Winning the Earthquake: How Jeannette Rankin Defied All Odds to Become the First Woman in Congress

by Lorissa Rinehart

The first major biography of Jeannette Rankin, a groundbreaking suffragist, activist, and the first American woman to hold federal office.

“Few members of Congress have ever stood more alone while being true to a higher honor and loyalty.”
—President John F. Kennedy on Jeannette Rankin

Born on a Montana ranch in 1880, Jeannette Rankin knew how to drive a tractor, ride a horse, make a fire, and read the sky for weather. But most of all, she knew how to talk to people, how to convince them of her vision for America. It was this rare skill that led her, in 1916, to become the first woman ever elected to the House of Representatives.

As her first act, Rankin introduced the legislation that would become the 19th Amendment. Throughout her two terms in 1916 and 1940, she continued to introduce and pass legislation benefitting unions, protecting workers, and increasing aid for children in poverty. In 1941, she stood tall as the sole anti-war voice in Congress during WWII, advocating for pacifism in the face of tragedy and stating that you can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.

A suffragist, feminist, peace activist, workers' rights advocate, progressive, and Republican, Rankin remained ever true to her beliefs—no matter the price she had to pay personally. Yet, despite the momentous steps she made for women in politics, overcoming the boys club of capitalists and career politicians who never wanted to see a woman in Congress, Jeannette Rankin’s story has been largely forgotten. In Winning the Earthquake, Lorissa Rinehart deftly uncovers the compelling history behind this singular American hero, bringing her story back to life.

Genres: Biography, History, Politics, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Historical, American History

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Lorissa Rinehart writes about art, war, and their points of intersection. 

Her writing has recently appeared in Hyperallergic, Perfect Strangers, and Narratively, among other publications. Her forthcoming biography, First to the Front: The Untold Story of Dickey Chapelle, Trailblazing Female War Correspondent is due out from St. Martin's Press in summer 2023.

When not writing she can be found photographing the natural world impinging upon the urban landscape or digging in the dirt with her husband and two sons in Santa Barbara, California.

She holds an MA from NYU in Experimental Humanities and a BA in Literature from UC Santa Cruz. She is proudly represented by Lowenstein Associates.

Instajam @Lorissa_Rinehart

Reviews

[Clif Hostetler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeannette Rankin (1880 - 1973) became the first female member of Congress when she was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican from Montana in 1916. Rankin was reelected to Congress in 1940 and was the only member to vote against US entry in both World War I and World War II. Consequently she's always been considered a hero in my family, and I was proud of my daughter when she was the only member of her high school American history class that knew about Rankin. (Her teacher claimed to not be surprised about my daughter's knowledge because he knew she was a pacifist just like Jeannette Rankin.)

This is a well written and engaging biography of Rankin's life. The majority of the book's narrative is spent following Rankin's activities during the two decades between her two famous one-term times as member of the House of Representatives from Montana. During this time she was involved with antiwar groups trying to steer nations away from rearming for war. In the context of these activities it is not surprising that she would need to vote against declaring war in order to maintain any semblance of consistency with her sincere beliefs.

She was mobbed by a hostile crowd as she left the House chambers following her WWII vote. The force of the crowd was physically threatening so she was forced to seek refuge in a telephone booth to call Capitol police asking that they come rescue her and escort her to her office. Her vote was very unpopular and many former friends and supporters opposed it. She must surely have felt very alone after the vote. However, in many ways her vote was a defiant angry response to the mad rush toward war. She had been warning for the past twenty years that rearmament would lead to inevitable war, and her warning had been ignored.

This book makes clear that Jeannette Rankin was more than a one issue politician. She was active in multiple facets of progressive issues of her era. She was a champion of workers' rights and was willing to confront oligarchic capitalists and career politicians of which her home state had plenty. She was a tireless campaigner for women's suffrage in her younger years often giving stump speeches on street corners trying to convince male voters of Montana give women the vote. When the women's suffrage referendum passed in Montana the strongest support for the measure came from the rural and scattered mining towns in which she had campaigned. This book is able to convey a bit of her energetic personality through numerous stories about her campaigning and speeches given.

History seemed to have forgotten about her for many years, but interest in her increased in her older years during the Vietnam War. Antiwar protesters infused a renewed interest in this person who had opposed war when she was a one lone vote. Thus late in life she lived to see that her life's work had not been forgotten.

The book's title is taken from a famous Rankin quote, "You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake."

[Dona's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pre-Read Notes:

The title of this one made me very curious, and I love feminist history of the US. I misread the subtitle when I requested this one; I thought it was about someone else. But so far, she's a fascinating figure.

"But she would never forget the lesson that great poverty and great wealth went hand in hand." p34

Final Review

My Favorite Things:

✔️ "Between contractions, Olive tried to focus on the wildflowers painting the mountainsides. White yarrow and purple lupine. Blue bachelor’s button and red bearded tongues. Orange buttercup and pink wild bergamot. Brushstrokes and pinpoints of color where, just a few weeks before, there had been nothing but barren snow that seemed to reach beyond the stretch of time, or at least humanity’s conception of it. Here was the miracle of life, always bursting forth no matter the conditions." p5 I really love stories about the persistence of life. Also, this is some really beautiful writing.

✔️ "“If you prepare for war, you will get war. If you prepare for peace, you will get peace.”" p202 An interesting idea.

✔️ It's easier to oppress people who don't know anything and have no hope. "Nowhere in her education or prolific reading had she learned that in 1848, three hundred women gathered in Seneca Falls to declare their sovereign right to the ballot. Nor had she heard that since then, women in every state of the nation had been fighting for their right to vote. 67 To her even greater amazement, they had won it in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, all before the turn of the twentieth century. She and all American women seemed to have been purposefully denied knowledge of their own struggle for liberation." p

Thank you to Lorissa Rinehart, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital copy of WINNING THE EARTHQUAKE. All views are mine.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, thoroughly researched, compelling biography of Jeanette Rankin, the first woman to serve in congress. I truly enjoyed being immersed in the fascinating life of this incredible woman, traveling with her and interacting with notable historical figures and her supportive and intelligent family, throughout her journey, from the late 1800's through the 1970's. I felt her sorrows and celebrated her achievements and triumphs. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ms. Rinehart, and NetGalley, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this outstanding and comprehensive memoir. This is my honest opinion.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Winning the Earthquake, by Lorissa Rinehart, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have never heard of Jeannette Rankin, before this book. Jeannette did a lot of things women of her time, the 1880's did not do. In 1916 she was voted to the House of Representatives. Jeannette was a women way before her time, what an inspiration for everyone today, I wonder what she would think about our world today, how far we came in some areas, and how we stayed the same in other areas.

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was certainly aware of Jeanette Rankin prior to reading Lorissa Rinehart's "Winning the Earthquake: How Jeanette Rankin Defied All Odds to Become the First Woman in Congress."

However, it's hard to imagine a more complete and comprehensive exploration of Rankin - a groundbreaking suffragist, activist, and the first American woman to hold federal office.

"Winning the Earthquake" is the first major biography of Rankin, born on a Montana ranch in 1880 a woman whose Montana ways taught her how to talk to people and unite them around a common vision. It was Rankin who put forth the legislation that would become the Nineteenth Amendment.

Rankin would be elected twice to federal office - first in 1917 and then in 1941. She supported peace through disarmament, a controversial position and, if you've noticed, she was elected during the periods of both world wars. She was known as Congress's most passionate pacifist - a position that would prove unpopular during both of her times. She held fast to her belief that "you can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake."

While I was certainly aware of Rankin, as I read "Winning the Earthquake" I found myself repeatedly surprised by what I didn't know about the Republican's championing of democratic reforms, peace, and workers' rights. Rinehart dives deeply into Rinehart's willingness to confront a national boys' club of oligarchic capitalists and career politicians. While Rankin's challenges are remarkable, they also feel incredibly timely and relevant even today.

While history has kept in the forefront many names of women who've changed the national political landscape in the United States, I'm not sure Rankin has ever gotten her due for her role in advancing the rights of women, workers, and many others along with her fierce advocacy for pacifism. This is a remarkable story brought vividly to life by Lorissa Rinehart with painstaking detail and comfortable, matter-of-fact storytelling that feels much like Rankin herself.

It's hard to imagine a human being in America who shouldn't read "Winning the Earthquake."

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, in depth biography of one of America's strongest women, with ample footnotes to please the scholarly type and a readability that pleases all types. Jeannette Rankin stands among the greats as a noted progressive, pacifist, feminist, and first woman elected to Congress. And it makes sense that she's a Montanan, as most western states gave the franchise to American women much earlier than the federal government did.

There were things going into this book that I already knew, most notably her position as the only person in Congress to vote "no" for both World War I and, unpopularly, World War II. Getting the back story to those votes was a lot of fun. So was learning some of the tea on Carrie Chapman Catt, whom I've always perceived as a old battle-axe who stood in the way of progress. Having my opinion validated in this book was a fun part for me. I also appreciated that my inferior opinion of Wilson was also warranted.

For history buffs, for feminists, for lovers of Americana, or just a good biography, the story of Jeannette Rankin's life is great stuff. My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a chance to read this book. My opinions, as incorrect as they may be, are entirely my own.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a tough time rating this one. I had heard of Jeannette Rankin; I'm into American history so of course had heard of the woman in Congress who voted against joining both World War I and World War II. And I knew she was from Montana. But that's about all I knew.

For the first maybe quarter of this book, I was thinking that this might wind up being a 5-star review. I was fascinated to learn about Rankin's upbringing in Montana and her (and her family's) progressive views. She was born in a cabin in the wilderness; her father was one of the major contributors to Missoula's growth. I was amazed at the progressiveness of this woman born in Montana in 1880, and how living there in that time shaped her:

Decisions were made by conversation and consensus, and everyone's point of view was given weight. This culture grounded in and dependent upon participatory democracy profoundly shaped Jeannette's outlook on social change and the role of government (loc. 101)

and how it learning of a massacre of Nez Pearce by the U.S. Army in 1877 that led to Jeannette's lifelong pacifism; she later compared it to My Lai in Vietnam. As a child, she lobbied her father to give ranch hands better wages and working conditions. And when the copper kings started taking over Montana, she railed against the horrors in the Gilded Age, speaking out against child labor.

She grew up and started working for women's suffrage, and Jeannette would go to women in towns throughout the West, arguing that if women had the right to vote, it would help everyone: "women voters could blanket California in protections for workers, women, and children" (loc. 1078) and "Jeannette promised women would vote to empower unions, regulate corporations, and ensure that worker protections were codified into law" (loc. 1368). She worked tirelessly and I loved reading out this fight for women's votes. Women in Montana got the right to vote, and they promptly voted Jeannette into Congress. (At the time, Montana actually had two members in the House of Representatives, and the state wasn't divided into districts. Jeannette's enemies managed to get the state districted, and that was how she was voted out.)

Jeannette made it into Congress and the trouble started, because she was very much against entry into WWI, and many women's suffrage activists were...not exactly in favor, but didn't want Jeannette to vote against it because they thought it would hurt their cause.

As I continued reading the book, I found myself more and more annoyed with author Lorissa Rinehart, whose opinions shone through the book (in this case, making comments about the East Coast women's suffrage leaders). I assume Rinehart is from the western part of the country; her opinions about Easterners echo the opinions I heard when I moved from Connecticut to Montana in high school. The book became frustrating to read at times because the author could be so strident--and I agreed with her opinions! I'd be like, "I agree, but dang, tone it down a notch."

Particularly once the book gets into Jeannette's crusade against war, which is pretty much everything from her election on. And look, I am not in favor of war, and World War I was particularly dumb. But passages like the following (about the Lusitania) kind of just made me sigh:

Jeannette saw this tragedy not as a cause for war but as a reason to turn off the spigot of money and munitions that kept the war going. Such a measure would force Europe's evenly matched old kingdoms to reach an equitable peace without victory for either side. Many in and outside the government, including most in the suffrage movement, agreed with her at the time. Ironically, if the Wilson administration had followed this advice and ceased to intervene, this pan-European war may well have been the war to end all wars rather than the one that spawned more than a century of unprecedented global bloodshed. (loc. 1879)

I just don't think that's what would've happened if the United States hadn't entered the war. I mean, maybe? And there are also weird interjections about how the Constitutional amendment for women's suffrage was also being sacrificed ("she understood that any hope of an expanded idea of democracy in America was on the verge of being forgotten and erased altogether" [loc. 2384] and "the cause of women's rights ... would be razed in [the war's] path" [loc. 2404]) when she managed to get the votes farther than expected in Congress in 1917, I think, and the thing was passed in 1919.

The fallout from her vote against WWI was interesting, and I loved learning that she helped form the ACLU, but Rinehart doesn't really go into it much. The book focuses on her anti-war activities, with occasional sidebars like "To them [the other suffragists, I believe], despite all her success, she was persona non grata and would remain so for the rest of her life and much of history" (loc. 3077) and "Another anniversary of America's entrance into the war, another turn around the sun since Jeannette refused to be bent to the will of the powerful and was broken for the rigidity of her conscience" (loc. 3210). Rinehart also seems to credit Rankin's peace group for coming up with Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, which seems...not right.

She does work for organizations in the anti-war movement, and we get comments like "where leadership tried to clip her wings with organizational protocol and boardroom bylaws" (loc. 3593) and I honestly had a hard time telling if Jeannette was like, "I do things my way, screw you all!" or whether her bosses were being too micromanage-y. It was frustrating because honestly, by this point in the book, I didn't totally feel like I could trust Rinehart's narration and interpretation. Rankin's strategies for getting support for suffrage in the West in the early 20th century were obviously effective, but that doesn't necessarily mean they translate well for other goals.

Jeannette winds up getting elected to Congress again, where she was famously the only vote against joining WWII and then was promptly voted out of office. (Rinehart does note that after voting against the war, Rankin did vote in favor of appropriations and such to ensure that the soldiers got what they needed.) And we get glimpses of how Rankin spent her life, but without much detail

She spent years advocating for women's right to vote, the ability of labor unions to organize, the end of child labor, and the expansion of democratic voting rights for all. But most ardently and most often, she had worked for peace, and it could be said that all of her other efforts had been in its pursuit. (loc. 4411)

Rankin spent a lot of time in later years in India, which was interesting enough, though Rinehart focuses on that without delving into other issues Rankin worked on. At one point Rinehart mentions Rankin's participation in the civil rights movement without saying literally anything about what that involvement looked like. She spoke out against the Vietnam War, but again, we see very little of what that looked like.

(I did become more interested in Edna, Jeannette's sister, who worked for women's reproductive rights, becoming instrumental in extending the network of Planned Parenthood. That's awesome! More on her!)

Ultimately, I came to admire Rankin (who also spoke out in favor of getting rid of the Electoral College! She had many good ideas!), though she seems like she may have been frustrating to actually deal with--though many people with big ideas are that way. I enjoyed learning about her but got really frustrated actually reading this book, and I can't tell how much of that was because of the author interjecting all over the place. Which was even more frustrating, because Rankin seems like someone I agree with.

Do I recommend this book? Oof. I don't know. I do recommend learning more about Jeannette Rankin.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book. All views are mine.

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lorissa Rinehart is an American writer; her 2025 book Winning the Earthquake is a compelling and deeply-researched biography of politician and women's rights activist, Montana-born Jeannette Rankin (1880-1973). Rankin holds the distinction of being the first American woman elected to the US House of Representatives in 1916, four years before the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote had been formally added to the US Constitution. As Rinehart explains, prior to 1920, female suffrage had been a state-by-state issue, with many Western US states leading the vanguard and granting its female residents the right to vote as early as 1869 (Wyoming) or 1893 (Colorado). Rankin herself was deeply involved in suffrage, campaigning for this issue across various states including her native Montana (where women's suffrage passed in 1914) throughout the 1900s and 1910s. As a two-term Congresswoman representing Montana (1916-1918, 1940-1942), Rankin was most known for voting against US entry into the first two world wars (being the sole dissenter in both the House and the Senate combined in 1941 after the Pearl Harbor attack), which was largely unpopular but true to Rankin's own moral compass as a lifelong pacifist. Rankin's tendency to stay true to her own convictions proved a double-edged sword throughout her life -- it allowed her to work tirelessly for the causes she most believed in, but also likely prevented her from longer careers in public office where politicians generally survive by strategic compromises and playing the long game rather than choosing hills to die on in the short-term. (I say this as someone who developed a deep respect for Rankin while reading this book, but who's done quite a bit of political advocacy and has an appreciation for how long the process of creating change can actually take!)

I thought this book was excellently-done as a whole, though I have few bits of constructive criticism. First, Rinehart generally refers to Rankin by her first name throughout the book, while most men are referred to by their last names; this is a pet peeve of mine in biographies focused on women, particularly those who found success in historically male-dominated fields. Second, Rinehart veers a bit too far into judging Rankin and her contemporaries by 21st century moralities and norms, particularly when discussing Rankin's mixed advocacy on issues like indigenous rights, civil rights, etc. We are all products of the times and societies we're raised in, and I don't think it's fair to judge historical figures for not conforming to today's standards, or otherwise beat readers over the head with how things were 'right' or 'wrong' then.

Overall a strong recommendation for anyone interested in women's suffrage, life in the American West, and/or early 20th century American politics.

My statistics:
Book 361 for 2025
Book 2287 cumulatively

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Jeannette Rankin was a pioneering woman in the United States in more than one way. She was a political activist when women were told they should stay home. She was a suffragette, pro-labor rights, and a peace advocate. One of the most interesting things about her two terms in Congress were that she served during WWI and WWII, being one of the few representatives to vote NO to entering the war.

Winning the Earthquake is a character focused look at Rankin, a trailblazer in many ways. At time, I thought the deep dive into early 20th century congressional politics was a bit heavier than I expected. But this meticulously researched biography features feminist and labor activism, which is a big interest of mine. Oh, and just for good measure, Rankin was the person who introduced legislation into Congress that would become the 19th Amendment.

Rankin’s work, whether in office, or as a private citizen, are ripe for discussion because of their relevance in today’s United States.

[Kim Novak (The Reading Rx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were to ask 100 Americans who was the first woman elected to the US Congress, I would be surprised if 1 or 2 would know it is Jeannette Rankin. "Who?" they might ask. Exactly. Why is she a forgotten woman in our history? Why do we not learn of major firsts for women in school yet are doomed to memorize that Eli Whitney invested the cotton gin? I certainly would have found Jeannette Rankin's tidbit more inspiring as a 14-year-old girl learning American History and Civics. But we relegate these forerunners, these way pavers, these earthquakes to collegiate Women's History classes if we are lucky to get a liberal arts education. Most of us have to have to stumble upon these books and teach ourselves as adults. Read this book and make your kids read it, too.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Anthony Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look at a fascinating woman.

[Biblio Files (takingadayoff) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure, I knew Jeannette Rankin was the first woman to hold a federal elected office when she became U.S. Congresswoman in 1916. And I knew that she voted against entering World War I, a very unpopular vote, even though Woodrow Wilson had just been reelected on a campaign slogan of "He kept us out of war." Public sentiment had changed in the six months since the election, and pacifism was suddenly very unpopular. What I didn't know was the rest of Rankin's story, which covered several careers, worldwide travels, ups and downs through most of the twentieth century.

Winning the Earthquake tells the story of Rankin's long career of campaigning for votes for women, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, of her short congressional career, her lifetime of social work, her return to congress in 1941, just in time to vote against entering World War II. As interesting as Rankin's life was, her family was just as fascinating, if not as famous. Her parents were self-made ranchers, immigrants to the U.S. and Montana, becoming successful enough to send all five Rankin children to college. Jeannette was her father's right hand and learned ranching and engineering, as well as dealing with all kinds of people.

Winning the Earthquake is a compelling biography that seems quite current -- Rankin advocated for the abolition of the Electoral College, for ranked voting, for absentee ballots, against partisan gerrymandering. A hundred years later, these are still not settled issues. A gripping read, five stars! (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.)

[Richard Derus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: The first major biography of Jeannette Rankin, a groundbreaking suffragist, activist, and the first American woman to hold federal office.

“Few members of Congress have ever stood more alone while being true to a higher honor and loyalty.”
—President John F. Kennedy on Jeannette Rankin

Born on a Montana ranch in 1880, Jeannette Rankin knew how to drive a tractor, ride a horse, make a fire, and read the sky for weather. But most of all, she knew how to talk to people, how to convince them of her vision for America. It was this rare skill that led her, in 1916, to become the first woman ever elected to the House of Representatives.

As her first act, Rankin introduced the legislation that would become the 19th Amendment. Throughout her two terms in 1916 and 1940, she continued to introduce and pass legislation benefitting unions, protecting workers, and increasing aid for children in poverty. In 1941, she stood tall as the sole anti-war voice in Congress during WWII, advocating for pacifism in the face of tragedy and stating that you can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.

A suffragist, feminist, peace activist, workers' rights advocate, progressive, and Republican, Rankin remained ever true to her beliefs—no matter the price she had to pay personally. Yet, despite the momentous steps she made for women in politics, overcoming the boys club of capitalists and career politicians who never wanted to see a woman in Congress, Jeannette Rankin’s story has been largely forgotten. In Winning the Earthquake, Lorissa Rinehart deftly uncovers the compelling history behind this singular American hero, bringing her story back to life

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: I was aware of Rankin as the lone voice against declaring war in 1941. My 1970s public school education in Austin taught me that fact in seventh grade; nothing positive was ever added to it in any class I ever took on History, on sociology, or any other discipline at any later stage of my education. This book, published fifty years after that initial mention of Rankin's name, is the first comprehensive biography of a very very important voice in US politics in the first half of the twentieth century. This proves a point Author Rinehart makes:

"Nowhere in her education or prolific reading had she learned that in 1848, three hundred women gathered in Seneca Falls to declare their sovereign right to the ballot. Nor had she heard that since then, women in every state of the nation had been fighting for their right to vote. To her even greater amazement, they had won it in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, all before the turn of the twentieth century. She and all American women seemed to have been purposefully denied knowledge of their own struggle for liberation."

My one cavil with this statement is the modifying presence of "seemed" since there is no better way to stop people from making change than to stop them from knowing about the changes that have already happened. If authoritarians do not want any changes either made again or expanded on, they simply erase the history that shows their way is not the only way from public discourse. Then the few places the awareness of the changes survives can be marginalized and shouted down.

Book banning is step one; book burning step two; reducing literacy overall is the final nail in the coffin the high-control society uses.

I was drawn in by the title of the book. It seemed so off-kilter, so self-evidently contradictory, that I wanted to know where it came from hence my desire to read a book about someone I knew nothing substantive about. It's from one of pacifist Rankin's well-known in her time sayings: "you can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake." Millennia of corroborative evidence has had no appreciable effect on war's prevalence.

I was impressed by the depth of Author Rinehart's scholarship. Her extensive notes and citations were all very enlightening and well-chosen from my layman's point of view. There are widely varying sources cited so this tells me how very much work it was to find all the factual crumbs she did. One major shock, though honestly it shouldn't've been, was that the representative from Montana was elected as a Republican. I'm so steeped in the post-LBJ empire of evil that is the modern GOP that I've lost sight of the entire progressive history of the Republicans. Go read about Robert La Follette and Teddy Roosevelt. Time was these were the progressive leaders, not the soulless evil bastards in the McConnell/Bush/Cheney ilk or the wild-eyed reactionary MAGAts.

How likely is the present base, let alone "leadership", of the party to embrace a pacifist follower of Gandhi, a campaigner for the abolition of the Electoral College, and vehement supporter of unions? Growing up in Montana in the 1880s (when their representatives were called "the gentlemen from Anaconda," the state's largest employer and main economic driver), Rankin recognized the evils of untrammeled capitalism. She emulated Jane Addams in her work for the betterment of ordinary folks. Rankin was, in short, the best kind of radical there is, a radical believer in people and their power to do good...when left to do it.

A role model for today who is finally getting her scholarly due, I hope the sudden awareness of Gen Z that things in the US do not have to be this way will lead some of them to discover this spirit-parent from our country's past.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake. Jeannette Rankin quoted in Winning the Earthquake

In Gilded Age Montana, the Anaconda Copper Mine was all powerful, controlling government and the newspapers. Gerrymandering and the electoral college ensured that Anaconda got what Anaconda wanted. Workers were curtailed from unionizing and demanding better working conditions. Impoverished families struggled, with children employed in dangerous jobs that could leave them maimed for life.

Jeanette Rankin had a wonderful life growing up on a Montana farm. She and her siblings had the benefit of a higher education. Instead of a traditional life, Jeanette was inspired to make a difference in the world. What she achieved was remarkable. And she forged her career in spite of crippling facial nerve pain, tic douloureux, treated with opium.

Inspired by Jane Addams she worked at her settlement house. She campaigned for women’s right to vote and for men to unionize. She was a dedicated pacifist and follower of Gandhi.

After all, if a democratic government derived its power from the will of the people, it could not claim to be legitimate if half of the population had no say in the creation or administration of its laws. from Winning the Earthquake

She was the first woman elected to Congress, supported by the common men and women who knew she had their interest at heart. And she had the courage to stand by her campaign promise and vote against war.

I want to stand with my country…but I cannot vote for war. I vote no. Jeannette Rankin, quoted in Winning the Earthquake

This biography about a remarkable woman is especially inspirational today. Rankin stayed true to her values and kept her campaign promises. She stood up to power. She represented the people, not special interest groups. She was a visionary who suggested a government funded, unbiased, new service, ranked choice voting instead of the electoral college, and district structuring based on population to end gerrymandering. She supported equal rights for all. At a conference, she was the only woman willing to room with a woman of color, and Mary Church Terrell became a lifelong friend. And she joined Coretta Scott King in a peace march in 1968.

You don’t fo the right thing because of the consequences. If you are wise, you do it regardless of the consequences. Jeannette Rankin quoted in Winning the Earthquake

A terrific read from start to end.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to begin with the blurb from Goodreads.
~~~
Born on a Montana ranch in 1880, Jeannette Rankin knew how to drive a tractor, ride a horse, make a fire, and read the sky for weather. But most of all, she knew how to talk to people, how to convince them of her vision for America. It was this rare skill that led her, in 1916, to become the first woman ever elected to the House of Representatives.

As her first act, Rankin introduced the legislation that would become the 19th Amendment. Throughout her two terms in 1916 and 1940, she continued to introduce and pass legislation benefitting unions, protecting workers, and increasing aid for children in poverty. In 1941, she stood tall as the sole anti-war voice in Congress during WWII, advocating for pacifism in the face of tragedy and stating that you can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.

A suffragist, feminist, peace activist, workers' rights advocate, progressive, and Republican, Rankin remained ever true to her beliefs—no matter the price she had to pay personally. Yet, despite the momentous steps she made for women in politics, overcoming the boys club of capitalists and career politicians who never wanted to see a woman in Congress, Jeannette Rankin’s story has been largely forgotten. In Winning the Earthquake, Lorissa Rinehart deftly uncovers the compelling history behind this singular American hero, bringing her story back to life.
~~~
I must admit that I didn't recognise the name, Jeannette Rankin. And I feel embarrassed that I didn't know about her and her family.

This should be a textbook in a women's studies class. Sadly, for me, it was more informative and less gripping. I wonder if having narrators would pull me in more? Perhaps as a movie, it would be the best way to convey this information. I wanted to like the book more. We need to know more about the women who did important work in America. We need more than His-story about men and their wars.

Maybe my problem is that I've been enjoying the Maisie Dobbs mystery novels and wish that kind of writing could be used to tell this important story. It's probably just me, and how my brain processes knowledge.

Still, I was glad that NetGalley allowed me to read this on Kindle, with Text-to-Speech.

[Jann Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan B. Anthony. Oh yes. Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Definitely. Jane Addams. Yes again. Jeannette Rankin - who? There's a strong possibility that women would not have gotten the right to vote without her - and yet, history books don't seem to remember her.

Honestly, I was exhausted - reading all the things, places, and events this woman created. She traveled mostly in her car which she drove into the ground before getting another. She was all over the US with speaking engagements about.... She advocated for the end of child labor. She believed labor unions should be able to organize. She lived in Montana and the Anaconda Copper Company owned the state and treated their employees any way they wished, including having dangerous equipment with no safeguards. Rankin fought them to no avail - but today she's a hero and the Anaconda Company is, thankfully, gone.

Mostly, she advocated for peace. War brings on more war. Violence begets violence. In her first term in the US House, she voted against going to war in WWI. When the vote was carried, Rankin went back to her apartment to weep for all the boys and men who would be slaughtered for a war founded on imperialism.

Because Anaconda gerrymandered the state of Montana, she was not elected again (told ya this was timely), but 20 years later she squeaked being a US Senator where again, she voted against going to war with Germany/Japan.

I would highly recommend this book to feminists, yes - but also to the "underdog" groups that are disenfranchised now. If you are a pacifist, you'll love her.

[Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winning the Earthquake is an inspiring and deeply moving account of Jeannette Rankin’s life — a name every American should know. As the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress, Rankin stood not just for women’s rights, but for peace, justice, and unwavering moral conviction.

This book beautifully captures her dedication to the women’s suffrage movement and her bold stance as a lifelong pacifist. The writing is vivid and personal, portraying Rankin as both fearless and deeply loyal-a woman who stood firm even when standing alone. One of the most powerful sections covers her historic and controversial vote as the only member of Congress to oppose entering World War II after Pearl Harbor. The book handles this moment with clarity and compassion, showing not only the political fallout but the strength it took to act on principle.

I was impressed by how timely and relevant Rankin’s story feels. The author has crafted more than a biography. It’s a tribute to courage, conscience, and the ongoing struggle for equality.

What also stood out to me was Rankin’s sharp wit and quiet humor. It was a quality she used sparingly but effectively, whether giving speeches or speaking plainly to those around her. Even in the most serious moments, she knew how to connect with people, disarming them with honesty and a well-placed remark that revealed both wisdom and warmth.

Highly recommended for readers interested in women’s history, political courage, and untold stories that still shape our world today.


#WinningTheEarthquake
#LorissaRinehart
#StMartinsPress

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winning the Earthquake: How Jeannette Rankin Defied All Odds to Become the First Woman in Congress by Lorissa Rinehart is the biography of Jeannette Rankin the first woman elected to the United States House of Representatives.
As biographies do, there are parts that are there to give perspective and chronicle the passage of time. Some of these parts were slow moving. However, there are many interesting facts about how hard Ms. Rankin worked to get the Vote for women in Montana. When she entered Congress she introduced the 19th Amendment which would give women all over the USA the right to vote. She also was a staunch advocate for children who lived in poverty. This was also part of her advocacy against child labor. She later became famous for being the only descending vote for the US’s entry into World War I and World War II. That is where the title of the book came from. Ms. Rankin famously said “ You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake”. She was a pacifist through and through. She also overcame the ‘old boys club’ and showed she wasn’t intimidated by the complex politics of the day. One of the things I found inspiring was she wholeheartedly believed in the art of the possible.
I was pleased to read about this remarkable woman who up until now was left out of history. She deserved better. Ms. Rinehart has corrected that mistake. Ms. Rinehart’s extensive research is evident. Her ability to draw from Ms. Rankin’s interviews into a well crafted biography is very good.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

WINNING THE EARTHQUAKE: How Jeannette Rankin Defied All Odds to Become the First Woman in Congress by Lorissa Rinehart sounded so interesting to me. I jumped on the opportunity to get the copy from St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my honest review. I do thank both companies. This book had very interesting Montana history regarding Anaconda Copper Mines. About a year ago we had toured The Orphan Girl Mine in Butte Montana which was owned by Anaconda Mines. I wasn’t aware of Jeannette Rankin and how hard she fought for women’s rights, mainly the suffrage movement. She accomplished so much in her life only to be buried in our historic timeline. I found it amazing as a nation we are still fighting the same issues over a hundred years later - powerful companies influencing the election process, racism, how women dress during an election (think Hillary Clinton), election fraud, saving our democracy, whether to abolish the electoral college, downgrading our political opponents, anti semitism, misogyny, bribes and some I’m sure I’ve forgotten. I really liked all the information in this read. I didn’t enjoy how it was presented which I found dry and hard to return to once I put the book down. I wish I loved this book as it has important information to bring to light but I was a bit disappointed. I would give it 4 stars for information but I’m giving it 3 stars because I found it hard to read.

[Jean Mader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating and timely read! Winning the Earthquake tells the inspiring story of Jeannette Rankin, the first woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives—and a fearless voice for women’s rights long before it was fashionable. Author Lorissa Rinehart brings Rankin’s Montana roots, social-work passion, and suffrage-era determination vividly to life. From small-town beginnings to national politics, Rankin’s courage shines through every page.

Rinehart’s research is detailed, but her storytelling feels immediate and engaging. Through Rankin’s journey, we see the suffragette movement not just as history, but as a heartbeat that still echoes today. Her story reminds us that faith, conviction, and perseverance can change the course of a nation.

I loved how this book reminded me that progress often comes from unexpected places (ranch-raised woman from Montana!) and that courageous people don’t always follow the expected path—they create it. If you enjoy books that bring to life trailblazing women, social history, and the kind of “firsts” that change everything, this one should go on your bookshelf (and possibly your podcast reading list!).

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what should be 4 remarkable feats, the first woman elected to Congress and her first legislature was to sponsor the Nineteenth Amendment, and a founding member of American Civil Liberties Union, and the only dissenting vote to not vote to vote to declare war in 1941, until I read this book Jeannette Rankin was not a name I recognized. A force of nature, perhaps being born and raised in Montana in 1880. Education was important in that family so Jeannette headed east to New York. The plight of the poor, weighted on her. Thus began her struggle to help the underprivileged, the union worker, the education of youth, and the right of women to vote. There are many facets to this book: the love and support of her family, her ability to campaign directly to her constituents, her foreign travels, particularly to India to study the pacifist teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. This book should be a guide to persons running for political office. Lorissa Rinehart is to be commended for her extensive research as much of Rankin’s letter have been lost as well as her notes and are scattered at different colleges. Thanks to her, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book; this is my honest review.

#WinningTheEarthquake #LorissaRinehart #StMartinsPress

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeannette Rankin was born on a Montana Ranch and grew up knowing how to work hard. She also learned how to talk to almost anyone, negotiate, and share her vision, three skills she used to impact the world.
In 1916, She become the first woman elected to the House of Representatives. She was elected again in 1940. During her terms of service, she fought for women's voting rights and unions, children's aid, and worker's rights.
In 1941, Jeanette became the only vote in Congress against World War 2. She believed that a country could no more win a war than you can win an earthquake. But her dedication to peace did not win her friends, and she suffered later in life because of her beliefs. l
This book tells her story. I had not heard of Jeanette Rankin but usually appreciate books about strong women who helped to shape our country. Ms. Rankin is one of those women.
The author also includes an extensive list of more than 750 sources! I appreciate knowing this book is based on documentation.
Because of Jeanette Rankin, I can vote and have better access to healthier working conditions. Her story needs to be told.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Available Now!**

4 Stars! Thank you to St.Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Winning The Earthquake is a really great biography on an important historical woman, who I was previously unfamiliar with! This Biography covers the entirety of Jeannette Rankin's life, from her beginnings on a farm in Montana, to her education, eventual Congressional runs, and post-Congressional work.

While it's hard to judge biographies, one note I had was that it felt like this book mostly covered historical events happening during Jeanette's life and how she fit into them, rather than talk about Jeanette herself. I would have loved to learn more in-detail what she did for her constituents, and what it was like being a woman in Congress at the time, rather than just what that was like around the major events. The day-to-day of her life I think was a little overlooked in this story.

Overall though, I really enjoyed it, and enjoyed learning about a part of women's history and the women's suffrage moment I was previously unfamiliar with!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was eye opening and compelling. Sadly, I had no idea who Jennette Rankin was prior to reading this book. This biography was clearly well researched, and it covered so many aspects of Jennette’s life. Jennette was passionate, bold, loud, intelligent, and forward thinking in a world that refused to accept or acknowledge the fact that women had voices and opinions worth listening to. I admired her drive, her hope and belief in a better and just America for all (despite race, gender, sexuality), and her commitment to peace. The horrors she witnessed and the hate she endured for standing by her convictions were heartbreaking. The way other suffragists cut her out because her views didn’t align completely with theirs was mind boggling, and reminded of the way women are pitted against each other instead of lifted up. The author’s writing was well organized and each chapter flowed together seamlessly. I appreciated knowing what happened to Jennette at the end of her life, and the hopeful tone of the ending.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comfortably readable biography of one of the foremost female mover and shaler of the firs part of the 20th century. Jeanette Rankin lived and changed lives from her birth in 1880 Montana until 1973 when she died at age 92. She became the first Woman in Congress and worked hard to right many wrongs that need correction once again. The book is complete and with the depth of a textbook but much easier to assimilate. I used TTS on NetGalley Shelf app. but will buy the audio when available.
I requested and received temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
#WinningtheEarthquake by @lorissa_rinehart @symartinspress #NetGalley Avail Nov 04, 2025
@jeannetterankinpeacecentermt #congresswoman #suffragist #activism #nonfiction #biography #womensrights #pacifist #feminist #Politics #AmericanHistory #thriftbooks @chirpbooks #goodreads #bookbub @librarythingofficial #barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #bookshop_org_ca #kobo #Waterstones

[Susan]

What impressed me most about Jeannette Rankin's story wasn't the outcome of her becoming the first woman to enter Parliament, but rather the process she undertook. Faced with social prejudice, political resistance, and the limitations of her time, she didn't confront everything radically, but instead moved forward step by step with clarity, rationality, and unwavering conviction. This strength was understated yet incredibly enduring.

The book also made me realize that historical "breakthroughs" are often far from romantic. They are accompanied by loneliness, misunderstanding, and even failure. Rankin wasn't a perfect person, and her choices weren't always understood by her contemporaries, but it was precisely this attitude of not pandering or compromising that made her so real.

This book made me rethink the structural difficulties women face in politics, society, and any other field, and reminded me that many rights we take for granted today were fought for by people in extremely difficult circumstances.

[EmJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winning the Earthquake is an in depth look into the life and accomplishments of Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress. The author does a great job of highlighting the important contributions of yet another woman history tried to erase.
It blows my mind that she was elected before women were allowed to vote in all states. Jeannette accomplished so much in her lifetime, I got exhausted just reading about it. The author writes in an engaging way that really brings Jeannette and the world she lives in to life. The author does not hesitate to call out things like racism, expressed by Jeannette and society at the time. It's important to put these beliefs in historical context while still acknowledging the harm they caused and continue to cause.
This book is great for anyone looking to dig deeper into American history.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched biography on Jeanette Rankin, the first woman to be in Congress. I was immensed in this book. The life Rankin lived was fascinating. She saw WWI, WWII and Vietnam. She did so much in her life that women are benefiting from today, as well as America.

Rinehart takes you on the journey of Rankin's life. Rinehart wrote this book so you feel as you are right there beside Rankin. She let's you travel along with Rankin through Montana, Georgia, and most of the US, on top of India. Take a journey through history with a woman, Jeanette Rankin, that history forgot. At least, I never knew about her until I saw this book on Netgalley and got to read it early.

Tentative Publication Date:
November 4, 2025

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Lorissa Rinehart for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#Netgalley #Stmartinspress #LorissaRinehart #WinningtheEarthquake #ARC #Nonfiction

[Michael Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review

I don't read many biographies and usually prefer more wider ranging topics for historical books I am interested in. However, this biography, with its exploration of not just Jeannette Rankin but of all of the social and political forces that she encountered and battled throughout her life. I was fascinated by her willingness to stand in the face of opposition, even when faced with overwhelming adversities . Her dedication to the fight for women's right to vote as well as pursuing peace no matter what pitted her against every political foe and potential political ally she had. None of this deterred her progress.
She is truly an inspiring figure in US history and is not talked about enough or at all. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew nothing of Jeanette Rankin until I saw this book and the author did a wonderful summary of her life. One of the best biographies I have read. Jeanette was a dedicated American. She was remarkable even at a young age and so inspired, dedicated, courageous and advanced in the early 1900 political arena. She was still going strong in her 80’s. She lived by her beliefs and stood her ground. So proud of her to be strong enough to vote against all those men, amazing she voted no to both WWI and WWII. Even though I did not agree with some of her actions, I still admire the courage she had especially in the times she lived. What a great person with a strong will.
I give this high 5 stars.
I thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.