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| | Location: Home » Politics » Women » Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate | November 19, 2008 |
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| Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate | 
 enlarge | Authors: Barbara Boxer, Susan Collins, Dianne Feinstein, The Usa Girl Scouts Of, Whitney Catherine
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (23 reviews)
Sales Rank: 700783
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0060957069
Dewey Decimal Number: 328.730922
EAN: 9780060957063
ASIN: 0060957069
Publication Date: August 1, 2001
Release Date: July 24, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Women of the United States Senate have forever changed the political landscape. Their backgrounds, personal styles, and political ideals may be as diverse as the nation they serve. Yet they share a commonality that runs deeper than politics or geography -- they desire to give a voice to all their constituents while serving as role models for women young and old. Once every month, these distinguished women for an informal dinner to share their knowledge, their hearts, and a good meal. Leaving behind partisanship and rhetoric, they discuss and debate the issues, both political and personal, affecting their lives. And following the 2000 election of four women to the Senate, the table is now set for thirteen. Weaving together their individual stories of triumph, adversity, adaptability, and leadership, Nine and Counting gives voice to these charismatic women as never before, offering a rare, insider's glimpse into Washington and sending the powerful message that membership in the "world's most exclusive club" is open to every woman in America.
Amazon.com Review
It's hard to imagine nine United States senators whose politics span the spectrum sitting down to dinner together on a regular basis--unless they're the nine women who currently call the Senate home. Barbara Mikulski, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Mary Landrieu, and Blanche L. Lincoln share something deeper than their political proclivities: gender has been the strongest characteristic of their personal and professional lives, and each one has overcome enormous obstacles to reach the old boys' club that is the Senate. As evidence of their remarkable camaraderie, they've now collaborated to share their stories in the hopes of encouraging other women to follow suit. The women write with candor about dealing with sexual stereotypes, facing tragedies, and proving themselves in a world that presents them with an ever-shifting teeterboard of proper feminine behavior. Their stories range from surprising to shocking to illuminating. Included are Dianne Feinstein's account of the assassination of San Francisco mayor George Moscone and her unexpected rise to power, and the string of deaths that shaped Olympia Snowe into the independent person she is. The senators also share how they have balanced family with work, and in the process brought issues to the Senate floor not previously considered, such as child care, domestic violence, and homemaker retirement accounts (as well as the refreshing sight of small children). What is most impressive is their collaborative spirit, drawn from the traditional female training ground of local grass-roots endeavors and an emphasis on relationship and negotiation. When 64-year-old Barbara Boxer was born, becoming a senator was practically an unthinkable idea. Now, as the senior female senator, she welcomes each new woman who joins the ranks, whether Democrat or Republican, and teaches her the ropes. As partisan squabbles in Congress stymie any real progress, this book makes a strong case for the need for more women in positions of power and demonstrates that getting there is no longer a fantasy. --Lesley Reed
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 Reaching for the Pinnacle of Public Service October 27, 2006
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Nine and Counting" is a book that captures the feeling of good cheer felt among many women in early 2000 when nine different women found themselves serving in the U.S. Senate. The women who earned membership in this prestigious political body include Barbara Mikulski (Maryland), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), Dianne Feinstein (California), Barbara Boxer (California), Patty Murray (Washington), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Susan Collins (Maine), Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), and Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas). Each of these women has some stories and experiences to share and many of them will surprise but also inspire the average reader.
With each of these nine women, the author spends a little bit of time talking about the important facts to gain an understanding about where each came from and where each is headed. Backgrounds of each of the nine women are discussed, along with a little information on their life before politics and their personal decision to run for the U.S. Senate. Important political battles are also highlighted, with each of the women sharing with the reader what it was like to ram heads with some of the men in the senate- men who did not always appreciate that there were now women in the ranks.
Each of these nine women is different and has her own unique personality as well as distinct governing style but they all share certain things in common. Like the book says, most all of these ladies never dreamed they would one day be serving in the U.S. Senate. The opportunity for this type of career was too far- fetched prior to the modern era to make election victory realistic. Until recently, only boys were told that they could one day reach the pinnacle of U.S. politics and serve in the Congress or the Presidency. Girls were not told this and hence almost none of them even bothered to fantasize about serving in the highest offices of government. These nine women, however, did think about public service in various other capacities and it was these other offices that served as a launching pad for making it all the way to the U.S. Senate. Diane Feinstein, for example, once served as Mayor of San Francisco. Mary Landrieu got her start in the Louisiana State Legislature. These public offices and others liked them served as stepping stones to the race for the U.S. Senate.
This book is organized in a way that some will find enjoyable but others may not like at all. Author Catherine Whitney divides the book into sections within each chapter that include her own writing and sections that include the actual words of the nine women for whom this book is dedicated. Whenever one of the nine is about to speak, the individual name is written out above the text and the section is set aside from the rest of the text with bars above and below it. This makes it easy to find the actual words of one of these nine women and to separate them from the contributions of the author.
Most of this book offers good reading and many will be inspired by the courageous actions taken by these women to serve the public and do what they felt was right. But there is one bad thing about a book like this one: It becomes outdated very quickly. This book was published in the summer of 2001 and since that time, another five women have been added to the Senate, bringing the total to fifteen. As soon as the next Election Day has passed, this number could easily change again. Because of this problem, this is the type of book that outdates itself in a very short time.
The writing in this book is good, but it's a little simplistic and more sophisticated readers will find its content inadequate. The way it is written makes me wonder if its targeted audience was teenage girls. The nine women talk in such a benign way that it seems like the book was written specifically to appeal to the younger crowd.
Overall, "Nine and Counting" is a good enough book to read and it offers some good stories of achievement that will inspire some of its readers. It is already out of date, but some of the advice and the stories included here are timeless. Women have come a long way since the founding days of the republic and while they still have some distance to travel before they reach completely equal representation, the nine women mentioned in this book show that one woman can make a difference. With perseverance, positive attitude, and the wish to make the world a better place almost any woman has a fighting chance to win election to the prestigious club known as the United States Senate.
Great to see important women at work!!! March 29, 2004
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I feel as though this book was very well written in the aspect that it depicts women as stong intelligent people. It shows how also women can make big changes in this world depanding on their opinions. The way they think is what makes them who they are, and who they are is succesful politicians showing what their work is all about.
Nine and Counting Review May 12, 2003
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Nine and Counting is an inspirational book that all young women should read. The struggles and obstacles that each of these women had to overcome show that anything is possible. The stories included in the book are very interesting and show how different each of the female senators are. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an insight into nine of our current senators.
Good but simplistic January 4, 2003
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book is phenomenal for any women looking to make a difference in the world. I found it interesting that the senators were not all wealthy, Anglo Saxon individuals, but rather many came from second generation immigrants. The government appears closer to home. I really enjoyed Kay Baily Hutchinson mentioning being called a, "mom in tennis shoes." When I read that one of our senators was called a mom in tennis shoes I was amazed, it was a definite realization point. Suddenly average people were politicians. I've always heard politicians say they are just like me, but really this woman as well as many of her colleagues really are. They balance families and debate over what to make for dinner. It was quite comforting.
This book is also written quite simplistically making it a good book for all ages. At first I was a little insulted by the nature of the writing, but as it moved on it began to gain more of a Chicken Soup for the Aspiring Politicians soul. It left me with a good feeling as if I could go out and change the world with a lot of determination and a little elbow grease.
 An Inspiration to all Women! August 4, 2002
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is proof that women can accomplish anything regardless of the odds against them. Infiltrating the biggest boys' club in this country, the women in this book have struggled against seemingly insurmountable obstacles to earn the right to call themselves United States Senators. Read this book if you aspire to political office, if you are interested in politics or if you believe that the American dream really does apply to all Americans, not just all male Americans!
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