One of the world's leading woman politicians tells her inspiring story
At forty-one, Gro Harlem Brundtland, physician and mother of four, was appointed prime minister of Norway-the youngest person and the first woman ever to hold that office. In this refreshingly forthright memoir, Brundtland traces her unusual and meteoric career. She grew up with strong role models-her parents were active in the Norwegian resistance and involved in postwar politics. She became known as a pro-choice crusader in the seventies and entered politics as the minister of the environment. She appointed eight women to her second eighteen-member cabinet, to this day a world record, and was the leading figure in the process that led to the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. As director-general of the World Health Organization since 1997, Brundtland is the first woman elected to run a major UN institution. Along the way, she met a host of international politicians, including Margaret Thatcher-who did not share Brundtland's view on feminism-Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, and Hillary Clinton.
Brundtland writes candidly and with humor about raising children in the political limelight and about dealing with political opposition and stereotypes about women. Hers is a fascinating story of one person's ability to make a difference-globally.
Auto-biography of Norwegian Gro Harlem Brundtland oen of the amazing leaders of the last hundred years. She provides keen insight into the Norwegian politics, well-known international leaders and Norways relationship with UN, key countries (USA,USSR). She does not mince words and is extremely clear in that women rights are tied to the survival of the world. On another level she provides leadeship tips that are valuable. Finally, in the last portion of the book, she describe a personal tragedy (son's suicide) and her later leadership of World Health Organization. One of axes to grind is the mis-handling of mental health care which relies on her analysis of her son's medical treatment.
Thoughtful leadership, ground breaking in power, addressing the challenges of the 20th century. 1st female PM of Norway.
I stopped giving the benefit of doubt to the boomer generation after reading this book. Women's rights and equality, racism, discrimination, socio-economic disparities, war, evil. These have been on the agenda since forever. Not standing up for the lesser man is complicity. If you are not doing the hard work to build change into the system, then you are part of the problem.