LEADING THE WAY

Inspirational profiles of 50 women who threw their hats into the U.S. political arena.

Flanked by various combinations of “power symbols” representing positive values or character traits, the alphabetically arranged entries include both current presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren and the iconic likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, “Battling Bella” Abzug, Barbara Jordan, Abigail Adams, and deep state chief executive Edith Wilson, “the first woman to act as president of the United States” while her husband was incapacitated. Focusing more on each woman’s achievements and major areas of interest than party affiliation or political lean, the authors offer a good mix of players on state and local as well as national stages, with a conscious eye to diversity: Nonwhite women make up just under half the roster. The profiles all come in at a little more than a page in length, and, along with the selected symbols, each features two quotes and a career resume (to date). Each also comes decorated with a smiling painted portrait so staid that even Shirley Chisholm and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (who in real life had, and have, world-class game faces) look constipated. Nonetheless, younger activists and public servants in search of courageous, tough-minded role models will be spoiled for choice even before they get to the concluding list of 30 “more leaders to discover.”

Makes a strong case that where “she persisted,” others really can follow.