The Art of Tough: Fearlessly Facing Politics and Life

by Barbara Boxer

Overview

"One goal of this memoir is to inspire people to fight for change. It takes what I call the Art of Tough and I've had to do it all my life." -- Senator Barbara Boxer

Barbara Boxer has made her mark, combining compassionate advocacy with scrappiness in a political career spanning more than three decades. Now, retiring from the Senate, she continues the work to which she's dedicated 30 years in Congress. Her memoir, The Art of Tough, shares her provocative and touching recollections of service, and cements her commitment to the fight for women, families, quality, environmental protection, all in a peaceful world.

Sometimes lauded, sometimes vilified, but always standing tough, Boxer has fought for what is right even when her personal convictions conflicted with her party or the majority rule.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316311441
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	05/31/2016
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Barbara Levy Boxer is the junior United States Senator from California, serving since 1993. A lifelong Democrat, she previously served in the House of Representatives for ten years, from 1983 to 1993. Married for more than fifty years, she lives in California, where she raised two children and has four grandchildren.

Table of Contents

Foreword Kirsten Gillibrand ix

Preface xi

Introduction xv

1 The First Lessons of Tough 1

2 Love, California, and the War That Changed Everything 21

3 At Home in the House 44

4 An Unsettling Time: AIDS, Sexual Harassment, and the Senate 65

5 From an Asterisk in the Polls to Senator 80

6 Crashing the Old Boys' Club 100

7 The Insanity of Impeachment, a Stolen Election, the Horrors of 9/11 and Iraq 117

8 Unforgettable Colleagues, a Lonely Dissent, and the Best Election Ever 154

9 The Crash, Leaders, Sexual Harassment 2.0, and the Sudden Partisanship of the Environment 183

10 The End and a Beginning 220

Acknowledgments 236

Appendix 238

Top Fifty Legislative Accomplishments 238

A Brief History of My U.S. Senate Seat 248

Lyrics and Poems 261

Bibliography 268

Reading Group Guide 270

Editorial Reviews

05/09/2016
Junior U.S. senator Boxer, a Democrat from California, will retire in 2016, and this reflection on her years in office will serve as a key record of her work during those years. She speaks warmly of colleagues Barbara Mikulski, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, reserving criticism for the expected villains: Newt Gingrich, George W. Bush, and her 2010 Senate opponent, Carly Fiorina: "It's clear that she hasn't a clue." Boxer, who briefly worked as a reporter for the Pacific Sun, writes serviceably, if not inspiringly, in the memoir format. Regarding Florida's role in the Bush/Gore contest, she writes: "it was a bizarre situation, which has gone down in history." On the topic of Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, she focuses on the fact she was sick with the flu. She has an eye for a good anecdote, as when she fought for funding to fight AIDS or forced ethics hearings on former U.S. senator Bob Packwood. Ever the politician, she never draws the veil back too far. She calls herself "green" in an early conflict with John McCain and admits to several "over-the-top" campaign slogans ("Save Marin: Vote for Barbara")—but after 40 years in elected office, Barbara Boxer knows better than to risk serious damage to her political legacy. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, Kimberley Cameron & Associates. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"[Boxer has] an eye for a good anecdote.... a key record of her work."—Publishers Weekly

"Anyone who thinks that Washington can't be understood, has no great hearts, and is not crucial to our daily lives will be turned around on all counts by Barbara Boxer's irresistible story of her more than four decades there. Read this as a bridge into the coming political year, and you won't just vote, you'll fight to vote."—Gloria Steinem, feminist, activist, and author

"For decades I have worked with Barbara Boxer on issues that have touched our hearts and our lives. She is a woman of her word and she is one of the most generous leaders I have ever met in politics."—Nancy Pelosi, 52nd Speaker of the U.S. House ofRepresentatives (D-California)

"In more than 40 years in government, Barbara Boxer has truly mastered the 'Art of Tough.' Her life and work are an inspiration to politicians everywhere, both real and completely fake."—Julia Louis-Dreyfus, actress and star of the HBO series Veep

"It's a great book about female empowerment and what it takes to be a member of society and how one person can make a difference."—Chelsea Handler

"From being told in the early sixties that 'women aren't stockbrokers' to five terms in the House and four terms in the Senate, Senator Barbara Boxer's memoir is the story of a woman who found her calling. My favorite quote is: 'So I ran.' Even if you differ with Senator Boxer politically, The Art Of Tough educates and entertains. It's a 'must read.'"—Carole King, singer-songwriter and bestselling author

"When you read Barbara's words, you realize how important it is to be strong in the face of overwhelming powers. Her book will inspire all of us to be fearless in our pursuits, our convictions, and our lives."—Lily Tomlin, comedian and actress

"It takes a true warrior to fight against the biggest polluters who would degrade our environment. That warrior is Barbara Boxer, who has been my partner for years in protecting our oceans so that their beauty remains for future generations."—Ted Danson, actor and environmentalist

"Drawing on her decades of effective, principled advocacy of liberal ideals, Barbara Boxer provides a valuable description of how the legislative process works at its best. She weaves the political, official, and personal aspects of the job into a readable, instructive narrative of how democracy can be practiced."—Former Congressman Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts)

"This book offers invaluable lessons about politics and life from one of the strongest progressive voices of the U.S. Senate. Barbara Boxer's life lessons are tried and true. They are pearls of wisdom her readers can live by."—Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia)

From the Publisher

01/01/2016
California's junior senator since 1993 (after ten years in the House of Representatives), Boxer proclaims, "One goal of this memoir is to inspire people to fight for change." A 65,000-copy first printing.

Library Journal

This audiobook memoir details the author’s experiences coming of age in California, and then spending more than 30 years in public life, most recently as a U.S. senator from that state. Boxer immediately became one of the most pro-environment, antiwar legislators in Washington, and she continues to be a major voice for progressive causes. The foreword is read by another senator, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who does a good job setting the tone of the book, reading with enthusiasm and energy. Senator Boxer delivers the rest of the book with a pleasant voice, and she’s clearly used to speaking with purpose and clarity. While she needs to vary her voice more and to make sure she doesn’t miss emphasizing key words and ideas, overall, Boxer paces herself and reads slowly enough that listeners can ponder her positions. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

JULY 2016 - AudioFile