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A Fighting Chance Hardcover – April 22, 2014
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A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
An unlikely political star tells the inspiring story of the two-decade journey that taught her how Washington really works―and really doesn't―in A Fighting Chance
As a child in small-town Oklahoma, Elizabeth Warren yearned to go to college and then become an elementary school teacher―an ambitious goal, given her family's modest means. Early marriage and motherhood seemed to put even that dream out of reach, but fifteen years later she was a distinguished law professor with a deep understanding of why people go bankrupt. Then came the phone call that changed her life: could she come to Washington DC to help advise Congress on rewriting the bankruptcy laws?
Thus began an impolite education into the bare-knuckled, often dysfunctional ways of Washington. She fought for better bankruptcy laws for ten years and lost. She tried to hold the federal government accountable during the financial crisis but became a target of the big banks. She came up with the idea for a new agency designed to protect consumers from predatory bankers and was denied the opportunity to run it. Finally, at age 62, she decided to run for elective office and won the most competitive―and watched―Senate race in the country.
In this passionate, funny, rabble-rousing book, Warren shows why she has chosen to fight tooth and nail for the middle class―and why she has become a hero to all those who believe that America's government can and must do better for working families.
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMetropolitan Books
- Publication dateApril 22, 2014
- Dimensions6.45 x 1.27 x 9.48 inches
- ISBN-109781627790529
- ISBN-13978-1627790529
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Review
"A potent mix of memoir and policy...The title of this book reminds us that this is about Warren's fight. She is still the fiery advocate who called for a bureau to protect consumers or, as a second choice, 'no agency at all and plenty of blood and teeth left on the floor.'" ―The New York Times Book Review
"Moving...Ultimately, the book's message is that one person can make a difference....After reading this book, it is comforting to know that Elizabeth Warren, with her passion, anger and bluntness, will not be silenced." ―The Washington Post
“[Warren's] storytelling is well-paced and engaging....She mixes policy points with rich behind-the-scenes anecdotes.” ―The Boston Globe
“Intelligent and informative...[Warren is] good, plainspoken company who makes you feel smarter for having spent such easy time with her....Her new book, which is a loving look at her family as well as her country, will only broaden her base.” ―Entertainment Weekly
“A revealing account of Warren's rise to prominence...[Warren's] arguments demand to be taken seriously....As a politician and activist, Warren's great strength is that she retains the outsider's perspective, and the outsider's sense of moral outrage, which runs throughout A Fighting Chance....She's an indomitable battler for the underdog, and she doesn't take no for an answer.” ―The New York Review of Books
“The Wall Street watchdog and U.S. senator has produced a readable and sometimes infuriating explanation of the biggest financial crisis of our time.” ―People
“[Warren] has a compelling story to tell....She is also entertaining about professional politics.” ―The Economist
“Warren's prose is as...direct as her book's title. She has a good story to tell and she tells it well....Warren's accomplishments defied expectations virtually every step of the way.” ―The Christian Science Monitor
“Passionate...Her vision [for the country], laid out elegantly and effectively in A Fighting Chance, involves investments by 'we the people,' through our government, in schools, roads and research labs, and in a social safety net for 'the least among us,' investments that are, at once, in our own self-interest and in the national interest.” ―Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Remarkable...A Fighting Chance takes the reader into the nitty-gritty of our nation's most controversial financial decisions with a depth of insight and experience no one else in today's politics can offer....In a time when our country's greatness seems to be in crisis, this is the story of a woman who is the living embodiment of the American Dream.” ―Harvard Political Review
“Revealing...Warren's book describes the troubling patterns and practices of high-level Washington.” ―Gretchen Morgenson, The New York Times
“Warren has written a good book....Frank and quite strong.” ―The Nation
“Warren's moment has arrived....To understand why Sen. Elizabeth Warren is the fastest-rising new star in the Democratic Party...read her new book....A Fighting Chance tells true and important tales about the great scandal of our age, the corruptions that engulf Washington today, and the battles of good people to reform them....[Warren] stands for the integrity and spirit that Americans hunger for in public life, which could someday bring her from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the other.” ―The Hill
“[A] call to arms...Reading the rousing finale of A Fighting Chance … you can hear the sound of the crowd roaring with approval.” ―Mother Jones
“[Warren] displays a down-home charm and an effortless rapport with everyday people....The book is more memoir than manifesto; Warren emerges as a committed advocate with real world sensibility, who tasted tough economic times at an early age and did not forget its bitterness.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A passionate memoir of one woman's personal story and the larger story of corruption in financial circles and the need for reform that balances the interests of the American middle class against those of the corporate sector....[Warren] offers a behind-the-scenes look at the political dealmaking and head-butting machinations in efforts to restore the nation's financial system.” ―Booklist (starred review)
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : 1627790527
- Publisher : Metropolitan Books; 0 edition (April 22, 2014)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781627790529
- ISBN-13 : 978-1627790529
- Item Weight : 1.5 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.45 x 1.27 x 9.48 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #361,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #111 in U.S.Congresses, Senates & Legislative
- #2,167 in Political Leader Biographies
- #3,916 in Women's Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Elizabeth Warren, the widely admired former presidential candidate and a longtime champion of working families and the middle class, is the senior senator from Massachusetts. A former Harvard Law School professor, she is the author of twelve books, including A Fighting Chance and This Fight Is Our Fight, both of which were national bestsellers. The mother of two and grandmother of three, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband, Bruce Mann, and their golden retriever, Bailey.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book interesting and easy to read. They describe the author as insightful, deep, and impartial. Readers praise the writing quality as pleasing, conversational, and concise. They describe the woman as intelligent, determined, and energetic. They say the story is compelling, engaging, and terrific. Customers also mention the book is entertaining and includes many humorous and touching stories.
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Customers find the book amazing, interesting, and easy to read. They say the story is compelling and a good primer on some of the statistics. Readers also mention the author does an excellent job of pulling them in with her personal accounts.
"...simply one aspect of her life which comes through strongly in this delightful, forthright, and unputdownable memoir." Read more
"...Great book, easy to read, highly recommended. I will vote for her any day. Thank you Elizabeth!..." Read more
"...It's a very good memoir of a politician, and a good primer on some of the statistics and ideas behind progressivism...." Read more
"Elizabeth is my new hero, I love her writing, the book is very, very easy to read, she simplifies what she is trying to say...." Read more
Customers find the book insightful, with a depth of understanding. They say it teaches us what intelligence and energy can do. Readers also mention the book is entertaining, informative, and inspirational. They describe the author as extremely down-to-earth and writes in a style that's easy to read yet polished.
"...It is also refreshing to read a political memoir in which the author is neither settling scores nor flattering the powerful...." Read more
"...She's clearly a very intelligent, curious, and well-intentioned woman, and it's interesting to see how her career developed - notably, how she..." Read more
"...The book puts on display the joint effort of her steely, sharp, piercing mind coupled with her steely resolve to find or create the good that she..." Read more
"Wonderful book by a progressive who eloquently sets forward an agenda that more Americans need to read and process rather than be misled by the..." Read more
Customers find the writing quality of the book very readable, pleasing, and uncomplicated. They also appreciate the simplicity of narration and plain speaking. Readers mention it's a treat to hear the author speak.
"...This book is very refreshing. Warren's writing is itself refreshing, to the point that the reader is oft-times unaware of it, with eyes only for the..." Read more
"A very interesting and readable autobiography, which also tells the story of the serious and sad gradual takeover of American society and democracy..." Read more
"...First off, regardless of your politics, it's a good, well-written book, that does what it's supposed to...." Read more
"...The writing is very good and I found myself laughing out loud at times (such as when the author describes setting her kitchen on fire)...." Read more
Customers find the woman incredibly smart, amazing, and superhuman. They also describe her as a champion of the less fortunate. Readers say the book is about a remarkable person and leader. They appreciate her genuine character and that she gives credibility to her life's work.
"...This is disgraceful.What an amazing intelligent and courageous woman!..." Read more
"...curious, and well-intentioned woman, and it's interesting to see how her career developed - notably, how she started off in academia and was very..." Read more
"...2012 Democratic National Convention was inspiring and she presents an engaging persona...." Read more
"...She has made the task pleasant for any reader. Her clarity, her humility, her sincerity continue to inspire all the way through her story...." Read more
Customers find the story compelling, engaging, and personal. They say it's a terrific saga of a principled person who enters politics. Readers appreciate the humor, poignancy, insights, and inspiration.
"...comes through strongly in this delightful, forthright, and unputdownable memoir." Read more
"A very interesting and readable autobiography, which also tells the story of the serious and sad gradual takeover of American society and democracy..." Read more
"...That story is engagingly told, detailing more than the sequence of events...." Read more
"...This book also grabs your interest early on and won't let go. Once I started it, I had to finish it...." Read more
Customers find the book entertaining, spellbinding, and a joy to read. They appreciate the humorous and touching stories as well as plenty of factual information. Readers also mention the author is passionate and tenacious. They say the book appeals to readers from all ages and interests.
"Not all autobiographies are interesting. This one held my attention completely throughout...." Read more
"...Chance is a sharp, political thriller that moves well and succinctly through the insanity that is our current political system, and won't let you..." Read more
"...I didnt want to end, They are interesting, inspiring, personal and funny...." Read more
"...how it operates, but I also found the book and Warren's story to be very moving and hopeful that change can happen." Read more
Customers find the author genuinely honest, straight-to-the-point, and believable. They appreciate her integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness. Readers also describe the book as candid, entertaining, funny, and poignant.
"...aspect of her life which comes through strongly in this delightful, forthright, and unputdownable memoir." Read more
"...Not many like her in Congress. We need many more. She has a clear, strong and honest voice that I value...." Read more
"...to her other winning attributes, Elizabeth Warren is also a clear, honest and deeply entertaining writer and her new memoir “A Fighting Chance” is..." Read more
"...this books makes it clear that, unlike most politicians, the commitment is authentic, and the champion true...." Read more
Customers find the biography interesting, fascinating, and absorbing. They say it's a good memoir of a politician and a good primer on some of the statistics. Readers also appreciate the personal history of the author.
"...It's a very good memoir of a politician, and a good primer on some of the statistics and ideas behind progressivism...." Read more
"...I love that! The book gives her history which helps in understanding why she is the way she is. She isn't aiming to take the credit...." Read more
"...This book is an interesting brief autobiography of a smart, highly motivated woman who fought her way up from meager beginnings in Oklahoma to..." Read more
"...About the first third of the book is more autobiographical & extremely absorbing. The rest is also a map road to fight for a just cause...." Read more
Reviews with images
I found it fascinating, I learned a lot and ...
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Because I know her and have followed her short (so far) political career very closely, I assumed that the book would tell me nothing new, that it would be an agglomeration of speeches she has given. I bought it anyway, mostly out of loyalty, and BOY WAS I WRONG! (My apologies, Elizabeth, for 'misunderestimating' you. Never again.) Yes, the narrative covers, among many other things, recent events which I had followed - but from Warren's perspective, which was new to me.
This book is very refreshing. Warren's writing is itself refreshing, to the point that the reader is oft-times unaware of it, with eyes only for the vivid images it creates. It is also refreshing to read a political memoir in which the author is neither settling scores nor flattering the powerful. The story Warren tells is of an enormously successful woman who rose to the very top of the law teaching world from humble beginnings and middles - Rutgers is hardly an elite law school. At Harvard and Yale law schools in particular, most of the faculty went to one of the other. Elizabeth did not, and her leap to Harvard was based, like all such moves, entirely on her publications. As everyone knows, when she ran for the Senate, she won against a strong candidate/incumbent, and when Obama nominated John Kerry as Secretary of State soon thereafter, she became the Senior Senator for Massachussets. Why do I recount all this? Because through all of it, as told in this book, runs a strong thread of family. Even as her life was turned upside down by her ascension to the Senate ( I know from experience that being a tenured law professor is vastly preferable to working for a living. EW had to adjust from the languid life of law at Harvard, to the frenetics of Capitol Hill, but whether in body or in spirit, she always takes her family along. Her ever-presentness for her family is woven through this book. It is not something the author trumpets or shows off. It is simply one aspect of her life which comes through strongly in this delightful, forthright, and unputdownable memoir.
It is a picture drawn by a protagonist of the story who has been fighting all along against the big money and the big banks, in favor of the families whose houses were taken away, in favor of working class and middle class families. The story of most of us.
Now she is fighting in favor of the students against the big banks. How is it possible that in America the students are being charged a higher interest than the banks pay? This is disgraceful.
What an amazing intelligent and courageous woman! The voice of reason in a place and time where reason and common sense seem to have left the ground. She is my champion. Not many like her in Congress. We need many more. She has a clear, strong and honest voice that I value. All is not lost, with people like her in Congress we can still recover what has been lost. A strong America where the first words of the Constitution and the strong voice of 'We the People' still can be heard to elect a good and just government for the good of all.
Great book, easy to read, highly recommended. I will vote for her any day. Thank you Elizabeth! Keep up the good work, many of us are right behind you.
First off, regardless of your politics, it's a good, well-written book, that does what it's supposed to. It gives you insight into the Warren and the things that shaped her, as well as her background studying bankruptcy law. She's clearly a very intelligent, curious, and well-intentioned woman, and it's interesting to see how her career developed - notably, how she started off in academia and was very gradually drawn into politics.
Basically, whether you enjoy this book will have a lot to do with what you're looking to get out of it. It's a very good memoir of a politician, and a good primer on some of the statistics and ideas behind progressivism. However, if you're looking for a more objective academic work, there are probably better places to look.
Top reviews from other countries
Very pleased I took the time to read and thoroughly enjoy this book.
The style of the book is colloquial, making it easily readable and accessible to a wide audience. The descriptions of events and Warren's reactions to them feel authentic rather than contrived. She highlights personal struggles and tragedies and the emotions associated with those, along with the highs she felt at particularly successful moments in a way that is entirely relatable. In short, this book does make Warren seem like a pretty much typical American, albeit one who has achieved some remarkable things (becoming law professor at Harvard, her election to the Senate, etc.).
Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read, with a nice balance of story (the life of Elizabeth Warren from childhood to adulthood), and history, including some informative discussion of America's financial crisis. I would recommend it for anyone interested in American politics and history. And I might try reading some of her other books as well.






