Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Look In To The Past
Review: "Founding Mothers" is a wonderful look in to our past, and the beautiful women that served steps behind their mates, and yet-steps beyond their mates as well. I enjoyed the details included in this book, little pieces of "Original Thoughts" the women of our past have lent to us. Ms. Robert's does well in giving us a truly beautiful book to share with the women of the present and future.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and well researched!
Review: As Abigail Adams reminds her husband to "Remember the Ladies", Cokie Roberts reminds the reader of the same thing as she discusses the birth of the USA as seen through the eyes of the influential women who lived during those years. Although, as a Social Studies teacher, I am familiar with the events leading up to the American Revolution and the ratification of the Constitution, I learned so much about the women who are so often omitted from history textbooks. Not only does it make me wonder about how American History might have been different had Abigail Adams been permitted to serve as a delegate alongside her husband, but I am also left marveling at the economic innovations of Eliza Pinckney as well as the overall economic and political influence of the women of the times (boycott, propaganda, etc.)
Although there were times that I found the text a bit dry (unlike some other popular history books I've read recently, it did not read like a novel but like straight-forward history), I still learned a great deal and I plan to incorporate some of this information into my teaching curriculum this year!
Rating:
Summary: It's about time
Review: As soon as I saw the title of this book I had to read it. The topic has always been a source of intrigue for me because I know that noone in a position of power or influence goes out on a limb alone. Whole families make sacrifices when one member is an outspoken leader. I wish there were more stories of these women whose influence on early America we know only through the legends of their husbands and brothers. Women who maintained businesses, raised children, and financed the wars of absent men have been neglected in historical accounts and this book is a start toward filling in the gaps.This book does not take away from the magnificent courage of the men whose genius took a stand against a mighty British power and created the freedom and documents that hold our democracy together but augments history with human stories in a gentle reading style that gives us more flavor about the time of Colonial America. I still remember how much Martha Washington's American flag fascinated me as a child but little else was really known of her inspirations. Certainly George Washington must have relied heavily on her strength and this book gives us some understanding of the lives of historically significant women like Martha Washington.
Rating:
Summary: Great Women Who Backed Great Men. Outstanding Book!
Review: Cokie Roberts did an outstanding job in this book showing the courage, strength, passion, and patriotism exemplified by the extraordinary women of our nation's history, and how they made the jobs of the men who formed our nation possible. The women had a voice that was spoken behind-the-scenes. They took care of keeping their homes safe, even defending them against attack during volatile times. The extraordinary women are role models of just how much a woman can accomplish while working in harmony with the men in their lives, which made it possible for much reform, change, and revitalization of America. This book is an outstanding read for all who are interested in the authentic power of how much influence a woman can bring while backing, supporting, and working in harmony with the men in their lives. A great example of a win/win for all. This book deserves 10 Stars! Highly Recommended! Barbara Rose, author of, 'Individual Power' and 'If God Was Like Man'
Rating:
Summary: "Founding" it interesting.
Review: Cokie Roberts does a good job "humanizing" the women who founded America. Once again, she proves that behind every great man is a GREAT woman!
Rating:
Summary: Founding Mothers
Review: Cokie Roberts isn't showing us anything we men didn't already know. Behind every good man is even a better woman in most cases. I think we all know how much our women can change a way a man can think. But all in all Cokie tells the story about some of these women and reminds us all just what part our women have played through the years and every day of all of our lives. Its a good read, just don't tell your wife about it, the stories might go to her head. Larry Hobson- Author-"The Day Of The Rose"
Rating:
Summary: Remembering "The Ladies"
Review: Cokie Roberts thoroughly enjoyed writing this tribute to the wives of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and other prominent women of the era . The book begins in the early 1700's. It ends when the presidency of George Washington ends and John Adams is elected, in 1797. I appreciated the notes and the cast of characters including names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the signers of the Constitution, the players in the new government, women writers of the period, and famous soldiers and statesmen during the revolutionary war, which are included in the back of the book. Excerpts from many letters are included and are so beautifully written.Let your imagination wander as you read vivid accounts of the sacrifices made by families who wanted independence from England - the yellow fever and smallpox epidemics, the building of a military, the contributions made by exceptional women such as Abigail Adams and Martha Washington, as well as Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren, Sarah Livingston Jay, and many others portrayed here. Cokie writes as if she is having fun telling us so many interesting facts about the "founding families", and I had fun learning more about them and relearning early American history.
The true story of Benedict Arnold and his wife was enlightening as well as the character of Alexander Hamilton. You will enjoy learning about influential women in this book.
Cokie has inserted some of her own remarks to lighten up the picture, and she carefully recounts the contributions of each state as they represented the new government at that time; the
conflicts with the British,the alliance with the French, as well as inevitable partisan politics.
Rating: 
Summary: A book of fluffy "Chick" history
Review: Don't get me wrong...I did enjoy the book. But I found it to be more a collection of anecdotes/stories and little biographies and not really all that in depth. But Ms. Roberts never did claim the book was to be an academic analysis of womens role in the "Birth of a Nation".I think it was more a collection of tales that she found interesting. I would recommend instead Gail Collins book America's Women- 400 years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates and Heroines. Cokie Roberts book did confirm for me though my opinion that if it weren't for Abigail Adams there might not be a United States!
Rating: 
Summary: Another clip job from Cokie
Review: Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation is a good topic. And though many other writers (of both genders) have covered the terrain, the topic was compelling enough to make me give the book a chance despite the "author."
Like the works of too many television pundits, Cokie Roberts's "book" reads like a Power Point presentation. Calling it an "overview" would be granting it more stature than it deserves. Though an author who gleans previously well noted work done by others can't be expected to come across any new discoveries, Roberts doesn't even offer the reader an independent thought.
The "book" has all the usual "depth" one would expect from Roberts. Perhaps as an elementary school primer the "book" could benefit some readers? The rest of us will read pulled factoids we already knew (or should have) and sweeping generalities courtesy of Cokie while we wonder why this "journalist" continues to produce books? Does she hold stock in the timber industry? She can't truly believe that these slight clip-jobs will be taken seriously by book readers. ("Author" Roberts seems to exist to satisfy the occasional curiosity of the non-reading public.)
She's no historian, true. But to call these assembled bits of previously published facts intersped with the usual generalizations by Roberts "books" does a huge disservice to authors everywhere.
Maybe it plays better as a book-on-tape? That wouldn't be surprising since Roberts relationship with the written word can best be termed molestation.
Here's a topic Cokie Roberts might want to consider for her next clip job: the contributions from women of her era to journalism.
Maybe undertaking a "book" like that -- printing "factoids" on Andrea Mitchell, Lesley Stahl, Linda Ellerbee, Carole Simpson and, yes, even Jessica Savitch -- would demonstrate to her how trivial her own career has been. Heck, even the much maligned Connie Chung has moments to be proud of. "Commentator" Cokie Roberts has nothing of note, despite being one of the few "journalists" to have such a wide reach -- op-eds (with her husband Steve), long running gigs at ABC & NPR, until recently the co-host of This Week and a regular spot on most talk programs as 'Washington expert.'
In the broadcast medium, Cokie Roberts can continue to be a "commentator" (or windbag, depending upon one's point of view) but let's not confuse clip-jobs with "books," nor mistake magpies for "authors."
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: I just read this in a week and must say, it's a great read. Two thumbs up!!!!!
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