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Off the Sidelines
Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World | Kirsten Gillibrand
8 posts | 7 read | 6 to read
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Foreword by Hillary Rodham Clinton Fourteen years before Kirsten Gillibrand succeeded Hillary Rodham Clinton as senator from New York, she heard her future mentor say these life-changing words: Decisions are being made every day in Washington, and if you are not part of those decisions, you might not like what they decide, and youll have no one to blame but yourself. A young corporate lawyer at the time, Gillibrand felt as if shed been struck by lightning. She instantly knew that her voiceall womens voiceswere essential to shaping the future of this country, and that she had a greater purpose in life: to speak up and effect change. Now, in this extraordinary memoir, the senator, wife, and mother of two recounts her personal journey in public service and galvanizes women to reach beyond their busy lives and make a meaningful difference in the world around them. Off the Sidelines is a playbook for women who want to step up, whether in Congress or the boardroom or the local PTA. If women were fully represented in politics, Gillibrand says, national priorities would shift to issues that directly impact them: affordable daycare, paid family medical leave, and equal pay. Pulling back the curtain on Beltway politics, she speaks candidly about her legislative successes (securing federally funded medical care for 9/11 first responders, repealing Dont Ask, Dont Tell) and her crushing disappointments (failing by five votes to pass a bill protecting survivors of sexual assault in the military). Gillibrand also shares stories of growing up the daughter and granddaughter of two trailblazing feminists in a politically active family in Albany, New York, and retraces her nonlinear path to public office. She lays bare the highs and lows of being a young (pregnant!) woman in Congress, the joys and sacrifices every working mother shares, and the support system she turns to in her darkest moments: her husband, their two little boys, and lots of girlfriends. In Off the Sidelines, Gillibrand is the tough-love older sister and cheerleader every woman needs. She explains why ambition is not a dirty word, failure is a gift, listening is the most effective tool, and the debate over women having it all is absurd at best and demeaning at worst. In her sharp, honest, and refreshingly relatable voice, she dares us all to tap into our inner strength, find personal fulfillment, and speak up for what we believe in. Praise for Off the Sidelines Gillibrand has written a handbook for the next generation of women to redefine their role in our world.Arianna Huffington There are moments of immensely appealing self-disclosure that seldom appear in other books of this genre. . . . This isnt your mothers political memoir.The New York Times Book Review Kirsten Gillibrand is a beautiful example of what we can become when we are true to ourselves and brave enough to let our voices be heard. This book is intimately honest and deeply insightful.Connie Britton One of the most helpful, readable, down-to-earth, and truly democratic books ever to come out of the halls of power.Gloria Steinem A powerful message . . . Gillibrand [is] a fearless advocate for women.Marie Claire With her new memoir, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand seems to be taking a page out of the presidential playbook. . . . In style, however, Gillibrands book differs significantly from previous political memoirs. Hers is a quick read, chatty, candid.The Washington Post From the Hardcover edition.
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review
Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Mehso-so

A good memoir & call to action for women. Published in 2014 however, it didn‘t really help me with my #ReadTheCandadites goals. The parts about her advocacy on things like military sexual assaults cases were very interesting, but I was already familiar with her work in those areas. I did learn about her personal balance of family, young children, and political life, plus discovered she‘s both very perky and can curse a blue streak when necessary.

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I‘ve never heard what the resistance to the 9/11 responders bill was REALLY about explained this articulately! 🙈🤯🤬🤦‍♀️

MicheleinPhilly This is so illustrative of everything that is wrong in politics today. 😡 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MicheleinPhilly YES! That was exactly my thought! Once you are in Congress, yes you have a responsibility to your home district or state, but a bigger responsibility to the country as a whole! So disheartening. 5y
Jari-chan This is so awful! 😢 5y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Good Advice: keep calling, keep emailing, keep speaking up!

#ReadTheCandadites

BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m going to try to get to this one soon. But going to Klobuchar next, per the 2020 book club. 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage Let me know how you like it. This one was next for me just because I had it from the library and it‘s due back soon. 🤪 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I will! I have the Gillibrand on my Kindle, so there‘s no rush. I wish more of them were available at my library. 5y
See All 9 Comments
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage Surprising Gillibrand was one of the few my library had besides Biden and Bernie, and I‘m not racing to read either of them, I was much more interested in reading about the people I knew less about. Luckily I got Harris‘s from the Philly Free Library and Buttigieg‘s from Hoopla I think 🤔 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I found Harris on Scribd and Buttigieg on Hoopla. You‘d think they‘d make more effort to be on these services. And I agree about not needing to read more Biden. I read Promise Me, Dad and really liked it. That‘s enough. And I thought the Sanders book I read was just shy of an enthusiastic pick. 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage Good to know, for me it‘s just that I feel like I have a pretty good handle on both of them already and what they stand for, so since I doubt I can read all 24 25ish candidates, I‘m going to try and concentrate on some I‘m less familiar with. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Sounds like a good plan! I‘ll get as many in as I can, but I‘m expecting some to start dropping out also. 5y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Up next for me in #ReadTheCandidates

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MelissaSue81
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Another #readthecandidates. Kirsten Gillibrand is my senator and I‘ve always liked her, but I had no idea she was so inspiring. Love this book. She is so real and genuine. I admire the heck out of her for running for Congress as a mom of a toddler and being a kickass congresswoman while pregnant and with a newborn. She also stresses the importance of women getting involved in politics. The book is from 2014 , I‘d like an update but she rocks.

SleepyDragon She's one I need to research more. I was disappointed in her answers to Colbert's questions when she announced her candidacy on his show. I wanted her to give more specifics, but instead her answers were all in the typical vague political speak. I read today that she's lagging behind in DNC support, so I wonder how far she will get. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage She‘s doing her CNN Town Hall on Monday. It‘s already set on my DVR! 5y
MelissaSue81 @BarbaraTheBibliophage - thanks for the reminder! I will set mine as well. 5y
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review
cariashley
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Pickpick

Kirsten is my senator and I‘m a tremendous fan. This has been my husband and my car audiobook for our last few drives and it has been great to get to know her better. She has such passion, especially about getting more women into public office.

Billypar I like her too- I'm hoping she makes a presidential bid in 2020. I can't remember if I heard that speculation somewhere or just my own wishful thinking. 6y
cariashley @Billypar I‘ve definitely heard that speculation too! I went to an event for her last year and she wouldn‘t answer the question directly; I think there‘s a good chance though. 🤞 6y
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daniwithtea
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"even the most powerful women in the world, consciously or not, tend to downplay their achievements and strengths"

#internationalwomensday

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