Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters (Hardcover)

by Nancy Pelosi (Author), Amy Hill Hearth (Author)
Key Phrases: rst one, rst time, San Francisco, President Bush, Nancy Corinne (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this graceful personal and political history, Pelosi describes growing up as the daughter of a congressman in an Italian-American Catholic world (growing up Catholic had an enormous impact on me) and her burgeoning political interest (I always knew that I did not want to deal only with the meals, the laundry, the house). She details making history twice—becoming the first daughter to follow her father into Congress and in her groundbreaking election as the first female Speaker of the House in 2007. Pelosi writes passionately about the experiences of congressional women (Nothing has been more wholesome for the politics and the government of our country than the increased participation of women) and takes on George W. Bush, who she maintains lacks the vision, knowledge or judgment to be the leader our country needs. Careful to separate the person from the policy, Pelosi deals courteously with the former even when she condemns the latter. Pelosi's book is a simply crafted acknowledgment of the support of her family, mentors and helpful colleagues without rhetorical flourishes, insider scandal or intimate revelations—a gentle account from a tough politician. (July)
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From Booklist
As Pelosi points out in the preface to this slim volume, becoming Speaker of the House was not so much a personal victory as it was a “pivotal moment for all women.” With the proverbial everywoman in mind, she provides a series of life lessons drawn from her experiences and the experiences of women who influenced and inspired her on the journey to Capitol Hill. Though Pelosi, the daughter of Baltimore mayor Tommy D’Alesandro, was admittedly more socially and politically connected than the average American female, she nevertheless broke a succession of gender barriers that many of her own supporters did not even anticipate. Though her personal and political life has already been well documented in Vincent Bzdek’s Woman of the House: The Rise of Nancy Pelosi (2008), she manages to put an intimate spin on some familiar landscapes. Despite the fact that her advice is relatively tame and not especially original—never lose faith, recognize opportunity, organize, don’t agonize, there is no secret sauce, etc.—readers will appreciate the spirit, the sincerity, and the context of the message delivered by one of the most powerful women in the nation. Sure to be of interest to both Pelosi fans and foes. --Margaret Flanagan

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (July 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385525869
• ISBN-13: 978-0385525862
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #497,324 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

369 of 401 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very tough read. Poorly communicated, weak in substance., July 31, 2008

By	J. Mancino - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Very tough to get through. Weak and shallow substance. Expected much better and was thoroughly disappointed. Did she really think she had a winner here? Great idea for a book, but zero in the delivery. Could not recommend this to anyone.

462 of 506 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avid reader of politics finds this book lacking personality and depth, July 31, 2008

By	D. C. Bryan "dcbryan1" (Little Rock, AR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After I saw Speaker Pelosi on the "View", I was intrigued by some of her canned answers to current political goings on. I buy almost every political book out there and read it, as it mostly insightful, humorous, and give depth to the political debate that we hear prattled every night on television.

Speaker Pelosi must have used a ghost writer since many items in the book contradict her spoken statements and talking points. The book also shows the ugly side of politics and what it does to people once they have become imbedded in Washington DC for too long. The book portrays Speaker Pelosi as vapid, prideful, arrogant, and as an elitist. It does nothing but harp on how bad things are rather than seeing any good in America and doesn't give any resolution to current issues such as the (still debatable) effect of man-made global warming, current oil prices, dealing with a homicidally-led, soon-to-be nuclear armed, Iran, etc.

I have over 200 political books in my collection and I have to say, this ranks at possibly the bottom 20 of my collection ranking just ahead of Al Haig's, Wesley Clark's, and every Kitty Kelly book.

DCB

401 of 454 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolute power corrupts, July 31, 2008

By	William A. Hensler (Holt, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters (Audio CD)

I went down to the local store and grabbed this book off a shelf, got a cup of joe, and read it. I have the joy of being able to read her book and not paying a dime to her.

I guess the book makes sense in a Bizzaro world sort of way. I'll give you that warning.

Nancy gives the reader her life's lessons. Nancy tells about her struggles against Republicans and the various groups that make America a not so great place to live. It's kind of weird reading what the Speaker of the House thinks of her fellow Americans: Nancy thinks less of people politically opposed to her than of violent criminals. Criminals act bad because of events in life. Republicans and Conservatives are bad because they think wrong. Actually, it's a little chilling.

The writing is OK. I just hugely disagree with what she writes and how she thinks.

Now, don't think here writing is in the same league as Professor Newt Gingrich. Gingrich has his personal issues but he is a fantastic writer and an excellent history professor. Here is an example of Professor Gingrich writings Grant Comes East . Conversely, Nancy generally writes in this strange first person way and how her logic is always best. Actually, "logic" is a wrong word. It's Nancy's feeling that matter most. You're going to get a book of feelings. It's like Oprah as a politician who writes, badly.

Nancy is a mere opportunist. She is bankrolled by a fortune from her husband and is elected by a congressional district that has less choice in an election than the old Soviet Union. She writes for the leftist tea and cookie crowd that has never had to do a hard day of work in their life. But if you read her book it will give you insight into the way they think of us. Typical American are not merely the opposition; we're her political enemies.

Sorry, Nancy gets one star and she earned it.