As a young woman growing up in Africa, Leymah Gbowee was broken by a savage civil war that destroyed life as she knew it, depriving her of the education she yearned for and claiming the lives of relatives and friends. As war continued to ravage Liberia, Gbowee's bitterness turned to rage-fueled action as she realized it is women who are the silent sufferers in prolonged conflicts. Passionate and charismatic, Gbowee was instrumental in galvanizing women across Liberia in 2003 to force a peace in the region after 14 years of war. She began organizing Christian and Muslim women to demonstrate together, founding the Liberian Mass Action for Peace, launching protests and even a sex strike. Gbowee's memoir, "Mighty Be Their Powers", chronicles the unthinkable violence she's faced throughout her life, the peace she has helped to broker by empowering her country-women and others around the world to take action, and takes readers along on her continuing journey as she harnesses the power of women to bring her country peace, saves herself, and changes history.

About the Author

Leymah Gbowee is the Newsweek and The Daily Beast's Africa columnist. As war ravaged Liberia, Leymah Gbowee realized it is women who bear the greatest burden in prolonged conflicts. She began organizing Christian and Muslim women to demonstrate together, founding Liberian Mass Action for Peace and launching protests and a sex strike. Gbowee's part in helping to oust Charles Taylor was featured in the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Gbowee is a single mother of six, including one adopted daughter, and is based in Accra, Ghana, where she is the cofounder and executive director of the Women Peace and Security Network-Africa.

Reviews

"Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
.".".a beautifully written narrative."

"Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 1984
"""Mighty Be Our Powers "reminds us that even in the worst of times, humanity's best can shine through."
"Sheryl Sandberg, COO Facebook:
""One of the most inspirational and powerful books I've ever read. The story of one woman's struggle against the worst and what she can teach all of us about finding the courage and strength to change the world."
"Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III Pastor, The Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York:
""An engrossing, fluently written story that anyone who cares about changing the world has to read."
"Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2011:
""Leymah bore witness to the worst of humanity and helped bring Liberia out of the dark. Her memoir is a captivating narrative that will standl