"The leader of the free world needs a woman head of state-but a particular woman-with the intellect and presence of mind to ponder action with an eye on the future; a human-centeredness capable of respecting difference and envisioning peaceful cooperation and coexistence with and among nations; a woman unconcerned with showing how tough she is, or how religious she is, or how fashion-setting her wardrobe."

Many of the names and the stories you'll read in "Women's Work and Words" will be "un"familiar-Rachel Corrie, Anna Politkovskaya, Claudette Colvin, and Wangari Maathai. Others-such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alice Walker, Shirley Chisholm, and Madonna-have reached deep into the human consciousness.

All of these women share a spiritual bond. They struggle. They struggle for peace, justice, and a better world. Each has had the courage to challenge the politics of spin and the inhumanity of men and to work for change. Through this stunning medley of profiles, author Carolyn LaDelle Bennett argues that war and conflicts worldwide will end only when human-centered, independent voices-unbought and unbossed-take the helm of governments and political decision-making.

Adapted from Bennett's news and current affairs columns, this book illuminates true and deeply thoughtful voices on the critical issues of our time.

"The leader of the free world needs a woman head of state-but a particular woman-with the intellect and presence of mind to ponder action with an eye on the future; a human-centeredness capable of respecting difference and envisioning peaceful cooperation and coexistence with and among nations; a woman unconcerned with showing how tough she is, or how religious she is, or how fashion-setting her wardrobe."

Many of the names and the stories you'll read in "Women's Work and Words" will be "un"familiar-Rachel Corrie, Anna Politkovskaya, Claudette Colvin, and Wangari Maathai. Others-such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alice Walker, Shirley Chisholm, and Madonna-have reached deep into the human consciousness.

All of these women share a spiritual bond. They struggle. They struggle for peace, justice, and a better world. Each has had the courage to challenge the politics of spin and the inhumanity of men and to work for change. Through this stunning medley of profiles, author Carolyn LaDelle Bennett argues that war and conflicts worldwide will end only when human-centered, independent voices-unbought and unbossed-take the helm of governments and political decision-making.

Adapted from Bennett's news and current affairs columns, this book illuminates true and deeply thoughtful voices on the critical issues of our time.