The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
Genre: Nonfiction – Feminism, Memoir
Suggested Age: Adult
What is this Book About?: Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has written an inspirational book about the global issues that keep women worldwide from reaching their potential in their various societies around the world. These issues include maternal and child health, family planning, education, inequality, child marriage, gender bias and more. Gates has done considerable research and traveled extensively to see these issues play out in the societies in Africa, India, and other countries. Gates relates the stories told to her by women worldwide whose living conditions are keeping them, their families and their society from reaching even a minimal level of success. The subtitle of the book says it all—How Empowering Women Changes the World!
My Review: This book is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about improving conditions for women and societies worldwide. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has funded projects with measurable success in Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Niger, Kenya and throughout India. You might think that financial plenty would make Melinda Gates aloof and privileged, but that is not at all the tone of this book. Gates tells us just enough about her own circumstances, struggles, and issues to level the playing field. She made me forget her social position as Bill Gates’ wife and only hear her voice. Melinda is apparently a great listener and she relates what she has been told around the world in a sincere and compassionate manner. The stories that she shares are eye-opening, empathetic, and heart-wrenching. I loved reading this book, but it has also made me want to do more to help those both in the United States and abroad who are oppressed by living conditions, lack of education, and social norms that hold them back. A resource guide of organization that readers can support is included in the back of the book. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is donating the profits from this book to further their philanthropic work.Read if you have a compassionate heart.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Powerful, Inspiring, Heart-wrenching.
Give this a try if you like… Becoming by Michella Obama and Educated by Tara Westover
Rating (out of 5): 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
