From Publishers Weekly
Gerber, a senior fellow at the University of Maryland's Academy of Leadership, idolizes Roosevelt as someone who overcame numerous hardships in her personal life. Using biographical details from different periods of the first lady's colorful history, from childhood to the last few months of her life, Gerber shows how Roosevelt's actions are still relevant and can provide inspiration for women today. Although it feels forced at times, this approach works. For example, in the chapter on finding your "leadership passion," Gerber says, "Your values have taken time to develop. They're based on your family background, religion, relationships and experiences and they are a part of you. But unless your values have been tested they may not be apparent to you." She then goes on to explain how Roosevelt didn't recognize her own values after spending many years listening to her grandmother and her husband. But when she began speaking out against political injustices, she grew more comfortable with her own beliefs. Each chapter ends with key principles ("Eleanor's Way"); some of these points are useful, but others are tired (e.g., "Follow your authentic instincts" or "Be bold and principled in implementing your vision"). Despite these flaws, Gerber's work provides a thought-provoking look at a first lady with a unique style. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Gerber, a labor lawyer, teacher, and senior fellow at the Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland, here offers a self-help book for young women seeking to develop leadership skills. Noting the absence of leadership education materials that cite women as role models, Gerber has chosen to frame her advice around Eleanor Roosevelt and the difficult challenges she faced and overcame. Gerber's personal experience and vignettes from other successful women also illustrate the various lessons incorporated in each chapter, e.g., "Learn from Your Past," "Find Mentors and Advisers," "Learn from Adversity," and "Never Stop Learning." The chapter titled "Find Your Leadership Passion" describes ER's initiation in and reformist commitment to New York State politics and ends with a list of specific pointers under the heading of "Eleanor's Way," which in this instance includes the counsel to take the words I can't and should out of one's vocabulary. This book has a foreword by distinguished scholar James MacGregor Burns, and the publisher plans a major publicity campaign, but its audience is hard to define. For libraries with a large "self-help" clientele.Cynthia Harrison, George Washington Univ., Washington, DC Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Billie Jean King
"[Gerber] tells Eleanor's story with descriptive flair and gives readers wise advice about finding their leadership passion and following it."

FROM OUR EDITORS

First lady, author, and ambassador, Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) earned her leadership stripes during one of the most contentious periods of American history. Believing that Roosevelt's leadership experiences can benefit us all, Robin Gerber, J.D., a senior fellow at the University of Maryland's Academy of Leadership, has distilled instructive stories from the first lady's long and busy life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable ability to confront and overcome hurdles-be they political, personal, or social-made her one of the greatest leaders of the last century, if not all time. In Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way, author and scholar Robin Gerber examines the values, tactics, and beliefs that enabled Eleanor Roosevelt to bring about tremendous change-in herself and in the world. Examining the former first lady's rise from a difficult childhood to her enormously productive and politically involved years in the White House, as a U.N. delegate and an honorary ambassador, an author, and beyond, Gerber offers women an inspiring road map to heroic living and an unparalleled model for personal achievement.

Author Biography: Robin Gerber, J.D., is a senior scholar at the Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland. For more than twenty years she has trained women in leadership at organizations including the Democratic National Committee, the United Nations, and the State of New York. Ms. Gerber is a regular contributor to USA Today and other major newspapers.

SYNOPSIS

Advice on how to achieve the strength, courage, and confidence to succeed from First Lady, author, and Ambassador Eleanor Roosevelt.

Eleanor Roosevelt's ability to confront and successfully overcome longstanding social hurdles made her one of the greatest leaders of the last century. A veritable roadmap to heroic living, this unique book examines Eleanor's leadership development and provides women from all walks of life with a model for personal achievement.

Focusing on the need for women to take greater leadership roles, Robin Gerber draws on the values, tactics, and beliefs that allowed Eleanor Roosevelt to bring about transformational change--in herself and in the world. Each chapter begins with an introductory story taken from successive periods in Eleanor's life, followed by the lessons she learned and how they contributed to her growth as a person and as a leader. Gerber also provides anecdotes from Eleanor's life, as well as from the lives of contemporary "everyday" women to show how all women can discover and further develop their leadership skills.

A powerful primer for women to exercise leadership across all sectors--from business to government to the nonprofit world--these lessons for any woman who has tried to balance love and ambition, who has struggled with fear of failure, and who understands the need to learn and grow.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Gerber, a senior fellow at the University of Maryland's Academy of Leadership, idolizes Roosevelt as someone who overcame numerous hardships in her personal life. Using biographical details from different periods of the first lady's colorful history, from childhood to the last few months of her life, Gerber shows how Roosevelt's actions are still relevant and can provide inspiration for women today. Although it feels forced at times, this approach works. For example, in the chapter on finding your "leadership passion," Gerber says, "Your values have taken time to develop. They're based on your family background, religion, relationships and experiences and they are a part of you. But unless your values have been tested they may not be apparent to you." She then goes on to explain how Roosevelt didn't recognize her own values after spending many years listening to her grandmother and her husband. But when she began speaking out against political injustices, she grew more comfortable with her own beliefs. Each chapter ends with key principles ("Eleanor's Way"); some of these points are useful, but others are tired (e.g., "Follow your authentic instincts" or "Be bold and principled in implementing your vision"). Despite these flaws, Gerber's work provides a thought-provoking look at a first lady with a unique style. (Oct. 11) Forecast: Warner is publishing David B. Roosevelt's Grandm re: A Personal History of Eleanor Roosevelt in October, which probably will help Gerber's sales. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Gerber, a labor lawyer, teacher, and senior fellow at the Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland, here offers a self-help book for young women seeking to develop leadership skills. Noting the absence of leadership education materials that cite women as role models, Gerber has chosen to frame her advice around Eleanor Roosevelt and the difficult challenges she faced and overcame. Gerber's personal experience and vignettes from other successful women also illustrate the various lessons incorporated in each chapter, e.g., "Learn from Your Past," "Find Mentors and Advisers," "Learn from Adversity," and "Never Stop Learning." The chapter titled "Find Your Leadership Passion" describes ER's initiation in and reformist commitment to New York State politics and ends with a list of specific pointers under the heading of "Eleanor's Way," which in this instance includes the counsel to take the words I can't and should out of one's vocabulary. This book has a foreword by distinguished scholar James MacGregor Burns, and the publisher plans a major publicity campaign, but its audience is hard to define. For libraries with a large "self-help" clientele.-Cynthia Harrison, George Washington Univ., Washington, DC Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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