Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead (Hardcover)

by Madeleine Kunin (Author)
Key Phrases: woman president, women presidents, women get elected, United States, New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Having risen from the Vermont State House to the Lieutenant Governorship to become the first woman elected governor of Vermont (1985-1991), Kunin (Living a Political Life) is part of the new wave of women in the top ranks of government, and she's recruiting: "Women will not have all the answers, but they are sure to inject new talent, ideas, and optimism into a political system desperately in need of all three." Detailing her own experiences in the corridors of power-including her time as Ambassador to Switzerland under President Clinton-Kunin also calls on a long list of women in politics to discuss the problems they've overcome, the issues that have driven them and the reasons that gender does make a difference. As a guide, Kunin proves practical and candid, offering chapters on becoming a politician, "being the leader" and "working with the jerks," but she also disseminates with chapters on women presidents around the world and female leaders in a number of settings (business, military, education). If one gets the feeling of being set up, there's reason: the ninth chapter, "A Woman President of the United States?" indulges Kunin's enthusiastic support of Hillary Clinton for president. Otherwise, Kunin's book will help any woman looking to take a leadership role, with a list of issues and resources to explore.
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From Booklist
In an election year that holds promise for the first female president, Kunin, former governor of Vermont and U.S. ambassador to Switzerland, offers a clarion call to women, noting that they “have been bystanders to history for too long.” She describes women not as a political monolith but certainly as citizens and voters who make a priority of children, family, education, health care, and the environment, among other issues. She argues that whatever their political ideology, women tend to be more collaborative and inclusive than men. Women typically contribute to the community by volunteering, and Kunin urges expansion to politics through elected or appointed office. Kunin recalls her own evolution from bystander to multiple office holder and includes interviews with other women in politics, from local offices to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for their perspective on how and why they got involved in politics. Interspersed throughout are short biographies of major historical figures, including Bella Abzug and Betty Friedan. Readers will enjoy the perspective in this banner year for women in politics. --Vanessa Bush

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing (April 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603580107
• ISBN-13: 978-1603580106
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,071,756 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, July 10, 2008

By	E. Ellis "pinklima" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead (Paperback)

Great book, I learned about feminism, something that I was a little put off before I read this book. Although feminism, is appropriately mostly associated women with Anglo-Saxon women issues, Kunin who is Jewish, made it more culturally broad than most books. It's a good introductory feminism book for any person.

I am just about to graduate college, and have never been particularly interested in becoming a politician. Yet, her book finally made me consider it, and also possibly better, has made me encourage other women to stand up and consider the possibility too.

I loved the book, it would be a wonderful graduation gift, of course accompanied by pearls!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Woman and truly a Lady, May 29, 2008

By	Linda Poppe (Melbourne, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead (Paperback)

Gov. Kunin proves in this book that a woman in politics does not have to "storm the heavens" or crash through barriers - - but can (and she has) work up to as high a position politically as she may wish without ever giving up the endearing qualities that result in her being titled a true Lady, in every sense of the etiquette word.

5.0 out of 5 stars Pearls Politics & Power, April 18, 2009

By	A. Gardner "ANDIE" (TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead (Paperback)

Easy,thought provoking, motivating read. Redefining what we ourselves perceive as leadership material is where we have to start. She is very inciteful and threaded her points together in a very step by step, reevaluate your boundaries and goals, in a down to earth kind of way. Further she showed us many that have before us. Leave the negative stereoptyping behind and work towards those goals. Many are! Breaking that barrier and reaching outside the gender sterotype box was the message thruout. Reemphasizing the understanding that we, as women, may differ from men but our maternal core values clearly bring something positive to the table. This mix is sorely needed in this day and age as also was clear in the book. Bring your inner strength with your moral compass pointing North and go for it! How great it is to be a woman in this age of growth with so much opportunity at your fingertips and so many wonderful women authors and politicians like Mrs. Kunin to help bring out our best! Stop focusing on the dress and the hair and GO FOR IT LADIES!