Eleanor Roosevelt: In Her Words: On Women, Politics, Leadership, and Lessons from Life

Description

Eleanor Roosevelt is considered by many to be the most fascinating, accomplished, and admired woman in American history. While she is best known as a politician, diplomat, humanitarian, UN delegate, activist, feminist, and First Lady she was also a prolific reporter and writer who changed the role of women in government. Roosevelt wrote twenty-seven books, more than 8,000 columns, and over 555 articles. She received an average of 175,000 letters a year while she served as first lady and delivered more than 75 speeches a year. Organized into sections like by sections like Becoming Eleanor Roosevelt, On Women, Diversity and Democracy, and the UN and Human Rights, In Her Words: Eleanor Roosevelt collects the most fascinating writings from her life including historical documents like the Universal Human Declaration of Rights, relevant commentary on sexism, racism, and immigration, intimate letters to Lorena Hickock and others, and witty self-help. Illustrated with dozens of photographs and documents, this is the perfect gift for history buffs, feminist, social activists, and anyone who is curious about the Roosevelt family.

Nancy Woloch is a professor of women's history and the history of education at Barnard College and Columbia University. She is also the author of Women and the American Experience, A Class By Herself: Protective Laws for Women Workers, 1890-1990s, and The American Century: A History of the United States Since the 1890s to name a few.

Always wise - often refreshingly warm and witty - these excerpts from Eleanor Roosevelt's published writings, speeches, and letters offer fresh insight into her own troubled times and a welcome tonic for our own.--ELLEN CHESLER, senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute An exhilarating, insightful, and timely introduction to Eleanor Roosevelt, her life, ideas, and the actions she took to change the course of politics and history.--LIZ ABZUG, founder and president of the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute Eleanor Roosevelt never goes out of style. One of the 20th century's most admired public figures, her words still speak to us today. Thanks to Nancy Woloch's richly evocative compilation, Eleanor Roosevelt can serve as a role model for future generations as well.--SUSAN WARE, general editor of American National Biography and author of Beyond Suffrage: Women in the New Deal Eleanor Roosevelt's words and vision are urgently needed now! In this splendidly illustrated collection, the highlights of her many writings enable us to go shoulder-to-shoulder with ER into this embattled moment: hearts open, fists high.--BLANCHE WIESEN COOK, distinguished professor at John Jay College and author of a prize-winning three-volume biography of Elanor Roosevelt. Framed by Nancy Woloch's beautifully crafted introduction and commentary, these selections from Eleanor Roosevelt's writings speak to us with fresh force.--ROSALIND ROSENBERG, author of Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray Woloch has performed a needed service in these days of ugly political theater. This work shows how Roosevelt used public communication to challenge the status quo with a clear message of morality, good will, and common decency as vital today as it was in her era.--MAURINE BEASLEY, author Eleanor Roosevelt: Transformative First Lady