Off the Sidelines

This book is about mobilizing women (and men) to get off the sidelines and become active in effecting beneficial change in society. The author is challenging women to become involved in changing society toward benefitting women. Gillibrand said men learned this lesson a long time ago. In so many words change will not happen until more women become active in all areas of government. Gillibrand says politics is one big way to change the country and we need to put more women in position to make change. Gillibrand said generally women work to get bills passed and are more willing to focus on the goal and not let petty party politics get in the way of the greater good. The author said her fellow female Senators are more willing to reach across the aisle to achieve goals and more willing to compromise. Gillibrand describes her fight to get 9/11 first responder health insurance passed and the fight to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. She goes on to say there are many areas that work is need on such as workplace discrimination, access to child care, equal rights, sexual discrimination and abuse in the military and on college campuses and many many more. The author says politics is a means for advocacy for her causes. In many ways this is a book with an ethical message.<br />Gillibrand provides a memoir of her life up to writing the book to illustrate what triggered her to get off the side lines and become an advocate for change in her community. She first was elected to Congress from the 20th district in New York. When Hillary Clinton left the Senate to run for president Gillibrand was appointed to Clinton’s place in the Senate. Edward Kennedy was the senior senator from New York and Gillibrand worked with him on the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal. When Kennedy died Warren was elected to his Senate Chair. She discuss the distaste she has of comments made about women’s clothes, hair style, weight and so on whether they are running for office, giving a speech or in the business board room. These types of comments are not made about the men. Gillibrand tell what it was like to be pregnant when she was a congresswomen and having young children while working in the Senate.<br /><br />Over all I found the book interesting and I do hope that it will motivate young girls to think of a career in politics, or the career areas of government such as the State, Treasury, Justice Department or other such areas. Gillibrand recommends everyone become active in their local community government. Some will want to advance to state and federal government or other related organization to advocate for their causes. I noted that Gillibrand and many of the politicians are attorneys therefore, that appears to be a good professional path to positions of leadership and government jobs. I wish Gillibrand had provided some suggestion of courses to take or professions that would help provide the needed skills and tools to be an effective politician.<br /><br />I had recently read the biography of Chief Justice Lorna Lockwood of the Arizona Supreme Court and had noted she encouraged women attorneys to advance themselves to various judgeships. Lockwood said women need to advance themselves in their profession and to help the young women coming up in the profession. Lockwood said more women in all areas of professions, business, not for profit organizations and government would bring about a more balanced world. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Susan Denaker did a good job narration the book.

<i>If you're like me, you're reading this book because you want to find out how to get to where you want to be in your own life by learning how someone else got to where they wanted to be in theirs.</i> (p. 19)<br /><br />Nope. That is not why I read this book. Also, now that I have read this book, I know I am nothing like Kirsten Gillibrand.<br />I read this book because I am sometimes unpredictable, even to myself. Politics = Not my thing. I engage in the bare minimum necessary for proper civic duty (I vote and I keep an ear out for issues that concern me, and by "concern" I really mean "interest" because, yes, all issues should concern me but they don't because I am a terrible citizen and I cherry-pick my politics and I don't even do that well) <br />So why would I read a politician’s biography? Well, I cataloged it and something about it intrigued me, though I don’t remember what that was. I put it on hold, got it awhile later, and wondered what I'd been thinking but took it home anyway.<br /><br />It's a super-quick read, even for a slow reader like myself. It's written in a conversational tone, it's easy to understand, and there are 16 pages of plates (pictures, not dishware) in the middle. I finished it in a week, which is unheard of, and I enjoyed it.<br /><br />I had no idea who Kirsten Gillibrand was when this came across my desk and I only knew a fraction more about her after adding all the data to the catalog record. What I found, and I suspect this is what I was supposed to have found because I'm cynical enough to believe Gillibrand’s PR team made sure this book supports and enhances the public persona they’ve all worked so hard to create, is that she's an energetic woman who has a fiery passion for civil service and for her family. She wants mothers to not be punished for being mothers, wants the "have it all" crap struck from our vocabulary (in relation to women working and raising a family and doing whatever else they do to have the "have it all" phrase thrown at them), wants single mothers to have a fighting chance at more-than-survival by raising the minimum wage, advocates for first-responders from 9/11 to get medical treatment for the harm they suffered while doing their jobs at the attack sites, helped repeal Don’t Ask, Don't Tell, and fights for the rights of persons who have been sexually assaulted in the military. She's now a senator for New York, having taken Clinton's spot when she was appointed Secretary of State and then winning the spot in her own right in the next election.<br /><br />This memoir-with-a-message focuses on Kirsten's desire to do big things, the support she received from politically active and savvy women in her family, and how she fights to achieve her goals by standing up and being heard with tenacity and persistence. It's a good message, especially for young women who know they want to do something useful for their communities but don't really know how to go about getting started.<br /><br /><i>You matter. Your frame of reference is a strength. When women contribute and rise to positions of power, we bring our unique experiences and priorities with us, and we make the world a better, richer place.</i><br /><br />I wouldn't say this story is accessible to everyone, though; the trajectory follows a well-off white woman who already had some basic connections to start with. Obviously, this is not where all women begin their lives so it's a little hard to relate to her story from that perspective. She's also one of those people who seems to have boundless energy and drive and her recounted obstacles are rarely life-threatening or insurmountable. Because of this, her tale sometimes comes across as thoughts from the privileged and that can be alienating. She's doing a lot and burning the candle at both ends and putting in hours, time, hard work, and constantly juggling but she also has the support to do just that because she's not a single mother of three who only made it through eleventh grade and is working four jobs to keep the heat on in the small apartment she shares with her sister who is back from the army and suffers from severe PTSD. So, yeah, not necessarily the everyday Jane and while I think she understands this, she still often comes across as someone with sympathy but not empathy. That doesn't mean there's nothing to be gleaned from what she says, though, and I think it’s important to recognize the work she is doing since people in her position do not actually have to advocate for those who aren’t as well-off even though they’re the ones whose voices are best heard. I’m glad she’s using her voice to be contribute to the greater good even if it was a little tooth-grindy for me to try to relate to her.<br /><br />Her story is interesting, especially to those not involved in politics because that is such a weird world, and she seems to be doing some great things for her community, her state, and our country. That and the quick-read nature of the book make it worth reading.<br />3.5 stars

My only disappointment with this book came when I finished it - it looks like the only people reading/reviewing this on goodreads are women. It's important for men to read this book too!

This was an easy, light read. I wish there had been more substance. The overall theme of the book is that one shouldn't be content to "sit on the sidelines" of life. If there is something you care about, you should get involved in some way to try to affect change. This is a great message. My main problem with the book was that I just felt like it didn't have much weight. Beyond the above platitude, there wasn't much meat. Maybe it's because Senator Gillibrand just hasn't had enough time yet in her political career to offer much beyond a few marginally interesting stories about her few fights in Congress. I did really like the chapter about how women are constantly judged according to their looks, and not their merit. The thing I found most disappointing about the book was that since Senator Gillibrand comes from a position of privilege, I didn't feel there was a whole lot she could offer for how a regular person could get into the game. She talks about how her early attempts to break into the political system were rebuffed until she could prove that she could fund raise on a big scale. Since I don't have 70 friends I can lean on to attend a $1000 function, the message I was left with was that no matter how far we've come, you still have to be rich and well-connected to be a player. There were several comments throughout the book that left me feeling Gillibrand just couldn't connect with the struggles of real people. One example- she talks about how when she lost weight, she deliberately gave away all her "skinny clothes" because she liked rewarding herself with new outfits once she reached her weight goals. I just shook my head and thought, "Wow, wouldn't that be nice?" How many of us have that luxury?? Bottom line- if you are a rich woman, and want some inspiration for what to do with your vast discretionary funds, you might enjoy Gillibrand's road map for how to turn that money into a political bid. If you're just a regular person, this book doesn't resonate.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it. I am a huge Kirsten Gillibrand fan but honestly my feelings are somewhat mixed towards this read. For that reason I rated it a 3-STAR although 3.5 is probably more accurate.<br /><br />For some background color let me share that I recently read Elizabeth Warren’s new book A Fighting Chance and the recent mid-term congressional elections heightened my interest in political figures. Prior to reading this book I knew a great deal about Senator Gillibrand while listening to WAMC <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://wamc.org/">http://wamc.org/</a> in Albany, NY. In my view she is TERRIFIC!<br /><br />Gillibrand is tenacious defender of the defenseless, a powerful voice of the voiceless. She is determined to preserve and protect the basic civil and human rights of her constituents. She is a strong advocate for equality of women in politics and the workforce and is a pioneer of accountability and transparency in government. Gillibrand launched her Sunlight Report where she posts her official daily meetings online every day, so her constituents can see who is lobbying her and what they are asking for – WOW! How refreshing!!!<br /><br />She is compassionate but tough and fair-minded. She's taken on the military to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Law and has addressed head on, no holds barred, the rape and sexual assault of over 20,000 women and men in the military. Like Elizabeth Warren, she is a champion for the middle class and growing our economy in a fair and equitable way. If she ran for national office I’d be a supporter. Check out her website <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/agenda/">http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/agenda/</a><br /> <br />My mixed feelings about the book are several. One – I would have liked to learn much more about her childhood, her parents and how she came to be Senator Gillibrand. She did share some of her experiences in grade school, college and her years practicing law at NYC law firm but it felt a bit superficial. I wanted to know much more about what makes Senator Gillibrand tick. Two – It was so very disappointing to learn just how influential money is in our political system. She made no bones about it that money gains access and that she made it clear she is an excellent fundraiser! In my mind money and politics creates a toxic concoction so I had some trouble reconciling her advocacy for the middle class and the influence of big money donors. Lastly – I felt emotionally locked out of this story. I applaud and embrace Gillibrand's intense advocacy for girls and women and their rightful place in politics, the workforce and our society. I agree with her wholeheartedly. But in a subtle way I felt like I was the enemy simply because I'm a man. Guilt by association perhaps? Maybe I'm being too sensitive or perhaps I am just so frustrated with the way women are treated in our society.<br /><br />Regardless of my emotional reactions, I thought the book was well worth the read and recommend it. Who knows, perhaps if Congress had more members like Gillibrand and Warren, our nation would be much better off! Read the book and decide for yourself. <br />

Part-memoir, part-playbook, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s “<a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/20342582.Off_the_Sidelines_Raise_Your_Voice__Change_the_World" title="Off the Sidelines Raise Your Voice, Change the World by Kirsten Gillibrand" rel="noopener">Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World</a>” is a refreshingly practical addition to the women’s empowerment shelf, especially for women who aspire to public service. True to mission, the book even ends with a note that the women’s congressional softball team could use another starting pitcher. She’s talking to you, dear reader. Get in the game!<br /><br />The book chronicles the life of an extraordinarily accomplished woman leader, but studiously conveys warmth and accessibility with folksy “Hey, I have fat jeans, too!” anecdotes. (Yes, the senator actually uses those exact words in the book.) But don’t mistake the tone for a lack of seriousness about the mission. It’s part of her strategy for convincing readers that leadership isn’t reserved for “special” people.<br /><br />She issues us all an invitation to get off the sidelines and take seriously our moral obligation to participate in the political conversations surrounding issues that we care deeply about. Yes, even you. She argues that voting, advocacy, and even candidacy are powerful paths to progress. If we–the people affected most by issues–don’t act, who will? “We need a Rosie the Riveter for this generation–not to draw women into professional life, because they are already there, but to elevate women’s voices in the public sphere and bring women more fully into making the decisions that shape our country,” she writes.<br /><br />And when she speaks of women, she’s speaking of all women, not just a privileged subset. “I’m angry and I’m depressed, and I’m scared that the women’s movement is dead, or at least on life support,” she writes. “Women talk a lot these days about shattering the glass ceiling, but we also need to focus on cleaning the so-called sticky floor, making sure all women have a chance to rise.”<br /><br />(The book doesn’t delve into policy details, but the accompanying website <a href="http://offthesidelines.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">offthesidelines.org</a> sets out her opportunity plan for empowering women and families to rise in the 21st-century economy. It centers on paid family and medical leave, raising the minimum wage, quality affordable childcare, universal pre-k and equal pay for equal work.)<br /><br />Whatever your policy positions, the book presents a warmer and fuzzier view of politics than typical media accounts. In Gillibrand land, leadership isn’t so much about savvy political and workplace maneuvering, but about the much more appealing work of listening to people, caring about them, and marshalling your unique, personal resources to respond.<br /><br />She uses examples from her legislative work on the 9/11 healthcare bill and seeking justice for survivors of sexual assault in the military to emphasize storytelling as a legitimate and powerful tool of persuasion. “You can drop a dozen binders full of white papers on my desk, and the stack won’t be as effective as a single human being willing to speak honestly about her life,” she writes.<br /><br />In the spirit of truth-telling, Gillibrand’s call to leadership isn’t all smiles and roses. She allows that political candidacy and service are a grind, requiring straight-up hard work and persistence despite the odds, which range from personal foibles to nasty political opposition.<br /><br />She recounts her successes but doesn’t skip over the failures and foundering that preceded and, in some cases, facilitated later wins. It wasn’t so long ago, readers learn, that she couldn’t get hired at the U.S. Attorney’s office or a full-time job on Hillary Clinton’s campaign. And even as a rookie congresswoman she was prone to embarrassing missteps, like crashing one of Senator Patrick Leahy’s fundraisers to hand him a draft of her bill. But she persevered and, she contends, you can too.<br /><br />Beyond the politics, one of the best aspects of the book is her transparency about how she spends her time. She is open about how hard it has been to learn to embrace her limits and schedule time for food, bathroom breaks and traffic delays, let alone friendship, relaxation and fun.<br /><br />Where <a href="http://mayasmart.com/lean-in/" rel="nofollow noopener">other</a> high-profile women leaders have been purposely vague on their daily schedules and child care habits, Gillibrand puts it all out there. She recounts what time she rises, when she goes to sleep, how much time she spends with her sons (2-3 hours/day, if you’re wondering), and how much she’s in the office. She tells the costs of trading the congressional cocktail-party circuit for a bath-books-bed routine with her sons. Moreover, she shares some of the ways staff, sitters, friends, family and even parents of her kids’ friends help her meld public service and the “absurdist sitcom” of her family life. It takes a village, apparently.<br /><br />I appreciated her candor and gleaned some lessons from her day-to-day life management techniques. She exercises first thing after taking the kids to school and trains her staff to protect that personal time. She consumes 1,200 calories a day–fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and fish. She tracks constituent issues on index cards and uses 10-point lists for everything from planning a wedding to passing a bill.<br /><br />The particulars are unlikely to work for any of us, but it’s reassuring to see that even U.S. senators make it through the day with an idiosyncratic mix of habits and routines. She’s got a big title, a huge constituency, and a staff, but her biggest challenge is managing herself–keeping the big-picture goals alive amid the minutiae of daily life. How human!

I agree with other reviewers; this is more memoir than a “how to”. However much can be learned from Sen. Gillibrand’s stories. I really found her struggles as a working mother relatable. Excited to see what the future holds for her!

Kirsten Gillibrand's book has inspired me, and not because I'm a lawyer or congresswoman with a family and crazy busy life. She inspires me with her complete empathy for those who need help in any capacity, regardless of how similar or different they are to her. Her overarching purpose of the book is to inspire women everywhere to speak up and get involved when and where we are moved by what is important to us. This does not necessarily mean running for office; it can be something as simple as "planting a tree or community garden" to teach your children (or anyone!) about sustainability. I believe she is one of the few people on Capitol Hill who genuinely gives a shit about representing her NY constituents and doing all she can to fight for underrepresented people who have suffered because of our government's lack of concern or thought. Part of me was put-off by the fact that when she ran for office she was a young lawyer making $200k a year, but she understands her place of privilege compared to those out there only making minimum wage. I think this puts her in a really good position to "give a voice to the voiceless." She tells her entire story in this book, not only focusing on her political moves but giving us insight into her personal life and insecurities, which is how I think she lives her daily life. She's transparent and genuine, and I think we need more people like her representing us in political office. After reading her book I feel much more confident about making my own voice heard where it counts for me, and I want to be able to work with other women to empower ourselves and what we want for our lives.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) comes from a family of politically active women, and her book is part memoir about her experiences in politics so far, and part call to action (for more women to get into politics, and for policies to fix inequities working women face in our country).<br /><br />Gillibrand's story is interesting, and there are a lot of anecdotes in here that I found revealing and eye-opening as a man in my late twenties. Gillibrand recounts different instances of sexism and condescension she has had to deal with in the workplace, and places them in the broader context of experiences faced by too many professional women. She is candid about her fears and insecurities, and you can't help but admire the way she overcame many of the challenges she faced on her path to where she is today. <br /><br />Although many of the personal anecdotes Gillibrand offers are interesting and insightful, this book lacks the depth and emotional resonance of <a href="https://goodreads.com/author/show/6356.Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama" rel="noopener">Barack Obama</a>'s <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/88061.Dreams_from_My_Father_A_Story_of_Race_and_Inheritance" title="Dreams from My Father A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama" rel="noopener">Dreams from My Father</a> or <a href="https://goodreads.com/author/show/5832991.Sonia_Sotomayor" title="Sonia Sotomayor" rel="noopener">Sonia Sotomayor</a>'s <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/13642929.My_Beloved_World" title="My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor" rel="noopener">My Beloved World</a>. This is not surprising or unexpected - Obama wrote his book before he was elected to anything, and Sotomayor wrote hers after she was already on the Supreme Court, the most stable position in American politics. Gillibrand has a successful political career that is far from over.<br /><br />I thought <a href="https://goodreads.com/author/show/5333595.Sheryl_Sandberg" title="Sheryl Sandberg" rel="noopener">Sheryl Sandberg</a>'s <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/16071764.Lean_In_Women__Work__and_the_Will_to_Lead" title="Lean In Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg" rel="noopener">Lean In</a> did a more thorough job discussing some of the issues Gillibrand mentions, though that does not take anything away from Gillibrand sharing the truth of her experiences (many of which take place in the halls of Congress).<br /><br />As someone who works in politics, I enjoyed this book. My guess is that most professional women have faced obstacles similar to what Gillibrand describes, so there may not be much new territory here for someone with that level of experience. But it's a good look into what drives Gillibrand, and a great read for other young people who haven't been exposed to some of the inherent discrimination that women face in the workplace.

#5! <br /><br />I liked this more than I anticipated. <br /><br />Favorite parts: her stories about being an overeager, earnest fangirl towards Hilary Clinton during Hilary’s senate campaign, her critique of the whole “having it all” shtick, her honesty about her struggles with weight and appearance, and her no bullshit attitude towards her work. <br /><br />I met her at an airport in 2012 and she was super nice and friendly. Sadly, I did not make enough of an impression to be in the book. Rats.