The RBG Way

October 1, 2019
A self-help book distills the experiences and inspiration of the Supreme Court justice into a series of life lessons. As journalist Gibian acknowledges, there is no shortage of information about Ruth Bader Ginsburg (b. 1933), whose rise to the Supreme Court and accomplishments within it have been well-documented. So, why this chatty little volume? "This book," writes the author, "explores the idea that there are lessons we can all take away from RBG's life and apply to our own lives to maybe become a little more successful in our relationships and careers and efforts to create change." Unfortunately for readers, the "secrets of success" invoked by the subtitle don't offer much in the way of revelation. "Ginsburg is proof that working hard and turning in your best work actually does pay off," writes Gibian in the first of nine chapters, which are divided into three sections "because in full cheesiness, there are three branches of government and the Supreme Court is made up of nine justices." We learn that Ginsburg overcame childhood hardships and considerable gender discrimination to become "a rock star litigator" and a feminist "badass." When life presented challenges, she persevered. The author also emphasizes the importance of having a supportive partner or a network of support, because "we all need to have people there to remind us to sleep, shower, and eat" and that "while anger sometimes has a place in this world, it is worth trying to persuade someone to join your line of thought through cold hard facts and a strong argument." Ginsburg's career has certainly demonstrated that persuasive reasoning works better than lashing out angrily. In summary, Gibian concludes, "if you want to be like the Notorious RBG, you must follow the path that she laid out: roll up your sleeves, do the work (and do it well) to create change through incremental steps." Good advice from a life well lived but nothing you didn't already know.

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November 15, 2019
If you yearn to achieve success like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, this is your book. Unabashed super-fan and journalist Gibian analyzes the life of Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg, cataloguing her habits of mind, family life, and work ethic which may point the way for today's aspiring leaders. Gibian's exhaustive research reveals significant patterns to the Justice's behavior that are neatly arranged into sections, each complete with examples and anecdotes from RBG's life and career. What can be identified can be emulated, enthuses Gibian, and although many readers may find it a challenge to imagine struggling through law school as one of the only women in their class or finding a spouse as supportive as Marty Ginsburg, many of RBG's proclivities and abilities are illuminated in an accessible and hopeful way. While more established RBG devotees will likely read this, younger readers may use this volume as a guidepost pointing them to the rich, larger body of literature on the Justice's life and times and encourage further exploration of her extraordinary life. A road map for those who aspire to become notorious.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)