Make Trouble - by Cecile Richards (Paperback)

About the Book

"From the [former] president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, a memoir about learning to lead and make change, based on a lifetime of fighting for women's rights and social justice"--

Book Synopsis

From Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood for more than a decade, daughter of the late Ann Richards, featured speaker at the Women's March on Washington, and "the heroine of the resistance" (Vogue), comes "an enthralling memoir" (Booklist, starred review) filled with "practical advice and inspiration for aspiring leaders everywhere" (Hillary Rodham Clinton).

Cecile Richards has been an activist since she was taken to the principal's office in seventh grade for wearing an armband in protest of the Vietnam War. Richards had an extraordinary childhood in ultra-conservative Texas, where her civil rights attorney father and activist mother taught their kids to be troublemakers. She had a front-row seat to observe the rise of women in American politics and watched her mother, Ann, transform from a housewife to an electrifying force in the Democratic party.

As a young woman, Richards worked as a labor organizer alongside women earning minimum wage, and learned that those in power don't give it up without a fight. She experienced first-hand the misogyny, sexism, fake news, and the ever-looming threat of violence that constantly confront women who challenge authority.

Now, after years of advocacy, resistance, and progressive leadership, she shares her "truly inspiring" (Redbook) story for the first time--from the joy and heartbreak of activism to the challenges of raising kids, having a life, and making change, all the while garnering a reputation as "the most badass feminist EVER" (Teen Vogue).

In the "powerful and infinitely readable" (Gloria Steinem) Make Trouble, Richards reflects on the people and lessons that have gotten her through good times and bad, and encourages the rest of us to take risks, make mistakes, and make trouble along the way.

Review Quotes

"Make Trouble is a timely reminder that each of us has the power to fight for justice and create the change we want to see. With insight and humor, Cecile Richards offers a call to action for aspiring organizers and leaders. A must-read for anyone hoping to make a difference and trying to figure out where to start."
--Senator Kamala Harris

"[T]he guidelines for starting any organization are spot-on: direct, down-to-earth, and highly practical... A memoir that makes palpable the immense influence of an organization that has improved so many women's lives."
--Kirkus Reviews

"An intimate yet wide-ranging chronicle of a life in the trenches and at the pinnacle of her profession, Richards' enthralling memoir will provide rousing motivation for anyone passionate about social and political causes."
--Booklist (starred review)

"By detailing her own political battles, Cecile Richards has crafted a blueprint for budding activists.... Genial, engaging, and humorous ... If you're looking for books to fill you with energy for the long haul that lies before us, this one is a great place to start."
--New York Times Book Review

"Cecile Richards is my kind of troublemaker. When she sees inequality and injustice anywhere, she does something about it--with wit, wisdom, and courage. Especially at this moment, there's a lot we can learn from her career spent fighting for women's rights. Make Trouble is exactly the book our country needs."
--Sheryl Sandberg

"Cecile Richards is whip-smart, clear-eyed, quick-witted, levelheaded and lionhearted. She employs all of these virtues in her fight for women's health and women's rights. She's also employed them in the writing of this wonderful memoir, Make Trouble. The book, like its author, is a powerhouse."
--Ann Patchett

"Cecile Richards's story is powerful and infinitely readable. Whether you are newly 'woke, ' a longtime activist, or just a caring citizen wondering how to advance democracy in hard times, Make Trouble has the answers. Cecile takes the mystery out of activism, gives you practical examples of how it's done, and tells stories that melt the distance from your front porch to Washington. She is the best teacher on earth--someone you trust."
--Gloria Steinem

"For more than a decade, America has known Cecile Richards as the fierce and fearless president of Planned Parenthood. Make Trouble offers a window into her life: the early organizing effort that landed her in the principal's office; the historic campaign of her mother, Ann Richards, for governor of Texas; her courageous leadership on behalf of women; her travels during the 2016 presidential election; and the lessons she's learned from the outpouring of activism America has seen since. With humor, heart, and hope, Cecile Richards offers practical advice and inspiration for aspiring leaders everywhere."
--Hillary Rodham Clinton

"In this passionate self-portrait, activist Richards maps her road to success from union organizer to her tenure as president of Planned Parenthood, recalling the experiences that shaped her career... It serves as a call to action for women who are mobilizing to make a difference in government and healthcare policies."
--Publishers Weekly

"Part autobiography, part handbook for the resistance, this inspiring tale of advocacy is a must-read for every Nasty Woman out there."
--Bustle

"Truly inspiring."
--Redbook

"With Make Trouble, Cecile Richards--the fiery feminist icon to whom we are indebted--is now also the relatable warrior we adore. By inviting us beyond her frontline fight for justice and into her heart, Richards shows us that a life of activism isn't reserved for the perfect--it's for the passionate--and that it's never too early or too late for women to show up for themselves and each other. In these difficult times in which equality-minded folks are desperate to find purpose and connection, Make Trouble is a roadmap to both."
--Glennon Doyle