baronessekat's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book because I needed a "political memoir" for a reading challenge. And to be honest I wasn't looking forward to this category. In 2016, with constant inundation on all media by the political chaos of the Presidential elections, I was sick of anything remotely political.
But after looking through various options for a book for the category, I stumbled upon A Fighting Chance. I knew next to nothing about Elizabeth Warren beyond that I thought she was a Senator and I kinda recognized the name, and that my first reaction to reading her name was not "oh dear God no". So I got the book and started to listen (I got the audiobook, read by Senator Warren).
She had me engrossed almost immediately. She came across as pretty plain spoken, just a average woman who came from simple beginnings and worked her way to a goal that she wanted... teacher, lawyer. I found myself sympathizing with her in her fight for the average middle class guy against the big banks.
I found myself nodding and agreeing with pretty much all of her stands on things and in the end I found myself very glad that there was a woman like her in Washington fighting for people like me. I may not be from Massachusetts, but I am glad the folks there voted her into the Senate and I find myself wanting to go look more into her work.
All in all, I recommend this book if you are looking for a look into politics from the point of view of someone who got into the arena because it was the right thing to do. Not out of personal promotion.
But after looking through various options for a book for the category, I stumbled upon A Fighting Chance. I knew next to nothing about Elizabeth Warren beyond that I thought she was a Senator and I kinda recognized the name, and that my first reaction to reading her name was not "oh dear God no". So I got the book and started to listen (I got the audiobook, read by Senator Warren).
She had me engrossed almost immediately. She came across as pretty plain spoken, just a average woman who came from simple beginnings and worked her way to a goal that she wanted... teacher, lawyer. I found myself sympathizing with her in her fight for the average middle class guy against the big banks.
I found myself nodding and agreeing with pretty much all of her stands on things and in the end I found myself very glad that there was a woman like her in Washington fighting for people like me. I may not be from Massachusetts, but I am glad the folks there voted her into the Senate and I find myself wanting to go look more into her work.
All in all, I recommend this book if you are looking for a look into politics from the point of view of someone who got into the arena because it was the right thing to do. Not out of personal promotion.
jennyrpotter's review against another edition
5.0
I never thought I'd be sad to finish a book on economic policy and financial reform. I absolutely loved this book. To say that I admire Elizabeth Warren is a bit of an understatement; I wish that she could be my Senator, but alas I do not live in Massachusetts. Fortunately, I can settle with knowing that she is out there representing the interests of all honest, hard-working people in a system that she admits is rigged against us. (For example, last year she wrote a bill—which didn't get passed—that would have required the government to lend money to students at the same low interest rate that it lends to giant banks, which in turn produce unethical mortgages that swindled unsuspecting folks and ultimately led to the economic collapse of 2008.) This book is an interweaving of Warren's personal life, beginning in childhood, and includes a big-time tutorial on shadowy corporate banking, the economic fall and subsequent bailout of 2008, and the effects of bankruptcy on people. Her primary point is that the middle class of the U.S. is falling apart because the system is rigged against people. We, as a middle class, are spending no more than did the middle class of the 1970's (adjusted for inflation), but we are falling financially behind because healthcare and college tuition cost over three times as much as they did then. People stretch their budgets and in many cases both spouses enter the work field, but ends become difficult to meet if things go wrong (lost job, medical problems, etc.). Hence, people turn to second mortgages, high-interest loans, and credit cards, all while not realizing that many giant banks like AIG and Citibank have swindled them with 27 pages of nonsensical legalese. Hidden fees later emerge, balloon payments and adjustable interest rates rise, and people have nowhere to turn but bankruptcy or foreclosure. Meanwhile, we aren't being represented by congresspeople because they have largely been bought by big banks, who can afford to send armies of lobbyists to contribute to campaign funds and buy their allegiance when corporate issues come up for voting. Warren, who is now a U.S. Senator but was previously a Harvard law professor, has worked tirelessly to hold big banks accountable for their actions and to make the process of signing financial paperwork more transparent for everyday people, so that we are armed with knowledge and less likely to fall victim to a dazzling smile and a “Just trust me, you won't understand it anyway” from big banks. (Incidentally, her campaign funds do not come from corporate interests—96% of all her campaign donations during her election came from individuals paying $100 or less.) This book was at times charming, infuriating, and always enlightening. I give it five solid stars.
shereadsalot's review against another edition
Officially my favorite politician. Like. Ever. If she ever runs for a national office, I'll be there.
booksnotselfies's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed listening to Elizabeth Warren's narration of her book, and getting a little insight into who she is as a person (before she decided to run for president). I'm hoping to continue to read all of the major presidential candidates' books before the primaries next year.
colstada's review against another edition
5.0
Really good insight as to who Elizabeth is, where she came from, and why she believes what she believes.
leapfeetfirst's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't really know much about Elizabeth Warren before this book. It was fascinating to learn about how she became involved in politics after working for many many years on bankruptcy issues and her work on getting the Dodd Frank Act passed and creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It is an especially timely read, now that the current administration is looking to repeal portions of the Dodd Frank Act.
ladamic's review against another edition
4.0
I think she used the word 'families' about a thousand times, and the book had somewhat repetitive political rhetoric, but what an awe-inspiring story/life.
hannah_em's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty much what I expected from Elizabeth Warren. It's a good overview of the hard work she's done for the American people, but her writing style didn't blow me away.