With Liberty and Justice for All: A Life Spent Protecting the Right to Choose

by Kate Michelman

From "one of the most powerful women in Washington" (Washingtonian) and a "legend and leader," (Vanity Fair) comes a book that concerns the future of our country, our society, and our world. Catalyzed... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594630062
• ISBN13: 9781594630064
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Hudson Street Press
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Pro-choice is Pro-Life

The novel is about Michelman, who was president of NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) from 1985 to 2004, goes into the details of not only her personal experiences with abortion, but how she fought to keep it legal. Michelman starts with her own fight for an abortion and then dives into the battles over the nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. She discusses those who tried to overturn Roe v. Wade, as well as discusses how "pro-lifers" often turned to burning down abortion clinics, and had hit lists with names of doctors who preformed legal abortions. Michelman ends the novel with her description of the 2004 March for Women's Lives in DC. Personally, I felt that this book was inspirational and showed us that putting effort into a cause can make a huge difference. As someone who is also pro-choice I owe my ability to make decisions about my body in part to Michelman.

Her Compassion Shines Through

This book is not only an engaging account of how a brilliant mind orchestrates a fight for justice--it's a healing book to read. Kate Michelman's genius is in her reasonableness. The other side is not reasonable. Her strength lies in that she listens. The other side does not listen. She fights with quiet persistence. She hears the pro-lifers' words; she respects that there are some people out there who believe a clump of cells the size of the head of a pin is a human being whose rights trump those of the woman carrying it. In answer, she says quietly, persistently to these Advocates of Forced Birth--But there's a woman there. Not a host. Not an environment. Not soil. A human still in possession of rights, and no, I will not let you legislate them away. KM has startling patience with those who believe a woman's human rights have vanished because her birth control failed. This book makes it so clear who's listening-- and who isn't. Something else that came through strongly in this book is the truth that birth is a creative act that a woman carries out, an immense undertaking that can't succeed without her full cooperation, her wisdom, her skill, her love. She must be an active participant--not a passive receptacle, not the captive of another's will. It is KM's gentle persistence in the face of the barbarity of her opponents that is so powerful. The other side is anything but gentle. A rapist uses a woman's body for his pleasure. A pro-lifer uses a woman's body to act out narrow, irrational religious convictions. Both freely trample her will, leave her physically injured, psychically brutalized. Wise, too, is the title --With Liberty and Justice for All-- for nothing less is at stake. But outrage will not win the fight. KM's relentless reasonableness just might.

Excellent

Extremely well written and incredibly timely. Michelman does an excellent job laying out the facts and educating the reader. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is itnerested in the topic of abortion rights.

Kate Michelman has been the heart and soul of this claim for justice.

Noone has a better right to tell this story nor a better vantage point from which to tell it. Kate has spent her life fighting for women's rights and we need to hear what she has to say so we never forget what justice is all about.

A wake up call some won't want to hear

In a timely and important book, Kate Michelman lays out exactly why we must come together and defend our rights to privacy and choice. There's no melodrama, no moralizing, no preaching. This dispassionate history of a passionate life is nothing less than a wake up call. I hope and pray people will open their eyes.