Synopses & Reviews
Wendy Davis has had her share of tough fights. Raised by a single mother with a ninth-grade education, Davis began working after school at age fourteen to contribute to the family finances. By the time she was nineteen, she was living in a trailer park with a baby daughter and holding down two jobs. But rather than succumb to the cycle of poverty that threatened to overwhelm her, Davis managed to attend community college and Texas Christian University, graduate from Harvard Law School, and go on to serve nine years on the Fort Worth City Council. She set her sights on the Texas state senateand#151;and in 2008 defeated a longtime GOP incumbent in a race widely considered one of the biggest recent upsets in Texas politics.
But it wasnand#8217;t until June 2013 that the rest of America was acquainted with the spirited Texas state senator. Davis became an overnight political sensation and a hero to womenand#8217;s rights supporters across the country when she single-handedly filibustered Governor Rick Perryand#8217;s sweeping bill that aimed to close all but five abortion clinics in her state. During her historic nearly thirteen hours on the floor of the state legislature, Davis wasnand#8217;t allowed to eat, drink, sit, use the bathroom, speak off topic, or lean against any furniture. When it was over, President Obama tweeted support to his millions of Twitter followers, and Wendy Davisand#151;with her pink sneakersand#151;was suddenly a household name.
She is now the first Democrat to make a serious run for governor of Texas in two decades, and her personal story is a testament to the enduring power of the American dream and an inspiration to countless women looking for a way out of desperate circumstances. Told in her own refreshingly forthright voice, Forgetting to be Afraid is the exhilarating and deeply moving story behind one of the nationand#8217;s brightest young political stars.
Review
and#8220;Itand#8217;s very goodand#8230; an important contribution not only to understanding Wendy Davis but to where we are right now.and#8221; and#8211;Rachel Maddow
and#8220;Iand#8217;m a Republicanand#8230;but I can still love the book and be moved by an inspirational story.and#8221; and#8211;Joe Scarborough
and#8220;The memoir by the Democratic Texas gubernatorial candidate, Forgetting to be Afraid, includes more eyebrow-raising passages than most political memoirs allowand#8230;.Real in a way that eclipses politics. For a few pages, Davis strips the abortion issue of its political trappings and focus-grouped talking points. She removes it from the realm of bumper stickers and legislative floor debatesand#8230;.We see it for what it is, with all its nuance. And we see it for what it is not - simple.and#8221; and#8211; The Houston Chronicle
and#160;and#8220;In a new memoir and#8230;Ms. Davis has reinforced the wisdom of letting women sort out their medical options. Sort out independently.and#8221; and#8211; The New York Times
and#8220;Texas gubernatorial candidate Davis delivers a political biography that is betterand#8212;in part because itand#8217;s better written, in part because itand#8217;s more heartfeltand#8212;than most books of its kindand#8230;.Sheand#8217;s good at writing, too, and her closing account of that famed filibuster is a dramatic, textbook case of how to play hardball.and#160; Doubtless weand#8217;ll be hearing more from Davis. This modest memoir makes it clear why even her opponents should pay attention to her.and#8221; and#8211; Kirkus Reviews
and#8220;Tremendously proud of Wendy Davis for telling her story - and fighting on behalf of Texas women every day.and#8221; and#8211; Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Review
and#8220;Very goodand#8230; an important contribution not only to understanding Wendy Davis but to where we are right now.and#8221; and#8211;Rachel Maddow
and#8220;Iand#8217;m a Republicanand#8230;but I can still love the book and be moved by an inspirational story.and#8221; and#8211;Joe Scarborough
and#8220;Texas gubernatorial candidate Davis delivers a political biography that is betterand#8212;in part because itand#8217;s better written, in part because itand#8217;s more heartfeltand#8212;than most books of its kindand#8230;Doubtless weand#8217;ll be hearing more from Davis. This modest memoir makes it clear why even her opponents should pay attention to her.and#8221; and#8211;Kirkus
and#8220;Compelling.and#8221; and#8211;Associated Press
Synopsis
A deeply personal memoir by one of the countrys brightest new political stars, Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis.
Synopsis
An inspiring memoir by one of the countryand#8217;s brightest new political stars and hero to womenand#8217;s rights supporters everywhere In June of 2013, Texas state senator Wendy Davis became an overnight political sensation when she singlehandedly filibustered Governor Rick Perryand#8217;s sweeping anti-abortion bill. Her personal story is just as remarkable. The daughter of a single mother, Davis, at age 19, was on her way to becoming a single mother herself. She was living with her own young daughter in a trailer park while working two jobs and struggling to make ends meet. Still, she managed to attend and graduate from Texas Christian University and Harvard Law School, be elected to the Fort Worth City Council and the Texas Senate, and, in 2014, became the most serious Democrat in two decades to make a run for governor. Refreshing and forthright, Forgetting to Be Afraid is a deeply moving testament to the enduring power of the American Dream.
About the Author
WENDY DAVIS is the Democratic candidate for governor in Texas. She represents Fort Worth in the Texas senate and previously served on the Fort Worth city council. In June 2013 she held a historic eleven-hour filibuster to block legislation that would create harsh abortion restrictions on Texas women.