We are one of IndieBound's picks for October and today's the last day to revel in the glory on IndieBound's Next List page!
Check out the reviews we received from independent booksellers for Let The People
In: The Life and Times of Ann Richards by Jan Reid:
"You don’t have to
be a Texan, a political junkie, or a feminist to be fascinated by Ann Richards,
the colorful one-time Texas governor. Reid, her biographer, knew his
subject and had access to her unpublished letters and other documents, and he
brings Richards vividly to life with help from her many lively remarks about
the people and events of the day. She was active on both local and national
fronts, kept up with a family and a career, and struggled successfully against
alcoholism. She was a fighter and a survivor, and in Reid’s compelling portrait
she will remain an inspiring figure for some time to come."
—Laurie Greer, Politics & Prose
Washington, DC
"An insider's view
to the backrooms of Texas progressive politics! Reid's biography
has much in common with some of my favorites-- those of Martha Gellhorn,
May Sarton, Molly Ivins, and most recently Alice Kessler-Harris's bio
of Lillian Hellman. These are all books about difficult, passionate women who
led unconventional lives in the mid-20th century. They worked and lived and
fought and drank with men and competed on their own terms. Their feminism
was intrinsic to their identities. And all of them were opinionated, brash as
well as brave, compassionate in the largest sense, while often petty and
prickly in their private relations. Fascinating, filled with primary source
materials. This is a great, in-depth portrait of a brilliant, feminist, and
politician."
—Linda Bubon, Women and Children First
Chicago, IL
"Sweeping
in scope, richly anecdotal back-story account of Ann Richards' path from a
Texas girl of modest means to Governor and beyond by a man who knew her. Of
particular interest is how Ann spent nearly 20 years doing politics and
activism while working basically as a housewife and then, after her separation
from her husband, found herself catapulted onto the electoral center stage
where she blazed a hard-fought trail for other women who subsequently ran for
political office. I also enjoyed the account of the early years, when she and
her husband consorted with a raggedy band of hard-drinking, pot-smoking
progressives (hey, it was the late 60s and early 70s) whose populist politics
kicked some serious conservative butt over the years. I don't usually read
political biography but enjoyed this one very much."
—Kris Kleindlest, Left Bank
Books
St. Louis, MO
"Exactly what the
subtitle claims to be: a very personal chronicle of a woman who fell into the
vortex of Texas politics in the 1970s and 1980s. With a journalist's attention
to sniffing out all the details, Reid has captured one of the more fascinating
times in Texas history, when the old Republican applecart was upset by Ann
Richards, a feminist and inclusionist, who found that being a good wife and
mother "just bored the living hell out of me." The personal and
professional battles of the woman who became governor are balanced with an
eye-opening (at least for this non-native Texan) account of how politics worked
-- and works -- in Texas. It's fascinating reading."
—Alice Meloy, Blue Willow Books
Houston,
TX
"Jan Reid has
given us a definitive picture of the life of one of a larger than life Texan.
For those of us who knew Ann and for those who didn't there is plenty to
read through and get the complete picture of how this feisty Texas woman made
modern history. If you experienced the euphoria of Ann's inauguration you
were part of a Texas that was filled with promise and seemed poised to take the
lead in solving the nations' problems, and the disaster that ended her
governorship was something that we could not have even imagined. For me the book
read like a novel--except I was there enough to know it wasn't."
—Steve Bercu, Book People CEO and Vice
President of ABA
Austin, TX
"What a
treat! It is such a well-written book about a fascinating subject, and I
have thoroughly enjoyed it. Since I subscribe to Texas Monthly and the
Texas Observer, I had read many of the pieces referenced at the time they were
published, and I think Mr. Reid has done a masterful job of mining his rich
sources for material that will bring a complicated, lovely woman to life for a
broad audience."
—Marilyn Copeland, King’s English
Salt Lake City, UT
"What an
interesting and engaging read, particularly in an election year. Richards' life
turns out to be the perfect lesson in American politics--from grassroots local,
to national stage. And honestly, if you weren't a fan of Richards before, you
will be after reading this. The book does a wonderful job of introducing you to
this fascinating political leader, but also simply telling one woman's life
story--the highs and the lows. The book is full of great anecdotes and a few
great photos as well. I highly recommend it."
—Allison Hill, Vroman’s Bookstore
Pasadena, CA
"Oh my, do I miss
Ann Richards! I suspect a lot of other people do as well. Jan Reid had
done a wonderful job recounting Richards' rise to power starting as a young
housewife and ending up as the Governor of Texas. Along the way, she
espoused progressive causes and skewered her opponents with a devastating
wit. Her most famous characterization of a political adversary as being
"born with a silver foot in his mouth," seems to live on with renewed
vigor."
—Elaine
Petrocelli, Book Passage
San Francisco, CA
"This exceedingly
well-written portrait of the life of the brilliant Ann Richards was a true joy
to read. In addition to learning more about this incredible woman and her
legacy, the book also weaves a thrilling tale of Texas Politics. A
thrilling ride for any lover of Texas, politics, and the great Ann
Richards."
—Becky Lee, Blue Willow Book Shop
Houston,
TX
"Before she famously
mocked President George H.W. Bush for being "born with a silver foot in
his mouth," Ann Richards was already a controversial figure. Love her or
hate her, no one could ignore her; she was a person of power and influence. Jan
Reid's new biography tells not only of her influence, but also of her
character, and paints a picture of a stubborn and resilient public servant.
This is a story of the woman as well as the politician, but also a book about
politics itself, and the sacrifices one makes to live in the public sphere. In
the end, Governor Richards' struggles and accomplishments reveal 'what can
happen in government if we simply open the doors and let the people in.'"
—Kester Smith, Book People
Austin, TX
"Let the People
In is a fascinating
look at one of the great political figures of our time. Jan Reid uses
interviews, correspondence, and solid research to give us an honest, intimate
portrait of former Texas governor Ann Richards. She wasn't perfect by any means
but she broke a lot of glass ceilings, fought for social justice and mentored a
new generation of female leaders. Her story is an important one and I highly
recommend this book to anyone interested in politics (right or left) but also
more generally to anyone just interested in reading a really compelling
biography."
—Cody Morrison, Square Books
Oxford, MS
"What memories
this book stirred up. Jan Reid's "Let the People In: The Life and Times of
Ann Richards" should be required reading for anyone who wants to enter
politics, especially in Texas, but even the casual reader of history will enjoy
learning about one of the most colorful and accomplished figures ever in the
Texas Democratic Party. Reid captures the defining moments, struggles, and
fears of Ann Richards she rose to become the first woman governor elected in
her own right. This warts-and-all biography just made me appreciate Gov.
Richards even more than I already did. Reid's description of the night she won
the gubernatorial election made me cry as I cried that night -- it was one of
my proudest moments as a woman, a Texan, and a Democrat. The time period Reid
covers is one of the reasons I'm involved in politics today."
—Sally Woods, Murder by the Book
Houston, TX
"The words
Political and Biography never mixed well for me. Where similar subjects
had me running for the literary
snooze button, Jan Reid had me reading well into the night. Sure, we remember
Ann Richards, the unshakeable Texas icon. She opened the door for radical
change on a political stage every bit the boys club that history cares to
admit. But what about
her life before the ballot box? What went on behind closed governor's mansion
doors? What does an uncompromising spirit do in its down time retirement? With Let the
People In, Jan Reid brings to light a life worth celebrating, a loss worth
mourning, and a legacy hard won worth remembering."
—Chris Hoyt, Book People
Austin, TX
"I've
read a lot of history and political biography. The descriptive “page turner” is
not often applicable. Jan Reid's biography of Ann Richards is exactly that.
From start to finish, it's a compelling to read. “Let The People In” is a
vibrant full palette portrait of the most important woman in the History of
Texas politics. The Lone Star State has produced more than it's fair share of
colorful and influential political figures. This fully detailed, unflinching
look at Ann Richards' life tells the remarkable story how she earned her place
among those colorful, influential folks.
Wife,
Mother, Feminist, Friend and Politician, Ann Richards the whole human gets
uncovered. It's not always pretty. It's never boring. You won't want to put it
down. You'll finish with the sure belief that now more than ever, American
politics could use a lot more folks like Governor Richards."
—Bosco Farr, Book People
Austin, TX
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