2016 Reading Challenge: a political memoir

[baronessekat]

A Fighting Chance by Elizabeth Warren

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I picked up this book because I needed a "political memoir" for a reading challenge. And to be honest I wasn't looking forward to this category. In 2016, with constant inundation on all media by the political chaos of the Presidential elections, I was sick of anything remotely political.

But after looking through various options for a book for the category, I stumbled upon A Fighting Chance. I knew next to nothing about Elizabeth Warren beyond that I thought she was a Senator and I kinda recognized the name, and that my first reaction to reading her name was not "oh dear God no". So I got the book and started to listen (I got the audiobook, read by Senator Warren).

She had me engrossed almost immediately. She came across as pretty plain spoken, just a average woman who came from simple beginnings and worked her way to a goal that she wanted... teacher, lawyer. I found myself sympathizing with her in her fight for the average middle class guy against the big banks.

I found myself nodding and agreeing with pretty much all of her stands on things and in the end I found myself very glad that there was a woman like her in Washington fighting for people like me. I may not be from Massachusetts, but I am glad the folks there voted her into the Senate and I find myself wanting to go look more into her work.

All in all, I recommend this book if you are looking for a look into politics from the point of view of someone who got into the arena because it was the right thing to do. Not out of personal promotion.



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