Madame President: The Extraordinary Journey of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | 
pickI 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
pickMa 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.
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.
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.
pickI 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)
pickThis 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.
“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.”
Trying this on audio without knowing anything. I‘m immediately fascinated. Great writing and narration.
pickHalf 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.
Won this button in an instagram contest. The book sounds fascinating, but I got March Book 3 from the library so #priorities
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.
pickHappy 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
