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she_reader's review against another edition
5.0
Insightful and deeply moving, Steinem travels the U.S. and takes us along, drawing compelling portraits of the people she meets along the way. Do not miss this opportunity to get a front row seat at many of the most important cultural events of our time.
rascalsmom1031's review against another edition
2.0
I gave up on this book. It was one that I thought I should read but no...couldn't do it.
anaisetsontrema's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
un retour intéressant sur la vie de gloria steinem et sur ses différents combats (féminisme, travailleurs, primaires démocrates avec hillary clinton, etc.), il reste parfois trop dans le superficiel même s'il y a des moments d'émotion (national women's conference, fin du livre, etc.)
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Abortion
jennieleigh's review
5.0
Engrossing and educational. Somewhat randomly pulled together at times, but overall a really enjoyable read and so many interesting stories.
kimberussell's review
5.0
How did I get to be over 40 years old and not ever read anything by Gloria Steinem? It was long overdue for me to rectify that.
This book's framework is Steinem's travels over the course of her life. It's lovely and meandering, and I didn't even mind the back-and-forth through time that usually irks me. I loved reading about how tiny actions make large impacts that resonate decades later. It's good for people who live simple, small lives (like me) to read things like that. Some of us aren't going to ever be speechwriters or lobbyists or organizers, but we can still make a difference. The taxi vignettes made me smile, but that last chapter with Wilma Mankiller was a work of art. I read that chapter three times.
I generally dislike books with "ALL Democrats/Republicans suck" attitudes, but yeah, there's no avoiding it here. It's just part and parcel of Steinem's passion.
My takeaways:
1) Feminism needs to be inclusive of ALL women, regardless of ethnicity, creed, or bio-parts.
2) That there was a National Conference for Women in Houston in 1977. As God is my witness, I was never taught that in any history class in high school or college. We need to rethink how we teach history. Having US I/US II survey courses aren't enough.
3) I need to read more about Bella Abzug and Wilma Mankiller.
This book's framework is Steinem's travels over the course of her life. It's lovely and meandering, and I didn't even mind the back-and-forth through time that usually irks me. I loved reading about how tiny actions make large impacts that resonate decades later. It's good for people who live simple, small lives (like me) to read things like that. Some of us aren't going to ever be speechwriters or lobbyists or organizers, but we can still make a difference. The taxi vignettes made me smile, but that last chapter with Wilma Mankiller was a work of art. I read that chapter three times.
I generally dislike books with "ALL Democrats/Republicans suck" attitudes, but yeah, there's no avoiding it here. It's just part and parcel of Steinem's passion.
My takeaways:
1) Feminism needs to be inclusive of ALL women, regardless of ethnicity, creed, or bio-parts.
2) That there was a National Conference for Women in Houston in 1977. As God is my witness, I was never taught that in any history class in high school or college. We need to rethink how we teach history. Having US I/US II survey courses aren't enough.
3) I need to read more about Bella Abzug and Wilma Mankiller.
dovesfalling's review
4.0
What a delightful read.
Although - hand on heart - I am a feminist through and through, I don't/didn't know a lot about Gloria Steinem. I read her interview in Lenny (Lena Dunham's newsletter) and found her to be intriguing and funny. So I was anxious to get started with this book.
In recounting her "life on the road" as a nomad, Steinem could be staid or depressing - after all, she has seen a lot of history that would be unpleasant to think about, AND had a lot of men figuratively and literally pat her on the head and call her "dear" or "honeybun" (you know it happened).
Thankfully, Steinem is a pleasure to spend time with. What's more, she comes across as genuine, intelligent, warm and openhearted. This is inspirational to me, as I cannot even imagine the vitriol she's had directed her way throughout her journey in feminism and fighting for equality.
The most fascinating thing to me about this collection of stories is that none of them are designed to make Steinem seem 'more'. She does not seek to become 'more' important, 'more' liked, or 'more' in any sense. Instead, she shines the glow on others - her father (who inspired her to travel, learn and grow), taxi drivers, servers, college students, and others she has met while traveling. These chance encounters and brief conversations have all served to inform Steinem's views on the world and its inhabitants. She comes across as grateful and appreciative of these experiences and encounters, no matter how minor they might seem to an outside perspective.
Highly recommended - this is a lovely read, and offers a new and fresh look at Steinem's past, as well as the birth and rise of the feminist movement. Further, it's a deeply moving rumination on the importance of every day encounters and of paying attention - no matter the occasion.
Although - hand on heart - I am a feminist through and through, I don't/didn't know a lot about Gloria Steinem. I read her interview in Lenny (Lena Dunham's newsletter) and found her to be intriguing and funny. So I was anxious to get started with this book.
In recounting her "life on the road" as a nomad, Steinem could be staid or depressing - after all, she has seen a lot of history that would be unpleasant to think about, AND had a lot of men figuratively and literally pat her on the head and call her "dear" or "honeybun" (you know it happened).
Thankfully, Steinem is a pleasure to spend time with. What's more, she comes across as genuine, intelligent, warm and openhearted. This is inspirational to me, as I cannot even imagine the vitriol she's had directed her way throughout her journey in feminism and fighting for equality.
The most fascinating thing to me about this collection of stories is that none of them are designed to make Steinem seem 'more'. She does not seek to become 'more' important, 'more' liked, or 'more' in any sense. Instead, she shines the glow on others - her father (who inspired her to travel, learn and grow), taxi drivers, servers, college students, and others she has met while traveling. These chance encounters and brief conversations have all served to inform Steinem's views on the world and its inhabitants. She comes across as grateful and appreciative of these experiences and encounters, no matter how minor they might seem to an outside perspective.
Highly recommended - this is a lovely read, and offers a new and fresh look at Steinem's past, as well as the birth and rise of the feminist movement. Further, it's a deeply moving rumination on the importance of every day encounters and of paying attention - no matter the occasion.
callmejoce's review against another edition
4.0
Listening to a good audiobook is a different experience from reading words off a page; at the risk of speaking in platitudes, in a good audiobook the narrator (in this case, Debra Winger) creates a relationship with you and takes you on a journey. Steinem's fantastic journeys are the subject of My Life on the Road.
This book gave me the feels. It began and ended with her telling us about her parents, who spent their lives traveling towards something they never found (SNIFF). As I listened to Gloria Steinem share her stories, I began to experience a comforting sense of familiarity such as when I look at my hands and recognize them as my mother's hands.
This isn't a book about travel.
It's an inspiring book of stories about relationships, and the people you meet as you travel along and open yourself to new experiences and perspectives. It's really lovely and I hope you read it.
The very best part of this story is as I finished the book I learned Steinem is coming to town in a little more than a month!
(•_•)
<) )╯ STEINEM
/ \
\ (•_•)
( (> IS COMING
/ \
(•_•)
<) )>
/ \
This book gave me the feels. It began and ended with her telling us about her parents, who spent their lives traveling towards something they never found (SNIFF). As I listened to Gloria Steinem share her stories, I began to experience a comforting sense of familiarity such as when I look at my hands and recognize them as my mother's hands.
This isn't a book about travel.
It's an inspiring book of stories about relationships, and the people you meet as you travel along and open yourself to new experiences and perspectives. It's really lovely and I hope you read it.
The very best part of this story is as I finished the book I learned Steinem is coming to town in a little more than a month!
(•_•)
<) )╯ STEINEM
/ \
\ (•_•)
( (> IS COMING
/ \
(•_•)
<) )>
/ \
thndrkat's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
As you might expect from a feminist leader and organizer, this book is about more than the author’s life, it is about many lives and perspectives and how hers changed and grew over time. I found it really interesting and a great audiobook, especially the last chapter about what Steinem learned from indigenous women about Their history and the potential for equality between the sexes.