Make Trouble

By: Cecile Richards, Lauren Peterson - contributor

Narrated by: Cecile Richards

Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

Instant New York Times best seller.

“Richards offers practical advice and inspiration for aspiring leaders everywhere.” (Hillary Rodham Clinton) 

“An enthralling memoir.” (Booklist, starred review)

Includes a brand new afterword, read by the author!  

To make change, you have to make trouble.

From Cecile Richards - the president of Planned Parenthood, daughter of the late Governor Ann Richards, featured speaker at the Women's March on Washington, and "the heroine of the resistance" (Vogue) - comes a story about learning to lead and make change, based on a lifetime of fighting for women's rights and social justice. 

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 girlhood in ultra-conservative Texas, where her hell-raising parents - her civil rights attorney father and political activist mother - taught their kids to be troublemakers. In the Richards household, the "dinner table was never for eating - it was for sorting precinct lists". 

She watched her mother, Ann, transform herself from a housewife to a force in American politics who made a name for herself as the straight-talking, truth-telling governor of Texas. But Richards also witnessed the pitfalls of public life that are unique to women and the constant struggle to protect and expand equal rights - both exemplified by her marathon congressional testimony, where she held her own against hostile questions for five hours.

As a young woman, Richards worked as a labor organizer alongside women earning a minimum wage and learned that those in power don't give it up without a fight. Now, after years of advocacy, resistance, and progressive leadership, she shares her 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 at the same time. She shines a light on the people and lessons that have gotten her through good times and bad and encourages listeners to take risks, make mistakes, and make trouble along the way. Richards has dedicated her life to taking on injustice, and her memoir will inspire listeners to hope and action. 

©2018 Cecile Richards (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

Critic Reviews

"While not a professional narrator, Richards is a practiced public speaker who reads with energy, enunciation, excellent pacing, and emotion.... Richards is fierce, funny, and pulls no punches, which will offend some and motivate many for whom this stirring audiobook will serve as a call to action." (AudioFile)

A MUST READ FOR EVERY WOMAN!!!!!

The fascinating life of Cecile Richards and her advocacy is a something I hope every woman will read. Cecile is unpretentious without political posturing or self aggrandizement. She speaks in a straight forward manner of honesty, truthfulness, and determination. What would we have done without her as the Director of Planned Parenthood when the "white men on the Hill" wanted to decimate the funding for Planned Parenthood? She is a true feminist leader for this third wave of the Women's Movement and the demand for the rights of equality for all women. I am recommending it to all my female friends and those women who are brave enough to run for office. Oh, and let's get the men reading it too!

10 people found this helpful

like she was talking just to me

i LOVED hearing the BTS stories. how Cecile got started. and Ann ... i loved her momma! election night and the Women's March brought tears but we ended with hope.

Tune in and then vote, y'all!!

7 people found this helpful

So Inspiring. Let’s all make trouble

This is an inspiration for women to get out there and let their voices be heard

1 person found this helpful

Totally inspiring

Loved every word of this book. I’m embarrassed to admit I did not realize that Cecile is Ann Richards’ daughter. What an amazing career. I won’t be surprised if she runs for office in the near future. She’ll have my vote!

1 person found this helpful

To the troublemakers ...

... who are, should be, used to be or wanna be - do not miss this book. It’s inspiring, provocative, and a glorious reminder that each of us can make change happen. Thanks Cecile!

3 people found this helpful

I liked this

This was great in a surprising way. I highly recommend it to everyone interested in making trouble.

1 person found this helpful

SO INSPIRING

I just finished listening to this book and the very next thing I'm going to do is listen to the whole thing all over again. It was that good.

No wait, before I listen to the book all over again I'm going to go sign up to volunteer for Planned Parenthood.

I'm in awe of Cecile Richards and her career. The number of profound political movements she's been apart of, and sometimes the leader of, in her lifetime is astounding. The stories she tells are fascinating and she tells them exceptionally well.

My one tiny criticism is that the stories are told in nothing resembling chronological order. But that one small flaw does not mar an exceptional book.

2 people found this helpful

Cecile is a shero

Wonderful and inspiring memoir that will push you to work harder to make a difference

Powerful.

I truly liked the enthusiasm in which Richards read her memoir. I think the writing was beautiful. If you want to become socially and politically active you have to study the table shakers. Richards is a table shaker and I love it.

Important stuff to know...

It is important to know about the trials and tribulations of Planned Parenthood and the women who count on it. The subject matter is extremely important.

That said, I wish the book had more to say. It feels like preaching to the converted since, if you are interested in this subject you probably know quite a bit of this already. It is a memoir. There isn’t a whole lot of useful information. And, though Cecile Richards reading is pretty natural, it is a bit dry.