From the Bookshelf of Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge…

Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World

Kirsten Gillibrand,

Hillary Rodham Clinton (Foreword)

Why we're reading this: Political memoir
[close] Political memoir

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Apr 08, 2016 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was ok

Shelves: memoir-and-autobiographical-essays, politics-law-and-government

I had to read a "political memoir" for the Popsugar 2016 Reading Challenge. Political memoirs are not my thing - they seem like one long campaign ad - and I've never read one before. I chose this one because (1) as a New Yorker, Senator Gillibrand is my Senator (yes, I voted for her), (2) it was short!, (3) it got good reviews, and (4) the focus seemed to be on combating the pervasive sexism on our society, a theme near and dear to my heart. (Really, the first two reasons are what decided me, th I had to read a "political memoir" for the Popsugar 2016 Reading Challenge. Political memoirs are not my thing - they seem like one long campaign ad - and I've never read one before. I chose this one because (1) as a New Yorker, Senator Gillibrand is my Senator (yes, I voted for her), (2) it was short!, (3) it got good reviews, and (4) the focus seemed to be on combating the pervasive sexism on our society, a theme near and dear to my heart. (Really, the first two reasons are what decided me, the last two were just gravy.)

So, basically, I read this under duress.

Onward! What does Senator Gillibrand have to tell me?!

I was left with the impression (as I had anticipated) that she laid out a series of ten talking points, and then added detail in the form of personal anecdotes. (In the book, she tells us how she likes to tackle tasks by writing down a ten step action plan; I bet that's how she tackled this book too!) She doesn't miss an opportunity to remind us of her key points (she loves the Catholic Church! Women can have a career AND bake cookies!).

I started this book liking what little I knew about her (yep, she has my vote) and I finished it liking her about the same (yep, she still has my vote), but I was unpleasantly startled along the way to find how fervently Catholic she is. I would like religion to stay far away from politics, I don't like reading about Congressional Prayer Breakfasts or visits to Harlem churches to deliver speeches/sermons to the congregants. I was both amused and repulsed by the various Biblical stories Sen Gillbrand shares in this book. That's great that Sen Gillbrand's faith makes her happy, but keep it away from my government.

I was very happy with her strong feminist message. I was enraged by the stories of off-color and highly unwelcome comments about her appearance that she's had to endure. I was impressed by her message of what we can all do to improve our communities. I was saddened by the stories of loss, devastation and injustice that people have shared with her. I support her work to seek justice for victims of sexual assault.

But the very best parts of this book were the little personal details, small losses of temper, disappointing failures, and moments of imperfection that we all face. Those felt real, and not part of a talking point memo.

Best parts:

I fail more than I’d like to admit. Theo hates being late for baseball practice—and after 5:30 votes, he often is. Henry feels life deeply and can have a temper, and I don’t always redirect it well. When he fires off insults—“You’re the worst mommy ever!”—I attempt to state his feelings back to him so he can see that under his anger he’s usually disappointed or frustrated. Sometimes this works; other times, it doesn’t and he tries to kick me in the shins (tae kwon do–style, of course).

and

Day one in the Bay Area, we drove from San Francisco down to Silicon Valley, taking seven meetings back-to-back. I was exhausted. Every part of my pregnant body ached, so in the early evening, just before our last event, I asked if we could please stop by the hotel so I could rest for a minute, fix my makeup, and brush my teeth. The minute I entered my room, I crumpled. I was so tired, physically and emotionally, that I couldn’t stop crying for ten minutes. I honestly didn’t believe that I had the strength to pick myself up, put my game face back on, and head out the door. Fifteen minutes after I was supposed to have been downstairs at the car, Ross called me in my room.

Before he could say anything, I said, “I’m not coming down.” Ross said, “Kirsten, you have to come down.”

I said, “Go fuck yourself.” Very professional, I know.

At that moment, I hated Ross, I hated my job, and the last thing I wanted to do was make cocktail party conversation.

Senator Gillibrand, if you're reading this, THIS is what I want to read about in your next book!! I want to read about how you came unhinged, put yourself back together, and then went to the fucking cocktail party anyway. Because that's human. ...more

1 like · Like · see review