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Striving: adventures of a female journalist in a man's world, a true story
Follow New York Times journalist Jo Thomas through a career that begins with a plane crash and continues in ruined neighborhoods in Ohio. Join her on the docks of Detroit for a terrifying investigation of the underworld and the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Visit the office of a scientist in New Orleans who did covert experiments for the CIA. Walk the streets of Havana as thousands depart for Miami during the Mariel boatlift. Drive the back roads of Northern Ireland to investigate undercover police and army shootings during the Troubles. And come along as she visits white right-wing enclaves in the American heartland after the Oklahoma City bombing. Jo never becomes “One of the boys" at work. Her story speaks to the importance of journalism and the struggles of women in the workplace.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2023
5 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 6, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing: Jo's Brother's Unbiased Review
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
So Jo Thomas is my sister. The family has known this book has been in the works for some time and while I knew about some excerpts from the book, I couldn't wait to read the finished product. OMG. Everyone knew of Jo's love for writing, but this was really remarkable. She recounts aspects of her life that, as her younger brother, I didn't even know. The book flows smoothly and adheres nicely to the theme of not just the challenges and dangers of investigative reporting, but doing it in a time when women were not just viewed as competitors but as threats in this male-dominated industry. After finishing the book, it became clear that Jo's example of persistence, perseverance and quest for the truth has rubbed off on all of her siblings. Thanks Big Sister!
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
So Jo Thomas is my sister. The family has known this book has been in the works for some time and while I knew about some excerpts from the book, I couldn't wait to read the finished product. OMG. Everyone knew of Jo's love for writing, but this was really remarkable. She recounts aspects of her life that, as her younger brother, I didn't even know. The book flows smoothly and adheres nicely to the theme of not just the challenges and dangers of investigative reporting, but doing it in a time when women were not just viewed as competitors but as threats in this male-dominated industry. After finishing the book, it became clear that Jo's example of persistence, perseverance and quest for the truth has rubbed off on all of her siblings. Thanks Big Sister!
October 29, 2023
Jo Thomas didn't start out to be a journalist. The door into it appeared almost by accident. If she hadn't planned on a career in journalism, the male editors who hired her had even less intention to give her a career in the field. But due to a reporter shortage, the Cincinnati Post gives her a job as a cub reporter in 1966, and Jo will grab the opportunity and never look back. Through investigative reporting, she will discover her true self, meaning in her life, and profound ways she can make a contribution to the world.
This is a memoir: a mix of history, tantalizing behind the scenes tidbits, and emotion confessions of of the person behind the objective reports she was getting in print. Jo was one of the early reporters to venture into African American communities during the 60s urban riots and get a fuller picture of injustice in America. She covered airplane crashes, mass killers, rent-to-own fraud, the Mob in Detroit, both sides of the struggle in Northern Ireland, revolution in Haiti, Castro emptying out the prisons in Cuba, Flight 93, Columbine, and Timothy McVeigh's trial following the bombing in Oklahoma City. Over time, she asked to be taken off a couple stories because of the emotional effect suffering was having on her.
Thomas describes the difficulty of trying to be both a mother and a wife while serving as a full time reporter. She is never defensive, often vulnerable in this memoir, and always helping the reader stay close to her with her honesty and courage.
She writes of the invisibility that comes from being a female reporter. Because others often didn't take a woman seriously, she was able to witness stories and interview people who would not have trusted a male reporter. While she suffered much from the sexism she encountered, she also found a way to turn that low esteem into a vocational advantage. Her ethical standards--and the questions she had to ask herself--stand out in this memoir.
In addition to the fascinating history and psychology of this read, it is also inspirational. Jo Thomas is paradoxical in the best ways: prickly and empathetic, smart and forever curious, humble and no-nonsense, religious and open-minded, terrified and courageous, accepting of her finitude yet always striving.
An important book. A smooth read. A great acquaintance to make--Ms. Thomas.
This is a memoir: a mix of history, tantalizing behind the scenes tidbits, and emotion confessions of of the person behind the objective reports she was getting in print. Jo was one of the early reporters to venture into African American communities during the 60s urban riots and get a fuller picture of injustice in America. She covered airplane crashes, mass killers, rent-to-own fraud, the Mob in Detroit, both sides of the struggle in Northern Ireland, revolution in Haiti, Castro emptying out the prisons in Cuba, Flight 93, Columbine, and Timothy McVeigh's trial following the bombing in Oklahoma City. Over time, she asked to be taken off a couple stories because of the emotional effect suffering was having on her.
Thomas describes the difficulty of trying to be both a mother and a wife while serving as a full time reporter. She is never defensive, often vulnerable in this memoir, and always helping the reader stay close to her with her honesty and courage.
She writes of the invisibility that comes from being a female reporter. Because others often didn't take a woman seriously, she was able to witness stories and interview people who would not have trusted a male reporter. While she suffered much from the sexism she encountered, she also found a way to turn that low esteem into a vocational advantage. Her ethical standards--and the questions she had to ask herself--stand out in this memoir.
In addition to the fascinating history and psychology of this read, it is also inspirational. Jo Thomas is paradoxical in the best ways: prickly and empathetic, smart and forever curious, humble and no-nonsense, religious and open-minded, terrified and courageous, accepting of her finitude yet always striving.
An important book. A smooth read. A great acquaintance to make--Ms. Thomas.
October 16, 2023
Just finished reading this book, and it's brilliant! Few if any journalists better exemplified the reporter's credo--"comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable"--than Jo Thomas. This true story reads like a novel, filled with harrowing adventures, journalistic controversies, and the dedicated pursuit of news about, among other things, organized crime, medical malpractice, CIA misdeeds, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and domestic terrorism. It's also an inspiring testament to the perseverance of a woman resolved to pursue a career in journalism in the face of persistent gender bias in the newsrooms--and succeeding! Highly recommended!
September 26, 2023
A friend asked me to read this one, and though it's probably not something I would pick up and read on my own - it was fantastic. These truly are some adventures of an intrepid and badass female journalist (in a man's world).
From beginnings in 1960s Cincinnati, we're taken first to the Detroit Free Press and covering the Teamsters/mafia there. Next it's on to the New York Times, working the Miami/Caribbean office - where Thomas is sent to Castro's Cuba multiple times, as well as to interview Bebe Doc over in Haiti, investigate in Puerto Rico, and go on to discover the secret Contra training grounds back in Florida. After that, she's shipped off to cover "The Troubles" in Belfast and eventually ends up back in the Midwest. Throughout these (real life) journalistic adventures we not only get to meet important historical figures, we also get to read a real and relatable account of trying to juggle a family and children with a busy professional career.
The Caribbean escapades alone would make for a good movie, but the whole story is definitely a great candidate for a biopic. It's a great read that's written in a frank, no-nonsense manner that I guess should be expected from a professional journalist.
Personally - I've traveled extensively and met a lot of people from all walks of life. But I haven't met important people nor written important things about them. And this book makes me kinda wish I had. Jo Thomas has had a crazy career (in a man's world), and I'd definitely recommend reading her story. She writes in a way that I know she knows what the hell she's talking about. Good stuff!
📚👍🏼
From beginnings in 1960s Cincinnati, we're taken first to the Detroit Free Press and covering the Teamsters/mafia there. Next it's on to the New York Times, working the Miami/Caribbean office - where Thomas is sent to Castro's Cuba multiple times, as well as to interview Bebe Doc over in Haiti, investigate in Puerto Rico, and go on to discover the secret Contra training grounds back in Florida. After that, she's shipped off to cover "The Troubles" in Belfast and eventually ends up back in the Midwest. Throughout these (real life) journalistic adventures we not only get to meet important historical figures, we also get to read a real and relatable account of trying to juggle a family and children with a busy professional career.
The Caribbean escapades alone would make for a good movie, but the whole story is definitely a great candidate for a biopic. It's a great read that's written in a frank, no-nonsense manner that I guess should be expected from a professional journalist.
Personally - I've traveled extensively and met a lot of people from all walks of life. But I haven't met important people nor written important things about them. And this book makes me kinda wish I had. Jo Thomas has had a crazy career (in a man's world), and I'd definitely recommend reading her story. She writes in a way that I know she knows what the hell she's talking about. Good stuff!
📚👍🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2023
As a former colleague who learned from Jo’s work at the Detroit Free Press 50 years ago — and later a reader who admired her investigations for the NYT — I appreciated the stories behind the stories she tells so well in this memoir.
But more than that — and I bet this will be true for general readers as well — I was moved by the candor and courage Jo exhibits in recounting the struggles of her personal and professional journey.
But more than that — and I bet this will be true for general readers as well — I was moved by the candor and courage Jo exhibits in recounting the struggles of her personal and professional journey.
January 14, 2024
There are so many different aspects of this book that spoke to me. One is the importance of journalism in a democracy and how it can result in exposing corruption, shining a light on problems that no one seems to care about, and contribute to important changes.
I also found the stories fascinating—pondering the ethics of interviewing family members in the aftermath of a deadly plane crash, covering a trucking corruption story in Detroit when Jimmy Hoffa goes missing, and having a teamster official bang on your front door, and rubbing the British government the wrong way with reporting on Northern Island.
It brings home how dangerous journalism can be and how brave reporters like Jo Thomas are in bringing the truth forward.
I enjoyed reading what it was like to break into the field as one of the first women reporters.
Anyone would enjoy this compelling book and I would especially like to see it as required reading for any aspiring journalist.
I also found the stories fascinating—pondering the ethics of interviewing family members in the aftermath of a deadly plane crash, covering a trucking corruption story in Detroit when Jimmy Hoffa goes missing, and having a teamster official bang on your front door, and rubbing the British government the wrong way with reporting on Northern Island.
It brings home how dangerous journalism can be and how brave reporters like Jo Thomas are in bringing the truth forward.
I enjoyed reading what it was like to break into the field as one of the first women reporters.
Anyone would enjoy this compelling book and I would especially like to see it as required reading for any aspiring journalist.
March 28, 2024
Investigative reporter Jo Thomas takes the reader on a journey through some of the most significant events of the 20th century, news stories that continue to resonate. She was right there digging into the ramifications of events ranging from the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa to the conflict in Northern Ireland to the right-wing movement leading to the Oklahoma City bombing that claimed 168 lives, including 19 children. She recalls the tears of hard-edged reporters covering the bombing trial. Thomas investigated dozens of difficult but important stories, and the reader sees and feels the courage and determination required to do this essential work.
July 10, 2024
Memoirs by journalists are almost universally well written, pulling you in to their very interesting lives. I was really enthusiastic about this book for the 1st 1/3 & while I enjoyed the book overall, the last half seemed to be more about the actual news events happening & not as much about her as a person & journalist. Worthwhile read for those who enjoy memoirs of journalists.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews