Customer Reviews

Not For Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony

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

 

 

A fine short history of "two wonderfully different and equally brilliant women". If, after the three-hour film shown on public television, you still look blank when people mention Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, this companion volume is the book for you. Six chapters, lavishly illustrated and interspersed with short essays, two of their speeches and a discussion of their treatment in history, trace the fifty-year personal and political alliance between two women who spearheaded American women's first great effort to achieve equal rights. Often ridiculed and slandered in life and ignored by historians after death, Anthony and Stanton, wherever they are, should welcome this balanced and detailed account of their interwoven lives and works, often given in their own words. Discussion of their faults and mistakes, as well as their virtues and successes, gives depth to the picture. Because the two friends were so important to the women's movement (and its drive for the vote), the book also offers snapshots of other women who should be better known to Americans, such as the Grimké sisters, Sojourner Truth, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, Frances Willard and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Working together and apart, Anthony and Stanton set endless happy convocations of the sons of Adam by the ears and made arguments that no one could answer. This book is a brief account of how they did it. (Readers who want a bigger meal can find a useful menu in the bibliography.)

This book is richly woven with details that dive into the true characters of these two beautiful souls. The book gives a truly amazing account of not only Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony, but dives into their lives and characters. The reader obtains a true understanding of these women's motivations, techniques, skills, and contributions, in a brilliant biography with great quotes, accounts, photographs, and special archives directly from the time period of Susan & Elizabeth, relating to their work. Ken Burns & Geoffrey C. Ward have made quite an accomplishment with this extraordinary account.

This book fills a glaring need in history books. Not many people know more about Susan B. Anthony than she was one the dollar coin. This book corrects that oversight, and then some. Not only does the book give a balanced and well thought out look at Anthony and Stanton, the reader is also introduced to many, many other women who worked so hard for women rights.
I especially liked that the book didn't shy away from some of these women's more controversial stands, such as taking on the black person's cause.
All in all, a very good book.

This book provides insight and history on the struggle that women went through to get the right to vote. It includes all kinds of interesting background and perspectives. It was a real eye opener for me and I'm giving it as a gift to all the young women I know.

This was a wonderful and engaging read. Not only were you given a clear picture of both Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, but the book cites numerous powerful men and women who were active in the suffrage movement. This book is like a small taste of women's history that leaves you yearning for more. However, I wouldn't overlook this book just because it is not extremely specific, it is very helpful in getting a feel for the suffrage movement as a whole.

This book was an eye opener for me. Every woman should read this book to understand the fight for our right to vote. These women devoted their lives to something they knew they would never even see in their live time! Its a story of courage and strength. It's makes one feel proud to be a woman.

What was left out in school history about women's journey to vote, to have a voice, to get us where we are today. Beautiful words of profound wisdom and wonderful examples of making a difference on the planet.
Sherry Lewis, Licensed Professional Counselor

Sometimes these things are written by Christian enemies with subversive propaganda, but got some good out of this book. I loved this when I saw it aired on TV, and the book is OK. Stanton was the radical who challenged whether religion was good and attempted to re-write the bible so it was more non-sexist. She had some fire. Susan was more the politician, not challenging male supremacist structure, but working within it in order to make progress. I believe they had a deep friendship and were together on a lot of issues however. Like Lincoln, they were not exactly lookers in terms of image, which I believe is indicative of their actual guts versus today where politicians are made to never challenge anything and are glossy non-challneging and media ready. Imagine a modern politician who's best friend outright challenged the mostly Christian-owned system? We have better radicals now, who have the courage to dismiss christianity altogether, but in her day Stanton was radical.

I hope for someday a religion where religions that subjugate their daughters from birth have no power. Judaism, Christianity and Islamic male supremacist ideology will not exist. It is my greatest hope and at least some of my dreams are based on these courageous women's lives. Anthony knew she would not see the vote in her lifetime, but she worked until her death for us, so I am inspired. You know, I saw on a so-called liberal doc the other day where someone said that there is proof that educated women are less inclined to have large families. In the next breath he said that there is a chance that we will make humanity extinct, implying if we're not all breeding we will become extinct and that we should not educate women. First of all , we have never been more populated and population is a problem in terms of overpopulation not underpopulation. (Caveat - their plan is to breed large families and take over - so they do have a vested interest in making sure we never reproduce. Both white supremacist and male supremacists have this plan for their "armies.") It's a difficult issue.

Just know that this kind of ideology is out there - along with taking the vote away from women believe it or not and if you knew them, like I do, you would be afraid. There are large groups that hate women, and women are taught that it's god's will to hate other women, to take away their liberty and dignity and have them behave as dogs - submissive and obedient, but "loved" like a dog. Many of these girls do not get out. Their lives destroyed and only the least threatening and most trained allowed to speak in public. Many do not have access to free information in carefully controlled propaganda groups, or any escape from their religion of birth. If you are a women's rights advocate always remember because you are free does not mean that millions of children aren't being raised in groups that do not allow them minds of their own or choices for liberty. They're stuck there and starving for love and education - or even basic dignity, liberty and respect. The religions often use propaganda and threats to keep them in the group. Many sects marry you against your will, use you for breeding for their male supremacist armies and you are not allowed to believe that you can say no to that culture. Your mind, by the time you are an adult is carefully constructed to do what they say - or you will be pressured, ostracized and often threatened with violence, loss of love, family or harm. I know this very well. Fighting back is difficult because they have a system of image, psyche and propaganda warfare to keep you subjected to men.. Cady was just the beginning of a movement that recognizes religion as a genuine weapon against women. I would add all systems of propaganda to that list. I think we should take it very, very seriously.

There are many interesting facts in this book (if you get a genuine version of it - if you are targeted on a list you make get a "special" book if you know what I mean.) Rich men with money or their trained people target certain people to get special information - much of it rewritten for their own agendas. This may or may not be good, depending on who they are. But Christians might give you a false copy with their own propaganda. If you get a good version of it, there will be info on the women's rights movement and all the drama and courage of the ladies involved. They were fighting for a radical notion - that of liberty for half the population, the right to participate in our own governing, instead of living as serfs or slaves in a system that does not benefit us. The right to seek your own good or pursue happiness as they say. You have the right to power as much as you can get it. The right to every good, including health care, education, love, liberty, your own mind and your own choices within the boundaries of respect for other gentle, respectful people - the right to kindness and goodness. You have a right not to sacrifice your children and to live where you are not attacked or harmed. You have a right to protect animals and children from harm. A society that does not protect it's most vulnerable members is a society of tyrants. You have a right to fight for yourselves and your concerns if there are those who seek to take them from you. These first revolutionaries can teach you about heart muscle. Get out there and fight for those who cannot fight or do not even know that they deserve to be fought for.