Carrie Chapman Catt: A Life of Leader Ship / Nate Levin (Book)

When you think about the women’s movement of the later 1850’s, the main two figures that come to mind are Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Recently, I was given the opportunity to review a fantastic new book by Nate Levin about the life of Carrie Chapman Catt.

I recognized Mrs. Catt from history books and documentaries I have studied about the women’s movement, but I never realized her involvement was so extensive and covered so many continents until I read Mr. Levin’s in-depth depiction of her life. I thought I was well-versed in women’s history, but I encountered a lot of new information from this

book that was never presented in my history classes at school.”Carrie Chapman Catt: A Life of Leadership” is written for younger readers, which I think is a wonderful way to educate young girls (and boys, too) on women’s suffrage and just how far we have come in a relatively short period of time. The eighteen chapters packed into 85 pages chronicle the life of this remarkable woman as she travelled around the world to help women of all nation’s to fight for equality.

Carrie Chapman Catt was an incredibly strong woman who encountered many challenges and never backed down. Her tireless efforts are truly inspiring. One theme I noticed in her life was that she frequently teamed up with friends to get her through the particulary troubling times. She built a great network of friendships and supporters that helped carry her through and urged her on to success in her endeavors. I think Carrie summed up her passion in this marvelous quote shortly after one of her world travels:

“We have made suffrage speeches to audiences on four continents: America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and on the ships of three oceans. Our audiences have included the followers of every main religion…and representatives of all the main human races…We have left the seeds of revolution behind us, and the hope of liberty in many souls. But we have got much more than we gave…especially…the intensified conviction that the Cause of Woman cannot wait. I am tired and I would like to retire from the work and the worry, but…I must keep at it.”

One aspect of the book that caught my attention was the often detailed account of the strategies the women used as they fought for their rights. They were frequently defeated and their efforts were often undermined by political agendas and internal conflict within their own organizations. It was eye-opening to read about the struggles and obstacles they had to overcome just to take one step forward.

Other highlights of the book include several photos of Carrie with various women’s groups and a few other photos from that era, including one of three women casting ballots in the elections of 1918.

“Carrie Chapman Catt: A Life of Leadership” is a book every young girl should read. They should read, not just for a history lesson, but to discover what a rich heritage we share as women and to pay tribute to those who fought for the rights we often take for granted today.

Thank you, Mr. Levine, for such a great work!