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analyticali's review
4.0
I picked up this book because I am friends with the illustrator and enjoyed reading this fresh biography of the octogenarian congresswoman who has overcome the odds to be an incredible and assertive leader and change maker.
Though it borders on hagiographical (not a word I get to use very often), the high praise and unpacking of Waters lived experience within a system dominated by white men upends assumptions about what it means to do your job well when the people you represent have been neglected by government d’or decades. And Rep. Waters does have exceptional style and a way with words that make her worthy of this enthusiastic history telling.
Though it borders on hagiographical (not a word I get to use very often), the high praise and unpacking of Waters lived experience within a system dominated by white men upends assumptions about what it means to do your job well when the people you represent have been neglected by government d’or decades. And Rep. Waters does have exceptional style and a way with words that make her worthy of this enthusiastic history telling.
julsmarshall's review
3.0
Started strong, got a little slow in the middle but ended strong. I did like it on audio!
samleigh10's review against another edition
5.0
i loved it! was not familiar with andrews-dyer before, but r. eric thomas is one of my favorite writers and i can see his voice shine through. has the feel of a coffee table book, but i read it cover to cover, taking a chapter in each sitting, took me about 2 months to read it, reading a few times a week. it was truly more than the sum of its parts, and more than i expected. it is really easy-going reading, totally guides you along with extra info in between chapters for context, and timelines and stuff. i learned a lot, what particularly got me was realizing just how repetitive and cyclical history is - Watts in 1965 (had never heard of before!), Rodney King in 1992 (was only vaguely aware, having been 3 when it happened), and now BLM and George Floyd in 2020. made me very discouraged to feel that nothing has changed in 60 years, but then of course i know that things are improving and progress is hard and anyways its people like maxine who are paving the way for that progress. i was very glad to expand my knowledge of such an amazing woman - her experience with head start, getting companies to divest from apartheid south africa, etc. at the end/final thoughts, andrews-dyer writes "i like living in a world where there's a maxine waters", and thomas writes "i am proud to live at the same time as her" - my feelings exactly!
beverleefernandez's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful book. I don't think I realized how much I miss reading books with pictures until now. The layout of the book (I read the hardcover copy) is not a traditional format. Opening the book, the reader sees neon pink coloring behind the cover and a blue page with Waters' image on a prayer candle. What really catches my attention is the boldness of the colors-they are bright and it's impossible to overlook. This is an obvious salute to Waters' personality. Many times, Black women are relegated to the periphery of society, with an expectation of silence, obedience, and acquiescence to men. In Waters, I think young women have a blueprint for living a best life, especially one that doesn't follow what society calls acceptable. While Waters is not the first to fight against oppression, she doesn't fit the typical image of freedom fighter because of her age (82). Life is a continual cycle of growth and when one reaches retirement age or material comfort level, that isn't necessary an indicator that the apex of life has been reached.
I wasn't acutely aware of Rep. Waters until the phrase "reclaiming my time" was forever etched into pop culture. I think Reclaiming Her Time is a fitting read for Black History Month because Rep. Maxine Waters is a dynamic force, a true icon that reflects "Black Girl Magic". However, Waters is more than a catchy phrase and I think this book tried to convey just how much of a treasure she is. This book isn't a biography that follows traditional convention, mainly because it's written in everyday language with current slang thrown in for good measure-a throwback salute to Waters' engagement with millenials and younger generation. Some may see this as disrespectful, but I think if it opens up a person to read a book, to become an active participant in their community by volunteering and/or voting, I'm all for it. Throughout the book there are several quotes from Waters and other interviewed that set the tone for explaining her legacy, my favorite being "I have to believe that until one learns to love and respect oneself, one will not be able to control one's life and destiny" (27). I think this book is one of many tributes to Waters, one that summarizes her achievements as a representative in California's state assembly and the US House and her influence of political and pop culture.
There are several reasons to admire Waters, but what really resonated with me is how she decided to craft the life she wanted after moving to California with her husband and children in the late 1950s. She left what would be considered a middle class job to go to college and earn a degree. She was a Head Start teacher and worked in her community before running for public office. There's no time limit on when a person should have achieved *fill in the blank*. I think Helena Andrews-Dyer wrote it best when explaining what Waters' legacy means:
"Figure yourself out, girl. Don't just accept what life hands you-poverty, too few opportunities, the paralyzing responsibility of raising tiny humans-and do the obvious thing. Do the bold thing. Discover yourself...figure out what you like and what you don't like...there is no blueprint besides 'do you' " (203).
I wasn't acutely aware of Rep. Waters until the phrase "reclaiming my time" was forever etched into pop culture. I think Reclaiming Her Time is a fitting read for Black History Month because Rep. Maxine Waters is a dynamic force, a true icon that reflects "Black Girl Magic". However, Waters is more than a catchy phrase and I think this book tried to convey just how much of a treasure she is. This book isn't a biography that follows traditional convention, mainly because it's written in everyday language with current slang thrown in for good measure-a throwback salute to Waters' engagement with millenials and younger generation. Some may see this as disrespectful, but I think if it opens up a person to read a book, to become an active participant in their community by volunteering and/or voting, I'm all for it. Throughout the book there are several quotes from Waters and other interviewed that set the tone for explaining her legacy, my favorite being "I have to believe that until one learns to love and respect oneself, one will not be able to control one's life and destiny" (27). I think this book is one of many tributes to Waters, one that summarizes her achievements as a representative in California's state assembly and the US House and her influence of political and pop culture.
There are several reasons to admire Waters, but what really resonated with me is how she decided to craft the life she wanted after moving to California with her husband and children in the late 1950s. She left what would be considered a middle class job to go to college and earn a degree. She was a Head Start teacher and worked in her community before running for public office. There's no time limit on when a person should have achieved *fill in the blank*. I think Helena Andrews-Dyer wrote it best when explaining what Waters' legacy means:
"Figure yourself out, girl. Don't just accept what life hands you-poverty, too few opportunities, the paralyzing responsibility of raising tiny humans-and do the obvious thing. Do the bold thing. Discover yourself...figure out what you like and what you don't like...there is no blueprint besides 'do you' " (203).
rbielbs's review
4.0
This book was sassy and fierce. It is very much a pro Maxine account of her life and career but it’s also a commentary on racism and misogyny that women in power face.
bookish_alyssa's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this wonderful biography!
Informative, insightful, humorous. This is not your average biography, and I mean that in a good way. Maxine Waters’ story is so interesting, and the authors did a lovely job of keeping the reader engaged with humor while also covering lots of information.
Highly recommend checking this out!
Informative, insightful, humorous. This is not your average biography, and I mean that in a good way. Maxine Waters’ story is so interesting, and the authors did a lovely job of keeping the reader engaged with humor while also covering lots of information.
Highly recommend checking this out!