Customer Reviews

Millicent Fenwick: Her Way

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After a slow moving start, "Millicent Fenwick, Her Way" took off and quickly became one of the most absorbing biographies I have ever read. Amy Schapiro has written the wonderful story of the life of a truly great human being. While most of the people in the world are "takers," Millicent Fenwick was a "giver" in every sense of the word. Millicent had the same philosophy as Albert Einstein...when asked what was the meaning of life...his response was to serve other people. Ms. Schapiro brings this out in a most interesting way that is based on extensive research into the life and accomplishments of this great person. Each page is filled with many facts that establish the persona of Millicent Fenwick both personally and professionally. Ms. Schapiro obviously gained the cooperation of many people in gathering information, anecdotes and stories about this wonderful person.

I believe that this book will be an inspiration for those who choose to read it. The life of Millicent Fenwick speaks to anyone who has a conscious and a sense for the difficulties of the human condition. Although Mrs. Fenwick is thought of as a "politician from New Jersey," the story of her life can be appreciated as a study of a world class human being. Ms Schapiro brings this to light in an easy to read manuscript.

Amy Shapiro worked very hard to give the readers a full presentation of the life of Rep. Millicent Hammond Fenwick. To the early childhood trauma of losing her mother on the Lusitania; going forward as the daughter of a US ambassador; her disasterous marriage; a career in magazine writing and reporting; and finally politics.

One suspects, that due to her voting record, Fenwick was not so much a liberal Republican, but a moderate Democrat. Looking at her thoughts and actions, it seemed she was trying to find some common ground with her Republican father who closed himself off to her. Although being a moderate/liberal Republican was and is interchangeable with being a moderate Democrat.

Those who want to learn about how the political process works, such buy this excellent book. You get to watch someone who worked from the ground- up to make it where she was.

One could imagine what she would have to say about the current administration if she was still living, and she'd be saying it, 'her way,'
which was 'dead honest.'