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Pelosi
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A riveting inside account of the unprecedented rise to power and unmatched political legacy of the first woman Speaker of the House, by award-winning journalist Molly Ball Nancy Pelosi’s opposition to Donald Trump has made her an icon of the Resistance, featured in viral memes clapping sardonically at the president or ripping up his State of the Union address. But the real Nancy Pelosi is neither the shrill partisan featured in thousands of attack ads nor the cautious corporatist reviled by the far left. She’s the rare politician who still knows how to get big things done—a master of legislative power whose policy accomplishments have touched millions of American lives, from providing universal access to health care to reforming Wall Street to allowing gay people to serve openly in the military. She’s done it all at a time of historic polarization and gridlock, despite being routinely underestimated by allies and opponents alike.Ball’s nuanced, page-turning portrait takes readers inside Pelosi’s life and times, from her roots in urban Baltimore to her formative years as a party activist and fundraiser, from the fractious politics of San Francisco to high-stakes congressional negotiations with multiple presidents. The result is a compelling portrait of a barrier-breaking woman that sheds new light on American political history. Based on exclusive interviews with the Speaker and deep background reporting, Ball shows Pelosi through a thoroughly modern lens to explain how this extraordinary woman has met her moment.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2020
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May 19, 2020
‘Pelosi” (2020) written by Time Magazine Correspondent Molly Ball, tells the incredible story of Nancy (D’Alesandro) Pelosi, the Italian wife and mother from Baltimore, that joined politics to represent Democracy, her constituents, and to champion for the rights of social and economic justice for the American people. Nancy Pelosi, as Speaker of the House is the highest ranking female politician in the history of the United States, the second in line for the U.S. Presidency (May 2020).
The San Francisco Chronicle noted on June 6, 1975, Nancy Pelosi’s appointment to the San Francisco public library commission by S.F. Mayor Joseph Alioto. As the wife of Paul, (m. 1963) and mother of five, Pelosi loved books and the public library was a constant part of family life and civic engagement. Pelosi would always be recognized and praised for her organizational, management, strategist, and fundraising skills. Following the deathbed endorsement of Sala Burton, Pelosi won a seat in the House of Representatives of California in 1987.
In 1998, Pelosi would run against her popular colleague Steny Hoyer for a leadership position he assumed was rightful his. Hoyer was stunned as were other male colleagues who voiced their displeasure behind Pelosi’s back—did she need their permission or approval to run? It never occurred to Pelosi to ask: she would always hold her own in the male dominated political arena.
The 1998 vote to impeach President Bill Clinton for an affair with a white house intern followed the extended over-zealous watch dog report of Ken Starr that began after his appointment as independent council (1994). Newt Gingrich would cast his last vote before his indignant resignation.. The Republican congress blamed the loud outspoken (self-righteous) Gingrich for their “dismal” election results. The majority of American’s did not favor impeachment proceedings against the popular president. Pelosi was right on when she observed: “The president’s actions are cause for embarrassment, but not impeachment.”
Pelosi would block impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush for instigating the War in Iraq with false claims of: “weapons of mass destruction (WMD)” additional war crimes would surface later in the Bush administration. When interviewed, Pelosi explained that impeachment proceedings against two American presidents in a row would be unacceptable. Pelosi would also resist the same proceedings against President Donald Trump, knowing the Republican controlled senate would always back Trump, no matter how outrageous and irrational his statements and actions appeared to the American public. Pelosi rarely hesitated to courageously rebuke or lead in acts of defiance and resistance against Trump, while others noticeably cowed and catered to his agenda fearing unfair retaliations, leading to loss of stature, position and/or livelihoods.
Pelosi would be a strong supporter of tolerance for LGBT rights and AIDS/HIV education and research, the preservation of voting rights for all American citizens regardless of race or ethnic origin. Pelosi championed Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (2010) which provided healthcare for millions of uninsured Americans, and prevented the insurance industry from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Pelosi also denounced Donald Trump’s ($1.5 Trillion USD) Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 with generous permanent provisions for wealthy and corporate interests at the expense of average American working families. Pelosi blasted this act as the worst bill in American history!
It was interesting to note that Ball claimed to have no political affiliation, yet her admiration and respect for Pelosi was undeniable. “The Attack of the 50 ft. Pelosi” wasn’t actually funny either, and seemed more like a bizarre act of desperation from the Republicans that aired $70 million USD of attack ads in political campaigns (2010).
When Pelosi first entered the political arena, women couldn’t wear pants, nor were female restrooms provided. Then, Pelosi was the only woman in the room, highly successful in a man’s political world. Today, Pelosi works under the grave catastrophic conditions of Covid19, seeking support above all else for the American people, politically mentoring others, and always continuing in her customary ability to lead by example. **With thanks to Henry Holt and Company for the DDC for the purpose of review.
The San Francisco Chronicle noted on June 6, 1975, Nancy Pelosi’s appointment to the San Francisco public library commission by S.F. Mayor Joseph Alioto. As the wife of Paul, (m. 1963) and mother of five, Pelosi loved books and the public library was a constant part of family life and civic engagement. Pelosi would always be recognized and praised for her organizational, management, strategist, and fundraising skills. Following the deathbed endorsement of Sala Burton, Pelosi won a seat in the House of Representatives of California in 1987.
In 1998, Pelosi would run against her popular colleague Steny Hoyer for a leadership position he assumed was rightful his. Hoyer was stunned as were other male colleagues who voiced their displeasure behind Pelosi’s back—did she need their permission or approval to run? It never occurred to Pelosi to ask: she would always hold her own in the male dominated political arena.
The 1998 vote to impeach President Bill Clinton for an affair with a white house intern followed the extended over-zealous watch dog report of Ken Starr that began after his appointment as independent council (1994). Newt Gingrich would cast his last vote before his indignant resignation.. The Republican congress blamed the loud outspoken (self-righteous) Gingrich for their “dismal” election results. The majority of American’s did not favor impeachment proceedings against the popular president. Pelosi was right on when she observed: “The president’s actions are cause for embarrassment, but not impeachment.”
Pelosi would block impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush for instigating the War in Iraq with false claims of: “weapons of mass destruction (WMD)” additional war crimes would surface later in the Bush administration. When interviewed, Pelosi explained that impeachment proceedings against two American presidents in a row would be unacceptable. Pelosi would also resist the same proceedings against President Donald Trump, knowing the Republican controlled senate would always back Trump, no matter how outrageous and irrational his statements and actions appeared to the American public. Pelosi rarely hesitated to courageously rebuke or lead in acts of defiance and resistance against Trump, while others noticeably cowed and catered to his agenda fearing unfair retaliations, leading to loss of stature, position and/or livelihoods.
Pelosi would be a strong supporter of tolerance for LGBT rights and AIDS/HIV education and research, the preservation of voting rights for all American citizens regardless of race or ethnic origin. Pelosi championed Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (2010) which provided healthcare for millions of uninsured Americans, and prevented the insurance industry from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Pelosi also denounced Donald Trump’s ($1.5 Trillion USD) Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 with generous permanent provisions for wealthy and corporate interests at the expense of average American working families. Pelosi blasted this act as the worst bill in American history!
It was interesting to note that Ball claimed to have no political affiliation, yet her admiration and respect for Pelosi was undeniable. “The Attack of the 50 ft. Pelosi” wasn’t actually funny either, and seemed more like a bizarre act of desperation from the Republicans that aired $70 million USD of attack ads in political campaigns (2010).
When Pelosi first entered the political arena, women couldn’t wear pants, nor were female restrooms provided. Then, Pelosi was the only woman in the room, highly successful in a man’s political world. Today, Pelosi works under the grave catastrophic conditions of Covid19, seeking support above all else for the American people, politically mentoring others, and always continuing in her customary ability to lead by example. **With thanks to Henry Holt and Company for the DDC for the purpose of review.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
May 16, 2020DNF
I have much admiration for Nancy Pelosi and jumped on this bio as soon as I saw it. Unfortunately, it reads like a YA book, written by an effusive teenager. I stuck with it through a couple chapters, but can't do an entire book of dumbed-down, starry-eyed writing.
I would prefer an autobiography by Ms. Pelosi, as I'm sure it would be both more insightful and more erudite. This level of writing might appeal to younger readers, but I can't stomach it.
I have much admiration for Nancy Pelosi and jumped on this bio as soon as I saw it. Unfortunately, it reads like a YA book, written by an effusive teenager. I stuck with it through a couple chapters, but can't do an entire book of dumbed-down, starry-eyed writing.
I would prefer an autobiography by Ms. Pelosi, as I'm sure it would be both more insightful and more erudite. This level of writing might appeal to younger readers, but I can't stomach it.
May 24, 2020
When Nancy Pelosi was a young girl she was groomed to be a nun, not a politician, politics was meant for the boys in her family. She wanted to be a priest. Her family told her that only men could be priests, so she resolved on that day to go against what was expected of her, she decided to go into politics. No one knew back then that she would become the Speaker of the House (not once but twice) and third in line of presidential succession making her the most powerful woman in America, as of this date. Molly Ball’s political biography of Pelosi tells the story of how one figure attained political power and rose up the ranks to become the first woman Speaker of the House.
Ball’s biography of Pelosi begins in her childhood and ends with the beginning stages of the impeachment inquiry of President Trump. Ball tells a compelling story of how both of her parents were political animals in their own right who taught Pelosi important political lessons. Her father was mayor of Baltimore, MD and her mother was his chief strategist. Pelosi later learned how to managed a group of people with different agendas and personalities when she became a mother of 5 children, Ball effectively makes a comparison that the Members of Congress she would later lead sometimes acted like children.
If you are looking for a one sided, positive portrayal of Pelosi then this book is not it. Ball provides examples in Pelosi’s career that were positive and not so flatteringly. There were a few instances where she lashed out at fellow colleagues calling them “insignificant”. As a leader, Ball recounts time and time again when she was able to make deals and broker agreements between members of her own party and with Republicans.
Readers may find Pelosi’s relationship with presidents of her party interesting. She had differences of opinion with both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama on policy and tactics. But it will be her relationships with George W. Bush and Donald Trump that may become the most memorable, especially as it relates to the Iraq War and 2008 financial crisis with Bush and budget negotiations and impeachment with Trump.
Ball also does a great job explaining the delicate balance Pelosi had to play as a female politician when she first came to Congress. Pelosi made it a habit to not discuss about her kids with male colleagues and she made an effort to be placed on “hard” congressional committees such as those that dealt with foreign policy and money, all of this was done in an effort to not be perceived as soft. It was in this section of the book that I think Ball essentially gets into Pelosi’s head and makes her more relatable to the reader.
Pelosi is not without her faults. Ball explains how she was turned into a boogeyman by Republicans in campaigns especially in 2010. Midterm elections are essentially referendums on the president’s party, this was definitely true in 2010, but rhetorically the GOP made it a referendum on Pelosi when they ran more anti-Pelosi ads tying her to Democrats running for Congress and in non-congressional races. Ball also mentions that Pelosi was mentioned more times than Obama in the last week of that election.
Finally, the period between 2011–2018 when Democrats were in the minority, should have been a time where Pelosi’s star faded but Ball tells a story of the leverage she maintained especially during instances when Speaker Boehner had trouble leading his caucus or when Chuck Schumer and Pelosi were able to gain budget concessions from President Trump in his first two years in office.
When the Democrats regained control of the House in 2018, many prognosticators did not believe Pelosi could become Speaker again because she had become such a divisive figure, thanks to effective Republican ads, that swing district Democrats had campaigned that they would not support her Speakership bid. She again proved them wrong by picking off potential challengers one by one.
Ball’s book ends prematurely because Pelosi is currently in power and is still an important force alongside McConnell and Trump in deciding how to solve the current public health and economic crisis that we are now faced with. This is not the last book that will be written on Pelosi but it will be an important first draft of this leader, how she attained power, how she kept it, and how she used it. Pelosi may not be a universally likeable figure but once you read Ball’s book you will definitely come to respect and appreciate her more.
Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Molly Ball for a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review is also found on Medium: https://medium.com/ballasts-for-the-m...
Ball’s biography of Pelosi begins in her childhood and ends with the beginning stages of the impeachment inquiry of President Trump. Ball tells a compelling story of how both of her parents were political animals in their own right who taught Pelosi important political lessons. Her father was mayor of Baltimore, MD and her mother was his chief strategist. Pelosi later learned how to managed a group of people with different agendas and personalities when she became a mother of 5 children, Ball effectively makes a comparison that the Members of Congress she would later lead sometimes acted like children.
If you are looking for a one sided, positive portrayal of Pelosi then this book is not it. Ball provides examples in Pelosi’s career that were positive and not so flatteringly. There were a few instances where she lashed out at fellow colleagues calling them “insignificant”. As a leader, Ball recounts time and time again when she was able to make deals and broker agreements between members of her own party and with Republicans.
Readers may find Pelosi’s relationship with presidents of her party interesting. She had differences of opinion with both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama on policy and tactics. But it will be her relationships with George W. Bush and Donald Trump that may become the most memorable, especially as it relates to the Iraq War and 2008 financial crisis with Bush and budget negotiations and impeachment with Trump.
Ball also does a great job explaining the delicate balance Pelosi had to play as a female politician when she first came to Congress. Pelosi made it a habit to not discuss about her kids with male colleagues and she made an effort to be placed on “hard” congressional committees such as those that dealt with foreign policy and money, all of this was done in an effort to not be perceived as soft. It was in this section of the book that I think Ball essentially gets into Pelosi’s head and makes her more relatable to the reader.
Pelosi is not without her faults. Ball explains how she was turned into a boogeyman by Republicans in campaigns especially in 2010. Midterm elections are essentially referendums on the president’s party, this was definitely true in 2010, but rhetorically the GOP made it a referendum on Pelosi when they ran more anti-Pelosi ads tying her to Democrats running for Congress and in non-congressional races. Ball also mentions that Pelosi was mentioned more times than Obama in the last week of that election.
Finally, the period between 2011–2018 when Democrats were in the minority, should have been a time where Pelosi’s star faded but Ball tells a story of the leverage she maintained especially during instances when Speaker Boehner had trouble leading his caucus or when Chuck Schumer and Pelosi were able to gain budget concessions from President Trump in his first two years in office.
When the Democrats regained control of the House in 2018, many prognosticators did not believe Pelosi could become Speaker again because she had become such a divisive figure, thanks to effective Republican ads, that swing district Democrats had campaigned that they would not support her Speakership bid. She again proved them wrong by picking off potential challengers one by one.
Ball’s book ends prematurely because Pelosi is currently in power and is still an important force alongside McConnell and Trump in deciding how to solve the current public health and economic crisis that we are now faced with. This is not the last book that will be written on Pelosi but it will be an important first draft of this leader, how she attained power, how she kept it, and how she used it. Pelosi may not be a universally likeable figure but once you read Ball’s book you will definitely come to respect and appreciate her more.
Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Molly Ball for a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review is also found on Medium: https://medium.com/ballasts-for-the-m...
July 28, 2020
Political correspondent and analyst Molly Ball’s meticulously researched and documented book provides a fascinating, close up view of the life and career of Nancy Pelosi, the current U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ms. Ball, in the Afterword of the book, states “…I admit I didn’t expect to find her particularly compelling. As I came to know and study Pelosi, I grew to admire her - as a leader, as a woman, as a historic figure, as a human of remarkable and specific talents. That’s not to say I agree with her ideologically: I am not a Democrat or a liberal (nor am I a Republican or a conservative)..……If this book has a thesis, it is that you needn’t agree with Nancy Pelosi’s politics to respect her accomplishments and appreciate her historic career.” With this book, Ms. Ball definitely accomplishes her goal.
It’s detailed, informative, and educational and it provides an understanding of the hard work and challenges that face members of Congress as they try to formulate bills and pass legislation that will benefit the needs of their constituents and the country as a whole.
It is well written and is a must read for anyone interested in politics and the current political situation in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Ball, in the Afterword of the book, states “…I admit I didn’t expect to find her particularly compelling. As I came to know and study Pelosi, I grew to admire her - as a leader, as a woman, as a historic figure, as a human of remarkable and specific talents. That’s not to say I agree with her ideologically: I am not a Democrat or a liberal (nor am I a Republican or a conservative)..……If this book has a thesis, it is that you needn’t agree with Nancy Pelosi’s politics to respect her accomplishments and appreciate her historic career.” With this book, Ms. Ball definitely accomplishes her goal.
It’s detailed, informative, and educational and it provides an understanding of the hard work and challenges that face members of Congress as they try to formulate bills and pass legislation that will benefit the needs of their constituents and the country as a whole.
It is well written and is a must read for anyone interested in politics and the current political situation in Washington, D.C.
March 24, 2020
Today I finished Molly Ball's fantastic biography of Nancy Pelosi then watched the Speaker of the House being interviewed about the Senate hashing out the COVID-19 stimulus package. I kinda had chills watching.
Pelosi covers the life and career of the Speaker, set against the tumultuous series of challenges and division America has endured. I always appreciate a book that offers perspective and insight into events I have lived through, which Ball accomplishes.
I love a good biography, especially of remarkable women.
But perhaps what I appreciated most from Ball's book is an understanding of how power works in Washington.
Sometimes--rarely, anymore--there is compromise. Other times a party digs in its heels and won't budge. How does anything get done, especially in the hostile political climate of the last several decades?
Pelosi is a study in the use of power. How one gains it and loses or keeps it. Pelosi has endured while others have failed, given up, faded away. Pelosi is pragmatic, determined, organized, and workaholic, with a hefty dose of Mom-sense and faith.
Pelosi was a volunteer for Democrats in San Francisco and a mother and wife. How she became a force who could stand up to Washington's most powerful men is a riveting story. Pelosi learned from her failures, only becoming stronger.
Ball's respect for Pelosi is evident, but she has no political slant. She isn't afraid to show the weaknesses of Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama. Trump, well, he gets the treatment he deserves.
"If this book has a thesis, it is that you needn't agree with Nancy Pelosi's politics to respect her accomplishments and appreciate her historic career," Ball writes in the "Afterward". "I didn't expect to find her particularly compelling," she admits. In a compelling narrative, Ball's book achieves making Pelosi an iconic heroine.
I was given access to a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
Pelosi covers the life and career of the Speaker, set against the tumultuous series of challenges and division America has endured. I always appreciate a book that offers perspective and insight into events I have lived through, which Ball accomplishes.
I love a good biography, especially of remarkable women.
But perhaps what I appreciated most from Ball's book is an understanding of how power works in Washington.
Sometimes--rarely, anymore--there is compromise. Other times a party digs in its heels and won't budge. How does anything get done, especially in the hostile political climate of the last several decades?
Pelosi is a study in the use of power. How one gains it and loses or keeps it. Pelosi has endured while others have failed, given up, faded away. Pelosi is pragmatic, determined, organized, and workaholic, with a hefty dose of Mom-sense and faith.
Pelosi was a volunteer for Democrats in San Francisco and a mother and wife. How she became a force who could stand up to Washington's most powerful men is a riveting story. Pelosi learned from her failures, only becoming stronger.
Ball's respect for Pelosi is evident, but she has no political slant. She isn't afraid to show the weaknesses of Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama. Trump, well, he gets the treatment he deserves.
"If this book has a thesis, it is that you needn't agree with Nancy Pelosi's politics to respect her accomplishments and appreciate her historic career," Ball writes in the "Afterward". "I didn't expect to find her particularly compelling," she admits. In a compelling narrative, Ball's book achieves making Pelosi an iconic heroine.
I was given access to a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
July 9, 2020
4.25 stars Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and Molly Ball for allowing me to read and review this book. Published May 5, 2020.
Never really knowing Nancy Pelosi - other than being proud woman to woman for her accomplishments in politics - I feel I have a much better sense of the person behind the achievements after reading this book.
She is definitely a hell fire - a self made woman. Her stamina is remarkable, her patience unprecedented, her intelligence and fortitude are beyond the normal person. She stands up for what she believes is right and for the American people and has no qualm telling anyone when they are in the wrong - then brings in the facts to prove it. However she has a remarkable trait of rarely holding anyone's error over their head - she wants to forgive and move on. She is a great organizer, a great ego-soother and has headstrong determination. One remarkable woman.
Along the way you get to see how Pelosi reacted with other officials - both in the House and the Senate - and how she worked with our last three Presidents - Bush, Obama and trump. However she holds her own personal life very close to the vest and lets little information leak. She does however attribute her drive and her mastery of strategy to the raising of 5 children - a family she is proud of and stays close to.
Never really knowing Nancy Pelosi - other than being proud woman to woman for her accomplishments in politics - I feel I have a much better sense of the person behind the achievements after reading this book.
She is definitely a hell fire - a self made woman. Her stamina is remarkable, her patience unprecedented, her intelligence and fortitude are beyond the normal person. She stands up for what she believes is right and for the American people and has no qualm telling anyone when they are in the wrong - then brings in the facts to prove it. However she has a remarkable trait of rarely holding anyone's error over their head - she wants to forgive and move on. She is a great organizer, a great ego-soother and has headstrong determination. One remarkable woman.
Along the way you get to see how Pelosi reacted with other officials - both in the House and the Senate - and how she worked with our last three Presidents - Bush, Obama and trump. However she holds her own personal life very close to the vest and lets little information leak. She does however attribute her drive and her mastery of strategy to the raising of 5 children - a family she is proud of and stays close to.
July 11, 2020
4 Political Stars
I don’t read many biographies or even much non-fiction, but I’m so glad to have read this one. I really didn’t know much about Nancy Pelosi before I read this and now I am so impressed for all that she’s done for our country. She is an amazing warrior who just keeps going no matter how down the chips are for her or the Democratic party.
This book focuses mostly on the political side of her life, we don’t really learn much about her home life or her five children. It was a fascinating walk back through history for the most part and reminded me how complex politics can be in this country. Nancy Pelosi has become a master negotiator and legislator. She works tirelessly to remain educated on topics and she has such a huge network.
Don’t miss the author’s note at the end, it put a great perspective in place for me.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and Molly Ball for the complimentary copy of this book. This was a great group read with friends at Bound Together.
I don’t read many biographies or even much non-fiction, but I’m so glad to have read this one. I really didn’t know much about Nancy Pelosi before I read this and now I am so impressed for all that she’s done for our country. She is an amazing warrior who just keeps going no matter how down the chips are for her or the Democratic party.
This book focuses mostly on the political side of her life, we don’t really learn much about her home life or her five children. It was a fascinating walk back through history for the most part and reminded me how complex politics can be in this country. Nancy Pelosi has become a master negotiator and legislator. She works tirelessly to remain educated on topics and she has such a huge network.
Don’t miss the author’s note at the end, it put a great perspective in place for me.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and Molly Ball for the complimentary copy of this book. This was a great group read with friends at Bound Together.
September 8, 2020
4.5 stars. A very entertaining while also illuminating account on a politician who is also a female. I think no matter whether you agree with her politics or not, you'd find a way to respect her accomplishments and tenacity as a master legislator and wielder of votes.
Also useful if you want to know how legislation in the US House of Representatives are made (and unmade). And how hard it is to bridge very diverse voices in one's party. And how no matter how many Twitter followers to you have, hard power - getting the votes - is what matters the most. I learned a lot from this book.
Thank you for the publisher, Henry Holt and Company, for this copy! What a treat. I am having a great discussion as well in the Non Fiction Book Club https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Also useful if you want to know how legislation in the US House of Representatives are made (and unmade). And how hard it is to bridge very diverse voices in one's party. And how no matter how many Twitter followers to you have, hard power - getting the votes - is what matters the most. I learned a lot from this book.
Thank you for the publisher, Henry Holt and Company, for this copy! What a treat. I am having a great discussion as well in the Non Fiction Book Club https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
July 10, 2020
Although Molly Ball is obviously fond of Nancy Pelosi and I initially thought her revelations would be skewed in Pelosi's favor, she manages to present a fair and balanced read on our first and only Madam Speaker. Ball was critical of Republicans and Democrats alike and did not paint a pretty picture of the current President nor really any of our recent Presidents. Instead, when Obama or Boehner, for example, were struggling to get bills passed, themselves sometimes lacking in experience and knowledge, Ball showed that it was Pelosi and her stellar diplomatic and negotiating skills that got the job done, time after time.
The many anecdotes and quotes scattered throughout the chapters made me see what a real significance Pelosi has made for this country and for women, something I really didn't fully realize before. Pelosi is without doubt the most powerful woman in America today, and she got there on her own talents, unapologetically.
It is said that Pelosi keeps her personal life pretty private and that is evident here. This quote from Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York in his speech to nominate her once again as Speaker wraps it up:
"Nancy Pelosi is a woman of faith. A loving wife. A mother of five. A grandmother of nine. A sophisticated strategist, a legendary legislator, a voice for the voiceless, a defender of the disenfranchised. A powerful, profound, prophetic, principled public servant, and that's why we stand squarely behind her today."
Might I add, Rock Star!
What else you will see is a detailed look at how government works, and sometimes fails to work. If you are into politics even a little bit, you will not want to miss this.
My thanks to the publisher and Molly Ball for the complimentary hardcover edition.
The many anecdotes and quotes scattered throughout the chapters made me see what a real significance Pelosi has made for this country and for women, something I really didn't fully realize before. Pelosi is without doubt the most powerful woman in America today, and she got there on her own talents, unapologetically.
It is said that Pelosi keeps her personal life pretty private and that is evident here. This quote from Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York in his speech to nominate her once again as Speaker wraps it up:
"Nancy Pelosi is a woman of faith. A loving wife. A mother of five. A grandmother of nine. A sophisticated strategist, a legendary legislator, a voice for the voiceless, a defender of the disenfranchised. A powerful, profound, prophetic, principled public servant, and that's why we stand squarely behind her today."
Might I add, Rock Star!
What else you will see is a detailed look at how government works, and sometimes fails to work. If you are into politics even a little bit, you will not want to miss this.
My thanks to the publisher and Molly Ball for the complimentary hardcover edition.
July 31, 2020
Those looking for anything on the Nancy Pelosi the person will have to be satisfied with 25 pages summarizing her first 45 years. This includes her parents, childhood and married life, pre-political volunteerism and how she was thrust into national politics. What follows is more of a legislative history of the House with a focus on Pelosi highlighting her grit, thorough preparation and determination.
Molly Ball shows that the early (and unusual) mentorship of John Murtha, an “old school” Democrat who retired with a bit of scandal on his long career was critical to her success. You see how her success continues to be propelled personal relationships (listening, remembering and thanking), diligent research and vote gathering and vote counting skills. You learn about the internal politics of attaining leadership positions and how Pelosi wielded the power once she earned it.
Her victory in ending “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” is an example of how she found a way to represent the needs of her constituents against difficult odds through research and gathering votes.
The most interesting parts for me were the Obama years. Ball shows how Pelosi was able to maneuver and compromise to pass Obamacare and after it was the law, protect it from assaults. Ball draws a bead on how Obama’s search for bi-partisanship (that was never forthcoming) harmed House members who went out on a limb for his legislation.
There are examples of the millions of dollars spent with subtle sexist messages and “San Francisco values” barbs that she endured. At least twice in the book she answers reporters who question her continuing her leadership because of her age by asking if they had asked Mitch McConnell this question. They refer to her unlikability as though it were a fact, and again do not ascribe the trait to McConnell. I can think of only one answer to the question of why she has both absent and negative press despite her accomplishments or the historic nature of her career.
This is a work of reporting, not journalism. There is no appraisal or analysis. The last pages on the impeachment of Donald Trump are the best example of most of the book – a reporting of events – not a biography of Nancy Pelosi. The aftermath is a report of the last interview the author had with Pelosi.
If you are really interested in Nancy Pelosi, go ahead, but my advice is to wait for a more comprehensive approach.
Molly Ball shows that the early (and unusual) mentorship of John Murtha, an “old school” Democrat who retired with a bit of scandal on his long career was critical to her success. You see how her success continues to be propelled personal relationships (listening, remembering and thanking), diligent research and vote gathering and vote counting skills. You learn about the internal politics of attaining leadership positions and how Pelosi wielded the power once she earned it.
Her victory in ending “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” is an example of how she found a way to represent the needs of her constituents against difficult odds through research and gathering votes.
The most interesting parts for me were the Obama years. Ball shows how Pelosi was able to maneuver and compromise to pass Obamacare and after it was the law, protect it from assaults. Ball draws a bead on how Obama’s search for bi-partisanship (that was never forthcoming) harmed House members who went out on a limb for his legislation.
There are examples of the millions of dollars spent with subtle sexist messages and “San Francisco values” barbs that she endured. At least twice in the book she answers reporters who question her continuing her leadership because of her age by asking if they had asked Mitch McConnell this question. They refer to her unlikability as though it were a fact, and again do not ascribe the trait to McConnell. I can think of only one answer to the question of why she has both absent and negative press despite her accomplishments or the historic nature of her career.
This is a work of reporting, not journalism. There is no appraisal or analysis. The last pages on the impeachment of Donald Trump are the best example of most of the book – a reporting of events – not a biography of Nancy Pelosi. The aftermath is a report of the last interview the author had with Pelosi.
If you are really interested in Nancy Pelosi, go ahead, but my advice is to wait for a more comprehensive approach.
July 9, 2020
I was already an admirer of Nancy Pelosi before beginning this well-reported biography, so you could say I was predisposed to like her, but I learned much more than I expected, if not about Pelosi herself, then certainly about her historic role in government. Molly Ball is a smart reporter writing about a brilliant and important American.
If you’re looking for a look into Pelosi’s personal life or family, or some sort of psychological profile of what makes this woman tick, this isn’t the book for you. As Ball explains in her Afterward, Pelosi is intensely private and not interested in divulging anything about her personal life. This is a book for readers interested in politics, feminism, American government, or simply the interesting story of a strong, dynamic and tenacious woman. The barriers Nancy Pelosi has broken, the power she holds and the skills she possesses are absolutely remarkable and they shine through in Ball’s treatment.
"She was, she reminded Murtha, trying to reverse two hundred years of men following men following men in every leadership position. Power would not be given to her; she would have to take it."
Quite a bit of this biography is devoted to how much harder Pelosi has had to work to be heard, to be respected, to be granted her well-deserved due. Ball practically gushes in admiration, which took a bit of getting used to as I’m more familiar with expose type treatments of the rich and powerful. By the end though, I was more than convinced that Pelosi is richly deserving of any and all accolades.
What was even more interesting to me, was the look into the workings of government, specifically the House of Representatives and the checks and balances between the legislative and executive branches. If Ball treats Pelosi with kid gloves, those gloves are certainly off for everyone else in politics. Trump, McConnell, Boehner and even Obama are portrayed in less than flattering ways. Pop culture lumps all Democrats into one category and Republicans another. Here we see the divisions, in-fighting and compromises amongst the competing personalities and interests. Fascinating.
Truly, I hope this is one of many biographies of this remarkable woman destined to be written. I believe there are more accolades to be heaped, more history to be made and more depth to be uncovered.
"'Please don’t characterize the strength that I bring' - resonated with every woman who’d ever been belittled in a meeting."
Special thanks to Henry Holt publishing and the Bound Together book group for the complimentary edition. All views are my own.
If you’re looking for a look into Pelosi’s personal life or family, or some sort of psychological profile of what makes this woman tick, this isn’t the book for you. As Ball explains in her Afterward, Pelosi is intensely private and not interested in divulging anything about her personal life. This is a book for readers interested in politics, feminism, American government, or simply the interesting story of a strong, dynamic and tenacious woman. The barriers Nancy Pelosi has broken, the power she holds and the skills she possesses are absolutely remarkable and they shine through in Ball’s treatment.
"She was, she reminded Murtha, trying to reverse two hundred years of men following men following men in every leadership position. Power would not be given to her; she would have to take it."
Quite a bit of this biography is devoted to how much harder Pelosi has had to work to be heard, to be respected, to be granted her well-deserved due. Ball practically gushes in admiration, which took a bit of getting used to as I’m more familiar with expose type treatments of the rich and powerful. By the end though, I was more than convinced that Pelosi is richly deserving of any and all accolades.
What was even more interesting to me, was the look into the workings of government, specifically the House of Representatives and the checks and balances between the legislative and executive branches. If Ball treats Pelosi with kid gloves, those gloves are certainly off for everyone else in politics. Trump, McConnell, Boehner and even Obama are portrayed in less than flattering ways. Pop culture lumps all Democrats into one category and Republicans another. Here we see the divisions, in-fighting and compromises amongst the competing personalities and interests. Fascinating.
Truly, I hope this is one of many biographies of this remarkable woman destined to be written. I believe there are more accolades to be heaped, more history to be made and more depth to be uncovered.
"'Please don’t characterize the strength that I bring' - resonated with every woman who’d ever been belittled in a meeting."
Special thanks to Henry Holt publishing and the Bound Together book group for the complimentary edition. All views are my own.
May 15, 2020
The term chutzpah can be interpreted in only one way – a great deal of nerve or other words I cannot use! In the present case it is the perfect description of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi particularly following the completion of Donald Trump’s State of the Union message last January when she ripped up the speech as it was riddled with lies in front of an audience of millions of Americans. Opponents of Pelosi castigated her actions, but they forget it was preceded by Trump’s refusal to engage in the traditional handshake with the Speaker before the speech. Why did Pelosi react in such a manner? The answer to this question is imbedded in who she is as a person and a professional and forms the core of Molly Ball’s new book, PELOSI.
Ball’s crisp writing style makes PELOSI an easy biography to read as in part Pelosi missed the woman’s movement of the early 1960s as she married and raised five children. She would be considered the “almost picture perfect” mother as she trained her brood with Catholic family values as each child was given certain tasks and responsibilities within the family. Once her children were of school age, we see the beginning of a career that begins with fund raising from her home. Ball points out that the seminal moment in Pelosi’s career came when San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto placed her on the city’s Library Commission which exposed her to the give and take of local politics.
Ball carefully traces Pelosi’s rise from a housewife to a congressional victory in 1986 highlighting two skills that remain her strengths to this day, fund raising and organizational acumen. Ball describes Pelosi as “ballsy, confrontational, even bitchy.” Further Ball states that once Pelosi was freed from family responsibilities at age forty-seven, she pursued her congressional work with “a maniacal level of energy.” Ball provides a window into the Congressional process upon Pelosi’s arrival, especially the denigration of women and her role in altering traditional male views of women who served in Congress. The white male power structure dominated Congress epitomized by conservative Democratic Pennsylvania Representative John “Jack” Murtha. On the surface it would appear that the “San Francisco liberal” and the hard-nosed Vietnam veteran would have little in common. But as Ball effectively develops their relationship it is clear that without Murtha’s mentorship and support Pelosi’s career may have taken a different path.
Pelosi was a tenacious legislator and supporter of human rights as was evident in her view of China after Tiananmen Square. She was always skeptical about trusting President Clinton and when she tried to tie China’s human rights policies to most favored nation trading status, she thought she had Clinton’s support. When Clinton sold her out, she screamed “corporate sellout,” and never trusted Clinton again.
Ball is dead on in zeroing in on Newt Gingrich and his responsibility in creating the toxicity that exists in politics today. Gingrich’s goal was to block any legislative successes for Clinton and interjected words like, “sick, pathetic, liars, anti-flag, traitors, radicals, corrupt to describe Democrats. When Republicans decided to demonize Pelosi, her response was “I’m shaking in my boots, that is so pathetic, tell them, C’Mon.” She proved to the Republican leadership that unlike Richard Gephardt, the congressman Pelosi replaced as House Democratic Leader that she was no pushover and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert found her inflexibility and hyperattention to detail galling. Pelosi’s approach throughout her career no matter what position she held in the House was to out work and know more about legislation, her caucus, and any other aspect of her work than any of her colleagues – making her indispensable for any legislative success, Democratic or Republican. She would take advantage of GOP policy failures be it Bush’s invasion of Iraq and its failures, the Katrina debacle, or Bush’s attempts to privatize Social Security.
Ball encapsulates Pelosi by quoting her, “I get up, eat nails for breakfast, put on a suit of armor and go into battle.” Ball states that the suit of armor she created, an extreme and steely toughness that dismissed any hint of vulnerability, would keep her safe.” She would reign in Bush after the 2006 election after six years of being run over by the GOP and by 2008 when she became Speaker one would have thought working with a new administration would produce a collegial relationship, but it did not.
In perhaps her best chapters Ball explores the Pelosi-Obama dynamic which was not very smooth in large part because Obama always sought consensus and believed he could always peel off a segment of GOP support, whereas Pelosi had learned not to trust the GOP leadership and its right wing caucus and all she cared about was winning and delivering on what she believed to be the policies that a majority of Americans wanted. She tried to educate Obama whose “intellectual arrogance” and the attitude of many in his administration won out. The Obama people came to believe that Pelosi at times was more of a hinderance than an asset. Republicans would demonize both, but more so Pelosi over the Affordable Health Care Act, Climate legislations, stimulus, or a grand bargain than the president. From Obama’s perspective she gave him cover.
Ball does an excellent job taking the reader inside negotiations to solve America’s problems. Her reporting concerning Pelosi’s attempts to achieve a withdrawal date from Iraq, or the TARP bill to deal with the 2008 economic meltdown are two cases in point. In both instances Pelosi exhibited her tenacity, control over her caucus (which the GOP could never master), and legislative dexterity to achieve her goals. Ball provides a perceptive analysis how Republicans were able to play Obama, who did not follow Pelosi’s warnings in legislative battles, particularly health care and taxes. As Ball points out, you only get one chance to make a first impression and Obama blew it with his stimulus package, a pattern that would continue throughout his administration particularly after the 2010 congressional shellacking which the GOP learned to block everything they could and give Obama no legislative victories. Despite losing 63 seats, Pelosi rededicated herself and became more tenacious than ever.
Overall, Pelosi is a practitioner of retail politics learned at the feet of her father who was Mayor of Baltimore and later a Congressman. She is superb at arm twisting, raising money, and knowing when and how to cut a deal even if it means angering members of her caucus. But despite rubbing certain members the wrong way even females over aspects of abortion she has earned the respect from most of her opponents.
Donald Trump is the perfect adversary for Pelosi. He is a narcissist, thoughtless, uninterested in issues or its details with no sense of tactics or strategy. He may have been a reality TV star, but Pelosi presents a different type of reality the “avatar of a feminist political future.” Ball quotes Amy Klobuchar’s famous observation: “If you think a woman can’t beat Trump, Nancy Pelosi does it every single day.” Ball’s presentation of the Pelosi-Trump relationship is clear and pulls no punches as she discusses their hostility toward each other even though some of it has been papered over as Pelosi held back her caucus during the Mueller investigation until the Ukraine matter led her to finally support impeachment.
As we confront the Coronavirus and seem stalled at any further stimulus money for the states., hospitals, and PPE, it would be interesting to see what would happen if traditional retail politics could be employed instead of Mitch McConnell’s refusal to engage in anything meaningful other than securing lifetime conservative judges. Ball’s work is based on her excellent reporting and interviews and despite a bit of hagiography the book is an interesting personality and political study that is a fascinating read.
Ball’s crisp writing style makes PELOSI an easy biography to read as in part Pelosi missed the woman’s movement of the early 1960s as she married and raised five children. She would be considered the “almost picture perfect” mother as she trained her brood with Catholic family values as each child was given certain tasks and responsibilities within the family. Once her children were of school age, we see the beginning of a career that begins with fund raising from her home. Ball points out that the seminal moment in Pelosi’s career came when San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto placed her on the city’s Library Commission which exposed her to the give and take of local politics.
Ball carefully traces Pelosi’s rise from a housewife to a congressional victory in 1986 highlighting two skills that remain her strengths to this day, fund raising and organizational acumen. Ball describes Pelosi as “ballsy, confrontational, even bitchy.” Further Ball states that once Pelosi was freed from family responsibilities at age forty-seven, she pursued her congressional work with “a maniacal level of energy.” Ball provides a window into the Congressional process upon Pelosi’s arrival, especially the denigration of women and her role in altering traditional male views of women who served in Congress. The white male power structure dominated Congress epitomized by conservative Democratic Pennsylvania Representative John “Jack” Murtha. On the surface it would appear that the “San Francisco liberal” and the hard-nosed Vietnam veteran would have little in common. But as Ball effectively develops their relationship it is clear that without Murtha’s mentorship and support Pelosi’s career may have taken a different path.
Pelosi was a tenacious legislator and supporter of human rights as was evident in her view of China after Tiananmen Square. She was always skeptical about trusting President Clinton and when she tried to tie China’s human rights policies to most favored nation trading status, she thought she had Clinton’s support. When Clinton sold her out, she screamed “corporate sellout,” and never trusted Clinton again.
Ball is dead on in zeroing in on Newt Gingrich and his responsibility in creating the toxicity that exists in politics today. Gingrich’s goal was to block any legislative successes for Clinton and interjected words like, “sick, pathetic, liars, anti-flag, traitors, radicals, corrupt to describe Democrats. When Republicans decided to demonize Pelosi, her response was “I’m shaking in my boots, that is so pathetic, tell them, C’Mon.” She proved to the Republican leadership that unlike Richard Gephardt, the congressman Pelosi replaced as House Democratic Leader that she was no pushover and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert found her inflexibility and hyperattention to detail galling. Pelosi’s approach throughout her career no matter what position she held in the House was to out work and know more about legislation, her caucus, and any other aspect of her work than any of her colleagues – making her indispensable for any legislative success, Democratic or Republican. She would take advantage of GOP policy failures be it Bush’s invasion of Iraq and its failures, the Katrina debacle, or Bush’s attempts to privatize Social Security.
Ball encapsulates Pelosi by quoting her, “I get up, eat nails for breakfast, put on a suit of armor and go into battle.” Ball states that the suit of armor she created, an extreme and steely toughness that dismissed any hint of vulnerability, would keep her safe.” She would reign in Bush after the 2006 election after six years of being run over by the GOP and by 2008 when she became Speaker one would have thought working with a new administration would produce a collegial relationship, but it did not.
In perhaps her best chapters Ball explores the Pelosi-Obama dynamic which was not very smooth in large part because Obama always sought consensus and believed he could always peel off a segment of GOP support, whereas Pelosi had learned not to trust the GOP leadership and its right wing caucus and all she cared about was winning and delivering on what she believed to be the policies that a majority of Americans wanted. She tried to educate Obama whose “intellectual arrogance” and the attitude of many in his administration won out. The Obama people came to believe that Pelosi at times was more of a hinderance than an asset. Republicans would demonize both, but more so Pelosi over the Affordable Health Care Act, Climate legislations, stimulus, or a grand bargain than the president. From Obama’s perspective she gave him cover.
Ball does an excellent job taking the reader inside negotiations to solve America’s problems. Her reporting concerning Pelosi’s attempts to achieve a withdrawal date from Iraq, or the TARP bill to deal with the 2008 economic meltdown are two cases in point. In both instances Pelosi exhibited her tenacity, control over her caucus (which the GOP could never master), and legislative dexterity to achieve her goals. Ball provides a perceptive analysis how Republicans were able to play Obama, who did not follow Pelosi’s warnings in legislative battles, particularly health care and taxes. As Ball points out, you only get one chance to make a first impression and Obama blew it with his stimulus package, a pattern that would continue throughout his administration particularly after the 2010 congressional shellacking which the GOP learned to block everything they could and give Obama no legislative victories. Despite losing 63 seats, Pelosi rededicated herself and became more tenacious than ever.
Overall, Pelosi is a practitioner of retail politics learned at the feet of her father who was Mayor of Baltimore and later a Congressman. She is superb at arm twisting, raising money, and knowing when and how to cut a deal even if it means angering members of her caucus. But despite rubbing certain members the wrong way even females over aspects of abortion she has earned the respect from most of her opponents.
Donald Trump is the perfect adversary for Pelosi. He is a narcissist, thoughtless, uninterested in issues or its details with no sense of tactics or strategy. He may have been a reality TV star, but Pelosi presents a different type of reality the “avatar of a feminist political future.” Ball quotes Amy Klobuchar’s famous observation: “If you think a woman can’t beat Trump, Nancy Pelosi does it every single day.” Ball’s presentation of the Pelosi-Trump relationship is clear and pulls no punches as she discusses their hostility toward each other even though some of it has been papered over as Pelosi held back her caucus during the Mueller investigation until the Ukraine matter led her to finally support impeachment.
As we confront the Coronavirus and seem stalled at any further stimulus money for the states., hospitals, and PPE, it would be interesting to see what would happen if traditional retail politics could be employed instead of Mitch McConnell’s refusal to engage in anything meaningful other than securing lifetime conservative judges. Ball’s work is based on her excellent reporting and interviews and despite a bit of hagiography the book is an interesting personality and political study that is a fascinating read.
April 11, 2021
Quite a compelling biography of one of the most powerful political figures in the United States over the course of the last decade or so. As a longtime admirer of Pelosi's grit and success especially in the face of the many hurdles presented to her as a woman, this book was an enjoyable read for me. It provides an inside look into politics and the inner workings of Congress, with a close up into how the sausage is really made. As expected, the view is not always pretty.
We learn about the household where Nancy Pelosi grew up in Little Italy, Baltimore and it becomes clear how much being the youngest (and only daughter) of six children in a political powerhouse family shaped her life. Her father "Big Tommy" D'Alesandro was a member of Congress before becoming Mayor of Baltimore for twelve years while her mother "Big Nancy" was the family's iron-willed matriarch. It is fascinating to read about the role her mother played in local politics, very much behind the scenes but also a real force to be reckoned with. One of Nancy Pelosi's brothers also served as Mayor after his father.
There is very little mention of Pelosi's husband of over fifty years or much about their five children. The lack of any insight into her family's dynamics is disappointing especially against the backdrop of her own upbringing which is featured in the book. Although Pelosi cooperated with the writing of this book, Ball writes, “Pelosi is a private person, and her inner life is fundamentally off limits.”
To understand her, we can only look to her record. And it is an amazing one. Reading about all that she accomplished as a legislator and as a political leader, and with the knowledge that she did not even run for office for the first time until she was 47 years old, is pretty inspiring. She managed to propel herself into leadership roles by dint of her hard work, perseverance, strategic mind, pragmatism, and negotiating skills. Her influence extends to the massive amount of funds she has been able to raise on behalf of her fellow Democrats over the years, estimated at nearly $1 billion through her two-decade tenure in leadership. She was instrumental in the passing of significant legislation including the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act among others.
The author speaks to Pelosi's weaknesses, like her rather wooden oratory style and a very private nature that doesn't allow others to see her vulnerabilities. This book is interesting in recounting situation after situation where Pelosi used particularly shrewd maneuvering to get results. Ball reports about Pelosi in a neutral way for the most part, but there are moments where it seems as if she's canonizing her for sainthood.
Pelosi knows her power and encourages other women to have confidence and know their power, too. More times than not, she was the only woman in the room. She is described as a kitchen-to-Congress organizer whose motivation was that one in five children in the United States live in poverty. Her mantra: "Don a suit of armor, put on your brass knuckles, eat nails for breakfast, and go out there and stop them from taking children out of the arms of their parents, food out of the mouths of babies.”
Highly recommended.
We learn about the household where Nancy Pelosi grew up in Little Italy, Baltimore and it becomes clear how much being the youngest (and only daughter) of six children in a political powerhouse family shaped her life. Her father "Big Tommy" D'Alesandro was a member of Congress before becoming Mayor of Baltimore for twelve years while her mother "Big Nancy" was the family's iron-willed matriarch. It is fascinating to read about the role her mother played in local politics, very much behind the scenes but also a real force to be reckoned with. One of Nancy Pelosi's brothers also served as Mayor after his father.
There is very little mention of Pelosi's husband of over fifty years or much about their five children. The lack of any insight into her family's dynamics is disappointing especially against the backdrop of her own upbringing which is featured in the book. Although Pelosi cooperated with the writing of this book, Ball writes, “Pelosi is a private person, and her inner life is fundamentally off limits.”
To understand her, we can only look to her record. And it is an amazing one. Reading about all that she accomplished as a legislator and as a political leader, and with the knowledge that she did not even run for office for the first time until she was 47 years old, is pretty inspiring. She managed to propel herself into leadership roles by dint of her hard work, perseverance, strategic mind, pragmatism, and negotiating skills. Her influence extends to the massive amount of funds she has been able to raise on behalf of her fellow Democrats over the years, estimated at nearly $1 billion through her two-decade tenure in leadership. She was instrumental in the passing of significant legislation including the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act among others.
The author speaks to Pelosi's weaknesses, like her rather wooden oratory style and a very private nature that doesn't allow others to see her vulnerabilities. This book is interesting in recounting situation after situation where Pelosi used particularly shrewd maneuvering to get results. Ball reports about Pelosi in a neutral way for the most part, but there are moments where it seems as if she's canonizing her for sainthood.
Pelosi knows her power and encourages other women to have confidence and know their power, too. More times than not, she was the only woman in the room. She is described as a kitchen-to-Congress organizer whose motivation was that one in five children in the United States live in poverty. Her mantra: "Don a suit of armor, put on your brass knuckles, eat nails for breakfast, and go out there and stop them from taking children out of the arms of their parents, food out of the mouths of babies.”
Highly recommended.
July 8, 2020
If you don’t vote, you don’t count.
Few Speakers of the House have achieved the attention - and in some quarters, the open admiration - that Nancy Pelosi has enjoyed. One has to go back to 1995 to find the last other Democrat who held the office, and she is of course the first and so far only woman to yield the gavel.
This biography, starting with Pelosi's early life in Baltimore and continuing through the Trump impeachment, makes its point of view known. It is obvious Ball admires her subject. But she does not hide her subject's flaws. Pelosi is not so good at set speeches, nor is she adroit on the talk show circuit - serious drawbacks for a career politician.
The narrative of her life is brisk. Born to a mayor of Baltimore, and the youngest of seven children, she moves to California and begins a slow ascent through state politics and Democratic Party positions before running for a House seat in San Francisco in 1987 at age 47. At the time of her election, she was one of the staunchest liberals in Congress and made her name on AIDS advocacy and harsh criticisms of China after 1989.
The outline of her life and career is broadly known so I won't go over it all here. Ball provides some anecdotes, although her subject is silent about her own personal life.
But the book's added value is an understanding of how power and influence is kept and held. Pelosi grew up around the machine politics of Baltimore (her father and brother were mayors, and her mother, Annunciata, was a formidable mentor). She did not inherit that position, having started in California. But her understanding of working relationships was started well before she was elected to Congress. On an offhand note, Ball writes about how Pelosi kept spreadsheets of her delegation and how they could be motivated or what their issues are. This reminds me of nothing else so much Sam Rayburn or Lyndon Johnson - knowing that much about the people you're supposed to work with.
Pelosi also demonstrates the art and utility of building coalitions. She was one of the first in Congress to voice opposition to Bush's invasion of Iraq in 2003, yet she supported James Murtha, a conservative Marine veteran from central Pennsylvania, to voice more intense criticism. The point was to demonstrate that opposition to the war was widespread, and any criticism would seem stronger coming from him. Yelling on Twitter is easy; organizing is hard. She is also a vote counter, and sometimes 'lets' representatives from swing districts break from the majority if she knows that the vote can still pass.
Also of note is the tension between the power of the legislative and executive branches. During the Obama administration, his office clashed with the Democratic congressional delegation over different priorities. But on the other hand, when the executive is of a different party, the opposition can benefit - see the Democratic rebound in 2018 after 2016, with Trump as an easy target. This is also seen with the total fecklessness of the Republican Congress during 2016-2018, as Trump had no interest in communicating with his party's representatives.
The book ends in medias res. We'll see what happens after November 3. The crises of governance will go on after that.
Disclaimer: I agreed to receive a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Few Speakers of the House have achieved the attention - and in some quarters, the open admiration - that Nancy Pelosi has enjoyed. One has to go back to 1995 to find the last other Democrat who held the office, and she is of course the first and so far only woman to yield the gavel.
This biography, starting with Pelosi's early life in Baltimore and continuing through the Trump impeachment, makes its point of view known. It is obvious Ball admires her subject. But she does not hide her subject's flaws. Pelosi is not so good at set speeches, nor is she adroit on the talk show circuit - serious drawbacks for a career politician.
The narrative of her life is brisk. Born to a mayor of Baltimore, and the youngest of seven children, she moves to California and begins a slow ascent through state politics and Democratic Party positions before running for a House seat in San Francisco in 1987 at age 47. At the time of her election, she was one of the staunchest liberals in Congress and made her name on AIDS advocacy and harsh criticisms of China after 1989.
The outline of her life and career is broadly known so I won't go over it all here. Ball provides some anecdotes, although her subject is silent about her own personal life.
But the book's added value is an understanding of how power and influence is kept and held. Pelosi grew up around the machine politics of Baltimore (her father and brother were mayors, and her mother, Annunciata, was a formidable mentor). She did not inherit that position, having started in California. But her understanding of working relationships was started well before she was elected to Congress. On an offhand note, Ball writes about how Pelosi kept spreadsheets of her delegation and how they could be motivated or what their issues are. This reminds me of nothing else so much Sam Rayburn or Lyndon Johnson - knowing that much about the people you're supposed to work with.
Pelosi also demonstrates the art and utility of building coalitions. She was one of the first in Congress to voice opposition to Bush's invasion of Iraq in 2003, yet she supported James Murtha, a conservative Marine veteran from central Pennsylvania, to voice more intense criticism. The point was to demonstrate that opposition to the war was widespread, and any criticism would seem stronger coming from him. Yelling on Twitter is easy; organizing is hard. She is also a vote counter, and sometimes 'lets' representatives from swing districts break from the majority if she knows that the vote can still pass.
Also of note is the tension between the power of the legislative and executive branches. During the Obama administration, his office clashed with the Democratic congressional delegation over different priorities. But on the other hand, when the executive is of a different party, the opposition can benefit - see the Democratic rebound in 2018 after 2016, with Trump as an easy target. This is also seen with the total fecklessness of the Republican Congress during 2016-2018, as Trump had no interest in communicating with his party's representatives.
The book ends in medias res. We'll see what happens after November 3. The crises of governance will go on after that.
Disclaimer: I agreed to receive a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2020
I am a tough crowd for this book. I’m a constituent of Nancy Pelosi’s, and have worked with her as a political organizer and a volunteer. So I know firsthand how amazing she is. This book lived up to my high expectations. It chronicles her amazing life from childhood to the present, and explains how trailblazing she was to be elected when women had very few such opportunities, even in liberal San Francisco. I learned so much about her life and work through this book - from her childhood to her first appointment in SF, to the 70s, the Clinton and Obama years, and finally the Trump era. This book is favorable but very fair, and reminds us of all the significant events in America’s recent political history that were all orchestrated by Speaker Pelosi. It’s a very strong addition to your political bookshelf and is a great, compulsively readable account of her character, idealism and accomplishments. I plan to by a hard copy of this book for my shelf.
Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co. and Molly Ball for the preview of this excellent book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co. and Molly Ball for the preview of this excellent book in exchange for my honest review.
July 24, 2020
This is a political biography of Nancy Pelosi. Although there is far more talk of her high heels or the classy, understated clothes she wore than would be found in any political review of a man, a reality that I suspect Pelosi would resent, there is very little of Pelosi’s personal life in this book. This is a flattering portrait of a powerful political figure of the Democratic Party. Despite going into this book with a positive opinion of Pelosi, this felt unbalanced. Apparently Pelosi has and never had any faults. While every moment of Pelosi’s political career is recounted in glowing language, her opponents’ actions, words and motivations are described with negatively loaded language. There was nothing here that I could not have gleaned from news coverage over the past several decades. I would have appreciated either more in-depth political analysis or more behind the curtain revelations of her more private life. I received this from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
June 18, 2020
I was talking to a reasonable friend of mine recently about political divisions and who is to blame and she said something along the lines of "I feel like some people in politics are just mentally ill and totally crazy, like Pelosi--she actually just seems like she should be in a mental institution." I was struck by the comment because she is an anti-Trump person and is not one to just caricature dems, but she felt so strongly about Pelosi. Then I saw this book reviewed in the Times the next week so I picked it up and DAMN is my friend wrong on Pelosi. She is totally and completely capable and a total badass. I don't always like what she does, but I have so much respect for her (I did before I read this book, but much more so after). Obama comes out looking pretty bad in this book--it seems that he threw Nancy under the bus on some of the TARP stuff. Anyway, it seems that she is getting her due in public adoration these days and it is so well-deserved as she has survived so much crap for so long with total grace.
December 6, 2020
This insightful biography is a largely sympathetic telling of Nancy Pelosi's life and politics. The recent events are somewhat repetitive if you follow the news. It moves quickly and the writing is accessible.
January 14, 2021
"Pelosi" is Molly Ball's carefully researched biography of a remarkable woman, Nancy Pelosi. The book spans her childhood in Baltimore, her college years, her marriage, her raising 5 children and her many years as a politician in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is the politician that the reader learns most about.
As the author explains in her Afterword, "For all the time I've spent on Pelosi, she remains somewhat impenetrable. I've tried to explain her methods, the way she thinks, the sources of her mastery. But she is a private person, and her inner life is fundamentally off limits." When reading the book, I wanted more insights into Pelosi's personal life. We do learn that Catholicism is important to her. When Pelosi told Trump that she would pray for him, she truly meant it. Her 50 + year marriage is also private, but we learn that she and her husband Paul are happy with each other.
Some women are warm and fuzzy. This is not Pelosi. "A force to be reckoned with" is a more apt description. Pelosi has been a trail blazer for other women. Through determination, hard work, and political savvy, Pelosi has been Speaker of the House twice. Readers will find the author's detailed descriptions fascinating of how Pelosi leads her caucus and deals with other politicians in the opposing party. Pelosi told the author that her biggest accomplishment has been the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
Pelosi is a firm believer in checks and balances and that the three branches of government are equal to each other. The presidency is not a monarchy, as Pelosi herself has told us. She will go down in history as the leader of the House that impeached Trump.
** I want to thank Henry Holt & Company and Molly Ball for my complimentary copy of the book.
Update 1-14-21: Yesterday, Nancy Pelosi, at age 80, presided over House of Representative proceedings that resulted in impeaching President Trump for the 2nd time. Trump had incited a riot against the congress. Pelosi has tremendous courage and is a true leader.
As the author explains in her Afterword, "For all the time I've spent on Pelosi, she remains somewhat impenetrable. I've tried to explain her methods, the way she thinks, the sources of her mastery. But she is a private person, and her inner life is fundamentally off limits." When reading the book, I wanted more insights into Pelosi's personal life. We do learn that Catholicism is important to her. When Pelosi told Trump that she would pray for him, she truly meant it. Her 50 + year marriage is also private, but we learn that she and her husband Paul are happy with each other.
Some women are warm and fuzzy. This is not Pelosi. "A force to be reckoned with" is a more apt description. Pelosi has been a trail blazer for other women. Through determination, hard work, and political savvy, Pelosi has been Speaker of the House twice. Readers will find the author's detailed descriptions fascinating of how Pelosi leads her caucus and deals with other politicians in the opposing party. Pelosi told the author that her biggest accomplishment has been the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
Pelosi is a firm believer in checks and balances and that the three branches of government are equal to each other. The presidency is not a monarchy, as Pelosi herself has told us. She will go down in history as the leader of the House that impeached Trump.
** I want to thank Henry Holt & Company and Molly Ball for my complimentary copy of the book.
Update 1-14-21: Yesterday, Nancy Pelosi, at age 80, presided over House of Representative proceedings that resulted in impeaching President Trump for the 2nd time. Trump had incited a riot against the congress. Pelosi has tremendous courage and is a true leader.
July 14, 2020
Nancy Pelosi was born in a political family. Her father was a congressman and mayor of Baltimore. Her mother served as an unofficial aide. She organized campaign rallies, managed fund-raising, and ran the Baltimore Women's Democratic Club from her home. While Nancy's brothers learned how to run for office, Nancy worked beside her mother and learned ground level politics. "By the time Nancy was eleven, her parents trusted her to staff the living room constituent services organization. She knew whom to call to get a needy person on welfare, in a city hospital, or a place in a housing project."
She went to college in Washington, DC, and after graduation she worked in a Senator's office. Her plan was to attend law school, but when she met and married Paul Pelosi, in 1963, those plans were put aside. She gave birth to five children within six years, and concentrated on being a mother and a wife. The family moved to California. As her children grew, she was the picture-perfect mother, "chaperoning field trips, sewing Halloween costumes, and bringing cupcakes to school."
After the children were all in school, she took on more volunteer work. In 1975 she was appointed to the San Francisco Public Library Commission. She worked behind the scenes of the California Democratic party as an organizer and fund raiser.
When Nancy Pelosi was elected to Congress in 1987, three of her children were attending college at Georgetown University. She was elected Speaker of the House in 2007.
Author Molly Ball details Pelosi's political career, the bills she wrote and pushed through congress, and illustrates the determination and intelligence of this incredible woman. Some have complained that Ball didn't do enough to show the negative side of Nancy Pelosi, that this book is biased in her favor.
I disagree. I don't want to read about gossip and scandal! Molly Ball tells us about all the good Nancy Pelosi has accomplished. I enjoyed reading Pelosi and look forward to watching her career go forward.
She went to college in Washington, DC, and after graduation she worked in a Senator's office. Her plan was to attend law school, but when she met and married Paul Pelosi, in 1963, those plans were put aside. She gave birth to five children within six years, and concentrated on being a mother and a wife. The family moved to California. As her children grew, she was the picture-perfect mother, "chaperoning field trips, sewing Halloween costumes, and bringing cupcakes to school."
After the children were all in school, she took on more volunteer work. In 1975 she was appointed to the San Francisco Public Library Commission. She worked behind the scenes of the California Democratic party as an organizer and fund raiser.
When Nancy Pelosi was elected to Congress in 1987, three of her children were attending college at Georgetown University. She was elected Speaker of the House in 2007.
Author Molly Ball details Pelosi's political career, the bills she wrote and pushed through congress, and illustrates the determination and intelligence of this incredible woman. Some have complained that Ball didn't do enough to show the negative side of Nancy Pelosi, that this book is biased in her favor.
I disagree. I don't want to read about gossip and scandal! Molly Ball tells us about all the good Nancy Pelosi has accomplished. I enjoyed reading Pelosi and look forward to watching her career go forward.
May 15, 2020
Pelosi comes across as a remarkable person, but I was disappointed in the book overall. No real digging. Few quotes. I was left wondering if the author conducted any interviews at all beyond her subject, or If she just wrote the book based on published articles
June 1, 2020
Even after working for Madam Speaker for nine years, I learned some things from Molly Ball's deeply reported book. An inspiring read for anyone who believes that politics, despite all its flaws, can actually lead to lasting change.
Read
August 11, 2020A Portrait of a lady on fire
Every big, tent-pole political party will be comprised by a diverse group of people, and that's good. There will be visionaries who are the architects of the sweeping philosophy and future overall direction of the party. There will be elder statesmen who form the reliable old guard keeping the party steady. There will be activists dedicated to espousing a certain cause or movement. There will be glad-handers who enjoy the race and the chance to build their external network and their clout within the party. There are probably many more other characters.
Nancy Pelosi, this book says, is an operative. She does not dither or contemplate the foundational philosophies of the Democratic party. She is just decisive and gets things done. Instead of wondering on the subtleties of 'to be or not to be', she starts from fixed moral principles originating from her upbringing in the Catholic Church, in a family that was politically active and embedded in the Democratic Party, and the sense of noblesse oblige which she inherited from her politically connected parents who kept a 'favors' ledger for the needy and powerful in local Baltimore and which she further developed as a privileged grande dame married to a multimillionaire. Her effectiveness lies in her decisiveness, her inexhaustible ability for organization and tapping on to her steadily growing networks, and her ingenuity to think of methods to accomplish things once she's summarily decided they are worth accomplishing. She was not naturally charismatic-- hence her forced-looking grin/grimace on TV- but she would keep on pressing the issues, and her caucus members, until the deal is done. As one of the earliest lone women on Congress, and as the first female House Speaker, she always had to arrive better prepared than everybody else. She would read, annotate and memorize thousands of pages of policy documents, memorize electoral maps, and strive to get on to the substantial House Committees as opposed to the relaxed, symbolic ones.
The running tally of her initiatives and accomplishments are as follows:
1. campaigning for AIDS to get federal acknowledgment and funding in the age of the Reagan administration, sending informational pamphlets about the disease to all her constituency in a move that Reagan copied, and inserting medical aid packages into a law that translated into billions for affected people
2. steadfastly condemning the Tiananmen Square Massacre, visiting China, and getting Pres. Clinton to include a condition for human rights in his free-trade agreement with China (which he later failed to honor)
3. opposing the Iraq War
4. opposing Bush cuts to Medicare that would have led to its gradual privatization
5. changing Democratic support for Bush plans to privatize parts of Social Security and unifying the ranks against it
6. enduring Newt Gingrich's gangrenous presence on the Senate
7. introducing technological innovations to the Democratic Party's operations early on, such as computerized databases for polling, and consulting marketing and branding specialists from the private world to rejuvenate the party's stock of ideas for campaigns
8. pushing over Republicans a bill that: strips away deregulation riders, enables gun violence research, prohibits spending on a concrete border wall, barred interior ICE agents
The book shows that Nancy Pelosi is not necessarily of the lofty, magnanimous 'When they go low, we go high' variety-- in her method of operations. She will call her contacts. She will horse-trade. She will arm-twist. She will fundraise. She will invite centrist candidates into the party, if it will help the party tent swell in size. You want someone who will play hardball and hold the line, Nancy is your woman.
However, she is staunchly lofty and magnanimous in her principles. She will not hesitate to let her donors down or oppose her party's president on grounds of principle. For instance, because of her repeated vocal censure of the Tiananmen Massacre even when its tenure in the news cycle was long past, she lost the support of some businesspeople in her district who wanted to slide in free trade agreements with China that would have been favorable to them. She stands staunchly on her principles, because her civic career sprung from innate moral resolve, not some desire to keep her position or to elevate it to the Senate or the presidency.
---
President Obama doesn't look so good here. His reputation has mythologized, but his actual legacy is checkered. As this book reveals, negotiated with Republicans to "loosen Wall Street Regulations and campaign finance limits". Furthermore, he was willing to cut a deal with then-Speaker, Republican John Boehner, to make "welfare reform" or cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits.
---
This book is also a healthy reminder of the catalogue of wolfish cabinet members that Trump has assembled, in case public memory wanes. Here it is:
Health Secretary Price who spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer money on private jet travel
Interior secretary Ryan Zinke who "opened public lands for oil and gas drilling" and "steered agency policies to his own personal benefit"
Scott Pruitt the Environment Protection Agency administrator who is a climate change denier and hands out favors to his friends and family
the Commerce Secretary worth 700 million who wondered why federal employees locked out during a government shutdown had to use food banks, when they can just take loans
Every big, tent-pole political party will be comprised by a diverse group of people, and that's good. There will be visionaries who are the architects of the sweeping philosophy and future overall direction of the party. There will be elder statesmen who form the reliable old guard keeping the party steady. There will be activists dedicated to espousing a certain cause or movement. There will be glad-handers who enjoy the race and the chance to build their external network and their clout within the party. There are probably many more other characters.
Nancy Pelosi, this book says, is an operative. She does not dither or contemplate the foundational philosophies of the Democratic party. She is just decisive and gets things done. Instead of wondering on the subtleties of 'to be or not to be', she starts from fixed moral principles originating from her upbringing in the Catholic Church, in a family that was politically active and embedded in the Democratic Party, and the sense of noblesse oblige which she inherited from her politically connected parents who kept a 'favors' ledger for the needy and powerful in local Baltimore and which she further developed as a privileged grande dame married to a multimillionaire. Her effectiveness lies in her decisiveness, her inexhaustible ability for organization and tapping on to her steadily growing networks, and her ingenuity to think of methods to accomplish things once she's summarily decided they are worth accomplishing. She was not naturally charismatic-- hence her forced-looking grin/grimace on TV- but she would keep on pressing the issues, and her caucus members, until the deal is done. As one of the earliest lone women on Congress, and as the first female House Speaker, she always had to arrive better prepared than everybody else. She would read, annotate and memorize thousands of pages of policy documents, memorize electoral maps, and strive to get on to the substantial House Committees as opposed to the relaxed, symbolic ones.
The running tally of her initiatives and accomplishments are as follows:
1. campaigning for AIDS to get federal acknowledgment and funding in the age of the Reagan administration, sending informational pamphlets about the disease to all her constituency in a move that Reagan copied, and inserting medical aid packages into a law that translated into billions for affected people
2. steadfastly condemning the Tiananmen Square Massacre, visiting China, and getting Pres. Clinton to include a condition for human rights in his free-trade agreement with China (which he later failed to honor)
3. opposing the Iraq War
4. opposing Bush cuts to Medicare that would have led to its gradual privatization
5. changing Democratic support for Bush plans to privatize parts of Social Security and unifying the ranks against it
6. enduring Newt Gingrich's gangrenous presence on the Senate
7. introducing technological innovations to the Democratic Party's operations early on, such as computerized databases for polling, and consulting marketing and branding specialists from the private world to rejuvenate the party's stock of ideas for campaigns
8. pushing over Republicans a bill that: strips away deregulation riders, enables gun violence research, prohibits spending on a concrete border wall, barred interior ICE agents
The book shows that Nancy Pelosi is not necessarily of the lofty, magnanimous 'When they go low, we go high' variety-- in her method of operations. She will call her contacts. She will horse-trade. She will arm-twist. She will fundraise. She will invite centrist candidates into the party, if it will help the party tent swell in size. You want someone who will play hardball and hold the line, Nancy is your woman.
However, she is staunchly lofty and magnanimous in her principles. She will not hesitate to let her donors down or oppose her party's president on grounds of principle. For instance, because of her repeated vocal censure of the Tiananmen Massacre even when its tenure in the news cycle was long past, she lost the support of some businesspeople in her district who wanted to slide in free trade agreements with China that would have been favorable to them. She stands staunchly on her principles, because her civic career sprung from innate moral resolve, not some desire to keep her position or to elevate it to the Senate or the presidency.
---
President Obama doesn't look so good here. His reputation has mythologized, but his actual legacy is checkered. As this book reveals, negotiated with Republicans to "loosen Wall Street Regulations and campaign finance limits". Furthermore, he was willing to cut a deal with then-Speaker, Republican John Boehner, to make "welfare reform" or cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits.
---
This book is also a healthy reminder of the catalogue of wolfish cabinet members that Trump has assembled, in case public memory wanes. Here it is:
Health Secretary Price who spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer money on private jet travel
Interior secretary Ryan Zinke who "opened public lands for oil and gas drilling" and "steered agency policies to his own personal benefit"
Scott Pruitt the Environment Protection Agency administrator who is a climate change denier and hands out favors to his friends and family
the Commerce Secretary worth 700 million who wondered why federal employees locked out during a government shutdown had to use food banks, when they can just take loans
April 12, 2021
Just superb in every way! I listened to the Audible audio edition and the narration was just wonderful. What a woman!
October 9, 2020
No matter your politics, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a master negotiator, brilliant politician and a force to be reckoned with on Capitol Hill. Turns out, this was Molly Ball’s thesis in writing this extensive profile of the two-time House Speaker—as she reveals in the Author’s Note.
Pelosi’s rise to political success is not similar to most politicians, as she entered into the arena after her five children were grown. She then followed a path that ultimately led to the speakership in 2009, and again in 2018. Ball tells the stories of Pelosi’s childhood, motherhood and time in Congress with a very readable narrative style that I couldn’t put down. It seemed she was in the room during my Democratic Caucus meeting and grillings in the Speaker’s office. While she broke many ceilings as the first woman in such a role and was often the only woman in the room, Ball both highlights this and demonstrates Pelosi’s success as a Speaker.
Given that I worked on Capitol Hill during part of Pelosi’s time with the Speaker’s gavel, I found the stories completely riveting and interesting. It brought to mind many memories and fleshed out so much that was happening in the Capitol.
Pelosi’s rise to political success is not similar to most politicians, as she entered into the arena after her five children were grown. She then followed a path that ultimately led to the speakership in 2009, and again in 2018. Ball tells the stories of Pelosi’s childhood, motherhood and time in Congress with a very readable narrative style that I couldn’t put down. It seemed she was in the room during my Democratic Caucus meeting and grillings in the Speaker’s office. While she broke many ceilings as the first woman in such a role and was often the only woman in the room, Ball both highlights this and demonstrates Pelosi’s success as a Speaker.
Given that I worked on Capitol Hill during part of Pelosi’s time with the Speaker’s gavel, I found the stories completely riveting and interesting. It brought to mind many memories and fleshed out so much that was happening in the Capitol.
May 11, 2020
When I told friends that I was reading this, some worried it would simply lionize Nancy Pelosi. I began to worry this would be too much “Yasss Queen!” — I was absolutely wrong.
Molly Ball has written a compelling biography of the highest ranking woman in American politics. It focused almost exclusively on her professional life, which I didn’t mind. Pelosi’s legislative wheeling and dealing was very interesting to read about. Ball does a good job of establishing Pelosi’s reputation and spending a good chunk of the book during the Bush and Obama years, making it all the more surprising that she has become a viral sensation in the age of Trump.
Anyone interested in politics should consider reading this one. You don’t have to agree with Pelosi (or even like her) to appreciate her success and skillset. It makes for a great read!
Molly Ball has written a compelling biography of the highest ranking woman in American politics. It focused almost exclusively on her professional life, which I didn’t mind. Pelosi’s legislative wheeling and dealing was very interesting to read about. Ball does a good job of establishing Pelosi’s reputation and spending a good chunk of the book during the Bush and Obama years, making it all the more surprising that she has become a viral sensation in the age of Trump.
Anyone interested in politics should consider reading this one. You don’t have to agree with Pelosi (or even like her) to appreciate her success and skillset. It makes for a great read!
January 20, 2022
The publisher distributed copies of Pelosi by Molly Ball to members of a feminist group on Goodreads who are discussing it this month. I'm late to the discussion though I read the book early because my computer died in late July. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley.
When someone writes a political biography, particularly in these partisan times, we need to be wary of bias. I feel that Molly Ball is inclined to portray Nancy Pelosi in a positive light, though she doesn't omit controversies and discusses the reasons why Pelosi has opponents among progressives.
There is no doubt in my mind that Pelosi has had a feminist impact. I didn't really need to read Ball's biography to be persuaded on that point. What surprised me in this book was Pelosi's long period of hesitation about running for office. It seems to me that Nancy Pelosi had to grow into the feminist role that she eventually played. Looking back on how much Pelosi has accomplished for women through the pages of Molly Ball's biography felt very worthwhile to me. It will be a strong candidate for the best biography I read in 2020.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
When someone writes a political biography, particularly in these partisan times, we need to be wary of bias. I feel that Molly Ball is inclined to portray Nancy Pelosi in a positive light, though she doesn't omit controversies and discusses the reasons why Pelosi has opponents among progressives.
There is no doubt in my mind that Pelosi has had a feminist impact. I didn't really need to read Ball's biography to be persuaded on that point. What surprised me in this book was Pelosi's long period of hesitation about running for office. It seems to me that Nancy Pelosi had to grow into the feminist role that she eventually played. Looking back on how much Pelosi has accomplished for women through the pages of Molly Ball's biography felt very worthwhile to me. It will be a strong candidate for the best biography I read in 2020.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
May 9, 2020
This is a fairly conventional and fawning bio of the infamous Speaker. Unfortunately the author’s treatment unintentionally comes across as more ‘Veep’ than what she was going for, which appeared to be ‘Ms. Smith Goes to Washington”. It’s too bad as an incisive biography could certainly have been drawn here but instead it paints a power player who is cited as perhaps making one mistake in her long career. Interesting that though her husband is a multi-millionaire investment manager, when the topic of the ’08 meltdown arrives Pelosi is as surprised as anyone on Capitol Hill, as there was not a mention up to that point of putting forward any legislation directed at financial legislation or Wall Street or anything else that would attempt to put a dent in income inequality. But time and again we learn about her ability to wrangle her Caucus and get the votes for whatever other piece of legislation was being put through the sausage making machine in DC.
March 17, 2020
I literally did a happy dance when I got the NetGalley approval to download this book. AND IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Nancy Pelosi has been a longtime hero of mine, and this exhaustively researched, impeccably written biography of Madam Speaker is worthy of her. I learned so much about Speaker Pelosi in this book - how her relationship with each of her parents helped define her own political skills, her incredible productivity as a legislator and Congressional leader, and more about her incredibly close family life. I took a number of parenting tips from her in this book as well - getting Rho to set the table for breakfast the night before, for him to help me fold his laundry, and to perfect the motherly glare that stops rebellious behavior in its tracks (I hope). I stayed up far too late for 3 nights to read this book, and I have no regrets. It’s superb.
May 22, 2020
I have been waiting for a Pelosi biography for a long time. This book is essentially a history of Pelosi’s legislative career. If I was an AP Govt teacher, I’d assign this to the class.
But this book made me realize we need at least two more Pelosi biographies—a book in the spirit of Caro or Issacson that interviews her enemies, her children, her former staffers and gives us a nuanced portrait of her, what makes her tick, what drives her, what power means to her, her darker side. Her secrets. Stories she herself won’t want told. What it is really like to be the most powerful woman in America.
And we need her memoirs. Her post retirement, unleashed, let me tell you how it is really is, in the candid spirit of Becoming.
Can’t wait for these two other books.
But this book made me realize we need at least two more Pelosi biographies—a book in the spirit of Caro or Issacson that interviews her enemies, her children, her former staffers and gives us a nuanced portrait of her, what makes her tick, what drives her, what power means to her, her darker side. Her secrets. Stories she herself won’t want told. What it is really like to be the most powerful woman in America.
And we need her memoirs. Her post retirement, unleashed, let me tell you how it is really is, in the candid spirit of Becoming.
Can’t wait for these two other books.
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