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Elizabeth Warren: Her Fight. Her Work. Her Life.
"Nevertheless, she persisted." These three words became an inspiring battle cry across the United States in 2017, but the woman to whom they refer has been fighting passionately all her life. Raised in a tough working-class home in Oklahoma, Elizabeth Warren went on to become a revered scholar, law professor, U.S. Senator, and unlikely political star.
Following Warren's early life and rise in Washington politics, New York Times bestseller Antonia Felix provides meticulous research and interviews to create a fascinating and respectful biography of one of America's most inspirational politicians.
Following Warren's early life and rise in Washington politics, New York Times bestseller Antonia Felix provides meticulous research and interviews to create a fascinating and respectful biography of one of America's most inspirational politicians.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published August 28, 2018
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August 31, 2018
“Elizabeth Warren: Her Fight. Her Work. Her Life.” (2018) authored by Antonia Felix, honors the career and life work of this outspoken champion for the middle class. There hasn’t been such influential politician since LBJ and his “War on Poverty” that has made the tireless commitment to advocate for the diminishing middle class and vast economic inequality that has shaped the fabric of American life and culture.
The youngest of four children from Oklahoma City, OK.-- Elizabeth had been aware of her family’s low income status from an early age. Hearing family stories from the Great Depression, her mother was forced to return to work after her father suffered a heart attack. Highly intelligent and ambitions, she prepared for college and married at nineteen to Jim Warren (m.1968-78) the couple had two children. It was particularly challenging to complete her education, establish her career and raise her children. Gratefully, Elizabeth enlisted the help of her family to help care for her children. Divorce increased her awareness of impoverished single mothers and the plight of disadvantaged low income families.
While teaching at the Houston School of Law she would receive the “Outstanding Teacher Award” (1981) the first of numerous awards that she earned during her teaching career. In July 1980, Elizabeth married Bruce Mann a fellow law professor. The couple had a great interest in bankruptcy law. Elizabeth realized that there were no research or studies available at the time to document financial failure. Elizabeth joined the Consumer Bankruptcy Project that for 6 years studied 250,000 pieces of information related to twenty four hundred bankruptcy filings. There were 400,000 people who filed bankruptcy in 1986, a decade later the figure was twice that number. These figures were alarming and Elizabeth would write several books concerned with the dire economic impact on middle class families and the reasons they were going broke. The reasons were not due to financial irresponsibility, but to low wage jobs, poor health and medical bills, divorce and family break-up, lack of housing, education, and affordable childcare.
After several years of commuting and teaching at different Universities, Elizabeth and Bruce finally attained tenured positions at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2006, Bruce encouraged Elizabeth to become the Carl F. Schippo Jr. professor of law at Harvard University. This would further her career and academic influence on public policy as she taught and challenged a new generation of students.
Felix covered the Great Recession and the financial collapse of 2008 exceptionally well, which is the best part of the book. Elizabeth had warned public officials of the risky subprime mortgages she called “hand grenades”-- that were relentlessly marketed to minorities and others with high amounts of debt and low incomes. Banking deregulation and repeal of the Glass Segal Act (1933) had increased the predatory lending practices that destroyed 20 trillion USD in financial assets of 9 million people who lost their homes and jobs. Congress offered billions of dollars in Troubled Asset Relief (TARP) to stabilize the economy. In 2009-10, according to the Center of Public Integrity corporate banking special interest groups spent 1.3 billion USD lobbying against financial and banking reform.
The book overall is an authorized version of Elizabeth Warren’s life and outstanding achievements. Elizabeth was appointed by President Barrack Obama in a presidential advisory position with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (2013). On the opposite end of the spectrum, Elizabeth was ridiculed by Donald Trump when he referred to her as “Pocahontas” (2018). With her powerful determination and resolve to serve the interests of Main Street over Wall Street, Elizabeth Warren remains a champion for the middle class.** With thanks and appreciation to Source Books via NetGalley for the ADC for the purpose of review.
The youngest of four children from Oklahoma City, OK.-- Elizabeth had been aware of her family’s low income status from an early age. Hearing family stories from the Great Depression, her mother was forced to return to work after her father suffered a heart attack. Highly intelligent and ambitions, she prepared for college and married at nineteen to Jim Warren (m.1968-78) the couple had two children. It was particularly challenging to complete her education, establish her career and raise her children. Gratefully, Elizabeth enlisted the help of her family to help care for her children. Divorce increased her awareness of impoverished single mothers and the plight of disadvantaged low income families.
While teaching at the Houston School of Law she would receive the “Outstanding Teacher Award” (1981) the first of numerous awards that she earned during her teaching career. In July 1980, Elizabeth married Bruce Mann a fellow law professor. The couple had a great interest in bankruptcy law. Elizabeth realized that there were no research or studies available at the time to document financial failure. Elizabeth joined the Consumer Bankruptcy Project that for 6 years studied 250,000 pieces of information related to twenty four hundred bankruptcy filings. There were 400,000 people who filed bankruptcy in 1986, a decade later the figure was twice that number. These figures were alarming and Elizabeth would write several books concerned with the dire economic impact on middle class families and the reasons they were going broke. The reasons were not due to financial irresponsibility, but to low wage jobs, poor health and medical bills, divorce and family break-up, lack of housing, education, and affordable childcare.
After several years of commuting and teaching at different Universities, Elizabeth and Bruce finally attained tenured positions at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2006, Bruce encouraged Elizabeth to become the Carl F. Schippo Jr. professor of law at Harvard University. This would further her career and academic influence on public policy as she taught and challenged a new generation of students.
Felix covered the Great Recession and the financial collapse of 2008 exceptionally well, which is the best part of the book. Elizabeth had warned public officials of the risky subprime mortgages she called “hand grenades”-- that were relentlessly marketed to minorities and others with high amounts of debt and low incomes. Banking deregulation and repeal of the Glass Segal Act (1933) had increased the predatory lending practices that destroyed 20 trillion USD in financial assets of 9 million people who lost their homes and jobs. Congress offered billions of dollars in Troubled Asset Relief (TARP) to stabilize the economy. In 2009-10, according to the Center of Public Integrity corporate banking special interest groups spent 1.3 billion USD lobbying against financial and banking reform.
The book overall is an authorized version of Elizabeth Warren’s life and outstanding achievements. Elizabeth was appointed by President Barrack Obama in a presidential advisory position with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (2013). On the opposite end of the spectrum, Elizabeth was ridiculed by Donald Trump when he referred to her as “Pocahontas” (2018). With her powerful determination and resolve to serve the interests of Main Street over Wall Street, Elizabeth Warren remains a champion for the middle class.** With thanks and appreciation to Source Books via NetGalley for the ADC for the purpose of review.
May 12, 2019
I have been attempting to read about each of the people running for president. I have read most of the books by Elizabeth Warren (1949--), but this is the first biography about her I have read. I have read other biographies by Antonia Felix and have noted she writes equally about women leaders from both parties.
The book is well written and researched. The book cover Warren’s early life, her family life, education and work including her research. Senator Warren comes off as a fighter for the middle class. Since Trump was elected, I have kept a quote by Thomas Jefferson on my desk. The quote is “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people”. I also have been evaluating candidates on their truthfulness. I just finished reading about Abraham Lincoln and his demand of himself to always tell the truth. So far, I have found Warren truthful, but she may exaggerate as many politicians do.
Felix did not cover that much negative material about Warren but did debunk some myths about her Native American bloodline. There is not a lot of negative material available about Warren; but, I felt Felix could covered more about the controversy regarding Warren’s recent trending to the left. Overall, this book provides a good overview of Warren’s life to date.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is eight hours and twenty minutes. Suzie Althens does a good job narrating the book. This is my first experience listening to Althens narrate. Althens is a voice artist and audiobook narrator.
The book is well written and researched. The book cover Warren’s early life, her family life, education and work including her research. Senator Warren comes off as a fighter for the middle class. Since Trump was elected, I have kept a quote by Thomas Jefferson on my desk. The quote is “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people”. I also have been evaluating candidates on their truthfulness. I just finished reading about Abraham Lincoln and his demand of himself to always tell the truth. So far, I have found Warren truthful, but she may exaggerate as many politicians do.
Felix did not cover that much negative material about Warren but did debunk some myths about her Native American bloodline. There is not a lot of negative material available about Warren; but, I felt Felix could covered more about the controversy regarding Warren’s recent trending to the left. Overall, this book provides a good overview of Warren’s life to date.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is eight hours and twenty minutes. Suzie Althens does a good job narrating the book. This is my first experience listening to Althens narrate. Althens is a voice artist and audiobook narrator.
June 16, 2018
Quite possibly the best biography written this year, Elizabeth Warren is simply a fascinating read about a fascinating woman. Well researched and smoothly written, this biography shows the reader why Senator Warren speaks for us all. A great legal mind, she started out as a lower middle class high schooler with great debate skills. I am proud to call her a fellow Speech Language Pathologist, even though, sadly for us, she didn't remain in the profession.
The book shows the struggle of being female in a male dominated world of law in the 60's and 70's and how, in spite of everything working against her with babies and day care issues, she managed to rise in academia to make a difference.
I adored the book, will likely reread it, and know that there are a few good politicians left. The author has provided us with her life so far. I for one, hope that we can add her name to a list of another male dominated society. President of the United States.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks, and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review. #ElizabethWarren
The book shows the struggle of being female in a male dominated world of law in the 60's and 70's and how, in spite of everything working against her with babies and day care issues, she managed to rise in academia to make a difference.
I adored the book, will likely reread it, and know that there are a few good politicians left. The author has provided us with her life so far. I for one, hope that we can add her name to a list of another male dominated society. President of the United States.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks, and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review. #ElizabethWarren
August 28, 2019
Note to "reviewers" leaving one star because they actually believe the made-up Facebook memes about Warren instead of bothering to do their own research and, y'know, read books: This site is called "Goodreads," not "Goodplacetopostnegativereviewswithoutactuallyreadingthebook."
Author Antonia Felix has written books on women in politics from all ends of the political spectrum, from Condoleezza Rice, to Sonia Sotomayor, to Michelle Obama, to Laura Bush. Now Elizabeth Warren gets her treatment.
Felix documents Warren's journey from a teenage Oklahoma conservative and "Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow" pin-winner (LOL in hindsight) teasing her Democratic best friend for having "socialist" friends, to working with families going through bankruptcy, through her own research realizing that more often than not it wasn't their fault, and having a 180-degree turn in politics because of it (though she was never more than a moderate Republican when there was such a thing).
As I already read Warren's own memoir, "A Fighting Chance," I already knew most of her story, but there are plenty of new interviews with her friends, colleagues, fellow high school and college debaters who respected her immensely, and students. The "Native American issue" is thoroughly discussed (short answer: although she doesn't appear to have documented heritage despite what her family told her, interviews with genealogists said things could get murky back then, so you never know for sure, and no, DNA tests do not work for Native American heritage. However, all of the people who hired her- including a former Reagan staffer- said her heritage literally never came up during the hiring process. And there was never any "race-based scholarship," either. So guess what: don't believe every tweet/meme you read on the internet!)
Hers is definitely the story of "nevertheless, she persisted": her father had a heart attack and couldn't work, so her mother did, and so did Elizabeth by waitressing starting at age 13. Her family couldn't afford to send her to college (and her mother thought Elizabeth should just "marry a good man" instead), so Elizabeth secretly applied for debate scholarships. Then in college, dropped out at 19 to get married. But she still wanted to be a teacher, so finished her degree. So she became a teacher... then got pregnant and wasn't asked back. So she went to law school to become a lawyer instead... then got pregnant again, so hung up a shingle and practiced law out of her living room. Eventually, she became a law professor at a time when there weren't many women there. She got divorced from the man who resented her working (Elizabeth blamed herself for the breakup of that marriage), was a single mom for a while, remarried, worked her way up the academic ladder in more and more prestigious schools, became a top expert in bankruptcy law, eventually ended up at Harvard, and won several teaching awards. Her efforts as a professor to stop credit card companies from passing a bankruptcy bill likely saved thousands of Americans from homelessness, even if it ultimately passed in the mid-2000s. Basically, anyone who was able to file for bankruptcy relief in the mid-1990s to mid-2000s and keep their house have her to thank, but many probably don't even know it. In fact, they may be the same ones spreading those dumb memes abut her today.
In 2008, the economy crashed, and she was called back to Washington to oversee TARP. She was "supposed" to go easy on fellow Democrats like Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, but didn't, much to their chagrin. Her grilling sessions rocketed her to political stardom. She pushed for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and was passed over for heading it, primarily because she'd go after too MANY scammers, and that scared Republicans. So, in 2012 at age 62, she ran for office for the first time in her life... and won.
Four stars because as other reviewers have said, it ends abruptly (this is current events, after all), and the writing style can be dry at times. It's more "fun" to listen to Warren herself tell her own story in "A Fighting Chance" (if you haven't listened to the audiobook, do!)
Re: the presidential race: this country is still sexist as heck (just compare when Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders post about the same subject on social media on the same day. Guess who gets waaaaaaaay more negative comments). And as soon as women are perceived as "seeking power," the pitchforks come out. Tale as old as time with well-documented evidence behind the phenomenon. So: we'll see. But it would require people to look past made-up memes and read things for themselves.
(I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Author Antonia Felix has written books on women in politics from all ends of the political spectrum, from Condoleezza Rice, to Sonia Sotomayor, to Michelle Obama, to Laura Bush. Now Elizabeth Warren gets her treatment.
Felix documents Warren's journey from a teenage Oklahoma conservative and "Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow" pin-winner (LOL in hindsight) teasing her Democratic best friend for having "socialist" friends, to working with families going through bankruptcy, through her own research realizing that more often than not it wasn't their fault, and having a 180-degree turn in politics because of it (though she was never more than a moderate Republican when there was such a thing).
As I already read Warren's own memoir, "A Fighting Chance," I already knew most of her story, but there are plenty of new interviews with her friends, colleagues, fellow high school and college debaters who respected her immensely, and students. The "Native American issue" is thoroughly discussed (short answer: although she doesn't appear to have documented heritage despite what her family told her, interviews with genealogists said things could get murky back then, so you never know for sure, and no, DNA tests do not work for Native American heritage. However, all of the people who hired her- including a former Reagan staffer- said her heritage literally never came up during the hiring process. And there was never any "race-based scholarship," either. So guess what: don't believe every tweet/meme you read on the internet!)
Hers is definitely the story of "nevertheless, she persisted": her father had a heart attack and couldn't work, so her mother did, and so did Elizabeth by waitressing starting at age 13. Her family couldn't afford to send her to college (and her mother thought Elizabeth should just "marry a good man" instead), so Elizabeth secretly applied for debate scholarships. Then in college, dropped out at 19 to get married. But she still wanted to be a teacher, so finished her degree. So she became a teacher... then got pregnant and wasn't asked back. So she went to law school to become a lawyer instead... then got pregnant again, so hung up a shingle and practiced law out of her living room. Eventually, she became a law professor at a time when there weren't many women there. She got divorced from the man who resented her working (Elizabeth blamed herself for the breakup of that marriage), was a single mom for a while, remarried, worked her way up the academic ladder in more and more prestigious schools, became a top expert in bankruptcy law, eventually ended up at Harvard, and won several teaching awards. Her efforts as a professor to stop credit card companies from passing a bankruptcy bill likely saved thousands of Americans from homelessness, even if it ultimately passed in the mid-2000s. Basically, anyone who was able to file for bankruptcy relief in the mid-1990s to mid-2000s and keep their house have her to thank, but many probably don't even know it. In fact, they may be the same ones spreading those dumb memes abut her today.
In 2008, the economy crashed, and she was called back to Washington to oversee TARP. She was "supposed" to go easy on fellow Democrats like Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, but didn't, much to their chagrin. Her grilling sessions rocketed her to political stardom. She pushed for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and was passed over for heading it, primarily because she'd go after too MANY scammers, and that scared Republicans. So, in 2012 at age 62, she ran for office for the first time in her life... and won.
Four stars because as other reviewers have said, it ends abruptly (this is current events, after all), and the writing style can be dry at times. It's more "fun" to listen to Warren herself tell her own story in "A Fighting Chance" (if you haven't listened to the audiobook, do!)
Re: the presidential race: this country is still sexist as heck (just compare when Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders post about the same subject on social media on the same day. Guess who gets waaaaaaaay more negative comments). And as soon as women are perceived as "seeking power," the pitchforks come out. Tale as old as time with well-documented evidence behind the phenomenon. So: we'll see. But it would require people to look past made-up memes and read things for themselves.
(I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
July 31, 2018
This is not a biography, it's a hagiography. Written about a shameless fraud. Terrible.
January 14, 2019
This is a biography of one of the most remarkable political leaders in the United States to emerge in the past decade. Elizabeth Warren, born into a working class family in Oklahoma, is the embodiment of what has come to be known as the American Dream. By dint of sheer hard work and scholarship, she earned a university degree and a law degree, all while raising a family. She went on to teach law at Rutgers University, the University of Houston, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1995 was offered a position to teach law at Harvard, where she went on to become a tenured professor.
I first became aware of Elizabeth Warren in 2011 when her work in the establishment of what became the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was highlighted by President Obama's naming of Richard Cordray to head that bureau. I was impressed with her knowledge of consumer and economic issues and when she decided to challenge in 2012 the Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) for the Senate seat previously held by Ted Kennedy and John Fitzgerald Kennedy, my interest in her began to grow.
Antonia Felix has done a wonderful job through this biography in making real the manner of person Elizabeth Warren is. Unlike a significant number of politicians on Capitol Hill today who came into elective office (many of them from privileged backgrounds) to derive some benefits for themselves by currying favor with the corporate lobbies that have an inordinate and excessive influence in the shaping of legislation relating to policies and practices in the marketplace, Elizabeth Warren won election in 2012 to the Senate as an outsider willing to work on the inside for the public interest. She has proven to be the real deal. She's got grit, spunk, compassion, and saavy to get things done. And now that she has declared herself a candidate from the Democratic Party for President of the United States in 2020, I am hopeful that Elizabeth Warren will prevail against her detractors and critics, while inspiring millions across the nation to support her campaign and make it successful.
I first became aware of Elizabeth Warren in 2011 when her work in the establishment of what became the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was highlighted by President Obama's naming of Richard Cordray to head that bureau. I was impressed with her knowledge of consumer and economic issues and when she decided to challenge in 2012 the Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) for the Senate seat previously held by Ted Kennedy and John Fitzgerald Kennedy, my interest in her began to grow.
Antonia Felix has done a wonderful job through this biography in making real the manner of person Elizabeth Warren is. Unlike a significant number of politicians on Capitol Hill today who came into elective office (many of them from privileged backgrounds) to derive some benefits for themselves by currying favor with the corporate lobbies that have an inordinate and excessive influence in the shaping of legislation relating to policies and practices in the marketplace, Elizabeth Warren won election in 2012 to the Senate as an outsider willing to work on the inside for the public interest. She has proven to be the real deal. She's got grit, spunk, compassion, and saavy to get things done. And now that she has declared herself a candidate from the Democratic Party for President of the United States in 2020, I am hopeful that Elizabeth Warren will prevail against her detractors and critics, while inspiring millions across the nation to support her campaign and make it successful.
July 22, 2018
This? Is not a balanced look at Senator Warren. It’s written through a very loving lens, which is fine, just be aware. Overall, the book did a great job with the biographical details and how she became such a dogged fighter for the middle class, although I think the book should have spent much more time on her senate run. The author ended the book a little awkwardly; it seemed rushed to finish right as Warren’s role as one of Trump’s most vocal opponents was evolving, but that can be forgiven for being a little too close to current events. Overall, enjoyable for Warren fans who want to learn more about her background.
August 13, 2019
This is a wonderful biography of a national hero. There are many who want to label her and vilify her but I challenge those people to read this book. She has come to her beliefs and passions as a result of research, learning, experience and study. She is a thoughtful, logical, caring person with amazing energy and desire to make things better for average people. She is not the enemy of anyone, she just wants to level the field and for everyone to play fair.
April 29, 2019
A well-written book on the life of Elizabeth Warren also hailed as the champion of American middle class. Coming from a low-income household, Warren youngest of four children from Oklahoma City, she has fought her way through to the top echelons of American political decision-making. Its never easy to break into the glass ceiling of American politics dominated by alpha males, but her life shines like a beacon for every other woman to do the same and change the male-dominated arena.
My rating -4/5
My rating -4/5
October 29, 2019
Audible - Narrated by Suzie Althens 8 hrs 20 mins
Engaging, enlightening and beautifully narrated by Ms. Althens, and no matter what side of the political divide you stand on, it would be hard to deny Elizabeth Warren's intelligence, accomplishments and her dedication to what is clearly her mission.
Engaging, enlightening and beautifully narrated by Ms. Althens, and no matter what side of the political divide you stand on, it would be hard to deny Elizabeth Warren's intelligence, accomplishments and her dedication to what is clearly her mission.
September 18, 2018
I loved Elizabeth Warren before I read this book, and love her even more now.
May 24, 2019
I have to admit I did not know very much about Elizabeth Warren when I requested this book for review. As it turns out, I am very glad I did choose her biography. The book details her childhood and development into the powerhouse she is today. At a time when women were expected to go with the flow of society's expectation of their secondary role, Elizabeth Warren had her own views and goals for her life. There were times that her career path took the back burner but it is impossible to keep such a motivated and intelligent individual away for long.
It was fascinating to see where some of her most personal values developed and also the many ways she enhanced her future skills as a public spokeswoman. It is a bit dry at times but then again, this is a biography and not contemporary fiction. Recommended to those who would like to learn more about the woman behind the academic/politician.
It was fascinating to see where some of her most personal values developed and also the many ways she enhanced her future skills as a public spokeswoman. It is a bit dry at times but then again, this is a biography and not contemporary fiction. Recommended to those who would like to learn more about the woman behind the academic/politician.
October 2, 2018
Summary: A biography of the Democrat U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, from the financial struggles of her family, her academic life and the research that changed her life, and her work protecting consumers that led to her Senate run.
"She persisted." These words became a rallying cry when Elizabeth Warren attempted to read a letter from Coretta Scott King during the confirmation hearings of Jeff Session to the cabinet office of Attorney General. The letter spoke to Mrs. King's contention that Sessions, as a federal judge had taken actions that chilled the exercise of voting rights by black citizens. She was interrupted once, warned of impugning the character of a fellow senator. The second time, Mitch McConnell stopped her, and she was forced to take her seat after the Republican dominated Senate voted to silence her. He said, "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." And she did. Banned from speaking in the Senate, she read the letter on a live Facebook video.
This was just the latest instance of a persistence born of a commitment to advocate for those our system often overlooks. It began, according to Antonia Felix, in Oklahoma, and her own family's struggles to make ends meet. She watched her mother go to work save their home when her father had a heart attack. She had a passion to teach when becoming a homemaker was society's vision for women and struggled in her early years between these two visions. A love of debate led to a scholarship to George Washington University. Her love for Jim Warren, high school sweetheart, led to a move to Texas, and completion of her degree at the University of Houston in speech pathology. A teaching job ended when she became pregnant. Struggling with the life of a stay at home mom after a move to New Jersey following her husband's job, she enrolled in Rutgers Law School, which she described as "an advanced degree in thinking." Completing law school, she and Jim moved back to Houston, with a second child, a son.
An offer to teach the legal writing at the University of Houston Law Center launched her career--and led to the end of her first marriage, as conflicts between her and Jim made it clear they had different marriage and life visions. She met her current husband, Bruce, at Houston. The biography goes on to trace her legal career as she moved to Texas, Penn, and eventually Harvard.
More significant, and especially for someone like myself who works with academics, Warren was transformed by her research. When she began her legal career, she was influenced by a law and economics course taught by Henry Manne in a program funded by the conservative John M. Olin Foundation, essentially a right wing group. One of her research interests was bankruptcy, particularly in a period when bankruptcy laws had made debt relief more accessible to financially troubled families. There were many advocating for tougher laws, contending that people were gaming the system and irresponsible. She ended up studying thousands of bankruptcy cases and came to a very different conclusion that contradicted her right wing leanings. She discovered lending and credit card practices that created debt loads that pressed families to limits at which a job loss or illness would push them over the edge. Terms buried in credit card agreements and sub-prime loans for those qualifying for better terms were the most outstanding examples.
It transformed her into an advocate for consumers and led to her helping set up, under the Obama administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. In a landmark journal article (reprinted in the book) Warren argued,
"It is impossible to buy a toaster that has a one-in-five chance of bursting into flames and burning down your house. But it is possible to refinance an existing home with a mortgage that has the same one-in-five chance of putting the family out on the street--and the mortgage won't even carry a disclosure of that fact to the homeowner. Similarly, it's impossible to change the price on a toaster once it has been purchased. But long after the papers have been signed, it is possible to triple the price of the credit used to finance the purchase of that appliance, even if the customer meets all the credit terms, in full and on time."
Bank failures and the sins of Wall Street in 2008 made her a fierce advocate for regulatory reform and finally convinced her to run for the Senate seat in Massachusetts in 2012. Opposition to efforts to roll back reforms made during the Obama years has made her a visible object for attack, including her claims of Indian heritage. The book includes the transcript of an address to Native Americans where she addresses this.
Warren is up for re-election this year, and has acknowledged that she is giving serious consideration to a run for the presidency in 2020. This book does have something of the feel of a campaign piece, introducing the wider public to Warren, addressing criticisms without making new ones. But it also did reveal something extraordinary that impressed me. Here was an academic whose research changed her mind and compelled her to act on what she found. She didn't remain a "one dimensional scholar" remaining detached from her findings. She moved to work in government to apply those findings in ways that made life better for the people she studied. She cared more about truth than ideology, and allowed evidence to change her mind, and then showed the courage of her convictions over and over in advocacy. She persisted.
____________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary advance reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
"She persisted." These words became a rallying cry when Elizabeth Warren attempted to read a letter from Coretta Scott King during the confirmation hearings of Jeff Session to the cabinet office of Attorney General. The letter spoke to Mrs. King's contention that Sessions, as a federal judge had taken actions that chilled the exercise of voting rights by black citizens. She was interrupted once, warned of impugning the character of a fellow senator. The second time, Mitch McConnell stopped her, and she was forced to take her seat after the Republican dominated Senate voted to silence her. He said, "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." And she did. Banned from speaking in the Senate, she read the letter on a live Facebook video.
This was just the latest instance of a persistence born of a commitment to advocate for those our system often overlooks. It began, according to Antonia Felix, in Oklahoma, and her own family's struggles to make ends meet. She watched her mother go to work save their home when her father had a heart attack. She had a passion to teach when becoming a homemaker was society's vision for women and struggled in her early years between these two visions. A love of debate led to a scholarship to George Washington University. Her love for Jim Warren, high school sweetheart, led to a move to Texas, and completion of her degree at the University of Houston in speech pathology. A teaching job ended when she became pregnant. Struggling with the life of a stay at home mom after a move to New Jersey following her husband's job, she enrolled in Rutgers Law School, which she described as "an advanced degree in thinking." Completing law school, she and Jim moved back to Houston, with a second child, a son.
An offer to teach the legal writing at the University of Houston Law Center launched her career--and led to the end of her first marriage, as conflicts between her and Jim made it clear they had different marriage and life visions. She met her current husband, Bruce, at Houston. The biography goes on to trace her legal career as she moved to Texas, Penn, and eventually Harvard.
More significant, and especially for someone like myself who works with academics, Warren was transformed by her research. When she began her legal career, she was influenced by a law and economics course taught by Henry Manne in a program funded by the conservative John M. Olin Foundation, essentially a right wing group. One of her research interests was bankruptcy, particularly in a period when bankruptcy laws had made debt relief more accessible to financially troubled families. There were many advocating for tougher laws, contending that people were gaming the system and irresponsible. She ended up studying thousands of bankruptcy cases and came to a very different conclusion that contradicted her right wing leanings. She discovered lending and credit card practices that created debt loads that pressed families to limits at which a job loss or illness would push them over the edge. Terms buried in credit card agreements and sub-prime loans for those qualifying for better terms were the most outstanding examples.
It transformed her into an advocate for consumers and led to her helping set up, under the Obama administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. In a landmark journal article (reprinted in the book) Warren argued,
"It is impossible to buy a toaster that has a one-in-five chance of bursting into flames and burning down your house. But it is possible to refinance an existing home with a mortgage that has the same one-in-five chance of putting the family out on the street--and the mortgage won't even carry a disclosure of that fact to the homeowner. Similarly, it's impossible to change the price on a toaster once it has been purchased. But long after the papers have been signed, it is possible to triple the price of the credit used to finance the purchase of that appliance, even if the customer meets all the credit terms, in full and on time."
Bank failures and the sins of Wall Street in 2008 made her a fierce advocate for regulatory reform and finally convinced her to run for the Senate seat in Massachusetts in 2012. Opposition to efforts to roll back reforms made during the Obama years has made her a visible object for attack, including her claims of Indian heritage. The book includes the transcript of an address to Native Americans where she addresses this.
Warren is up for re-election this year, and has acknowledged that she is giving serious consideration to a run for the presidency in 2020. This book does have something of the feel of a campaign piece, introducing the wider public to Warren, addressing criticisms without making new ones. But it also did reveal something extraordinary that impressed me. Here was an academic whose research changed her mind and compelled her to act on what she found. She didn't remain a "one dimensional scholar" remaining detached from her findings. She moved to work in government to apply those findings in ways that made life better for the people she studied. She cared more about truth than ideology, and allowed evidence to change her mind, and then showed the courage of her convictions over and over in advocacy. She persisted.
____________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary advance reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
November 5, 2018
I learned so much about Elizabeth Warren reading this book. She’s super smart, gives her all to whatever she sets out to do, and is a passionate champion of the middle class. The book is eye opening and revelatory. We sorely need more people like her in public office. The author has done her homework and has done an excellent job telling Senator Warren’s remarkable story. I sincerely hope a lot of people will read this book. As Thomas Jefferson said, "An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
January 1, 2019
I am a huge fan of Senator Elizabeth Warren; however, all I really knew of her prior to this biography was of her campaign and her time in the Senate. Being a teacher myself, I greatly enjoyed hearing about her teaching. Additionally, I understand what happened in her life to lead her to where she is now, launching an exploratory committee to run in the 2020 presidential election.
This book also was the catalyst to get me to order Senator Warren’s two recent books, which I cannot wait to read.
This book also was the catalyst to get me to order Senator Warren’s two recent books, which I cannot wait to read.
December 6, 2018
Bankruptcy lawyers are the best. I preferred Warren's own book, but this was a nice little biographic refresher.
August 18, 2019
Excellent book on Elizabeth Warren. It details her family and her rise into politics. Sharp, smart, and fierce woman. Well written on a remarkable woman. Worth the read.
September 6, 2019
Well, I like her even more now.
January 20, 2019
Thought I would learn more about Warren prior to her announcing her candidacy, which she did on Dec 31. I knew very little about her. Her background is humble, born 1949 the fourth child of middle-class parents Pauline and Donald Jones Herring. They moved to OK city, and her father had a heart attack when she was 12. This was a financial strain, and her mother returned to work at Montgomery Wards the next year. She herself started working as a teenager. Her high school years were marked by her participation in the debate team, which won many awards. Aspiring to be a teacher, she won a scholarship to GWU. She married her HS sweetheart Warren in 1968. They moved to Houston, where he worked for IBM. She started attending U Houston, where she graduated in 1970 with a degree in speech pathology. She worked for a year, and then her husband got a job in NJ. She became pregnant and decided to stay at home. When her daughter turned 2, she attended Rutgers Law School. In 1971, a group of determined women professors fought against Rutgers’ treatment of female faculty and won a victory for themselves and future generations. They spearheaded a federal complaint, claiming discrimination by Rutgers against female faculty. The federal government ultimately ruled in their favor, and ordered Rutgers to adjust current and future pay scales for equity with male professors. The 70s were a period of law school activism there. Shortly before graduating in 1976, Warren became pregnant with their second child. After she received her J.D. and passed the bar examination, she decided to perform legal services from home. The book then covers her divorce in 1978. Two years later, Warren married Bruce H. Mann , a law history professor. She held various teaching positions since 1978. She has advocated for bankruptcy reform, but Congress in 2005 passed the BAPCPA, which made Chapter 7 bankruptcy much more difficult, and presumed guilt or fraud. Many were forced to Chap 13, which required debts to be paid over a 3-5 year period due to a strict means (income) test. Warren showed evidence that bankruptcy fraud was low, and that medical debt and and uncontrollable circumstances. Harvard researched 1,771 bankruptcy cases, of whom 931 submitted to interview backed these facts. Warren's policy chops are substantial, and will be a formidable candidate for the nomination. Early news reports focused on her similarity to Clinton, and her "likeability" problem. Clearly the media are trying to establish that women are not ready for the big office. However, perhaps as more women run, they will evaluate the candidates based on the issues. Although she is from MA, she spent the first half of her life in OK, TX and only moved east in 1987. She is liked in Iowa. She will most likely move to the middle as the campaign advances.
February 8, 2020
I received a reviewer copy of Elizabeth Warren by Antonia Felix from the publisher Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. I should also put a disclaimer in here that I love Elizabeth Warren and am currently volunteering for her campaign, so I am a huge fan so take my opinion as you will.
What It’s About: This book traces Elizabeth's life from her childhood up until her 'Nevertheless she persisted' moment in 2017. But it largely focuses on her life prior to her political life. This book is quite favorable to her.
What I Loved: I loved this book because I learned so much about Elizabeth's life and it is quite a life. It really illustrated her rise from a middle class family to a senator. As an academic, I was so touched by her passion for her work and how she went in expecting to see one thing and then realized how wrong she was and how that completely changed the trajectory of her life. This book introduces you to a persistent woman who whether you agree with her is motivated by trying to fix a problem she knows a lot about.
What I didn’t like so much: I wish that the controversy of native heritage had been more thoroughly explored, Felix provides context into the history and why Elizabeth is not alone in believing she had native heritage based on the history of Oklahoma. However, this discussion I felt like should have been a chapter and elevated more native voices. However, it still provides some information as to why this isn't the scandal the right makes it but would have been stronger with a bit more information. Also I have to say this book made me feel like I should have read Elizabeth's own memoir because I felt like the author wasn't necessarily challenging her subject.
Who Should Read It: People who vote. People who like Elizabeth Warren. People who want to learn more about Elizabeth Warren's career.
General Summary: A biography of Elizabeth Warren
What It’s About: This book traces Elizabeth's life from her childhood up until her 'Nevertheless she persisted' moment in 2017. But it largely focuses on her life prior to her political life. This book is quite favorable to her.
What I Loved: I loved this book because I learned so much about Elizabeth's life and it is quite a life. It really illustrated her rise from a middle class family to a senator. As an academic, I was so touched by her passion for her work and how she went in expecting to see one thing and then realized how wrong she was and how that completely changed the trajectory of her life. This book introduces you to a persistent woman who whether you agree with her is motivated by trying to fix a problem she knows a lot about.
What I didn’t like so much: I wish that the controversy of native heritage had been more thoroughly explored, Felix provides context into the history and why Elizabeth is not alone in believing she had native heritage based on the history of Oklahoma. However, this discussion I felt like should have been a chapter and elevated more native voices. However, it still provides some information as to why this isn't the scandal the right makes it but would have been stronger with a bit more information. Also I have to say this book made me feel like I should have read Elizabeth's own memoir because I felt like the author wasn't necessarily challenging her subject.
Who Should Read It: People who vote. People who like Elizabeth Warren. People who want to learn more about Elizabeth Warren's career.
General Summary: A biography of Elizabeth Warren
October 16, 2019
Elizabeth Warren, Her Fight. Her Work. Her Life.
is a biography of Elizabeth Warren written by Antonia Felix. Published in 2018, it covers her entire life, starting with some background information about her parents, and continuing up until the very recent past.
Elizabeth Warren, Her Fight. Her Work. Her Life. is one of the nearly twenty books about politicians I read in the summer of 2019 while researching a book about incumbents, candidates, and other politicians. I am giving the book 4 of 5 stars because it is thorough and interesting, but not quite as good as some of the other biographies I read for this project.
One of the most enlightening things I learned from this book is how much Elizabeth's mother pressured her to be a wife and mother rather than pursue educational and career goals. Antonia Felix describes how their ongoing argument reached a climax at one point, "when Liz finally shouted back - Leave me alone! - her mom slapped her hard across the face" [p. 37].
Demonstrating her commitment and determination, Elizabeth worked hard on - and achieved - both goals. In the 1970s she gave birth to two children, completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, and graduated from law school at Rutgers in Newark, New Jersey.
One of the most remarkable things I learned from the book is that when Elizabeth began studying bankruptcy, she "set out to prove they were all a bunch of cheaters." [p. 83]. The data she found proved her hypothesis was wrong.
When she started studying the data on bankruptcies, Elizabeth was a Republican. After learning the truth about the system - and how it is indeed rigged against the working class - she switched to the Democratic party.
After reading Antonia Felix's book about Elizabeth Warren, I created a profile for her and included their spiritual portrait in my ebook Visualizing Politicians' Personalities, 2019 Incumbents and Candidates. I based the abstract image of Elizabeth's personality in the ebook on this book, so it contains more about Elizabeth Warren, Her Fight. Her Work. Her Life. - in case you are interested.
Elizabeth Warren, Her Fight. Her Work. Her Life. is one of the nearly twenty books about politicians I read in the summer of 2019 while researching a book about incumbents, candidates, and other politicians. I am giving the book 4 of 5 stars because it is thorough and interesting, but not quite as good as some of the other biographies I read for this project.
One of the most enlightening things I learned from this book is how much Elizabeth's mother pressured her to be a wife and mother rather than pursue educational and career goals. Antonia Felix describes how their ongoing argument reached a climax at one point, "when Liz finally shouted back - Leave me alone! - her mom slapped her hard across the face" [p. 37].
Demonstrating her commitment and determination, Elizabeth worked hard on - and achieved - both goals. In the 1970s she gave birth to two children, completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, and graduated from law school at Rutgers in Newark, New Jersey.
One of the most remarkable things I learned from the book is that when Elizabeth began studying bankruptcy, she "set out to prove they were all a bunch of cheaters." [p. 83]. The data she found proved her hypothesis was wrong.
"I did the research, and the data just took me to a totally different place," she said. "These were hardworking middle- class families who by and large had lost jobs, gotten sick, had family breakups, and that's what was driving over the edge financially."
— From Elizabeth Warren, Her Fight. Her Work. Her Life., by Antonia Felix, p. 83.
When she started studying the data on bankruptcies, Elizabeth was a Republican. After learning the truth about the system - and how it is indeed rigged against the working class - she switched to the Democratic party.
After reading Antonia Felix's book about Elizabeth Warren, I created a profile for her and included their spiritual portrait in my ebook Visualizing Politicians' Personalities, 2019 Incumbents and Candidates. I based the abstract image of Elizabeth's personality in the ebook on this book, so it contains more about Elizabeth Warren, Her Fight. Her Work. Her Life. - in case you are interested.
November 6, 2019
P 33 Before industrialization women were equal partners in the economy of the family, making everything from scratch... This work was indispensable to life and not considered beneath other occupations done by white men. Only when industrialization redefined the value of work as that which made a monetary profit for the business owners did this status change. As industries began making the products that had been the woman’s domain- and for the most part shut women out of those factories or paid them pittance wages- women were left with the lowly tasks of housework.
P. 52 sexual discrimination;
"We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both."
~ Louis Brandeis, Associate Supreme Court Justice, 1916-1939
"In a 2014 speech at Netroots Nation, the country's largest annual conference for liberal writers and activists, Elizabeth Warren listed eleven tenets in response to the question, 'What does it mean to be a progressive?' In style and substance, her chosen statements could be called the Progressive's Creed:
* We believe that Wall Street needs stronger rules and tougher enforcement, and we're willing to fight for it.
* We believe in science, and that means that we have a responsibility to protect this Earth.
* We believe that the internet shouldn't be rigged to benefit big corporations, and that means real net neutrality.
* We believe that no one should work full time and still live in poverty, and that means raising the minimum wage.
* We believe that fast-food workers deserve a livable wage, and that means that when they take to the picket line, we are proud to fight alongside them.
* We believe that students are entitled to get an education without being crushed by debt.
* We believe that after a lifetime of work, people are entitled to retire with dignity, and that means protecting social security, Medicare, and pensions.
* We believe - I can't believe I have to say this in 2014 - we believe in equal pay for equal work.
* We believe that equal means equal, and that's true in marriage, it's true in the workplace, it's true in all of America.
* We believe that immigration has made this country strong and vibrant, and that means reform.
* And we believe that corporations are not people, that women have a right to their bodies. We will overturn Hobby Lobby and we will fight for it. We will fight for it! P239-240
"It is impossible to buy a toaster that has a one-in-five chance of bursting into flames and burning down your house. But it is possible to refinance an existing home with a mortgage that has the same one-in-five chance of putting a family out on the street - and the mortgage won't even carry a disclosure of that fact to the homeowner. Similarly, it's impossible to change the price on a toaster once it has been purchased. But long after papers have been signed, it is possible to triple the price of the credit used to finance the purchase of that appliance, even if the customer meets all the credit terms, in full and on time." p 242
P. 52 sexual discrimination;
"We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both."
~ Louis Brandeis, Associate Supreme Court Justice, 1916-1939
"In a 2014 speech at Netroots Nation, the country's largest annual conference for liberal writers and activists, Elizabeth Warren listed eleven tenets in response to the question, 'What does it mean to be a progressive?' In style and substance, her chosen statements could be called the Progressive's Creed:
* We believe that Wall Street needs stronger rules and tougher enforcement, and we're willing to fight for it.
* We believe in science, and that means that we have a responsibility to protect this Earth.
* We believe that the internet shouldn't be rigged to benefit big corporations, and that means real net neutrality.
* We believe that no one should work full time and still live in poverty, and that means raising the minimum wage.
* We believe that fast-food workers deserve a livable wage, and that means that when they take to the picket line, we are proud to fight alongside them.
* We believe that students are entitled to get an education without being crushed by debt.
* We believe that after a lifetime of work, people are entitled to retire with dignity, and that means protecting social security, Medicare, and pensions.
* We believe - I can't believe I have to say this in 2014 - we believe in equal pay for equal work.
* We believe that equal means equal, and that's true in marriage, it's true in the workplace, it's true in all of America.
* We believe that immigration has made this country strong and vibrant, and that means reform.
* And we believe that corporations are not people, that women have a right to their bodies. We will overturn Hobby Lobby and we will fight for it. We will fight for it! P239-240
"It is impossible to buy a toaster that has a one-in-five chance of bursting into flames and burning down your house. But it is possible to refinance an existing home with a mortgage that has the same one-in-five chance of putting a family out on the street - and the mortgage won't even carry a disclosure of that fact to the homeowner. Similarly, it's impossible to change the price on a toaster once it has been purchased. But long after papers have been signed, it is possible to triple the price of the credit used to finance the purchase of that appliance, even if the customer meets all the credit terms, in full and on time." p 242
February 24, 2019
Minnesota playwright, teacher, short fiction and nonfiction writer Antonia Felix presents the life of law professor, advisor and current United States Senator-D from Massachusetts in the excellent Elizabeth Warren; Her Fight, Her Work and Her Life (pp. 359). Perhaps more than any other current Presidential candidate (2020) Warren signifies the phrase "never give up" better than most. When her mother told her she'd better marry a man to take care of her and forget about being a teacher; Warren persisted following her own instincts. They turned out to be right on the mark as Warren has done nothing but soar as a mother of two children, an admired Harvard Law Professor and a Senator who fights for the American family who lives paycheck to paycheck. A Senator who puts bank and wall street egos on notice when they make millions by fraudulently taking advantage of their own customers-her grilling of Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf made me cheer. Her close friendship with the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone is touching and self-explanatory because two kindred spirits always find each other. After reading Warren's story I like her even more than I did before. Complete with photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index and acknowledgements.
September 3, 2018
I am reading all books written by women Senators so I was thankful to receive this for review from the publisher and Net Galley. Thank you for the opportunity. My opinions are my own. The path of a woman Senator is never easy in today's white male dominated Congress patriarchy so I was fascinated to read the background and history of Senator Warren. Having read many other books about women Senators I find their struggles inspiring.
This is a excellent book with much information about the amazing background of Elizabeth Warren. She is a favorite political figure of mine and as a woman one of my most admired women on the political spectrum . To read about her background and abilities was a fascinating read. This is a woman of substance, who fights for real Americans and the issues that affect us. Knowing her politics it was uniquely American unto her and who she came from to understand how she has had to fight the patriarchy her entire career. Now as she enters the field for Presidential Candidate her strength, determination and fairness will serve her well. A wonderful book for all who admire this great lady. A great American and this book definitively is a must read.
This is a excellent book with much information about the amazing background of Elizabeth Warren. She is a favorite political figure of mine and as a woman one of my most admired women on the political spectrum . To read about her background and abilities was a fascinating read. This is a woman of substance, who fights for real Americans and the issues that affect us. Knowing her politics it was uniquely American unto her and who she came from to understand how she has had to fight the patriarchy her entire career. Now as she enters the field for Presidential Candidate her strength, determination and fairness will serve her well. A wonderful book for all who admire this great lady. A great American and this book definitively is a must read.
July 19, 2019
I didn't realize when I grabbed this off the shelf at the library that it was a book *about* Elizabeth Warren and not written *by* her, so that was a little bit of a bummer. However, the author is clearly a great researcher and journalist. I enjoyed learning more about our new presidential candidate. It was especially interesting to read on the heels of reading Kamala Harris's book (which I loved) and the first Democratic debates.
The major negative for the book is just how far back the author goes. I didn't need to know about Elizabeth's great great grandparents. It was a bit of a struggle to get through the early chapters and I almost abandoned it.
I'm glad I stuck with it. I knew very little about Elizabeth's history. I especially enjoyed reading about her teaching career and strong mentorship focus. As a new college teacher myself, I was inspired reading quotes from her former students.
I also liked that the appendix included some of her papers, as well as her speech from the Democratic national convention - what a speech! I was blown away.
Would definitely recommend, but I'm curious to read the books she wrote herself.
The major negative for the book is just how far back the author goes. I didn't need to know about Elizabeth's great great grandparents. It was a bit of a struggle to get through the early chapters and I almost abandoned it.
I'm glad I stuck with it. I knew very little about Elizabeth's history. I especially enjoyed reading about her teaching career and strong mentorship focus. As a new college teacher myself, I was inspired reading quotes from her former students.
I also liked that the appendix included some of her papers, as well as her speech from the Democratic national convention - what a speech! I was blown away.
Would definitely recommend, but I'm curious to read the books she wrote herself.
August 11, 2018
Elizabeth Warren by Antonia Felix can be classified as a brief biography of Elizabeth Warren with considerable pages devoted to Warren's work in the field of consumer financial protection. You can almost get a clear picture of the field of Consumer Financial Protection work if you are not familiar with it by reading this book. The material is built on the books Warren authored and co-authored with her daughter and other law professors while she was teaching at various law schools.
As far as the biography part goes, it does a good job giving the readers a succinct portrait of Warren's personal and professional life. If you are a Warren fan or simply deciding to support if she throws her name in the hat for presidential nomination in 2020, this book might give you information to help you make informed decision.
Overall, this is a quick and interesting read. Some parts can be boring especially where the author belabors on Warren's work on consumer financial protection work. I think you can skip those pages without missing much or loosing the gist of the matter.
As far as the biography part goes, it does a good job giving the readers a succinct portrait of Warren's personal and professional life. If you are a Warren fan or simply deciding to support if she throws her name in the hat for presidential nomination in 2020, this book might give you information to help you make informed decision.
Overall, this is a quick and interesting read. Some parts can be boring especially where the author belabors on Warren's work on consumer financial protection work. I think you can skip those pages without missing much or loosing the gist of the matter.
March 7, 2019
Elizabeth Warren is an impressive woman! This biography was very thorough but never boring. It was interesting to learn about her journey from gifted debater to Senator of Massachusetts. In times when politics seems like a club for only those from the American aristocracy, it is refreshing to have a representative who actually has first-hand experiences with the issues Americans commonly face, including job loss, lower incomes, divorce, and the pursuit of education. Her experience doing most of this when a woman was still expected to stay in the home makes her accomplishments even more impressive. I mean, she caught flack for wanting further education from both her mother and her first husband, but nevertheless, she persisted.
Also, there are a ton of one-star reviews on this book from idiots who obviously haven't read it. IT could be people poorly expressing their political disagreement, but my guess is that she not only disagrees with them politically but (gasp) she's a capable and intelligent woman at the same time.
I'd be stoked to have her as POTUS.
Also, there are a ton of one-star reviews on this book from idiots who obviously haven't read it. IT could be people poorly expressing their political disagreement, but my guess is that she not only disagrees with them politically but (gasp) she's a capable and intelligent woman at the same time.
I'd be stoked to have her as POTUS.
April 26, 2019
I'm not one for political books usually, but I'm reading political books, memoirs, and biographies lately in order to learn more about differing political views. I came away very impressed at all that Elizabeth Warren had done in her life, for all she has fought for, and for the stands she has made. This biographical look at her life to date doesn't shy away from any controversy (including the native American claims that bother so many people).
What surprised me was how hard she fought for the middle class and lower class to help them economically. Here is a woman of a higher status, and yet her biggest concern is for those who can't make ends meet every month. And she doesn't just sit around and feel sorry for people. She actually gets out there and acts and tries to make a difference.
There were a few points she stands for that I disagree with, but overall, I agree with most of her stances. I don't think anyone will align with all of a person's political stances. Reading about her helped her rise in my esteem. I was honestly surprised.
What surprised me was how hard she fought for the middle class and lower class to help them economically. Here is a woman of a higher status, and yet her biggest concern is for those who can't make ends meet every month. And she doesn't just sit around and feel sorry for people. She actually gets out there and acts and tries to make a difference.
There were a few points she stands for that I disagree with, but overall, I agree with most of her stances. I don't think anyone will align with all of a person's political stances. Reading about her helped her rise in my esteem. I was honestly surprised.
February 2, 2020
I consider myself to hold political positions generally left of Elizabeth Warren, but I wanted to learn more about her life and her role in American politics so far. My takeaway looks something like this:
If the current system could be saved, Elizabeth Warren would be the one to do it. She's truly a brilliant woman who 'pulled herself up by her own bootstraps' in a way that very few people are able to do. Her political beliefs have evolved over the years in the face of her own evidence based research as a Bankruptcy Law Professor, and experience working in US Politics. (Everyone should strive to align their beliefs about the world with things that are true, and be open to changing their beliefs when they get new information). I believe that she truly, deeply cares about the world and the people in it.
I also think that many problems in the US and the world cannot merely be solved by 'good policies' and people voting for the right candidate. If they could, then Elizabeth Warren would be the right choice for president in this (2020) election cycle.
If the current system could be saved, Elizabeth Warren would be the one to do it. She's truly a brilliant woman who 'pulled herself up by her own bootstraps' in a way that very few people are able to do. Her political beliefs have evolved over the years in the face of her own evidence based research as a Bankruptcy Law Professor, and experience working in US Politics. (Everyone should strive to align their beliefs about the world with things that are true, and be open to changing their beliefs when they get new information). I believe that she truly, deeply cares about the world and the people in it.
I also think that many problems in the US and the world cannot merely be solved by 'good policies' and people voting for the right candidate. If they could, then Elizabeth Warren would be the right choice for president in this (2020) election cycle.
September 2, 2018
I've always been impressed with Elizabeth Warren's fight for the middle-class and women issues and this biography solidified my thoughts. While some think of her as a radical leftist, she is really a "fervent capitalist" just with safety nets to protect people. If you only read page 192, you can understand what her battles are for. The book also helps explain how deregulation has created "shareholder capitalism". The corporate shareholders take precedence over the workers. I have seen this happen in numerous companies with forced lay offs, forced early retirements - she even explains how this could have worked but for other cost of living issues that created a failure for the middle class. I also found the statistics interesting that women usually run for office to make a difference, they see an injustice and want to be a voice to make a difference. This book had numerous facts and issues that helped me understand Elizabeth Warren and our government.
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