Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Madame President
Madame President: The Extraordinary Journey of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | Helene Cooper
16 posts | 9 read | 1 reading | 26 to read
The harrowing, but triumphant story of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, leader of the Liberian womens movement, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the first democratically elected female president in African history. When Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won the 2005 Liberian presidential election, she demolished a barrier few thought possible, obliterating centuries of patriarchal rule to become the first female elected head of state in Africas history. Madame President is the inspiring, often heartbreaking story of Sirleafs evolution from an ordinary Liberian mother of four boys to international banking executive, from a victim of domestic violence to a political icon, from a post-war president to a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist and bestselling author Helene Cooper deftly weaves Sirleafs personal story into the larger narrative of the coming of age of Liberian women. The highs and lows of Sirleafs life are filled with indelible images; from imprisonment in a jail cell for standing up to Liberias military government to addressing the United States Congress, from reeling under the onslaught of the Ebola pandemic to signing a deal with Hillary Clinton when she was still Secretary of State that enshrined American support for Liberias future. Sirleafs personality shines throughout this riveting biography. Ultimately, Madame President is the story of Liberias greatest daughter, and the universal lessons we can all learn from this Oracle of African women.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
readtheworld
post image
Pickpick

I LOVED this biography of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman president of Liberia. It gives a great overview of Liberia‘s history, from its founding by formerly enslaved Americans to the 14-year-long civil war and Ebola epidemic. I knew a bit about Liberia through work (one of the nonprofits I write for has grantees there), but this book covers so much important history through the lens of a fascinating public figure.

#readtheworld #audio

51 likes5 stack adds
review
LibLib
post image
Pickpick

Ma Ellen has been my role model for a long time.This book did a good job looking at her life with all the struggles and accomplishments.One critique was that it wasn‘t clear in the true complexities of the civil war. I would suggest reading Ellen‘s “This Child Will Be Great” for a better understanding and read “Blood Diamond” by Greg Campbell to fully understand the horrors Charles Taylor committed.pic: I‘m the 2nd person on right in yellow dress.

quote
LibLib
post image

This book moves me more than most as having a real connection to the content. This quote is all too real. Having friends and co-workers die from Ebola, not being able to be there with them during that time, this passage breaks my heart in its truth.

Lcsmcat 💔 6y
18 likes1 comment
blurb
LibLib
post image

This title perfectly describes some of my own life chapters...😅

MemoirsForMe 😂😂😂 6y
18 likes1 comment
blurb
LibLib
post image

Having been a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia during the Ebola epidemic, I‘m curious to see how accurate this book is. Also, I‘m looking forward to making a comparison between this and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf‘s book, This Child Will Be Great.

review
Graywacke
Pickpick

I know, I‘ve already posted a raving positive review here. But if you‘re interested in learning more, see my longer review here: www.librarything.com/topic/288371 (scroll to post 124. I can‘t put in a proper link because it has a hashtag, which causes the link to fail)

review
Graywacke
post image
Pickpick

This book is why I‘m somewhat random in how I select audiobooks. It never occurred to me that Liberian history was so fascinating and awful, or that the transformation this woman represents could be so special on so many levels. So much to say. Extraordinarily and grotesque violence, 70% of women raped in a civil war before Sarleaf began rebuilding. And then Ebola. Special book, special person, terrific writing, great reader.

rockpools Wow. Sounds fascinating. But difficult. 6y
Graywacke @RachelO yeah, that. But author caught my interest right away. I would read more by her (she has at least one other book). 6y
RJHowe I have heard her interviewed on the BBC, brilliant and powerful leader 6y
See All 6 Comments
Graywacke @RJHowe I haven‘t heard her speak. That‘s nice to know. 6y
RaimeyGallant I wonder if I can get this through my library. I'll try! 6y
Graywacke @RaimeyGallant cool, hope it does. I should warn you that if I recommend a book and someone reads and actually likes it, that fills my quota for a couple years (but I think it‘s been a couple years. I‘m due!) But, seriously, this is a good story and a good book. Hope you can get to it. 6y
52 likes3 stack adds6 comments
quote
Graywacke

“Little girls do not come out of the womb vowing to become activists for female power. They don‘t spend their childhood thinking about how they will repair the indignities, large and small, that bleed women daily. It‘s a series of things that multiply and turn ordinary women into movements of female determination.”

blurb
Graywacke
post image

Trying this on audio without knowing anything. I‘m immediately fascinated. Great writing and narration.

43 likes2 stack adds
blurb
WanderingBookaneer
post image

I‘ve got this. 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 #25in5

Andrew65 Simply brilliant 🙌🙌🙌 7y
87 likes1 comment
blurb
WanderingBookaneer
post image

blurb
Eyelit
post image

Some cozy company while late night reading 😻 #catsoflitsy

Bookzombie 💕🐱 7y
JazzFeathers Looks like my Apache! 😄 7y
RealBooks4ever 😻😻😻 7y
See All 7 Comments
Libby1 😻 7y
Lcsmcat ❤️😻😻 7y
Captivatedbybooks Looks like my Simba 7y
Ms_T 😻 7y
98 likes1 stack add7 comments
review
Floresj
post image
Pickpick

Half history lesson on Liberia and half biography of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, this book covered a lot of ground. Not for the faint of heart, the constant violence that occurred was accurately explained as a way to understand the resilience of Sirleaf and the women of Liberia. The Ebola crisis was absolutely fascinating to read about as well.

blurb
mrsa_d
post image

Won this button in an instagram contest. The book sounds fascinating, but I got March Book 3 from the library so #priorities

quote
brownekr
post image

I know the broad strokes of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's career, but a phrase like "Two weeks after her colleagues and friends were executed on the beach" really emphasizes the immediacy and personal trauma of the 1980 coup. It's good to be shaken out of the rote list of Important Dates on the way to her presidency.

review
strandbookstore
post image
Pickpick

Happy President's Day! We had the chance to talk to Helene Cooper about her upcoming new release "Madame President: The Extraordinary Life of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf". Helene chronicles the president's historic rise to power in a personal and intricate voice, offering us true insight into her remarkable accomplishments. Read the full interview here. http://bit.ly/2l0WLI0

91 likes9 stack adds