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We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris: How to Use Your Voice, Be Assertive, and Own Your Story
Inspirational lessons about life, work, and overcoming adversity—drawn from Kamala Harris's norm-shattering ascent to Vice President of the United States.
Kamala Harris is one of our country's most awe-inspiring political figures, dawning on a new age as the first—but not last—Black and Asian-American female Vice President. Having spent her entire career smashing glass ceilings and influencing the next generation of young women, Harris has completely redefined what it means to be a woman in politics.
In We’re Speaking, Palepu connects illuminating stories from Harris’ unique biography with tactical advice about learning to own the power of your multitudes, acting on your ambition, finding your North Star to guide your decisions, and developing your unique voice and style. We're Speaking will leave you feeling empowered to follow in Harris's footsteps — shattering glass ceilings of your own as you live the life of your dreams.
Kamala Harris is one of our country's most awe-inspiring political figures, dawning on a new age as the first—but not last—Black and Asian-American female Vice President. Having spent her entire career smashing glass ceilings and influencing the next generation of young women, Harris has completely redefined what it means to be a woman in politics.
In We’re Speaking, Palepu connects illuminating stories from Harris’ unique biography with tactical advice about learning to own the power of your multitudes, acting on your ambition, finding your North Star to guide your decisions, and developing your unique voice and style. We're Speaking will leave you feeling empowered to follow in Harris's footsteps — shattering glass ceilings of your own as you live the life of your dreams.
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Published October 19, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 18, 2021
Owning this book is like owning an important piece of history. VP Harris and Hitha are both role models for me and I think this book would make a great gift for anyone who needs motivation and inspiration! Highly recommend!
November 7, 2021
3.5 stars
This is an unusual book. While it is advertised as life lessons of Kamala Harris, it is more a self-help book than it is a summary of her story. I thought the advice was good; it is very much tailored to women, especially women of color.
I would have liked to have seen more critique. The narrative around Harris is 100% positive. While I think it's great to admire someone and use their experience to inspire yourself and others, there are also benefits of taking a balanced perspective, especially when focused on self-improvement.
I received this book for free in a Goodreads Giveaway.
This is an unusual book. While it is advertised as life lessons of Kamala Harris, it is more a self-help book than it is a summary of her story. I thought the advice was good; it is very much tailored to women, especially women of color.
I would have liked to have seen more critique. The narrative around Harris is 100% positive. While I think it's great to admire someone and use their experience to inspire yourself and others, there are also benefits of taking a balanced perspective, especially when focused on self-improvement.
I received this book for free in a Goodreads Giveaway.
October 19, 2021
Inspirational and compelling. I was drawn in by the first pages and already knew this was a book that makes a perfect gift for women and men. It's the type to return to, again and again. I applaud the author for this!
January 11, 2023
What an uplifting way to start the year! At first glance, this looks like a love letter to our first black female VP, but it transforms into a love letter to womxn, and especially those of color, everywhere. I learned so much about Kamala and her values, such as how to reclaim free or joyful "unicorn time", the power of pearls (and of course, words) when self-advocating, and the value of recognizing my own multi-hyphenated career. I am the "whole of my contributions", not simply my work. I love that author Palepu encouraged readers to take notes directly on the pages, to encourage inspiration and continue learning, because that's exactly what I did. We're speaking.
November 12, 2021
Empowering and inspiring! This is a must read! Engaging and powerful stories impart life lessons to grow with!
December 2, 2023
Just not my thing
July 26, 2024
ALL THE COCONUTS FOR (current) VP KAMALA!
We’re Speaking provides inspirational lessons about life, work, and overcoming adversity—drawn from Kamala Harris's norm-shattering ascent to Vice President of the United States. Kamala Harris is one of our country's most awe-inspiring political figures, dawning on a new age as the first—but not last—Black and Asian-American female Vice President. Having spent her entire career smashing glass ceilings and influencing the next generation of young women, Harris has completely redefined what it means to be a woman in politics. In We’re Speaking , Palepu connects illuminating stories from Harris’ unique biography with tactical advice that will teach you to : Best of all, We're Speaking will leave you feeling empowered to follow in Harris's footsteps — shattering glass ceilings of your own as you live the life of your dreams! (Goodreads synopsis)
Ahh this book was just so fantastic! I absolutely adore @hithapalepu and while this book has been on my tbr for a while, when Biden stepped down and Kamala stepped up, I knew it needed to be my next read! This book is so much more than just a story about Kamala, it is truly a love letter to women. I learned a ton about our wonderful Presidential Nominee, but I also learned more about finding my own voice. I feel so much hope in recent days, and while November is still months away, and the fight is not going to end there, I am so excited to see what Kamala can and will do! Is she perfect? Of course not. No candidate ever will be, but I truly believe in the future we can have with her at the helm.
We’re Speaking provides inspirational lessons about life, work, and overcoming adversity—drawn from Kamala Harris's norm-shattering ascent to Vice President of the United States. Kamala Harris is one of our country's most awe-inspiring political figures, dawning on a new age as the first—but not last—Black and Asian-American female Vice President. Having spent her entire career smashing glass ceilings and influencing the next generation of young women, Harris has completely redefined what it means to be a woman in politics. In We’re Speaking , Palepu connects illuminating stories from Harris’ unique biography with tactical advice that will teach you to : Best of all, We're Speaking will leave you feeling empowered to follow in Harris's footsteps — shattering glass ceilings of your own as you live the life of your dreams! (Goodreads synopsis)
Ahh this book was just so fantastic! I absolutely adore @hithapalepu and while this book has been on my tbr for a while, when Biden stepped down and Kamala stepped up, I knew it needed to be my next read! This book is so much more than just a story about Kamala, it is truly a love letter to women. I learned a ton about our wonderful Presidential Nominee, but I also learned more about finding my own voice. I feel so much hope in recent days, and while November is still months away, and the fight is not going to end there, I am so excited to see what Kamala can and will do! Is she perfect? Of course not. No candidate ever will be, but I truly believe in the future we can have with her at the helm.
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December 4, 2021“We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris: How to Use Your Voice, Be Assertive, and Own Your Story” by Hitha Palepu is exactly as it sounds: a clear-cut self-help book that gives implementable advice inspired by the Vice President of the United States. It is similar to reading the SparkNotes of Harris' memoirs, interviews, and biographies.
Though the title suggests the book dissects advice from Kamala Harris' experiences, it includes many examples from the author's own life as well. I found these to standout even more than the examples drawn from Harris' life. This is unsurprising as Palepu is an accomplished multi-hyphenate woman. She is the CEO of Rhoshan Pharmeaceticuals, investment partner in Adama Ventures, and runs the successful blog Hitha On The Go. It is no wonder she has advice to offer ambitious young women, especially WOC, from her successes, failures, and ongoing challenges. In some chapters, her advice carries great weight: how to assert yourself in a room where you are the minority or feel unconfident. In others, it is refreshingly realistic, like her tradeoff to keep clean laundry in the basket to save time.
Without the illustration of implementing these lessons in her own life, "We're Speaking" would have read like a distant observation on Kamala Harris' ceiling-breaking career. While there is undoubtedly a lot to learn from the Vice President's journey—both her wins and missteps—readers who are looking for a self-help book by a woman of color they can relate to will more likely find that in Hitha Palepu herself.
Though the title suggests the book dissects advice from Kamala Harris' experiences, it includes many examples from the author's own life as well. I found these to standout even more than the examples drawn from Harris' life. This is unsurprising as Palepu is an accomplished multi-hyphenate woman. She is the CEO of Rhoshan Pharmeaceticuals, investment partner in Adama Ventures, and runs the successful blog Hitha On The Go. It is no wonder she has advice to offer ambitious young women, especially WOC, from her successes, failures, and ongoing challenges. In some chapters, her advice carries great weight: how to assert yourself in a room where you are the minority or feel unconfident. In others, it is refreshingly realistic, like her tradeoff to keep clean laundry in the basket to save time.
Without the illustration of implementing these lessons in her own life, "We're Speaking" would have read like a distant observation on Kamala Harris' ceiling-breaking career. While there is undoubtedly a lot to learn from the Vice President's journey—both her wins and missteps—readers who are looking for a self-help book by a woman of color they can relate to will more likely find that in Hitha Palepu herself.
December 21, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Little, Brown and Company – Little, Brown Spark in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
In the historic moment when Kamala Harris was named the first female Vice President, shock and awe roamed the entire country filled with hope. The heritage behind Kamala and what motivated her to join the game of politics and get through the grind and gruel that go with it gets you wondering how does she do it? Hitha Palepu gets up close and personal in Kamala’s professional and personal life everything down to her role in the white house to her morning yoga routine and she even included a recipe to Kamala’s favorite Tuna Fish Sandwich. Through this book, you’ll feel like you know Kamala not only as the Vice President of the United States but, the empowered woman she is away from the white house.
We will consider adding this title to our Self Help collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
In the historic moment when Kamala Harris was named the first female Vice President, shock and awe roamed the entire country filled with hope. The heritage behind Kamala and what motivated her to join the game of politics and get through the grind and gruel that go with it gets you wondering how does she do it? Hitha Palepu gets up close and personal in Kamala’s professional and personal life everything down to her role in the white house to her morning yoga routine and she even included a recipe to Kamala’s favorite Tuna Fish Sandwich. Through this book, you’ll feel like you know Kamala not only as the Vice President of the United States but, the empowered woman she is away from the white house.
We will consider adding this title to our Self Help collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
October 24, 2021
Inspiring and therapeutic!
This book is so much more than I initially anticipated. I was expecting to learn more about the life and career of my Vice President and Soror, Kamala Harris, but in turn, I finished this book learning more about myself. The way in which author Hitha Palepu intertwines Kamala Harris’ personal life and career with her own and reveals how the reader too can broach similar circumstances is both productive and impactful. This writing style and method gives the reader purpose to remain engaged and leaves a lasting impression because the lessons shared are relatable.
The inclusion of short stories from other women and illustrations brought an additional layer of creativity. This is not your typical memoir. This book will not only educate you on Kamala Harris and Hitha Palepu, but most importantly it will transcend how you see yourself and how you show up, personally and professionally.
This book is so much more than I initially anticipated. I was expecting to learn more about the life and career of my Vice President and Soror, Kamala Harris, but in turn, I finished this book learning more about myself. The way in which author Hitha Palepu intertwines Kamala Harris’ personal life and career with her own and reveals how the reader too can broach similar circumstances is both productive and impactful. This writing style and method gives the reader purpose to remain engaged and leaves a lasting impression because the lessons shared are relatable.
The inclusion of short stories from other women and illustrations brought an additional layer of creativity. This is not your typical memoir. This book will not only educate you on Kamala Harris and Hitha Palepu, but most importantly it will transcend how you see yourself and how you show up, personally and professionally.
January 16, 2022
This book is so similar to @hithapalepu's Instgram, and I loved it for that. I consistently find Hitha's Insta to be one of the most informative and warm corners of the internet. She curates #5SmartReads every day for a news roundup, shares honestly about her journey as a multihyphanate, and just seems like a kick-ass woman. In this novel, she uses the life and words of her hero and mentor-from-afar Vice President Harris to provide tactical advice particularly for women. Hitha says, "The core principle of this book is to identify the false choices and narratives we find ourselves confined in, and to reject them outright the way Kamala Harris has." It's a fast read but a fascinating one, with a multitude of (diverse) voices to provide inspiration.
January 26, 2022
“We’re Speaking, The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris, How to Use Your Voice, Be Assertive, abd Own Your Story” is exactly what it is titled. It is a self help book teaching young women to “shatter the glass ceiling”. The book is informative and awe inspiring. It teaches us a bit of Vice President Harris history while sharing lessons that she followed to the White House. While I found her path impressive I had to say the author’s is impressive as well. The author also shares her experiences and her lessons. This quite an inspiring book and I will be sharing it with the young women in my social circle.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book in a gracious giveaway on Goodreads by Little, Brown, and Company. A review was not promised but I felt compelled to share my thoughts.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book in a gracious giveaway on Goodreads by Little, Brown, and Company. A review was not promised but I felt compelled to share my thoughts.
October 25, 2021
Inspiring and motivational-the author captures topics that are often not discussed (but should be) and connects them to VP Harris and how she has built her life. Reminding everyone that no one is perfect though, she doesn’t sugarcoat anything and gives the reader something to return to again and again at all stages of life. The book draws you in from the start and while you can read it front to back-you can also pick chapters as something to go back to when you need it the most. Highly recommend the book for yourself or a gift for that person who could use a little extra encouragement and guidance.
October 8, 2024
Note: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I actually meant to read this a while back when Harris first became VP, but I never got around to it. But now that she's running for president....why not? After reading the book, I mostly feel like I should just read Harris's memoir, but this was a nice way to frame how Harris conducts herself from a third person point of view.
I actually meant to read this a while back when Harris first became VP, but I never got around to it. But now that she's running for president....why not? After reading the book, I mostly feel like I should just read Harris's memoir, but this was a nice way to frame how Harris conducts herself from a third person point of view.
November 24, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for reviews.
This book is not only a story about Kamala Harris’ life. It's about the life lessons she takes to fulfill her dreams and passion. Feels like there's some tips about how to fulfill your own life as well as some life lessons.
This book is not only a story about Kamala Harris’ life. It's about the life lessons she takes to fulfill her dreams and passion. Feels like there's some tips about how to fulfill your own life as well as some life lessons.
May 11, 2022
This book was a must-read for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest opinion. I found it very interesting - and inspiring - to read stories from Kamala Harris' background as well as her career, and how it relates with being a woman in business today. Would definitely recommend!
August 24, 2022
I'm a huge Harris fan and have been following Hitha Palepu's IG for a while now, so this was a great way to learn more about our shared hero, KHM, and Palepu's own life and career (and lessons learned from KH's same). This will be a great one to pull out again when a little motivation or inspiration is needed in either a professional or personal sense.
August 4, 2024
Whether you're a fan of Kamala or not, this book illustrates the impact strong, confident, driven, moralistic and compassionate women have on all of us when they raise strong, confident, driven, moralistic and compassionate women. Recommended not just to learn about more about Kamala Harris and her background, but also for anyone needing a little "you go girl" boost.
October 9, 2024
A self help like book with advice for being a professional adult woman. The author is a bit of a Harris fan girl and based the advice on quotes and experiences of Harris’. She’s met Harris once. It was a little odd in that way to me. Overall it was interesting and good advice especially for younger professionals.
October 28, 2021
📚📚📚1/2
November 17, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much - a lesson and remarkable in its ability to inspire across generation, race, and politics. I think we all should have the opportunity to own our story.
March 10, 2022
Thank you Hitha Palepu for narrating and writing this book. You have a fresh voice and for this I thank you.
May 19, 2022
The author admires Harris so much that it comes off as overly fawning and unrealistic. It’s also a bit of a mishmash of stories, self help and hagiography.
May 3, 2023
super inspirational!
June 4, 2024
I expected to be inspired but it honestly felt like Lean In
August 8, 2024
(H) Started this a while ago but had to pick it back up given the resurgence of Madam President 🤞🤞🤞. Great for getting to know a bit more about her story
April 1, 2025
Really great book that utilizes the words and experiences of Kamala Harris to help women with various life challenges.
July 24, 2024
This is an absolute must read to not only get to know VP Kamala Harris but to find inspiration in what we can all do with our voices and especially when the odds are stacked against us. I greatly appreciated learning the facts behind VP Harris' upbringing and her career and the knowledge Hitha gave me with this book has not only encouraged conversations but offered the truth to be provided in those conversations. It is so great to read about how one woman found another to be of inspiration and then wrote a book about it so that we too could live and breathe that positivity.
November 27, 2021
This short, lively book packs an inspirational punch. Although Vice President Kamala Harris is the inspiration behind this manual, it is not a political book. Rather, "We're Speaking" is like a career pep talk for women in book form. If you're stalled out in work or in life, this book is a great tool to help get you out of a rut.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews