A Fighting Chance

By: Elizabeth Warren

Narrated by: Elizabeth Warren

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

An unlikely political star tells the inspiring story of the two-decade journey that taught her how Washington really works - and really doesn’t.

As a child in small-town Oklahoma, Elizabeth Warren yearned to go to college and then become an elementary school teacher - an ambitious goal, given her family’s modest means. Early marriage and motherhood seemed to put even that dream out of reach, but 15 years later she was a distinguished law professor with a deep understanding of why people go bankrupt. Then came the phone call that changed her life: Could she come to Washington, DC, to help advise Congress on rewriting the bankruptcy laws?

Thus began an impolite education into the bare-knuckled, often dysfunctional ways of Washington. She fought for better bankruptcy laws for 10 years and lost. She tried to hold the federal government accountable during the financial crisis but became a target of the big banks. She came up with the idea for a new agency designed to protect consumers from predatory bankers and was denied the opportunity to run it. Finally, at age 62, she decided to run for elective office and won the most competitive - and watched - Senate race in the country.

In this passionate, funny, rabble-rousing book, Warren shows why she has chosen to fight tooth and nail for the middle class - and why she has become a hero to all those who believe that America’s government can and must do better for working families.

©2014 Elizabeth Warren (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

The fight for the middle class

Elizabeth Warren’s new autobiography reveals how her political career grew directly from a long career focused on the same issues she is championing in her public role. It is sort of a journal of how she got into the fight for the middle class. Warren spoke about growing up on the “ragged edge of the middle class” in Oklahoma. She tells about her childhood, her failed first marriage, trying to be a stay at home mom, going to school and becoming a law professor and of her successful second marriage. While a law professor she became an expert on the new changes to the bankrupt’s law. She and her students did research into causes and trends in the rash of bankruptcies in the 2000’s. She wrote articles in law journals and books telling about the problems and the pending collapse of the banks and the middle class. She blames most of the problem on the deregulation on the banking industry in the 1990s and the banking lobbyist. She tells of her work on a national oversight panel reviewing the bank bailout in 2008. She also tells about the fight for and then setting up of the Consumer financial Protection Bureau, her brainchild. She mixed policy points, with behind the scene anecdotes; she also does some big bank bashing Warren’s ability to translate complicated finance issues into plain English and parables that appeals to fair play is what rocketed her career. The book ends with her first year as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts giving us an inside glimpse at the horrible gridlock Washington is in. The book carries a message of hope that with the middle class pitching in we can put Washington into working order. Warren does a good job narrating the book.

Amazing! Engaging! Inspiring! & so much more!

If you could sum up A Fighting Chance in three words, what would they be?

Inspired to Change!

What did you like best about this story?

I felt like I was sitting in the living room listening to my dear old friend, Elizabeth, telling me what's been going on in her life since we lost touch a while back... grounded, kind, compassionate. I love that she read it herself.

Which scene was your favorite?

Very hard to pick one particular scene...I love how she walked right into a pole when waving at fans during her Senate race, (I would do that!), and I love how close she was to her dog and how her passion for helping the people propelled her to do things she had never thought about doing before. So courageous!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when she went to Washington for the Consumer Protection Agency, her feelings for Otis (her dog), and her empathy for constituents that confided in her.

Any additional comments?

I had heard of her for years, just in the background and on the sidelines, though. Upon hearing that she was being considered as a possible running mate for Hillary, I decided to check her out more thoroughly. WOW! So glad that I did. What I found makes me wonder how many others are equally passionate and working FOR the people that I have yet to discover and support. Not all politicians are crooked and evil. ;-)

The First Woman President of the United States

Where does A Fighting Chance rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Fighting Chance?

Senator Warren's flexibility in moving around and how the family managed to stay together in situations where many families would fragment or become bitter with one another.

What does Elizabeth Warren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The intonation of her voice embraces the vocabulary and brings truth to the words most people in politics shake out of a campaign can with only hints of well rehearsed faux-sincerity in their tone.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really. I like to reflect on what I have heard and thus avoid blurring the important facts and events into a contextual experience only.

Any additional comments?

I am convinced that Elizabeth Warren is the real thing and have, for about two years felt that she is not in the position of influence in the Senate as only 1-voice in 100. Her campaign for president of this nation will bring to the forefront many of the issues and character aspects of other candidates, which may well create a surge of support from both sides of the ridiculous polarity that has so tragically divided this nation for the past two decades.

Obsessed now

Any additional comments?

As if I wasn't a fan of Elizabeth Warren before, now I am willing to join a fan club and get this woman into office. The writing was easy to follow, and she integrates her personal story with her political agenda seamlessly. She is a true American hero!

Not just for Democrats

I would recommend this book to anyone who is curious about how the banks get bailed out, how our student loans are becoming impossible. Elizabeth Warren is truly a great person, she doesn't try to gain from others she is trying to fight for us.
Best part was hearing her read this book. You will laugh, you will be shocked and angry at times and you may even cry because she adds her personal life to this book.

Are you a fighter?

Inspirational book on how the average American needs to become involved in politics to save our country from super banks, the super rich and selfish business titans. There are too many members who have been bought by money given to them for political purposes. The laws have hurt the average person and transferred billions of dollars to the 1% of the richest. The Republican Party is responsible for the majority of these rules.

Interesting and enjoyable

I am not always a fan of author read books but Warren does a very good job, in fact, I don't think another narrator would have done the book justice. She reads the book like she is living it and that keeps the listener engaged. You can actually hear the sadness when she speaks of her dog Otis.

The book itself is informative and moves easily along. I found myself becoming enraged listening to the hook the banks have in our elected officials. While I am sure that at some level we all know(or think we know) how Washington works this book peels back the covers and offers a more than a glimpse at just how manipulated our democracy has become. Corrupt is the word that comes to mind. If you're not engaged in the democratic process before you listen, you will likely at least think about becoming engaged by the time you finish.

it should of been her & VP Joe not Hillery

What did you love best about A Fighting Chance?

she brilliant

What did you like best about this story?

its an American story, how it should be for all of us.

Which scene was your favorite?

the whole book

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

when she exposed the corruption in DC. we know it exist, she brought proof it exist.

Any additional comments?

my she live a healthy & long life. job well done

Very impressive inspirational book.

Elizabeth Warren has expressed the best of politics and the worst. Mostly depressing clarity of the shortcomings of our political leaders and the self serving greed of corporate American. Everyone should read this to get a peep at what goes on in congress. It shouldn't work that way but should work for the people. God help us.

///pvr

Timely and Encouraging

We DO so need encouragement and hope, even more so today! I am going to look for more current books by Senator Warren....