Closing the Leadership Gap: Add Women, Change Everything,   ISBN:9780143114031

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This is yet another in a long line of books promoting gender fascism disguised as equality. While it is true that 'women comprise half of the U.S. population and workforce, yet they hold only 14% of seats in the U.S. Congress and 12.4% of Fortune 500 board positions', it is also true that 96% of those killed at work every year in the US are men, and that according to the Jobs Almanac men do 99% of America's worst jobs. If men have any demand to a right for equal life, then it is far more important that we all work towards these dangerous, dirty, unhealthy jobs being EQUALLY divided between the sexes, and towards a day when women make up 50% of those killed at work. On that day, and on that day only, should 50% of the seats in the US Congress, and 50% of Fortune 500 board positions be held by women. According to current statistics therefore, women should be happy they hold so many of the best jobs in the US. If true equality reigned in that land of gender fascism, women would hold 1% of the Fortune 500 board positions (as they hold 1% of America's worst jobs) and 4% of the seats in Congress (for the 4% of women who make up America's working dead). Anything else is gender fascism, which rates money and power above that of human life and dignity, and which devalues a man's life below that of a woman's, and indeed down to the level of an African's under the Apartheid regime.

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fast shipping, a book had a bar code cut out and some pages in the back were cut on the bottom with the bar code, the main pages were not effected.

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Marie C. Wilson does a masterful job of outlining the problem and supporting it with credible information. Essentially, it is the general perception of women as leaders. Men speak with authority even when they are winging it with no facts to back them up. They are given a pass, while women seldom are. Witness the 2008 primaries and the election campaign that followed. I suggest another issue that is seldom mentioned: women are speaking to the choir. Nearly all the books along this line are written to women and reviewed by women. What is perhaps lacking in Wilson's book is a clear solution and an outline of action steps to take to get men to listen and to elevate the perception of women as leaders.

This cannot be successfully addressed as a general issue, it only be achieved on a personal level. The question is what is doable now? What should each woman do today to improve their own lives, to elevate their own credibility, to position themselves as leaders on a local level? In this regard, I suggest women augment their personal education with a book titled "The Four Minute Sell" by Janet G. Elsea. It is available on Amazon in used copies for a low cost. In my judgment, it is one of the best books written on personal image for females. Also look for "Women Make the Best Salesmen" by Linda Luna Brem. Both of these books inspire and pragmatically instruct and will lift you to another level. Critical mass will only be achieved one woman at a time.

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Marie C. Wilson's book, Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World pinpoints politics as Feminism's last frontier. One might easily forget the need for Feminism in a world where women CEO's, lawyers and scientists are becoming a norm; but Wilson lets us know that although the doors of business, politics and law have opened to women that doesn't mean women have achieved equal opportunity or equal status with men.

Wilson focuses on the need for women in all levels of government and the current lack of women in positions that can lead to Mayor, Governor or President. She notes that although these positions are open to women, women have several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the typical "image" of a leader is masculine. Another disadvantage is the line drawn between personal and public life. Many businesses are run in a fashion that makes women choose between family and career. Wilson argues that if there were more women "at the top" businesses could become more female friendly and thus merge the lines that divide "family time" and work.

One of the things I love about Marie Wilson is that she loves and values women's unique qualities. Although many Feminists have been slow to acknowledge that men and women are different (for fear that this would indicate women are weaker or less qualified to lead than are men), Wilson explains how women's relational skills make them leaders who are sensitive to the needs of those they are leading. Women also view decisions in light of their impact on the group as a whole. These womanly qualities are "resources" that need to be mined in order to make democracy an institution that is best fit to serve and protect.

The statistics found in the book, although necessary, can become quite cumbersome. There were many times when I felt Wilson should have elaborated more on an anecdote rather than statistics. Some stats do not read well because they are written out of chronological order (Example page 171).

Otherwise, I loved Wilson's energetic and hopeful writing style. Her book is necessary reading for any Feminist. It is also proof that Feminism's work has yet to be done.

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Same old whine -- and we must stop it. It all goes back to ONE. Being the first to step up and out. As Nike urges: JUST DO IT. If you don't like what is happening speak up. Write the letter. Make the phone call. Form groups, create a ruckus, be UPPITY. As for Hilary -- being a leader also entails being trustworthy, honest, and straight speaking....there were better example than her.