Customer Reviews

Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Senate has long been characterized as the Old Boy's Club, a place where the political process is insulated from the pressures of cultural change. The nine women currently holding seats in the Senate have been, in very diverse ways, part of the winds of change that have swept through the American legislature. Nine and Counting chronicles the personal and political travails and triumphs of these extraordinary women. Though they come from very different backgrounds, they are consistently advocates for their constituents and have been important role models for women who are committed to public life. The book's narrative thrust is aided by skillful commentary from Catherine Whitley, interwoven with personal stories and comments from each of the Senators. The book is easy to read and steers away from explicitly political agendas or advocacy, instead focusing on the realities of women's lives and the importance of bringing diverse voices, male and female, Democrat and Republican, to the legislative process. As a young woman in politics, I found it fun and, in its own way, inspirational.

The nine extraordinary women of the United states Senate have collaborated with writer Catherine Whitney to present an informative and absorbing read. Following the lives of all of the women who've served, Nine & Counting intermingles the fascinating personal stories of each of the nine women currently holding office. This is the greatest number ever to serve at the same time. And that's the point. The women of the Senate want to inspire others to join them. The first woman Senator, the formidable Rebecca Felton of Georgia, was appointed as a token gesture, and allowed to serve only one day in 1922. And it was stunning to be reminded once again that women didn't have the right to vote until 1920. Political offcie for a woman was a rare accomplishment. Dedicated to the Girl Scout Organization, with all proceeds from the sale of the book going to them, Nine and Counting is a lot of fun to read. It was obviously written to inspire young women to emulate today's nine women Senators, to show them what courage and perseverance can accomplish. And that's exactly what it does. An entertaining, enjoyable read, it should become a lasting part of the historical record of this great nation.

"Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate" tells the story of each of our nine female Senators. The beginning quote by Adlai Stevenson in 1952 "In America any boy may become President," is followed by where each woman Senator was in 1952 when the torch was being passed around her. Each Senator's story offers encouragement and shows us that we can do and accomplish what we aspire to do. An inspiration to women of all generations.

I particularly enjoyed reading this book because the stories and experiences of the nine women senators came in a short-story format, as opposed to long, drawn-out chapters on each individual. The book is a role model in many respects - one, for writers who want to captivate their reader's attention, the writing style and means of collaborating nine different stories into an interesting read; to young girls who aspire to be leaders of the next generation; to all citizens alike - men, women, of all races, ethnic groups, and religious backgrounds - this book is an inspiration of who we should consider as our role models. These nine women of the United States Senate have created a new path, one as Robert Frost poetically wrote that had not yet been taken, and one that serves as an excellent example for future generations.

The book also reflects the delicate balance of the social pressures of being a public service official with the humanity of these nine women and their families.

"Nine and counting" is a book all houses, schools, and libraries should have on their shelves.

Nine and Counting is an absolute inspiration. As I read--I found myself wishing that I could sit in on one of their monthly "family" dinners for nine -- but thanks to the seamless writing of Catherine Whitney (their collaborator), when I completed Nine and Counting I felt as if I already had!

Buy this book -- and one for your daughter, mother or granddaughter! You won't regret it!

Starting out rather fluffy, it takes some determination for a serious policy mind to get through this book. However, maybe this is the author's intention, as one of the clear messages of the book is that it takes determination to succeed in the original Boys'Club of the US Senate. The beginning is overcome with too many cliches, inspirational messages about how a woman can do anything she wants. The reading level also made the book seem that it was only intended for the Girl Scouts the book was dedicated to. However, as the book goes on, and the stories of the women come together, it becomes evident how hard these women work, and how much they truly love their careers. The book offers up some very realistic advice and truths about women in the public eye. I think this book can be inspirational, as well as full of great advice, for women pursuing any career in the spotlight.

This book is extremely inspirational! It has excellent experiences and stories in it. This has become my favorite book. It was very well thought-out and written. In fact, I'm rereading it over and over. You just never get bored with a book like that!It is the most encouraging book for girls who don't think they amount to much. It shows you that anyone can become somebody. I highly recommend Nine and Counting to everyone, but especially to girls.

I hope that the spirit conveyed by this book approached the real story. The friendship and professional respect that crosses party and ideology are amazing. More importantly, this book strings what might have otherwise been nine short, straight-forward biographies into a thematic piece that educates even experts in the field of women and politics.

A very interesting new (8/2000) 288 page book with inspiring stories for males and females alike, of all ages. The lives of women of the Senate are detailed. All coming from different backgrounds with different lifestyles yet able to attain some of the highest positions in the land. The manner in which this book is written makes it most interesting. The lives of women in public life are detailed and the reader is offered guidance for seeking higher positions and fulfillment. The book was written primarily to inspire young girls- these women acting as role models- but young boys can equally benefit. Proceeds of the book are said to go to the Girls Scouts. A fascinating story.

In general, the story of the women of the Senate is an inspiring one, and these profiles are usually engaging. However, because the authors felt duty-bound to include biographies of all nine women in the Senate, instead of picking and choosing, there are some definite slow spots. For example, while many of the women really did overcome tremendous obstacles during a climb from obscurity (e.g. Patty Murray), it feels as if others simply stumbled into the Senate because they were in the right place at the right time, and/or they came from powerful political families. The reader may want to skim some of these profiles. Still, the book is well-written and at its best can be quite moving.