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Jane Addams: Eylemci Bir Ruh

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Kadınlar başka kadınlardan güç ve ilham alırlar. Kadınlar Hayatlar Dizisinin varlık nedeni, bu. Dünyada yalnız olmadığını fark etmek, bir kadının gelişmesi ve güçlenmesinin en önemli bileşenidir. Tanıdık ya da "tuhaf", acı çeken, acılarla baş edebilen, korkularının üzerine gidebilen, arzularını ortaya koyabilen kadınların varlıklarını bilmek, hikâyelerini dinlemek, güç ve ilham verir. Çünkü onların varlığı ile bizimki arasında bağlar vardır. Kız kardeşlik, bu bağın adıdır.

Jane Addams, bizden yüz yıl önce yaşamış bir feminist. Sosyal çalışma disiplininin kurucularından; bunu üniversitede değil, Chicago'nun yoksul bir mahallesinde yapacak, hayatının büyük bölümünü burada kurduğu yerleşim evinde geçirecek kadar yürekli. Burada kendisinden ve birbirinden çok farklı düşüncelere sahip insanlarla birlikte çalışabilecek kadar açık fikirli. Savaş zamanı anti militarist olacak kadar bağımsız. "Kendi ruhunu demokrasi ruhuyla bir kılmak arayışı"na girecek kadar naif, bunu başaracak kadar güçlü. Kız kardeşliğin zamanı ve mekânı aşabilen, bize çok uzaklardan dokunabilen bir bağ olduğunu gösterecek kadar dayanıklı.

424 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2010

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About the author

Louise W. Knight

4 books5 followers
Louise W. Knight is a writer and consultant to nonprofits and a former college administrator. The author of Citizen: Jane Addams and the Struggle for Democracy, she lives in Evanston, Illinois.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Dan.
1,250 reviews52 followers
November 16, 2017
This is a solid cradle to grave biography of Jane Addams that also fills a void in my knowledge of American history.

Jane Addams was a famous social justice champion who founded the Hull House in Chicago at the turn of the century. She also sponsored many other worthwhile causes in her life including the Women’s suffrage movement. In 1931 she won the Nobel Peace Prize.

There is a lot of material covered in this book’s 200 plus pages. The author’s writing flows and she knows her subject well. Fortunately the book does not have an academic tone either.

As far as criticisms, there are times in the book where more depth is needed when discussing the myriad of causes that Jane championed. An absence of quotes from contemporaries about how they perceived Jane Addams was disappointing. This does not lend itself to that “show me” quality that I like to see in non-fiction. The last criticism that I have is that there were no real foils in the book other than her step mother. We heard numerous times in the book that Jane Addams was a villain to some but this was not properly explored. More foils would have made for a more dramatic read.

With that said if you are interested in Jane Addams or American history in the early 20th century this is an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Wealhtheow.
2,465 reviews610 followers
January 10, 2013
A masterful biography of Jane Addams, a reformer who worked from the nineteenth century into the twentieth. Addams was raised by rich and cultured parents, but she yearned to minister to the poor. After her father blocked her admission to Smith (the first college in the US to offer women a bachelor's degree) and she found medical school bad for her health, she resolved to work in a settlement house instead. From the English example, a settlement house was meant to be an oasis of art and learning in a low income area. Addams poured her personal fortune into founding Hull House in Chicago, making it the first settlement house in the US. Although she began by offering classes and a library, living amongst Chicago's poor opened her up to all the other areas she could be of use. She devoted the rest of her life to speaking, writing, protesting, organizing, and (eventually) voting for peace and social justice. Addams's true genius seems to have been in empathy, understanding, and helping others to become their best self: she was a masterful organizer, and founded and served on the boards of everything from the NAACP to the ACLU. She advised (or pestered) eight US presidents, pushed through laws at the state and federal levels, led Hull House until 2 years before her death, and worked on a truly international level when most Americans still considered "international" to mean "including Europe and Japan."

Before reading this biography, I'd had no idea of her scope and reach. She's famous in Chicago--I actually worked in a youth group that met in Hull House--but to me that settlement was the extent of her activities. I'd also had no idea how much she had thought about ethics and philosophy. Knight brings together her friendships, work, and words together to create a portrait that seems as real as a living being.

I love the postscript, both as a summing up of Addams's work and for its call to action, and have included most of it here:
On the whole, history confirmed that the fears of conservatives were unfounded. The end of child labor, which Congress banned in 1938, did not force major industries out of business; women's ability to vote did not destroy the family; federal old-age pensions, the federal minimum wage, and state unemployment insurance did not destroy the American capitalist system. The US's membership in the UN after WWII did not destroy the country's national sovereignty, although conservatives continue to claim that it has, or will soon.
On the other hand, seventy-five years after her death, many of the problems worked on by Addams and other reformers, of both genders and of every class and race, remain unfinished. At home, we still have poverty, obstacles to labor organizing, an inadequate minimum wage, discrimination against immigrants, unjust immigration policies, human trafficking, inadequate affordable housing, racism, and sexism. Around the world we sill have war, although the work of the UN has prevented or shortened some conflicts. And the injustices that burden women around the world continue...
Meanwhile, the two institutions Addams did so much to help create live on. Hull House is the largest social service agency in Chicago. WILPF, the oldest women's international peace organization in the world, is still headquartered in Geneva and still works for peace and freedom."
Profile Image for Tamara.
Author 5 books207 followers
March 13, 2016
Why didn't we learn about Jane Addams in school? This woman was extremely influential, an important thinker and theorist, the founder of social work, an anti war activist, and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Read about her in for Women's History Month. Do it.
Profile Image for Andy Miller.
988 reviews69 followers
November 25, 2012
Jane Addams is one of the most interesting and impressive women in American history. This biography spends much time on her early life; she grew up in a close and loving family(though she lost her mother at an early age)but yet, she was denied her dream of going east to college and perhaps medical school because of her father and her times. She did go to all an women's college where she flourished.

The biography is filled with great tidbits, my favorite is that while in college she was in a speech contest and one of her rivals was William Jennings Bryan!

Shortly after that, Addams founded Hull House, one of the original settlement houses. She ended up spending her significant inheritance in funding the House. Adams lived in the house where there were classes, programs and efforts to improve the lives of those living in poverty. One thing that came through in this biography is that Addams truly loved people, her life was absent the patronizing attitude of many reformers. One lament of Addams was that people restricted themselves to their own class and people of their own political thought, one reason she chose to locate Hull House in the middle of a lower income neighborhood.

The book complements Addams' balance between helping people on an individual level with acting at a national level to enact social and legal reforms that would help many.The book describes her political activism which helped set the stage for the Progressive era and which later helped lead. Addams lived in complicated times with complicated issues, some of the more interesting chapters dealt with tensions between sometimes complimentary and sometimes competing issues such as women's suffrage, racial suffrage, economic reform

In 1912 Theodore Roosevelt courted her political support in his campaign for President on the Progressive ticket. She agreed, was chosen to speak at the convention(one of the first women to do so) but Addams was dismayed when she learned that Theodore Roosevelt cut a deal with Progressives from the south to exclude African Americans from the convention. There's a great chapter on her internal conflict on this issue as well as the political conflict at the convention, among Progressives she was relatively unique as being just as committed to racial equality as to other progressive issues.

The biography follows Addams' shift to focusing on her pacifist beliefs. At the time Addams was widely popular but her speeches and articles opposing World War I cost her much popularity. The book desribes the personal hurt she suffered and the hurt that her causes suffered. It was yet another insight into her nuanced life.

Addams' lifestyle and sexuality are also addressed. She never married and her closest partners and companions were women. Knight concludes that no one can answer whether Addams was gay, but does an interesting connection of Addams' lament over her perception that young Americans were too preoccupied with sexual fullfillment at the expense of moral leadership with Addams comments about sex that could arguably apply to her life. This includes her admiration of Ghandi(she tried to meet at one time) and her identification with his lifestyle of avoiding sex.

This was a great book, my only complaint is that the biography does not meet the standard of its subject. After the biography finishes with her early life, it seems to become devoid of Addams the person. It becomes more of a political analysis which is too bad because much of Addams' strength and inspiration was her personality and life and friendships.Events such as her nephew(who was very close to Addams) disagreeing with her opposition to World War I and then serving and ultimately being killed are addressed but not in the personal way that the book began and in the way that Addams' life deserved.

Given that, this is a good book about a great person

2,020 reviews113 followers
March 15, 2016
Copious footnotes verify every claim in this biography of this amazing American: political activist, social reformer, early feminist, champion of racial equality, lecturer, author, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. I appreciated that the biographer resisted the temptation to fabricate dialogue or, for the most part, avoid speculating about the thoughts or feelings of Jane Addams. I am in awe of this woman who, prior to reading this book, I was aware of only the highlights of her story.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
637 reviews20 followers
March 30, 2019
Library Biography #34

Somewhere while reading this book, I fell in love with Jane Addams.

I so loved this biography because it took us through Addams' entire life, fully. The author spends considerable time on Jane's youth. The reader grows with Addams' as she begins to focus and find her purpose - when she can't follow her dreams to become a doctor, she transforms her dreams into serving the common man.

"People should step outside their narrow, selfish viewpoints and consider what might be best for society as a whole; they must develop a 'social conscience.'"

Jane and some of her close friends start Hull House in Chicago, IL. From there she becomes an activist during this period and her interests expand. Jane's touch can be found everywhere - socially, politically, and even psychologically when she beings to write her books.

Towards the end, when Jane becomes the president of every Peace board possible, I found it very hard to keep track of all the organizations. I think a time line of some sort, or even a graphic, would have been helpful to the reader. Other than that, I felt very connected to the book and loved learning about this amazing woman, I only wish I had learned something about her in school... My goal is to educate my children on this amazing woman, who, for some reason, has quite been (almost) forgotten..

Favorite quote:
"To her a government at war was a government seeking to harm its citizens: it not only required them to kill other human beings and to risk being killed but redirected tax dollars from social programs into military expenses and restricted citizens' right to free speech."
Profile Image for Jody Mena.
449 reviews8 followers
June 1, 2015
A fascinating, multifaceted account of the life of an extraordinary woman! I knew Jane Addams was an important figure in turn-of-the-century politics and social reform, but I had no idea just how MUCH she contributed and accomplished in her life. I was thrilled and inspired as I turned each page, inspired by this woman who literally changed the world - several times over - in an era when women could not even vote. A wonderful thing about this biography was that it richly combined Addams history and accomplishments with her personal life, thoughts and feelings, gleaned from her writings, and presented it all on a backdrop of the social events and climates within which she made her mark on the world. Several times I was actually moved to tears as her courage and vision leaped off the page. She really is someone that I admire deeply, and her example makes me want to be a better woman. I highly recommend this book to everyone, Jane Addams was a major key the in shaping the world we now live in, and was also a truly remarkable human being!
Profile Image for Meag.
44 reviews
abandoned
December 3, 2019
Biographies are maybe not the best books to read for fun while in the thick of the semester. Had to return to the library, will maybe revisit later. Jane Addams is a super cool chick.
Profile Image for Harrison Horst.
14 reviews
August 26, 2025
A well-researched and invigorating story of an incredible woman who is increasingly disappearing from history's view. Knight does an amazing job of balancing the facts of Addams' life and the way public opinion about her evolved over time with Addams' own reflective journey, memorialized through journals and letters. Very inspiring.
Profile Image for Sandra.
149 reviews
October 10, 2010
I grew up in Chicago reading children’s biographies of Jane Addams, and she was my hero at a time when there weren’t many female heroes to choose from. Now, as an adult reading this new biography, Jane Addams has grown in my eyes a hundred-fold.

First of all, JA was involved in all of the issues of her time (1890s-1930s), which are also the social issues of our time. Jane Addams was not just a leader in the settlement house and social work movement, which is what most people remember her for; she was a leader in (and in on the ground floor of) other important movements as well: peace, immigration, child labor, union, civil rights (she was one of the founders of the NAACP!) and women’s’ rights, including the right to vote. In fact, during her active period, she led the country and the world in many of these movements. She was an effective public speaker, prolific writer, negotiator, and doer who worked with activists and Presidents alike. She maintained her outspoken position as a pacifist during periods when the US was at war and she was pilloried for her views.

I found this biography compelling reading. But then, JA is my hero. I’m not sure every reader would find the biography such a page-turner. But I can guarantee that everyone will find it tremendously enlightening. It not only greatly expands one’s view of Jane Addams but also of what one person (and a disenfranchised one at that!) can do to help change the world.

It also reminds us that “contemporary issues” have been around for hundreds of years, with slightly changing faces (for example, then the immigrants who were feared for stealing American jobs were the “uneducated” people of southern Europe), but the liberal and conservative stances remain unchanged. Sounds depressing, but great strides have been made in all social areas since JA’s time due to the foundations laid by JA and her cohorts.
Profile Image for Pamela Burdick.
361 reviews9 followers
June 11, 2018
I have always been a great admirer of Dr King and Gandhi. I have their books and quotes and artwork with their likenesses. Upon reading this book, I have found I was missing Jane Addams’ information as well. She is flawed and fascinating and this book shows her evolve and grow in her beliefs as her knowledge of the world grew, eventually earning her the noble prize.

I always hoped the two men I admire for their belief in non violent social change would have included more issues if they had been allowed longer lives.

Jane Addams did get the chance to grow and include racism in her platform, she fought for peace, yet stood up when she needed. She fought her own confusion about societies role for women. She grew, she changed.

These people are all heroes, the women who brought so much to our world were written out of history we need to hear more of their stories!
Profile Image for Dean Kraft.
200 reviews
July 10, 2023
I learned a lot about the Settlement House movement. I’m embarrassed to say, as an American history teacher, I was not well versed on this topic. I also enjoyed reading about Addams’s work in the political arena. Specifically, her work as a pacifist, her fight for improved labor conditions, and her overall approach to the role of government (based on her early life experiences) was interesting, Altogether, I’ve come to a new and more enlightened appreciation for Jane Addams.

Sadly, the book reads tediously. It has an almost textbook appeal to it that left me wanting a bit more passion and drive in describing this incredible woman.

I will say the conclusion of the book is exceptional. Perhaps that’s due to the many comments from other national figures about the life of Addams. That part was well done.
241 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2018
It took me a long time to finish this book even though I liked it very much. Jane Addams was so much more than the founder of Hull House. Besides supporting immigrant rights and workers rights she was a suffragist, and a pacifist. She was open to the ideas of others while maintaining her own core principles.
When I read of the early twentieth century I am struck by how many issues are still with us a hundred years later. At least somethings are different. There are child labor laws and voting and civil rights.
486 reviews13 followers
March 11, 2018
What an elegant, readable biography. Knight does a terrific job at the challenging task of providing enough biographical detail without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. Her insights are always thoughtful and extremely helpful in exploring what made Addams so beloved and so vilified. I wish more biographies were as insightful and readable as this.
275 reviews
June 3, 2018
Even though I lived in a Chicago, I did not know any details of her life or even what a Settlement House actually is.... This book greatly expanded my knowledge. I was surprised that although a significant part of her life and work, there were so many other accomplishments she achieved. I appreciated the talented writing and strong research, and I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Jim Cullison.
544 reviews8 followers
November 18, 2018
An excellent biography of an exceptional American, "Spirit In Action" furnishes a swift yet insightful examination of the life and accomplishments of one of the greatest women in U.S. AND world history. You will be educated and inspired by what you find between the pages of this especially well-written volume. A particularly timely read.
65 reviews
November 4, 2022
I really struggled through the first chapter but am glad I did. Louise Knight paints a comprehensive portrait of Jane Addams’s life through the decades. Sadly Hull House had to shut their doors in 2012 due to lack of funding however the University of Illinois had the decency to preserve the original 1856 mansion and create a museum of her work, which I visited while reading the book.
Profile Image for Christy-JC Carter.
346 reviews4 followers
June 20, 2023
I thought I already knew a lot about Jane Adams, but now I know more! I especially appreciated the story of her family, her close personal relationships, the hate she received later in life, and the network of inspiring women around her. This book gives you a sense of her universe. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Gayle.
456 reviews1 follower
February 5, 2026
This woman did so much for our country and her work for the poor and indigent, women's rights, peaceful resistance and her stance against war. She was president of so many organizations. She traveled the world to attend conferences to speak. She was a very understanding and calm person. I am so glad to have learned so much about her.
Profile Image for Kelly.
76 reviews
November 26, 2020
I found her life extremely interesting, however I struggled to keep interest in reading the book. Additionally, I was struck and saddened by how pervasive our issues as a country are and that she fought the same problems we still face.
Profile Image for Nicole.
97 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2021
I think this biography does a great job at not just informing the reader of Jane Addams and her indelible mark upon history, but also gives a full picture of American history for those readers who might need more context. Definitely a more dense read, but very easy to follow.
Profile Image for Susan.
293 reviews
March 10, 2018
wonderful book, learned so much. Both scholarly and imminently readable, well-researched and captivating.
108 reviews
Currently reading
August 17, 2019
mentioned in the end of american girl samantha series. when social work first became a profession, jane addams was one of the 1st & most famous
Profile Image for Ruth.
660 reviews
December 20, 2019
A very good biography about an amazing woman. I learned a lot about her. We visited Hull House about a decade ago, and Addams’ work was revealed to me.
352 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2020
A realistic biography of a complex individual. I appreciated the fact that the author did not try to politicize Addams, who by her very nature was political.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,907 reviews
September 12, 2021
As I read this book I could not help but become more and more interested by this woman. Her choices to live out her beliefs and the changes she was a part of in her life.
Profile Image for Jen.
604 reviews8 followers
June 8, 2023
This was much more superficial than I wanted it to be. Too many lists of committees she was on, too little description of what she actually did.
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