 13- and 16-year old daughters, is the culmination of years' worth of interviews Marianne had with some of the most accomplished, successful, and caring women in the world. She chose the most powerful quotes from her interviews, and grouped them into sections with chapters such as "Together, Women Are Strong," "What Message Would You Most Want to Instill in Girls?" and "Putting Ourselves First."

The women included in Daring to Be Ourselves are well-known and highly respected such as Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, Cameron Diaz, Jane Fonda, Jane Goodall, and many others, and all are incredibly accomplished and active in many different fields and causes. These are women I want to hear from, and be connected to. Their unified message, told through this book, is clear and very powerful: Be fearless. Know who you are. Know that you are beautiful. And, one of the most important messages: stand together. Annie Lennox writes, "When women get together as a group, it is immensely powerful."

I loved this book from the moment I read the first page. It is a treasured compilation of beautiful thoughts, and I look forward to re-reading this it over and over again . . . and sharing it with as many women (and men) as I can.

Highly, highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give Yourself... The Gift Of Empowerment, December 5, 2010

By 

Manisha Thakor "MoneyZen Maven" (Santa Fe, NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daring to Be Ourselves:Influential Women Share Insights on Courage, Happiness, and Finding Your Own Voice (Paperback)

DARING TO BE OURSELVES is like dark chocolate for the brain... soothing, energizing, and decadent all at the same time. It is impossible to turn the pages of this delicious book and not find yourself sitting up taller - inspired by the wisdom, strength, and life experiences captured within. A sheer delight to read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, love, love this book!, July 1, 2011

By 

Eleanor Biddulph (Central Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daring to Be Ourselves:Influential Women Share Insights on Courage, Happiness, and Finding Your Own Voice (Paperback)

I randomly came across this book in a local supermarket. The title/subtitle appealed to me, so I picked it up and bought it. I am so glad that I did! I've already ordered copies for my daughter and daughter-in-law.

This little collection of wisdom snippets by some well-known women from all walks of life is a quick and easy read, packed with inspiration, and something that every teenage girl and woman should read. It's one of those books to keep nearby, pick-up when you need a little boost, read a page or two, then come back to another day. I don't think I'll ever tire of browsing through it.

Just a few of the contributors are Jane Goodall, Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Jane Fonda, Melissa Etheridge, Madeleine Albright, and Loung Ung. Some of the topics they comment on include Speaking Our Truth, Connecting With Nature, Your Wish For the Children of the World, The Wisdom of Other Generations, and We Are Beautiful Just the Way We Are and All Life Is Interconnected. How great is that?

I was so thankful for finding it, that I also wrote about it here: [...]