Off The Sidelines - A Good Read & Good Advice

Senator Kirstin Gillibrand's book, Off The Sidelines - Raise Your Voice, Change The World, is a good read for anyone. Senator Gillibrand makes it clear that she wrote it with a very specific audience in mind, specifically young women. It's interesting that her audience is much broader then that. I think that's for a number of reasons. The publicity around the book has certainly helped. In addition, Senator Gillibrand is a strong voice right now on a number of issues that are important to people. She has been an outspoken leader about sexual assault in the military and on college campuses.

Her book is a good read for a number of reasons. Her writing style is easy and conversational. Her personal history around her family, growing up in Albany and her work and political experiences are interesting as well as instructional. Instructional is key. She clearly wants to share useful information with anyone who is interested in their own personal and professional growth and share she does.

Gillibrand helps her readers understand feelings, pressures and expectations placed on women in the workplace. She doesn't pull any punches either. She tells it like it is but doesn't whine or make excuses like so many of us do when confronted with obstacles. She is clearly a leader, a mover and shaker. She covers issues like self esteem, weight gain and loss, the impact and pressure on all of us, but women especially, relative to personal appearance. Her discussions about how we view ourselves vs how other people view us are important especially when referencing hard working women in male oriented arenas.

Gillibrand is a Feminist and a good one. She speaks meaningfully about being an advocate in general and a voice for the voiceless. There are many who need her encouragement today as voices do tend to get drowned out if not muffled by others. Kirstin Gillibrand is someone you'd want on your side and on your team no matter what you were doing but in my opinion she's best suited for fights for justice and equality.

Young professional women especially may like her book and what she has to say. But others will too - girls, women, boys and men. There's something for all of us. So if you get the chance, grab the book and give it a read.