Huddle

How Women Unlock Their Collective Power

De: Brooke Baldwin

Narrado por: Brooke Baldwin

Wall Street Journal Bestseller

CNN news anchor Brooke Baldwin explores the phenomenon of “huddling,” when women lean on one another—in politics, Hollywood, activism, the arts, sports, and everyday friendships—to provide each other support, empowerment, inspiration, and the strength to solve problems or enact meaningful change. Whether they are facing adversity (like workplace inequity or a global pandemic) or organizing to make the world a better place, women are a highly potent resource for one another.

Through a mix of journalism and personal narrative, Baldwin takes readers beyond the big headline-making huddles from recent years (such as the Women’s March, #MeToo, Times Up, and the record number of women running for public office) and embeds herself in groups of women of all ages, races, religions and socio-economic backgrounds who are banding together in America. HUDDLE explores several stories including:

• The benefits of all-girls learning environments, such as Karlie Kloss’s Kode with Klossy and Reese Witherspoon’s Filmmaker Lab for Girls in which young women are given the freedom to make mistakes, and find their confidence.
• The tactics employed by huddles of women who work in male-dominated industries including a group of US veterans/Democratic Congresswomen, a huddle of African-American judges in Harris County, Texas, and an all-female writers room in Hollywood.
• The wisdom of huddling from trusted pioneers such as Gloria Steinem, Billie Jean King, and Madeleine Albright as well as contemporary trailblazers like Stacey Abrams and Ava DuVernay.
• How professionals such as Chef Dominique Crenn and sports agent Lindsay Colas use their success to amplify other women in their fields.
• The ways huddles of women are dedicated to making seismic change, including a look at Indigenous women saving the planet, the women who founded Black Lives Matter, the mothers fighting for sensible gun laws, America’s favorite female athletes (Megan Rapinoe, Hilary Knight, and Sue Bird to name a few) agitating for equal pay, and female teachers rallying to improve their working conditions.
• The bond between women who practice self-care and trauma healing together, including the women who courageously survived sexual abuse, and the women who heal together in The Class and GirlTrek.
• The ways women are becoming more intentional about the life-saving power of friendship, including the bonds between military wives, new moms, and nurses getting through the time of Covid.

Throughout her examination of this fascinating huddle phenomenon, Baldwin learns about the periods of huddle ‘droughts” in America, as well as the ways that Black women have been huddling for centuries. She also uncovers how huddling can be the “secret sauce” that makes many things possible for women: success in the workplace, effective grassroots change, confidence in girlhood, and a better physical and mental health profile in adulthood. Along the way, Baldwin takes readers through her own personal journey of growing up in the South and climbing the ladder of a male-dominated industry. Like so many women in her field, she encountered many sharp elbows on her career path, but became an early believer in adding more seats to the table and huddling with other women for strength and solidarity. In the process of writing HUDDLE, Baldwin learns that this seemingly new phenomenon is actually something women have been doing for generations—a quiet, collective power she learns to unlock in her transformation from journalist to champion for women.

Great Read for Everyone

Regardless of your gender this book has key takeaways and action items for you to apply to your real life. We can all be better in creating safe places for people to huddle.

A fantastic thesis paper.. extended to a book

She was really good, on point and had great diction. Not great because it was wordy/repetitive. Still great points. I went to a Baptist women's college so learning how much women can do for themselves was a natural process for me. For the majority of the co-ed world it can be a difficult theme to learn. Funny how many false stories are fed to and believed for life by thousands of generations of childreb. The author shares her meaningful insights on the truths she has uncovered.

Thoroughly enjoyed

I’ve been a fan of Brooke’s for years, so I’m probably biased. That said, I loved this book. I appreciate that she tackled difficult subjects without sugarcoating them. I also liked the details about how she picked news stories and how serious she was/is about telling the stories and woman and girls of underrepresented backgrounds. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Ms. Baldwin.

Brooke Baldwin’s book the Huddle has inspired me to go the extra mile to spend the time with my girlfriends.

The Huddle has opened my eyes wide open on how important it is to your mental health to have a real connection with your female friends. This book is an excellent read on how we can really show up for the women in our lives. Rather it be personally and or professionally. Show up. I thought I was great in my different huddles but I can certainly do better! Thanks to Brooke for her expert advice in the Huddle. I highly recommend this read. We love our friends they make us happy! We can share everything and every feeling and come out so loved and refreshed shinning like a diamond. No matter how busy we all are we must put ourselves first and make it a priority to Huddle up with girlfriends. That relationship with your girlfriends is one of a kind a blessing. Such a bond that you will not need a psychiatrist. So friends out there text,email or call your friends frequently stay connected. Huddle up with your friends that’s how we love and support our girlfriends.

What I needed when I needed it

A fantastic breakdown of women relying on each other and moving mountains. I so appreciate most present stories, and our recent history as well as stories that start with the civil rights era and moving forward. I appreciate the personal nuances shared by Brooke and how we ended up here. Excellent book I can’t recommend enough.

Overuse of the word Huddle

Great voice for the narration, interesting story lines. Although, please give me a dime for every time the word huddle or huddling was used in this collection of self experiences, reflections, interviews and advice for productive friendships. I just kept thinking, I get it Brooke, the name of the book is Huddle.

Way overdue!

Brooke - I love your book. But I want to know what to do know that one of my lifelong friends- 50 years in my huddle- has died. I am bereft. What can I do now? I have checked in with my other “huddles” but still feeling so much pain. Any advice much appreciated. Thanks !

inspiring

great book for anyone identifying as a woman and especially young people. a great guide to connections and communication with purpose of community and personal success.

Showing Up For Each Other

I found this book to be an easy listen. Although Brooke is 20 years my senior I walked away with much to consider and take action on. If you want to improve your life and relationships this is an excellent addition to your book collection.
Women are changing the world and this young woman is showing how to do your part. Well done!

Eye opening truths

I loved hearing the author tell her story about the journey of bonding and supporting of women.