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Fight like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World
Praised by media and political figures including Michael Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton, and Katie Couric, Shannon Watts—"the NRA’s Worst Nightmare”—tells the inspiring story of how a rallying call-to-action grew into a powerful movement to protect children from America’s epidemic of gun violence, and offers lessons for others who want to make a difference in their community.
On the morning of December 14, 2012, stay-at-home-mom Shannon Watts was folding laundry when the news broke that there had been a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Along with the world, Watts watched horrifying images of children being marched in a line outside of Sandy Hook Elementary School. Outraged and heartbroken, Shannon felt an overwhelming need to act. She thought there must be an organization like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, but for gun violence prevention. There was no such organization. Watts decided then and there that she needed to build it.
Fight like a Mother is the powerful story of how one mother’s cry for change started a national women’s movement—Moms Demand Action—to fight some of the richest and most powerful people in America: the gun lobby. It is a riveting account of how outraged mothers became engaged activists, creating a powerful grassroots network of local chapters in all 50 states. Along with her observations and wisdom, Watts shares inspiring messages of perseverance, courage, and compassion, and outlines the core mantras and principles that Moms Demand Action has used to battle the NRA and the intimidating tactics they use to prevent gun safety progress.
Most of all, Fight like a Mother explores the unique power of women—starting with what they have, owning their expertise, asking for help, and doubling down instead of backing down. While not everyone can be on the front lines lobbying congress, every mom is already an organizer, and Shannon shows them how to put their skills to use in their own community, in their own way. Bringing activism into the everyday, Fight like a Mother will inspire everyone—mothers and fathers, students and teachers, lawmakers, and anyone who is outraged, angry, and motivated to work for change— to get to work transforming hearts, minds, and laws.
On the morning of December 14, 2012, stay-at-home-mom Shannon Watts was folding laundry when the news broke that there had been a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Along with the world, Watts watched horrifying images of children being marched in a line outside of Sandy Hook Elementary School. Outraged and heartbroken, Shannon felt an overwhelming need to act. She thought there must be an organization like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, but for gun violence prevention. There was no such organization. Watts decided then and there that she needed to build it.
Fight like a Mother is the powerful story of how one mother’s cry for change started a national women’s movement—Moms Demand Action—to fight some of the richest and most powerful people in America: the gun lobby. It is a riveting account of how outraged mothers became engaged activists, creating a powerful grassroots network of local chapters in all 50 states. Along with her observations and wisdom, Watts shares inspiring messages of perseverance, courage, and compassion, and outlines the core mantras and principles that Moms Demand Action has used to battle the NRA and the intimidating tactics they use to prevent gun safety progress.
Most of all, Fight like a Mother explores the unique power of women—starting with what they have, owning their expertise, asking for help, and doubling down instead of backing down. While not everyone can be on the front lines lobbying congress, every mom is already an organizer, and Shannon shows them how to put their skills to use in their own community, in their own way. Bringing activism into the everyday, Fight like a Mother will inspire everyone—mothers and fathers, students and teachers, lawmakers, and anyone who is outraged, angry, and motivated to work for change— to get to work transforming hearts, minds, and laws.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2019
107 people are currently reading
2210 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Watts
2 books28 followersShannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action, the largest grassroots group fighting gun violence in the U.S. Known as the "summoner of women’s audacity," she has been named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, a Forbes 50 over 50 Changemaker, and a Glamour Woman of the Year. She recently organized the largest Zoom gathering in history, mobilizing over 200K voters and raising over $11 million in support of Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign. Watts is an active board member of Emerge America, one of the nation’s leading organizations for recruiting and training women to run for office.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
June 16, 2019
From its spur of the moment inception following the devastation at Sandy Hook to its rapid growth, branding, successes, and challenges, this is the in-depth story behind Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Thank you, Shannon Watts, and all members/volunteers, for your tireless work and dedication. I’m proud to be a member of my local chapter.
April 25, 2019
I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of the book. A group of 17 women read and discussed the book. We were affirmed, energized, excited by Shannon's words. There is no book more appropriate or meaningful for a group of women activists. Our highlighters ran dry as we reacted to her comments. Her book is an affirmation of our beliefs, a Balm of Gilead to the struggles and emotions that we experience daily, and a battle plan that speaks to our mission. Shannon wanted to “bring together a badass group of women . . . .and raise an army of tough mothers.” Her goals have been exceeded.
January 25, 2025
Badass heroine.
April 25, 2019
Loved this book. If you’re a mom, or a grandma like me, who feels that you don’t have enough power over what happens in our country, read this book. Shannon Watts does a great job of showing that moms are a FORCE. We need to find our voice, be brave, organize, and know that we hold a vast amount of power if we will just use it.
April 25, 2019
Our book club was able to read the unedited version! It was fantastic. Shannon speaks plainly and the book is easy to read. She offers loads of advice for organizing a grassroots movement as well as fully explaining the position of Moms Demand Action.
Read
February 16, 2019I can't rate this book because I collaborated on the writing of it -- a huge honor and career highlight! I am so inspired by Shannon Watts and everyone who is part of the organization she started, Moms Demand Action. This has been a life-changing project from me; it has already gotten me to testify at the state house in defense of a bill I care deeply about (at 1:45 am, no less). I had to read it over as part of the editorial process, so I figured, it totally counts toward my goal of reading 52 books this year. :)
Read
May 24, 2020
June 27, 2025
This powerful guide is for women who want to live authentically and create meaningful change. After leading the gun safety movement for eleven years, Watts decided to take a step back and reflect on what she learned about helping women "come alive." Through interviews with over seventy women from diverse backgrounds, she presents a formula for living "fired up"—aligning one’s abilities, values, and desires to create a fulfilling life. This inspiring memoir and practical roadmap showcase Watts' vulnerability as she shares her journey from a failed marriage and career disappointments to discovering her true calling at the age of forty-one.
One aspect that resonated with me was how Watts reframes the common fear that pursuing our desires means sacrificing our roles as mothers. She insightfully notes that children ultimately take pride in their mothers who seek meaningful work beyond parenting, which feels both liberating and essential. I appreciated how she combines personal storytelling with actionable advice, making it seem as though a wise mentor is guiding you through the challenges of significant life changes. Her discussion of "extinguishers"—such as perfectionism, fear of failure, and self-sabotage—along with concrete strategies for overcoming these obstacles, was incredibly helpful. This book serves as a reminder that it's never too late to ask yourself what you truly want and inspires the courage to pursue it.
To listen to my interview with the author, visit my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
One aspect that resonated with me was how Watts reframes the common fear that pursuing our desires means sacrificing our roles as mothers. She insightfully notes that children ultimately take pride in their mothers who seek meaningful work beyond parenting, which feels both liberating and essential. I appreciated how she combines personal storytelling with actionable advice, making it seem as though a wise mentor is guiding you through the challenges of significant life changes. Her discussion of "extinguishers"—such as perfectionism, fear of failure, and self-sabotage—along with concrete strategies for overcoming these obstacles, was incredibly helpful. This book serves as a reminder that it's never too late to ask yourself what you truly want and inspires the courage to pursue it.
To listen to my interview with the author, visit my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
July 29, 2019
I admire her tenacity, but sadly, I just didn't 'feel' this book like I thought I would. There is a lot of useful info in here, I guess I was just expecting something else. I would rate it about 4.3. My copy of this book was from a Goodreads giveaway.
July 30, 2019
Fight Like a Mother by Shannon Watts is essentially a guidebook for prospective volunteers in the organization she founded, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Watts explains how she came to establish the organization following the Sandy Hook school shooting tragedy in 2012 (via a Facebook group) and how advocacy on local, state, and national levels has led to the organization’s hard-fought victories against the NRA. Using her experience as a mother of five children, Watts grounds her assertions in the universally vital power of moms.
I expected a story with more aspects of memoir than this book actually has. I went in hoping for childhood memories and moments of reflection, but instead, I encountered a book written as though in the trenches. Watts is, indeed, in the midst of a mortal fight for sensible gun laws. I sensed the same urgency as the primary texts I’ve read of women leaders in other political movements, like the suffragettes of the early 1900s, in that she lists many dates and goals and events, without providing the big-picture analysis you’d expect from someone more removed from a movement. While the lists and short sections may make the book accessible to an audience unfamiliar with reading about political movements, it felt like a slog to me, and a disservice to Watts’ broad aspirations that she seemed to simplify.
It became evident early on, and more so as the book progressed, that Watts’ expected her audience to be predominantly moms who were not yet involved with Moms Demand Action. She refers to her reader using “you” and “we” and repeatedly cites women’s ‘mama bear’ powers as emblems of organizing strength. Perhaps Watts knows her audience better than I do, but I felt that the bulleted lists and section breaks every few paragraphs didn’t give her audience enough credit. Structurally, the book bounced around chronologically and repetitively in terms of the group’s goals, failures, and achievements.
Watts did do a strong job of encouraging women to volunteer, and emphasized not only the changes to gun policy that desperately need to occur, but also the sense of community and purpose that Moms Demand Action volunteers gain. It felt like an effective recruiting tactic for apprehensive first-timers. And I do not want to discredit Watts’ amazing accomplishments—Moms Demand Action volunteers instruct Americans on safe gun practices every fifteen minutes. Still, for a book that was co-written (or ghost written), it lacks a strong organizational structure to carry a reader like myself—not a mom but someone interested in gun control and women in politics—through all 250 pages.
Overall, Fight Like a Mother is an important artifact in the fight for gun control, and a great example of a women-led nonpartisan organization. Watts offers excellent strategies on keeping one’s family safe in domestic settings where guns might be present. I also enjoyed hearing how she discussed gun violence with her own children. I gather that many moms will, indeed, find this to be an inspiring and accessible text, as it should be. I only wish Watts’ had access to sharper editing, both to make the story more reflective and to widen the book’s audience.
I expected a story with more aspects of memoir than this book actually has. I went in hoping for childhood memories and moments of reflection, but instead, I encountered a book written as though in the trenches. Watts is, indeed, in the midst of a mortal fight for sensible gun laws. I sensed the same urgency as the primary texts I’ve read of women leaders in other political movements, like the suffragettes of the early 1900s, in that she lists many dates and goals and events, without providing the big-picture analysis you’d expect from someone more removed from a movement. While the lists and short sections may make the book accessible to an audience unfamiliar with reading about political movements, it felt like a slog to me, and a disservice to Watts’ broad aspirations that she seemed to simplify.
It became evident early on, and more so as the book progressed, that Watts’ expected her audience to be predominantly moms who were not yet involved with Moms Demand Action. She refers to her reader using “you” and “we” and repeatedly cites women’s ‘mama bear’ powers as emblems of organizing strength. Perhaps Watts knows her audience better than I do, but I felt that the bulleted lists and section breaks every few paragraphs didn’t give her audience enough credit. Structurally, the book bounced around chronologically and repetitively in terms of the group’s goals, failures, and achievements.
Watts did do a strong job of encouraging women to volunteer, and emphasized not only the changes to gun policy that desperately need to occur, but also the sense of community and purpose that Moms Demand Action volunteers gain. It felt like an effective recruiting tactic for apprehensive first-timers. And I do not want to discredit Watts’ amazing accomplishments—Moms Demand Action volunteers instruct Americans on safe gun practices every fifteen minutes. Still, for a book that was co-written (or ghost written), it lacks a strong organizational structure to carry a reader like myself—not a mom but someone interested in gun control and women in politics—through all 250 pages.
Overall, Fight Like a Mother is an important artifact in the fight for gun control, and a great example of a women-led nonpartisan organization. Watts offers excellent strategies on keeping one’s family safe in domestic settings where guns might be present. I also enjoyed hearing how she discussed gun violence with her own children. I gather that many moms will, indeed, find this to be an inspiring and accessible text, as it should be. I only wish Watts’ had access to sharper editing, both to make the story more reflective and to widen the book’s audience.
June 11, 2019
I love Shannon Watts. Seriously, I adore her. I just expected to feel more pumped reading this? Maybe my expectations were too high.
July 12, 2019
5 stars for the Moms Demand Movement, 2 stars for this book.
Disclaimer: I'm a MDA volunteer lead for my local chapter. However to be perfectly honest, this book kind of bored me. Maybe it was the chapters that kept specifically referencing other chapters (both still coming up and already read up to that point). Maybe it was how off-topic it seemed to get at times (a whole section on branding - really? what does that have to do with anything described in the book title?). Maybe it was the lack of any memoir-esque insight into Shannon Watts herself or any real interesting deep insight into how the movement went from a Facebook page to it's current connection with Everytown. Maybe it was the lack of detail about the subject matter itself that inspired this movement (the Gun Lobby mentioned in the title) or a deeper look into gun violence beyond some mere listing of stats. Maybe it was the vast over simplification of how a woman's role of mom translates into running for office (apparently the financial aspects of running a campaign is comparable to having a household budget - I am not even making that example up). Maybe it's the fact that this book was obviously written by someone who is not a writer by profession (no offense to Shannon Watts).
I was incredibly frustrated by this book, because I felt like I couldn't recommend it to my fellow MDA volunteers (it doesn't seem really directed at us as an audience and we know most of the information given in this book) and I couldn't recommend it to non-MDA volunteers in the hopes of inspiring them to get involved in MDA (it doesn't really delve much into gun violence itself). So I'm left wondering - who is this book for?
Disclaimer: I'm a MDA volunteer lead for my local chapter. However to be perfectly honest, this book kind of bored me. Maybe it was the chapters that kept specifically referencing other chapters (both still coming up and already read up to that point). Maybe it was how off-topic it seemed to get at times (a whole section on branding - really? what does that have to do with anything described in the book title?). Maybe it was the lack of any memoir-esque insight into Shannon Watts herself or any real interesting deep insight into how the movement went from a Facebook page to it's current connection with Everytown. Maybe it was the lack of detail about the subject matter itself that inspired this movement (the Gun Lobby mentioned in the title) or a deeper look into gun violence beyond some mere listing of stats. Maybe it was the vast over simplification of how a woman's role of mom translates into running for office (apparently the financial aspects of running a campaign is comparable to having a household budget - I am not even making that example up). Maybe it's the fact that this book was obviously written by someone who is not a writer by profession (no offense to Shannon Watts).
I was incredibly frustrated by this book, because I felt like I couldn't recommend it to my fellow MDA volunteers (it doesn't seem really directed at us as an audience and we know most of the information given in this book) and I couldn't recommend it to non-MDA volunteers in the hopes of inspiring them to get involved in MDA (it doesn't really delve much into gun violence itself). So I'm left wondering - who is this book for?
November 26, 2019
More than a book about gun policy! It's a book about activism, feminism, intersectionality, and generally making the world a better place. Strongly recommend this book!
October 19, 2022
This book sets the record straight on this grassroots "pro-gun safety" organization which is not trying to take anyone's guns away; but wants to keep us and our children safe by promoting policies and practices that will keep guns away from unstable individuals. I like their middle-ground approach.
June 22, 2019
This book was a masterclass in how to #KeepGoing. This book offers the wisdom and insight on how to build your own advocacy work, in the face of opposition, doubt and exhaustion. A fantastic read for long-time volunteers or people just starting out in this work.
June 9, 2019
This was probably the most interesting nonfiction book I've read in a while. I know Shannon had a writer who helped her and they made a dynamic pair. Compelling narrative plus a sparkling style made for a great book. The first half dazzled me more than the second as I am not personally planning to start my own chapter. I was motivated to buy myself shirts and I plan on helping our local chapter more.
Great cause, wonderful woman and inspired writing.
Great cause, wonderful woman and inspired writing.
September 23, 2024
“There’s a long history of a mothers indignation being a force for political change, and there may be times when it’s just the thing to propel you into action.”
This book truly changed me. Politics can be incredibly overwhelming these days, but Shannon Watts’ story has fueled the activist in me. Mom’s Demand Action started out as a Facebook page (created the day after the Sandy Hook shooting) has turned into an army of moms, equipped with posters and pacifiers. She has built this massive grassroots movement combating gun violence and it is inspiring. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking to be more involved in eradicating the gun lobby.
Here are some staggering facts for you:
-Women in the United States – which has more gun in the country than the next 25 countries combined – are eleven time more likely to be killed by a gun than women in other high-income countries.
-In an average month, fifty American women are shot to death by an intimate partner.
-4.5 million American women alive today have been threatened by an intimate partner with a gun.
-Background checks to do not apply to online sales, gun shows, or with unlicensed dealers. This has allowed more guns to get in the hands of dangerous vigilantes/abusers.
This book truly changed me. Politics can be incredibly overwhelming these days, but Shannon Watts’ story has fueled the activist in me. Mom’s Demand Action started out as a Facebook page (created the day after the Sandy Hook shooting) has turned into an army of moms, equipped with posters and pacifiers. She has built this massive grassroots movement combating gun violence and it is inspiring. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking to be more involved in eradicating the gun lobby.
Here are some staggering facts for you:
-Women in the United States – which has more gun in the country than the next 25 countries combined – are eleven time more likely to be killed by a gun than women in other high-income countries.
-In an average month, fifty American women are shot to death by an intimate partner.
-4.5 million American women alive today have been threatened by an intimate partner with a gun.
-Background checks to do not apply to online sales, gun shows, or with unlicensed dealers. This has allowed more guns to get in the hands of dangerous vigilantes/abusers.
July 17, 2019
It takes a lot for me to read non fiction.............this book did not disappoint. Part activist manual, part feminist tome, part empowerment tool and a whole hell of a lot of common senses info. I was was inspired & encourage. #keepgoing
August 13, 2019
Very powerful and packed with so much good information!
January 11, 2020
This is a wonderfully encouraging, data-driven book for anyone interested or involved in Moms Demand Action.
November 14, 2019
Such an interesting story of how this movement started and what it is doing to help prevent gun violence. I learned so much and felt both hopeful and empowered to help make common sense changes in my community.
March 1, 2020
Not as good as I wanted it to be. Way too much "how to" and not enough "why to."
May 8, 2019
Fight Like A Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World was written by Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, who created the group as a Facebook page in her kitchen after the events of Sandy Hook. The group now has over five million supporters working to end gun violence and Watts has testified on gun violence before lawmakers.
Watts has delivered an engaging and insightful book on the battle to end gun violence. It is both a rallying cry and a how-to for anyone who wants to change the gun laws in the United States – especially moms.
Watts has delivered an engaging and insightful book on the battle to end gun violence. It is both a rallying cry and a how-to for anyone who wants to change the gun laws in the United States – especially moms.
June 1, 2019
Great book about a badass mom and an unstoppable group!
May 8, 2019
This is a must read for anyone, especially moms, who want to do something about gun violence. I feel more well informed and inspired to effect change. I enjoyed the useful statistics as well as the achievements that Moms Demand Action have reached. Highly recommend.
April 10, 2019
Part personal account, part “How To” manual and part PR recruitment tool for her organization, Shannon Watts’ Fight Like a Mother is a call to action aimed specifically at mothers who are concerned about the current state of gun control in the U.S. Spurred to action after the horrific events at Sandy Hook, Watts founded Moms Demand Action, a national movement that grew out of her Facebook page. This book details the evolution of the grassroots group and recounts the successes and “losing forward” events that have resulted from its efforts. Watts emphasizes how the skill sets mothers often already possess can be utilized for activism and encourages those who may be reluctant to participate. She discusses how to recruit and motivate volunteers, build expertise through networks and data collection, use social media for low-cost message distribution, and combat challenges to delegation and life/work balance. Throughout, Watts uses her own experiences to highlight potential pitfalls and recommend methods for maintaining momentum. She provides advice for finding solutions to common internal and external roadblocks that can occur when addressing a complex and controversial issue. Like any book based on constantly-evolving current events, Fight Like a Mother will inevitably contain some expiring data in the time it takes to be published. Still, there is plenty of extremely useful and inspiring information that Watts provides for anyone who desires to contribute to the gun reform debate or even build a movement of their own.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for an ARC of this book in exchange for an objective review.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for an ARC of this book in exchange for an objective review.
June 19, 2019
Part memoir, part self-help guide, part how-to manual. A perfect read for those interested in gun violence prevention advocacy.
September 6, 2019
There's no question that I deeply admire Shannon Watts" and that I am definitely the target audience for "Fight Like a Mother."
No, I am not a mother. Or a father.
I'm an activist. I'm someone who has tried to do something, not so much specific to gun violence but in the area of violence toward children. I'm in a wheelchair and I've spent 30 years of my life traveling around by wheelchair raising awareness and money for non-profits working to end violence in the lives of children. This year, actually in about 3-4 weeks, I'll do my last "tour."
Truthfully, I read "Fight Like a Mother" both to support Watts and for my own inspiration as I move into this final event and into new ways to make a difference. I've been struggling with the transition and I really picked up this book because I wanted to click into a solid rhythm for this last event and into a solid vision for life past my own event, The Tenderness Tour.
I struggled early on with the book, the first couple chapters essentially being a celebration of mothers and how they fight. I couldn't identify with it, to be honest. In my case, speaking my truth about my childhood violence ended my relationship with my mother. There was no "fight." There was disconnection. Choosing to be involved in this work? It has only made it worse.
But then, something clicked for me with "Fight Like a Mother."
First off, I like the way Watts balances first-person testimonial with an organized way of teaching non-profit, grassroots organizing management. While I've seen some negative comments around the material's nitty gritty, like social media and brand management, the truth is these are absolutely vital components of getting a message out there and I love that they are addressed here. Even in reading these chapters, I can see with more clarity why this thing I devoted 30 years of my life to never really grew beyond "grassroots." I see mistakes I've made. I also see successes and why people, even if it has been a small little village, have remained loyal to it all these years.
I appreciate the call into one's own strengths. I appreciate the idea of doing "something" even before you're ready. I appreciate the chapter on myths. I appreciate the research.
Watts writes from a very relaxed place - it's less inspirational "rah rah" and more feeling like you've got a soul sister on your side if you choose to do this work. Watts is less worried about falsely inspiring someone and more into the idea of motivating someone to do something.
The truth is that even my own grassroots efforts have always been dominated by women - easily 90%. Part of this is the cause - children's issues. Part of this is my own disability - my experience has always been that women tend to be more comfy with disability. Part of this, to be honest, is also me - being a sexual abuse survivor, I've always been more comfy working with women. While Watts doesn't really specifically write to women, in a book called "Fight Like a Mother" you should probably expect that a good amount of the material is going to focus on women and their specific needs and strengths in activism along with cultural issues around it. Watts doesn't flinch in discussing the inherent sexism present in both business and political systems along with the obvious (and it is obvious) sexism of the NRA and similar groups.
So, I'm not sure I consider "Fight Like a Mother" to be the perfect book, but I think it was the perfect book for me at the perfect time for me. I needed this book right now and Shannon Watts delivered exactly what I needed. So, yeah. 5 stars it is.
No, I am not a mother. Or a father.
I'm an activist. I'm someone who has tried to do something, not so much specific to gun violence but in the area of violence toward children. I'm in a wheelchair and I've spent 30 years of my life traveling around by wheelchair raising awareness and money for non-profits working to end violence in the lives of children. This year, actually in about 3-4 weeks, I'll do my last "tour."
Truthfully, I read "Fight Like a Mother" both to support Watts and for my own inspiration as I move into this final event and into new ways to make a difference. I've been struggling with the transition and I really picked up this book because I wanted to click into a solid rhythm for this last event and into a solid vision for life past my own event, The Tenderness Tour.
I struggled early on with the book, the first couple chapters essentially being a celebration of mothers and how they fight. I couldn't identify with it, to be honest. In my case, speaking my truth about my childhood violence ended my relationship with my mother. There was no "fight." There was disconnection. Choosing to be involved in this work? It has only made it worse.
But then, something clicked for me with "Fight Like a Mother."
First off, I like the way Watts balances first-person testimonial with an organized way of teaching non-profit, grassroots organizing management. While I've seen some negative comments around the material's nitty gritty, like social media and brand management, the truth is these are absolutely vital components of getting a message out there and I love that they are addressed here. Even in reading these chapters, I can see with more clarity why this thing I devoted 30 years of my life to never really grew beyond "grassroots." I see mistakes I've made. I also see successes and why people, even if it has been a small little village, have remained loyal to it all these years.
I appreciate the call into one's own strengths. I appreciate the idea of doing "something" even before you're ready. I appreciate the chapter on myths. I appreciate the research.
Watts writes from a very relaxed place - it's less inspirational "rah rah" and more feeling like you've got a soul sister on your side if you choose to do this work. Watts is less worried about falsely inspiring someone and more into the idea of motivating someone to do something.
The truth is that even my own grassroots efforts have always been dominated by women - easily 90%. Part of this is the cause - children's issues. Part of this is my own disability - my experience has always been that women tend to be more comfy with disability. Part of this, to be honest, is also me - being a sexual abuse survivor, I've always been more comfy working with women. While Watts doesn't really specifically write to women, in a book called "Fight Like a Mother" you should probably expect that a good amount of the material is going to focus on women and their specific needs and strengths in activism along with cultural issues around it. Watts doesn't flinch in discussing the inherent sexism present in both business and political systems along with the obvious (and it is obvious) sexism of the NRA and similar groups.
So, I'm not sure I consider "Fight Like a Mother" to be the perfect book, but I think it was the perfect book for me at the perfect time for me. I needed this book right now and Shannon Watts delivered exactly what I needed. So, yeah. 5 stars it is.
May 13, 2020
Today's Non-Fiction post is on Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World by Shannon Watts. It is 304 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is white with a picture of the group Moms Demand Action on it. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the group Moms Demand Action, interested in learning how to create a group movement, or someone who is interested in gun lobby and government. There is mild foul language, no sex, and discussion of violence. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- Protecting Kids from Unsafe Gun Laws Takes a Movement of Moms.
Shannon Watts was a stay-at-home mom folding laundry when news broke of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Outraged, Watts decided to do something about it. Fight like a Mother is the incredible account of how one mother's cry for change became the driving force behind gun safety progress. What started as a simple Facebook group to connect with other frustrated parents grew into Moms Demand Action, a national movement with millions of supporters and a powerful grassroots network of local chapters in all fifty states.
Watts has been called 'the NRA worst nightmare'- and her army of moms has bravely gone up against the gun lobby, showing up in their signature re shirts, blocking the hallways of Congress with their strollers, electing gun sense candidates and running for office themselves, and proving that if the 80 million moms in this country come together, they can put an end to gun violence.
Fight like a Mother will inspire everyone- mothers and fathers, students and teachers, an anyone motivated to enact change- to get to work transforming hearts and minds, and passing laws that save lives.
Review- An interesting, moving, and informative nonfiction read about how a grassroots movement can be a true force to be reckoned with. Watts starts with herself at home the day of the Sandy Hook shooting and the horror that overcame her. From there we travel with her from her creating her Facebook page all the way to 2018 and all the ways that Moms Demand Action have moved across America. Watts gives good advice about starting a movement, about having goals, and having expectations. It is very written, not overly emotionally but it does not play down the seriousness of gun violence and the trauma of those who survive it. This is both a useful guide for movements and a a study in gun violence in America. I enjoyed reading this and I would recommend it.
I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this book as a gift.
From the back of the book- Protecting Kids from Unsafe Gun Laws Takes a Movement of Moms.
Shannon Watts was a stay-at-home mom folding laundry when news broke of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Outraged, Watts decided to do something about it. Fight like a Mother is the incredible account of how one mother's cry for change became the driving force behind gun safety progress. What started as a simple Facebook group to connect with other frustrated parents grew into Moms Demand Action, a national movement with millions of supporters and a powerful grassroots network of local chapters in all fifty states.
Watts has been called 'the NRA worst nightmare'- and her army of moms has bravely gone up against the gun lobby, showing up in their signature re shirts, blocking the hallways of Congress with their strollers, electing gun sense candidates and running for office themselves, and proving that if the 80 million moms in this country come together, they can put an end to gun violence.
Fight like a Mother will inspire everyone- mothers and fathers, students and teachers, an anyone motivated to enact change- to get to work transforming hearts and minds, and passing laws that save lives.
Review- An interesting, moving, and informative nonfiction read about how a grassroots movement can be a true force to be reckoned with. Watts starts with herself at home the day of the Sandy Hook shooting and the horror that overcame her. From there we travel with her from her creating her Facebook page all the way to 2018 and all the ways that Moms Demand Action have moved across America. Watts gives good advice about starting a movement, about having goals, and having expectations. It is very written, not overly emotionally but it does not play down the seriousness of gun violence and the trauma of those who survive it. This is both a useful guide for movements and a a study in gun violence in America. I enjoyed reading this and I would recommend it.
I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this book as a gift.
July 24, 2019
If you're a parent who has ever wondered what you can do to help address the issue of gun violence in the U.S., then this is a book for you. It will energize you and have you start thinking differently about what each of us can do to make an impact on this issue, especially when most of us feel the problem is too big to tackle. This book is partially a memoir - Watts recalls the story of what finally motivated her to take action on an issue that can make many parents feel helpless and frightened about how we can protect our children. The books is also a call to the reader to engage in some of the small, everyday, actions that can make a difference in fighting back against the gun lobby. Watts recounts many of the ways that mothers/women have made huge differences in the past and why these are examples for how we can make a difference today. Still, in many ways Watt's advice is applicable to any person who wonders 'how can I really make a difference in this world?' - it doesn't have to just be about the gun lobby - which is why I found much of the book enlightening, to think about how these ideas can be applied in other circumstances.
Although Watts acknowledges that not every person in America is has the resources or means to make actually act against some of this 'big problem issues' in our country, I felt disappointed that there was more attention in the book around this issue. It's very easy for privileged individuals, who have a supportive partner at home, to empower their loved one to go out and 'change the world'; but, the reality is, is that for millions of Americans who are touched by issues like gun violence, they are a lot less lucky. For this reason, I felt that a huge portion of the intended audience of this book might feel left out of Watts' vision on how mothers can address the gun lobby. More importantly, this leaves out the story of how those of us who are privileged can advocate for the women who cannot speak and act for themselves when it comes to this issue...
One thing I really liked about the book - at the end, Watts offers advice for how to speak to your children about mass shootings and throughout the book there are a number of valuable 'resources' that can support parents around this issue. I just wish I had this kind of information months or even years ago because, as a parent, I never feel like I have solid advice that is useful around these difficult conversations with our kids.
Although Watts acknowledges that not every person in America is has the resources or means to make actually act against some of this 'big problem issues' in our country, I felt disappointed that there was more attention in the book around this issue. It's very easy for privileged individuals, who have a supportive partner at home, to empower their loved one to go out and 'change the world'; but, the reality is, is that for millions of Americans who are touched by issues like gun violence, they are a lot less lucky. For this reason, I felt that a huge portion of the intended audience of this book might feel left out of Watts' vision on how mothers can address the gun lobby. More importantly, this leaves out the story of how those of us who are privileged can advocate for the women who cannot speak and act for themselves when it comes to this issue...
One thing I really liked about the book - at the end, Watts offers advice for how to speak to your children about mass shootings and throughout the book there are a number of valuable 'resources' that can support parents around this issue. I just wish I had this kind of information months or even years ago because, as a parent, I never feel like I have solid advice that is useful around these difficult conversations with our kids.
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