There are two books currently occupying our must-read book list: How Music Works (David Byrne) and The Good Girls Revolt (by Lynn Povich). We’re particularly giddy with excitement because they tie in two of mousybabe’s favorite hobbies: music and writing!
The Good Girls Revolt (Lynn Povich)
In The Good Girls Revolt, Lynn Povich recounts a seminal lawsuit that she and 45 other women filed in 1970 (and won!) against their employer, Newsweek magazine, for gender discrimination. How awesome is that? All I can think of is that they must’ve been scared shitless to take on the Man (literally) back in those days. It’s easy for people to stand up on the regular today and say hey, these are my RIGHTS, as a first, and probably impactful, line of defense. But Povich reminds us that wasn’t always the case, and certainly not in the ’70s.
Some of the women filing the lawsuit must have fought those inertial whispers of doubt or resignation in the back of their heads: Is it really worth the fight? Should we really rock this boat? But we’re sure glad they did. And so should every girl out there who is or aspires to be a professional writer.
Can’t help but think of something that Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren said, which reminds us never to assume that the success or peace or comforts we enjoy today weren’t built on the backs of so many people who came before us:
“There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. You built a factory out there, good for you. But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate.”
How Music Works (David Byrne)
The second book is How Music Works. So curious are we at the prospect of peering voyeuristically through a window into Talking Heads frontman David Byrne’s kooky, brilliant and mysterious mind. Why should we be so interested? The Daily Beast puts it quite simply:
At 60, Byrne already has the résumé of five normal people. Over the course of four decades, changing personas faster than most men change ties, he has flourished as a musician, visual artist, film director, and author, and he has collaborated with everyone from Twyla Tharp and William Eggleston to Caetano Veloso and, most recently, St. Vincent. A musical he worked on with Fatboy Slim called Here Lies Love, about Imelda Marcos, will premiere in New York next year.
So yeah, that’s why. 😉 We hope you’ll consider giving it a read too. Tell us what you think!
Speaking of David Byrne, not only do we have precious tickets to see him perform his new “Love This Giant” with St. Vincent at Strathmore, but we’ve also reserved our spots to hear him speak about his new book Oct. 1 as part of the Smithsonian’s Lecture & Seminar series. The special guest for his DC stop of the book tour is none other than David Lowry, singer of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven! Indeed, Mr. Byrne enjoys some diehard fans at Mousybabe HQ.
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