Women are moving up the ranks in American politics, from federal to national offices—and in the case of Kamala Harris, who held the second highest position as Vice President while campaigning for the US presidency. Despite women's involvement at all levels, the political landscape has become increasingly fragmented, and public discourse about power, policy and representation has increasingly focused on gender issues. Because of this, many women in high-level politics, in recent years, have been encouraged to share their stories in print, sparking interest in books that highlight resilience in leadership, especially for women who have overcome systemic obstacles to achieve high office.
Recently, a new crop of biographies and memoirs of leaders such as Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have pulled back the curtain not only on women's powerful political views and decision-making processes but also on their lives. The six recently published memoirs we've chosen to include here highlight these leaders' unique contributions to American politics and culture while providing an insider's view of important national events. They are not always easy to read, but they are all worth reading.
The Art of Power: My Story as America's First Woman Speaker of the House by Nancy Pelosi
Nothing could have prepared Nancy Pelosi, 84, for the attack on her husband, Paul, in 2022 at their home in San Francisco. He opens his second book—the first, Know Your Strength: A Message to America's Daughterswas published in 2008—by recounting this tragic event that shook his family's sense of security. He writes that Paul, who has not yet been able to talk about it, has emotional and physical scars from that night. Pelosi's dedication to the fight for democracy began at a time when few women held political office. Since then, she has been re-elected eighteen times and served as the first female Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023. Throughout his career, he has always prioritized children and their future, he explained. as the foundation of his platform and the guiding lens for his political decisions, a theme he expands on in his latest book.
Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love and Freedom by Hillary Rodham Clinton
In her latest book, First Lady and US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton took her editor's advice to heart: write as if you were talking to guests at a dinner party, mixing political and personal issues. Each chapter reads like an essay, detailing his life beyond politics, including his close friendship with Canadian mystery writer Louise Penny, his crush on Joni Mitchell and the loyalty of his school friends. However, Clinton also writes about her efforts to help get Afghan women to safety and explains how she and her husband, Bill, keep it up, checking in on each other at the end of each day wherever they are in the world. And he doesn't shy away from talking about his 2016 presidential election loss to Donald Trump or his constant allegations that the 2020 election was rigged. He recalls: “Every day, I make an effort to turn my eyes to the future.
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Melania: A reminder by Melania Trump
With days to go before the upcoming presidential election, former First Lady Trump has remained out of the public eye. In fact, those hoping his book will provide insight into his politics may be disappointed—this quick read reveals little about his politics other than his support for abortion rights and his opposition to the violence of the January 6 Capitol riots. , her relationship with Donald, her fashion career, the joys of motherhood and her advocacy work. She also talks about her business, such as her jewelry line and skincare brand, and her pride in building her own business without her husband, as her projects run into obstacles. The publisher billed the Melania Trump memo as “a profound account of a woman who lived an extraordinary life on her own terms,” and in this case, it delivers.
Oath and Honor: A Reminder and a Warning by Liz Cheney
Cheney's most focused book talks about his decision to be one of only ten Republicans (and the third-ranking Republican in the House) to vote for Trump's impeachment following the January 6, 2021 impeachment. This action led to his removal as the chairman of the organization. House Republican Conference. His appointment by Speaker Pelosi to the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol gave him a direct way to share his account. The title of this book refers to the oath every elected official, including the President, swears, pledging loyalty to the Constitution over party loyalty. Cheney spells out a “warning” in his footnote on the last page of the preamble: “We cannot make the grave mistake of bringing back Donald Trump—the man who caused Jan. 6—in the White House, or in any position of public trust, forever.”
Beloved: A reminder by Ketanji Brown Jackson
When President Biden appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court in 2022, it marked a milestone: she became the first black woman to serve on the highest court in the United States. Jackson opens his memoir with that pivotal moment, describing the moment he was ushered into the room to say his vows, before delving into his parents' and grandparents' struggles with segregation. His childhood years in Miami were marked by hope and opportunity beyond what his ancestors knew, as his parents worked tirelessly to support his success. But Ketanji is still a bright, curious and thoughtful child—qualities that will carry her through Harvard, motherhood and marriage, and eventually to the Supreme Court. His name, translated by his aunt, a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa, means “beloved,” which inspired the memorial's title.
The Joy of Politics: Surviving Cancer, Campaigning, Pandemics, Rebellions, and Other Life's Unexpected Curveballs by Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota-born US Senator Amy Klobuchar has gained national prominence as a Democratic contender in the 2020 presidential race. His journey since then has been a whirlwind for the public and personally: he stood by the side of the former Vice President Mike Pence on the night of January 6, when he confirmed the victory of President Biden in the middle of the revolution, and in his personal life, he faced his loss. a father with Alzheimer's, her husband's hospitalization for COVID-19 and oxygen support, and his cancer diagnosis. Klobuchar's humor and stable personality shine through in her fourth book, beginning with a chilling moment in the first chapter when her husband jokes about her “long mark”—her desire to avoid cleaning the basement again—showing her resilience and strength. .
