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emeraldrina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5
charityjohnson's review against another edition
1.0
ignoring the subject matter (which is and has been a serious problem for all subSaharan African countries, except a few), I have no idea how this was a prize winner, much less got to press. Poorly written, sometimes hard to follow ( even for me whose spouse has worked in Liberia and with groups she mentions), choppy, sometimes too much detail, sometimes too little.
Impassioned and truthful are it's chief assets--and that people are reading it.
I gave it a low score because I was not directed nor inspired afterwards. I hope we will see a stronger, clearer book on this matter: the issue they are facing are ideological in nature; the author's exhaustion has something to do with this.
Impassioned and truthful are it's chief assets--and that people are reading it.
I gave it a low score because I was not directed nor inspired afterwards. I hope we will see a stronger, clearer book on this matter: the issue they are facing are ideological in nature; the author's exhaustion has something to do with this.
kirj's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
worldlibraries's review against another edition
5.0
This is a very easy-to-read book, and can be finished in two days. Leymah Gbowee seems like she could sit down and have a cup of coffee with any woman in the world and talk over the problems of the day. It's only when you go watch her Nobel Peace Prize Lecture that you see the force of personality and depth of strength this woman posseses.
I have nothing but respect for a woman who can organize the women in her country to stop a civil war, while mothering six kids and winning a Nobel Peace Prize to boot. This is an extraordinary woman, who found herself in the most trying of circumstances, and said, 'I am not going to take this.' and she didn't.
I have nothing but respect for a woman who can organize the women in her country to stop a civil war, while mothering six kids and winning a Nobel Peace Prize to boot. This is an extraordinary woman, who found herself in the most trying of circumstances, and said, 'I am not going to take this.' and she didn't.
emilieonthemove's review against another edition
4.0
Horrifying and inspiring, a testimony to the power of grass roots mobilization and advocacy in ending war and atrocities against women. An incredible story. Highly recommended.
siria's review against another edition
4.0
Leymah Gbowee is a peace activist, a woman's rights activist, an inhabitant of refugee camps for many years, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, an alcoholic, an entrepreneur, a single mother of six children. This (non-exhaustive) list of her accomplishments and roles gives an idea of the breadth of experience which she packs into her slim memoir, Mighty Be Our Powers. Gbowee won her Nobel for her work in helping to end the civil war which has wracked Liberia for much of its recent history, and here she describes—with often blunt honesty—what it was like to be one of the motivating forces behind the women's peace movement.
This is a rare example of a book which I felt could have been longer—while never failing to be fascinating, at times I felt myself longing for more detail about the women's activities, or feeling as if I needed to know more about the political history of Liberia in order to truly appreciate an event's significance. (Though, of course, Gbowee is not responsible for my ignorance.) The prose is also more workmanlike than anything else, and doesn't really highlight the charm Gbowee displayed in her appearance on The Daily Show. Still, definitely recommended for those interested in conflict resolution processes or in women's movements.
This is a rare example of a book which I felt could have been longer—while never failing to be fascinating, at times I felt myself longing for more detail about the women's activities, or feeling as if I needed to know more about the political history of Liberia in order to truly appreciate an event's significance. (Though, of course, Gbowee is not responsible for my ignorance.) The prose is also more workmanlike than anything else, and doesn't really highlight the charm Gbowee displayed in her appearance on The Daily Show. Still, definitely recommended for those interested in conflict resolution processes or in women's movements.
mallory10100's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, War, Infidelity, Child death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Abortion
kfreedman's review against another edition
Leymah Gbowee actually won a nobel peace prize because she was part of the interfaith women’s movement that ended the Liberian civil war in 2003. She and other women had sit-ins until they got a peace conference. Amazing story, also good for getting to know Liberia.
ktcarlston's review against another edition
3.0
It's embarrassing and really pretty inexcusable that I knew absolutely nothing about the Liberian peace effort before reading this book. I am continually amazed when I read these books (Half The Sky being the best) about how much bigger the world is than my own personal bubble. My amazement continues when I learn about these women that make a difference. This is an inspiring memoir.
That being said - the way it was written was a bit confusing - she would go back and forth in time - she would call some people by different names (nicknames at times, given names at other times) that made it not the easiest of reads. As powerful and moving as Leymah's story is - I think it could have been told much better. I plan on watching the documentary based on her movement "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" this week.
That being said - the way it was written was a bit confusing - she would go back and forth in time - she would call some people by different names (nicknames at times, given names at other times) that made it not the easiest of reads. As powerful and moving as Leymah's story is - I think it could have been told much better. I plan on watching the documentary based on her movement "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" this week.