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Betsy Devos
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Hostages No More: The Fight for Education Freedom and the Future of the American Child Kindle Edition

by Betsy DeVos (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 108 ratings
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Now a National Bestseller!

From coronavirus lockdowns to critical race theory in the classroom, it has become crystal clear that America’s schools aren’t working for America’s students and parents. No one knows this better than Betsy DeVos.
 
Long before she was tapped by President Trump to serve as secretary of education, DeVos established herself as one of the country’s most influential advocates for education reform, from school choice and charter schools to protecting free speech on campus. She’s unflinching in standing up to the powerful interests who control and benefit from the status quo in education – which is why the unions, the media, and the radical left made her public enemy number one.

Now, DeVos is ready to tell her side of the story after years of being vilified by the radical left for championing common-sense, conservative reforms in America’s schools.
 
In Hostages No More, DeVos unleashes her candid thoughts about working in the Trump administration, recounts her battles over the decades to put students first, hits back at “woke” curricula in our schools, and details the reforms America must pursue to fix its long and badly broken education system. And she has stories to tell: DeVos offers blunt insights on the people and politics that stand in the way of fixing our schools.
 
For students, families and concerned citizens, DeVos shares a roadmap for reclaiming education and securing the futures of our kids – and America.
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  1. Print length
    321 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Center Street
  4. Publication date
    June 21, 2022
  5. File size
    46787 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hostages No More is definitely a page-turner that could form relatable experiences for parents interacting with their children's school systems. It is a great read because Sec. DeVos connected her personal encounters with the present-day education policies. In addition, she consistently calls for bipartisan support on issues such as critical race theory. Overall, there is so much to learn in this new book!"
 ―Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

“In this timely new book, Betsy provides a compelling look at the progress made in education under our administration and offers fresh ideas to put America’s children first and prepare them to achieve and live the American Dream. This is a book for every parent, grandparent, and concerned citizen who cares about the future of America and generations to come.” ―Michael R. Pence, 48th Vice President of the United States

“Hostages No More provides readers an inside look at the opposition Secretary Betsy DeVos faced from the day she was nominated and throughout her four years, and her honest efforts to reorient America’s public education system around individual students. Since the introduction of our industrial education model two centuries ago, nearly all students have been held hostage to a single, one-size-fits-all system. Hostages No More takes readers into the back room battles to provide every student with a quality, individualized education. And in a surprise twist, culminates with Secretary DeVos’ very public battles to rely on science, put students first, and re-open America’s public schools – in opposition to the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions fighting tooth and nail to keep public schools closed.”―Jeb Bush, 43rd governor of Florida

“No one has a bigger heart for students and has done more to ensure parents matter in education than Betsy DeVos. I know from experience working with her, you can count on Betsy to put our children first. COVID made clear that too many of our schools aren’t working for American families. In Hostages No More, she lays out the path forward to get our education system on the right track. It’s an important guide for parents across our great country.” ―Governor Kim Reynolds, State of Iowa

“Long before Betsy DeVos gained national attention as the Secretary of Education, I witnessed first-hand how passionate and devoted she was to the fundamental right of every child in America to have the best education possible ‘regardless of their zip code.’ I have respected and admired her since the very first day I met her many years ago, mostly because she lives her life giving of her time and treasure to better the lives of others because she herself has been so blessed. And she’s done her homework! Over her three decades of work in education she’s learned how to fix our broken educational system and through this book, Hostages No More, you will learn how to as well.”―Kathie Lee Gifford

“Betsy DeVos has been a leading voice in the most important civil rights fight of our generation – providing parents with real choice in the what, where, and how their child is taught and ensuring that access to a quality education is not determined by a child’s wealth, race, or zip code. In Hostages No More, Betsy offers an exciting vision for education freedom and an educational system that empowers parents and families, to give all students a real chance at success.”

―U.S. Senator Ted Cruz

"In Hostages No More, Betsy DeVos provides a clear vision for how educational freedom can unlock opportunities for students of all backgrounds. This is a roadmap for parents, teachers, and entrepreneurs who believe that hope starts with education based in equal opportunity."―Arthur C. Brooks, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, and #1 New York Times bestselling author

“…a fierce fighter and a fierce voice for the rights of our children and for the rights of parents to a first-class education.”―Condoleezza Rice

“This is probably the most important book on education that you can read right now…This is a great, great book and has some real solutions in it from a person who has been destroyed by the media…you will be amazed to hear her real story in the book. She has real solutions. It’s all about education freedom. Grab the book. It’s an important book, it’s actually a really good read…a must read.”―Glenn Beck --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

About the Author

Betsy DeVos is a leader, an innovator, a disruptor, and a champion for freedom. She is the nation's leading advocate for education freedom for students of all ages, having served as the 11th U.S. Secretary of Education from 2017-2021. Betsy advocates for free people, free markets, free exchange of ideas, and most notably, freedom in education. As a champion for school choice and multiple education options for all students after high school, she believes in the unique potential of every student and that there is no one-size-fits-all pathway to success. For more than three decades, she has been tireless in her pursuit of public policy reforms that get government out of the way and allow all students the freedom, flexibility, resources and support they need to choose where, when and how they learn. Her advocacy has led to the creation of new educational choices for K-12 students in more than 25 states and the District of Columbia and expanded post-high school education options for students and adult learners alike. DeVos is also an accomplished business leader. She served as Chairman of The Windquest Group, a privately held investment and management firm based in Michigan with a diversified consumer product and service portfolio. She is the former chair of the American Federation for Children, The Philanthropy Roundtable, and the Michigan Republican Party, and has served on a number of other national boards, including the Kennedy Center and the American Enterprise Institute. DeVos is a graduate of Calvin College and is married to entrepreneur, philanthropist and community activist Dick DeVos. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren. --This text refers to the audioCD edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09HSGM43B
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Center Street (June 21, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 21, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 46787 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 321 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 108 ratings

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Betsy Devos

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
108 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book great and interesting. They say it provides excellent insight into education and compelling arguments for school choice.

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ReadabilityContent depth
4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great and interesting. They say it's a deep discussion of education.

"Excellent book. Highly recommend to all...." Read more

"...This book is a sleeper. It is a really interesting and deep discussion of education peppered with her real world life and experience which makes it..." Read more

"Great Read!..." Read more

"This book is keeping my interest. It tells what we need to know...." Read more

3 customers mention "Content depth"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides excellent insight into the flawed education system. They also say it provides a compelling argument and reasoning for school choice.

"Excellent book. Highly recommend to all. Provides excellent insight into our currently flawed educational system, but with educators such as Mrs...." Read more

"...This book is a sleeper. It is a really interesting and deep discussion of education peppered with her real world life and experience which makes it..." Read more

"...This book provides a compelling argument and reasoning for school choice/freedom in America and portrays a chilling status quo mentality for unions..." Read more

Written for youth advocates
5 out of 5 stars
Written for youth advocates
I think she is a good writer because she gives good descriptions. I would have like her to share a bit about the number of volunteer hours she spent mentoring at-risk youth. My sister used to work at a small bookstore Betsy went to and she bought the kids a lot of books. On one occasion she bought so many that the cash register *broke. I would recommend this book for youth advocates. I think there should be a Spanish edition Betsy's book so people from the Hispanic community have something to read on their morning coffee break.Also, her husband is a good writer too. I included a photo of his book. I know he wrote it a long time ago, but I never knew who Herbert Kahn was until I read it. Where are today's Herbert Kahn's???Dave Baker, School Accounts, Diversity Initiatives, Baker Book House*It's possible that my sister pushed the wrong button.
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Top reviews from the United States

Jerry Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars De Vos Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
Excellent book. Highly recommend to all. Provides excellent insight into our currently flawed educational system, but with educators such as Mrs. DeVos and if people listed we will be back on track. This is one great read!
One person found this helpful
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Randy Kane
5.0 out of 5 stars Betsy is a champion for School Choice
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
It is quite embarrassing for the greatest nation in the world to have so many people who can not read and write or do math. I work in a school and I see a lot of teachers who are under paid for the amount of work they do. I know the union that represents them work hard to better their conditions but at the same time I see the destructive behaviors of a lot of union possess. The pandemic certainly detailed that. I think most teachers will agree, the public setting is not for every student. I saw that with my own kids. I had one who was not challenged enough and one who struggled. It would have been nice for us to have options that would have been better for our kids. Fortunately our kids did survive and are both successful in their lives thanks to hard work and support we gave them. We are very proud of their accomplishments. But far to often in my position at the school, I see kids who do slip through the cracks and do not get the quality education they deserve. This book reiterates that point. I know the administration I work with tries their very best and I am thankful for that, but I know we can better as a nation to serve our kids with school choice. Thanks Betsy for what you do and telling your story.
2 people found this helpful
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THOUGHTFUL
5.0 out of 5 stars was not sure what to expect
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
I bought it and did not know what to expect. This book is a sleeper. It is a really interesting and deep discussion of education peppered with her real world life and experience which makes it matter. I found it a fascinating read. Very well done and very well worth reading.
4 people found this helpful
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M. Cusack
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone who cares about children or education.
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2022
Verified Purchase
Who should read this book?
Anyone who has children, plans to have children, knows someone with children, or cares at all about educational quality or justice for all children and families.

Who will not want to read this book?
Anyone involved with school unions or maintaining “the system” on behalf of those who benefit financially from it (to the detriment of our children and country).

My summary:
In a country that says we ALL have the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, in our current public education system this is not true.
It’s time for us to stand up and fix that.
This book clearly articulates the problem and also clearly gives the solution: let the money follow the student and this will open up education freedom for ALL students- i.e. “hostages no more”.

I have given away 4 copies and plan to give away several more.
8 people found this helpful
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J. Donalson
5.0 out of 5 stars Education freedom
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2022
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DeVos is a champion for optimizing education for all children, a position that threatens tradionally-funded public education and Randi Weingarten’s teacher’s unions. DeVos was disappointed in Pres Trump because he didn’t lead his campaigns on education freedom, making her feel sidelined. Unions have failed children because their priority is keeping publicly funded jobs in place for their own enrichment, not actually preparing students for the real world. DeVos describes several examples of successful alternatives to tradional funding. It’s important to know this position because it has been shouted down by the counterproductive unions. DeVos would dismantle the Dept of Education and leave the issue to the states rather than letting federal puppeteers control local issues. I agree with her.
6 people found this helpful
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Craig D. Hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars We hat every parent should know
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2022
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Betsy Devos did a great job and service to
Parents who care about their child’s education. She’s an amazing humanitarian and describes to a “t” the reasons for the failings of the public school system. It’s too bad she couldn’t have remained the education secretary because she would have done so much good for our education system. She explains how the school unions have become so politicized that they no longer have our childrens interest at heart.
5 people found this helpful
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Tom Hampton
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2022
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A bold new vision from a woman who has been in the trenches for decades, fighting for American children to receive better education choices.
Betty DeVoss is a champion for children!
One person found this helpful
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Keith Underwood
5.0 out of 5 stars illuminating
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2022
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It’s hard to square the negative press that this author received during her confirmation hearing with her life-long commitment to educational freedom. This book provides a compelling argument and reasoning for school choice/freedom in America and portrays a chilling status quo mentality for unions that don’t want transparency and accountability in their workplace.
7 people found this helpful
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