To what audience would you recommend Becoming Madam Secretary?
I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction, especially about women. It’s a great choice for bookclubs.
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I would recommend the book to young women, high school - college ages. They needn’t aspire to a career in politics to benefit from reading about the personal traits and demonstrated character of Madame.
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I would recommend this book to those who are interested in the people and the dynamics behind the facts during this period of history. It’s interesting to understand how personalities and relationships play and have played such a role in history. Frances Perkins was a force, as was Franklin Roosevelt, and together they changed the trajectory of the United States.
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Christine I agree, I was not familiar with Frances Perkins until I read this book. She was a force and we need people like her now to stand up to current administration .
I will recommend this book to my club and friends who enjoy historical fiction. Everyone should know about this woman and the incredible things she accomplished!
This would be great for anyone interested in politics. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes. To see it from a woman’s perspective is unique.
I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes to read historical fiction. I will be passing it on within a small group of women friends who share books. I think it speaks to older women like me because it offers a perspective I did not receive in past studies of history. I also think it would speak to younger people, giving a unique look into history they may be studying.
I could not identify a group to whom I would recommend this book. Anyone who likes to read and likes to learn would enjoy this very readable book.
I would recommend this to everyone. Engaging and good historical fiction is the gateway to getting people - especially Americans better versed in the History of this country and countries around the world. I truly believe in the importance of a quality education and that the study of history, especially including the vital role women and minorities served in our nation and others, is indispensable to creating an environment where those that are not white, male and Christian are valued. As a retired educator who taught Am. History, among other disciplines, I believe our country is where it is now, in part because of a lack of Civics and History education. When I started teaching Am. History I wrote to the local Historical Society and the History Center in the major metropolitan city in which I lived asking for resources to teach a unit in Women’s History. I subscribed to and received their quarterly magazine that featured stories about men in history and I asked them to consider publishing a magazine devoted to the important roles women played in the history of our State. What I received back was one nice letter telling me they had nothing to offer me and had no plans to publish a woman centered historical publication but did have a child centered one under consideration. …” I still have both the letter and the small pamphlet they included titled “ Women’s History” with nothing inside except a list of things that historians might find useful if they ever bothered to study the important contributions women made to the history of our country .
Frances Perkins needs to be known not only by women who like historical fiction, but also men who are interested in politics and history. I have already recommended the book to my local book club and will recommend it to fellow readers who enjoy historical fiction. The study of American history in high school and college (unless one is majoring in American history) often ends near the end of the Civil War or nineteenth century. Strong dedicated women like Ms. Perkins need to be made known.
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After completing this book my first comment was …“who knew?” Who knew about Frances Perkins? Who knew about the politics at the state level in New York? Who knew about Frances Perkins at the national level? I did not. This is a book with broad appeal. It is a true reflection of the genre of historical fiction. I learned so much from this story…especially the New York politics. I consider myself a New Yorker and I had never heard of Frances Perkins and had no idea of the politics at the state level. Then of course it takes us to the national scene. The role of women and what she had to do during this time period. Nothing short of amazing. This is a story that had to be told and I am glad that it has been told! I enjoyed this book tremendously. I will be recommending it to my book clubs…a 5 star read for me.
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I think it is a good book for anyone that enjoys historical fiction, but it is also a good book for all American citizens to read to understand how “good” government functions. Perkins was willing to compromise to get something signed into law that could be built upon and expanded later.
Historical fiction lovers. Anyone who needs inspiration and strength to accomplish something for the greater good of the people. Working women, democrats, and those who believe in true democracy.
I would recommend this book to any book club, but especially to those who love historical fiction. This author found the right balance between history and fiction; too many authors do not. I would also recommend it to women of all ages and anyone interested in American history.
This is a great book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a spotlight on overlooked figures in American history. I had heard of Perkins briefly in history classes in high school and college, but this book shed a whole new light of FDR’s presidency.
I will definitely be recommending Becoming Madam Secretary to my womens’
book club for discussion next year. We do seem to enjoy learning about the
lives of strong women.
I would recommend this book to women who need inspiration and/or a role model. Francis did not get bogged down in the details of what she wore, or how she compared to other women, or whether she got the credit she deserved - she sprang into action when she saw a need to move the needle on something that stirred her.
Definitely historical fiction readers would be interested in this book. I’m not too far in it yet. I find politics are part of it but more so it shows how women were treated at the turn of the century.
Older readers who would remember Frances Perkins and appreciate the social & personal challenges she faced. I also read Kirstin Downey’s nonfiction treatment of Frances Perkins and found this a much easier read. It followed the highlights of her life and moved swiftly. The Nonfiction book was dense and included too many details. The reader could get bogged down.
In this case, historical fiction was a great teacher of facts!