26 September 2023

The Book of Gutsy Women

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Reviewed by Rama Gaind.

By Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, Simon & Schuster, $32.99.

A former first lady of the United States and her daughter have combined their efforts to write about the indomitable women who have inspired them. They call them ‘gutsy’. The tome is their tribute to prominent women who have made a difference in this world.

They make a prolific pair: Hillary (What Happened, Living History, Hard Choices and Chelsea (She Persisted, Don’t Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe).

The Book of Gutsy Women explores the lives of inspirational females, including Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who was the first woman to serve in both houses of the United States Congress, and the first woman to represent Maine in either.

Others include civil rights activist Dorothy Height, LGBTQ trailblazer Edie Windsor, and swimmer Diana Nyad kept pushing forward, no matter what. Malala Yousafzai and Harriet Tubman looked fear in the face and persevered. Historian Mary Beard used wit to open doors that were once closed and Wangari Maathai, who sparked a movement to plant trees, understood the power of role modeling. Writers like Rachel Carson and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie named something no one had dared talk about before. Nearly every single one of these women was fiercely optimistic — they had faith that their actions could make a difference. They were right.

As Marie Curie put it: “Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.”

So how did they do it? The answers are as unique as the women themselves. They draw strength from these women. “To us, they are all gutsy women — leaders with the courage to stand up to the status quo, ask hard questions, and get the job done. Because if history shows one thing, it’s that the world needs gutsy women.”

Billie Jean King had this to say: “Everyone thinks women should be thrilled when we get crumbs, and I want women to have the cake, the icing, and the cherry on top, too.”

This quote from the authors is predictive: “Power has largely been associated with – and defined by – men since the beginning of time … We believe it is past time for that to change.”

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