Customer Reviews

Margaret Sanger: Her Life in Her Words

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

This poorly written book offers more of the words of the author, Miriam Reed, than Sanger's. There is no doubt that Margaret Sanger was and is one of the most unforgettable and fascinating figures in American history, but this book (I don't know how to define it) does not do her justice. Snippets of Sanger's words arescattered throughout undermining the author's intent, the documents are badly introduced and oddly over-interpreted. If the author wanted to write a biography she should have. If readers want to read Sanger's own words, check out her Autobiography. This one just doesn't do it. I, for one, am extremely disappointed.

Miriam Reed's biography of Margaret Sanger is a book that is hard to lay aside until the last page and hard to forget. Reed details the most dramatic episodes of Margaret Sanger which are enriched by private papers from Sanger's family. How I would love to see author/actress Reed on stage in a monologue as Margaret Sanger!

This is an honest and inspiring biography of a woman who literally changed the attitude of the world toward planning a family, inspired research, and established centers. Perhaps this book could help clear up the emotional reactions of current religious and political forces against planned births.

Reed presents Margaret Sanger's life in "her own words" using letters and other papers revealing the passion with which Sanger attempted to give birth control information to desperate American wives and mothers. Such mothers as those who had up to 15 children, half of whom were still living, begged Mrs. Sanger for help. M. Sanger was sent to prison over and over for demanding the right to discuss birth control at a time when the Dutch had had birth control clinics for 30 years and the French enjoyed the most modern birth control methods.

I highly recommend this biography for anyone who is even vaguely aware of the pathetic situation of thousands upon thousands of home abortions so common before Sanger's work, many of which resulted in death. This practice is still widespread in countries without the funds for planned parenthood clinics.

First, I'm a Margaret Sanger fan. Her work did as much to ultimately liberate women as did the right to vote and the attempted passage of the ERA. I love this book because Dr. Reed has read every single piece of primary research available on Sanger, and then overlaid it with her own (Reed's) summations and conclusions. It is deeply researched, has the blessings of the Sanger family, and provides a non-biased look at a woman, though changing the world, who still had personal flaws and failings. It's arranged chronologically and also contains short biographies of each soul mentioned in the book, an in-depth section of footnotes, a thorough bibliography, and a complete index. This was not Dr. Reed's disseratation -- but it certainly could have been.

An interesting book on early 20th century America that many of the recent immigrants like me are not aware of. It is fascinating and I highly recommend it.

This selection of Sanger documents is odd and not made with the best of care. While Reed claims that this is Sanger's "Life in Her Words" there is probably more of Reed than Sanger in the book, if you counted words. Each document is introduced by a lengthy and not all that well written essay, and equal weight (and space) seem to be given to Sanger's views on race and eugenics and her recipes for chicken curry. There is some very sloppy research here as well, with no attribution. Reed's biographical sketches are incomplete and in one case, "Oliver" Johnson instead of "Olive" Johnson, downright embarrassing. The fact that Reed disputes Sanger on the name and gender of her British associate would be laughable if it didn't raise so many questions about her other identifications. Reed claims a Ph.D. on the cover, but I don't think it could be in history.

This book is a great way to study Margaret Sanger. She has many works and too many for a single person to read in a short time. Even reading full lengths of some of her documents can be long, so this book offers a way to read works spanning her entire life in short order. The documents offered in this book are all surrounded by analysis which gives background and explanations of much of what is occurring in not only the documents themselves but in Margaret Sanger's life. Many of Margaret Sanger's own words are edited down in size so as to not overwhelm the reader and the small selections used really bring out the best in Margaret's writing. If you are looking for a place to start studies on Margaret or on anything relating to all which she accomplished, this can be a good source to start with, although there is much more out there.

A beautifully written, passionate, intimate look at a seminal figure in America's history. While Sanger has been justly honored as an early 20th century feminist icon, her fight to publicize the importance of family planning and legalized birth control have shaped rights and institutions we take for granted today. Miriam Reed has crafted an excellent new resource for anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating woman. Good job!