Make Trouble

Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead: My Life Story

By: Cecile Richards, Lauren Peterson - contributor

Narrated by: Cecile Richards

Instant New York Times best seller.

“Richards offers practical advice and inspiration for aspiring leaders everywhere.” (Hillary Rodham Clinton)

“An enthralling memoir.” (Booklist, starred review)

Includes a brand new afterword, read by the author!

To make change, you have to make trouble.

From Cecile Richards - the president of Planned Parenthood, daughter of the late Governor Ann Richards, featured speaker at the Women's March on Washington, and "the heroine of the resistance" (Vogue) - comes a story about learning to lead and make change, based on a lifetime of fighting for women's rights and social justice.

Cecile Richards has been an activist since she was taken to the principal's office in seventh grade for wearing an armband in protest of the Vietnam War. Richards had an extraordinary girlhood in ultra-conservative Texas, where her hell-raising parents - her civil rights attorney father and political activist mother - taught their kids to be troublemakers. In the Richards household, the "dinner table was never for eating - it was for sorting precinct lists".

She watched her mother, Ann, transform herself from a housewife to a force in American politics who made a name for herself as the straight-talking, truth-telling governor of Texas. But Richards also witnessed the pitfalls of public life that are unique to women and the constant struggle to protect and expand equal rights - both exemplified by her marathon congressional testimony, where she held her own against hostile questions for five hours.

As a young woman, Richards worked as a labor organizer alongside women earning a minimum wage and learned that those in power don't give it up without a fight. Now, after years of advocacy, resistance, and progressive leadership, she shares her story for the first time - from the joy and heartbreak of activism to the challenges of raising kids, having a life, and making change, all at the same time. She shines a light on the people and lessons that have gotten her through good times and bad and encourages listeners to take risks, make mistakes, and make trouble along the way. Richards has dedicated her life to taking on injustice, and her memoir will inspire listeners to hope and action.

©2018 Cecile Richards (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"While not a professional narrator, Richards is a practiced public speaker who reads with energy, enunciation, excellent pacing, and emotion.... Richards is fierce, funny, and pulls no punches, which will offend some and motivate many for whom this stirring audiobook will serve as a call to action." (AudioFile)

Leader for our Future

Loved this book! Fantastic storytelling from Cecile Richards in her own voice! Do not miss this leader of the resistance & beyond!

Powerful.

I truly liked the enthusiasm in which Richards read her memoir. I think the writing was beautiful. If you want to become socially and politically active you have to study the table shakers. Richards is a table shaker and I love it.

inspiring and fascinating story

she remindes us all what's at stake and what we can do. Ladies, make trouble!

Such an inspiration

Within Cecile Richards’s story of her impressive lifetime of community and political organizing are also the stories of so many more inspiring women she’s worked along side. Weaving these stories together, Richards provides the perfect how-to and can-do “manual” for getting through this politically discouraging time and making the world a better place as we do so. I loved this book!!!

So Inspiring. Let’s all make trouble

This is an inspiration for women to get out there and let their voices be heard

Inspirational

Makes standing up for yourself & other women not so lonely. Nothing ever happens without courage

Should Be Required Reading

What a treat to hear Cecile Richards passionate pleas to readers to get up and get involved!

Amazing Read

Ms. Richards has written an incredible book, filled with so many interesting stories and useful tips for all of the activists and troublemakers out there!

Amazing book

The book was inspiring and well read by the author. I cried, laughed and learned something new. What else can you ask from a book.

Must read!

Gosh I loved this book - being a woman from Texas and hearing the inside version of stories I saw happening in my home state was so inspiring.