Off the Sidelines

Raise Your Voice, Change the World

By: Kirsten Gillibrand

Narrated by: Kirsten Gillibrand, Susan Denaker, Hillary Clinton

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recounts her personal journey in public service and galvanizes women to make a meaningful difference in the world around them.

“One of the most helpful, readable, down-to-earth, and truly democratic books ever to come out of the halls of power.”—Gloria Steinem

Off the Sidelines is a playbook for women who want to step up, whether in Congress or the boardroom or the local PTA. If women were fully represented in politics, Gillibrand says, national priorities would shift to issues that directly impact them: affordable daycare, paid family medical leave, and equal pay. Pulling back the curtain on Beltway politics, she speaks candidly about her legislative successes (securing federally funded medical care for 9/11 first responders, repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) and her crushing disappointments (failing by five votes to pass a bill protecting survivors of sexual assault in the military).

Gillibrand also shares stories of growing up the daughter and granddaughter of two trailblazing feminists in a politically active family in Albany, New York, and retraces her nonlinear path to public office. She lays bare the highs and lows of being a young (pregnant!) woman in Congress, the joys and sacrifices every working mother shares, and the support system she turns to in her darkest moments: her husband, their two little boys, and lots of girlfriends.

In Off the Sidelines, Gillibrand is the tough-love older sister and cheerleader every woman needs. She explains why “ambition” is not a dirty word, failure is a gift, listening is the most effective tool, and the debate over women “having it all” is absurd at best and demeaning at worst. In her sharp, honest, and refreshingly relatable voice, she dares us all to tap into our inner strength, find personal fulfillment, and speak up for what we believe in.

©2014 Kirsten Gillibrand (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Kirsten Gillibrand has written a handbook for the next generation of women to redefine their role in our world. With Off the Sidelines, Gillibrand shows that it’s not about getting to the top, or choosing between career and family—it’s simply about getting involved. In politics, in our communities, or simply mentoring somebody: When women work together, we all win.”—Arianna Huffington, editor in chief of The Huffington Post and author of Thrive

“There are moments of immensely appealing self-disclosure that seldom appear in other books of this genre. . . . This isn’t your mother’s political memoir.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Reading Kirsten Gillibrand’s book makes me so proud—as a woman, as an American, and as her friend. She is a beautiful example of what we can become when we are true to ourselves and brave enough to let our voices be heard. This book is intimately honest and deeply insightful. It should be on every girl’s and every woman’s reading list, and every boy’s and man’s, too.”—Connie Britton

2 thumbs up

I found it easy to listen to, and relatable. enjoyed learning her values and passion.

Hard working, tough Mama who gets results

Kirsten started out a bit slow for me but as soon as she started talking about the issues she's passionate about I was taken by her passion, kindness and her hard-working nature. If you think more women should be in office, and find equal pay and justice for rape victims a top priority, you will like listening to Kirsten.

She has my vote!

Greatly enjoyed the book -- think it was especially good in audible format. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely vote for KG.

Work life balance in a modern world

if you're looking for an in-depth treatise on Senator Gillibrand's policy positions, you'll be disappointed. Instead, she tells the real story of her path to leadership, from her motivations to how she juggles a public position with her family life.

Sometimes it feels a bit tedious - I personally don't care about how she shares clothes with friends - but on reflection she weaves an important story of the power of networks, friendship, ambition, and personal prioritization. It is genuine and well-written.

It is endearing in the end, though I was glad when it was finished.

Interesting

This book is about mobilizing women (and men) to get off the sidelines and become active in effecting beneficial change in society. The author is challenging women to become involved in changing society toward benefitting women. Gillibrand said men learned this lesson a long time ago. In so many words change will not happen until more women become active in all areas of government. Gillibrand says politics is one big way to change the country and we need to put more women in position to make change. Gillibrand said generally women work to get bills passed and are more willing to focus on the goal and not let petty party politics get in the way of the greater good. The author said her fellow female Senators are more willing to reach across the aisle to achieve goals and more willing to compromise. Gillibrand describes her fight to get 9/11 first responder health insurance passed and the fight to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. She goes on to say there are many areas that work is need on such as workplace discrimination, access to child care, equal rights, sexual discrimination and abuse in the military and on college campuses and many many more. The author says politics is a means for advocacy for her causes. In many ways this is a book with an ethical message.

Gillibrand provides a memoir of her life up to writing the book to illustrate what triggered her to get off the side lines and become an advocate for change in her community. She first was elected to Congress from the 20th district in New York. When Hillary Clinton left the Senate to run for president Gillibrand was appointed to Clinton’s place in the Senate. Edward Kennedy was the senior senator from New York and Gillibrand worked with him on the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal. When Kennedy died Warren was elected to his Senate Chair. She discuss the distaste she has of comments made about women’s clothes, hair style, weight and so on whether they are running for office, giving a speech or in the business board room. These types of comments are not made about the men. Gillibrand tell what it was like to be pregnant when she was a congresswomen and having young children while working in the Senate.

Over all I found the book interesting and I do hope that it will motivate young girls to think of a career in politics, or the career areas of government such as the State, Treasury, Justice Department or other such areas. Gillibrand recommends everyone become active in their local community government. Some will want to advance to state and federal government or other related organization to advocate for their causes. I noted that Gillibrand and many of the politicians are attorneys therefore, that appears to be a good professional path to positions of leadership and government jobs. I wish Gillibrand had provided some suggestion of courses to take or professions that would help provide the needed skills and tools to be an effective politician.

I had recently read the biography of Chief Justice Lorna Lockwood of the Arizona Supreme Court and had noted she encouraged women attorneys to advance themselves to various judgeships. Lockwood said women need to advance themselves in their profession and to help the young women coming up in the profession. Lockwood said more women in all areas of professions, business, not for profit organizations and government would bring about a more balanced world. Susan Denaker did a good job narration the book.

Great Book!

Great book, very easy to listen too. Nice and Informative! Towards the end the Narrator did start to sound a little tired though. But the content was delivered and great!