Settle for More

I just finished reading her book this morning. Before getting started I really didn't know much about her personally. I'm just a couple years older than Megyn and grew up in upstate NY (and also have a November birthday) so it was nice that I was able to relate to her in that respect. I too had to deal with a little bit of teasing and bullying, mostly in elementary school, but I think it's a different ballgame with girls.This book is not really political and it has nothing to do with journalism other than the fact that she is a journalist who covers politics. It's not even about "women" per se, although she does cover women's issues such as harrassment and maternity leave.It's really about learning to accept your value and the responsibility that comes along with knowing what you're worth. The "cupcake" generation, as she puts it, does not understand this concept. There's no value or self-worth by avoiding the struggles it takes to reach your full potential.As a critique of this book, I would say that it often feels a little "safe" and she tries hard not to offend. She mostly just states the facts as an attorney normally would unless it's self-deprication. I would have loved a little more colorful description of Roger Ailes and his fat little sausage fingers trying to caress her shoulders or something that would give you the creeps. Or the "Michael" guy at Bickel & Brewer that loses his temper with his beet red face and tells her to do his photocopies. Yeah Megyn - what a nice guy. How many other women had he treated like dirt? And the dopey tennis player that shouted Trump 2016!! in her face. - she did add a little jab in there if you read carefully. Nice Job though, that her husband just about kicked his short little butt.On the softer critique side, she is a Catholic and values family, marriage, and hates acrimony. So, the book does come from a spiritual side of her, which again, she seems to be playing safe. She touches very briefly on her relationship to God. I would have liked to see what role her faith has played into her growth. In her chapter "All the Days of My Life" - she describes her marriage vows "I will love, and honor you, all the day of my life". Then states - "The Passage of time, A beginning, and a promised ending. Life is so bittersweet that way." She touches on her fears, from the moment she lost her dad, on how temporary life can be. I sense her urgency in making every minute of life count. With this fear of life being taken away suddenly, her work schedule and her love of family - she spends some time on trying to find the right balance of being a mother and being away at work. She suffers, as most mothers do, from Mom's guilt and occasionally worried that she's not good enough and away from her kids too long. She feels justified in being away from family temporarily by providing a service to the nation as a news anchor. I would say that's a fair justification as long as you are always being a fair and honest journalist.She does spend a few of the last chapters on Donald Trump and his tirade against her. Ultimately they hugged it out and everyone lived happily ever after. Again, settling for more means life is too short to have grudges and regretsMy recommendation is go out and buy this book! It's well worth the read, especially if you feel like you too are caught in the hamster wheel, not living up to your potential and want to take a new approach on life. It's not left-leaning or right-leaning BS. Just good ol' common sense from someone who has been there and done that.

I read the book over a couple of days. The writing is easy to follow... you go through Megyn's account of her life and her experiences. It's easy to see a passionate and energetic young person who goes on become a "force" to be reckoned with (which I believe that most will agree with). It's a nice read that offers insight into many issues: gender equality, bullying, work-life balance, and love.I don't usually watch the Kelly File... I find the world of Fox News a bubble with right wing media and fake news from Facebook a bubble within a bubble. I liked the book though and here are my thoughts:There is a section in the book on sexual harassment in the workplace. It is well written and offers hope to many people out there that have had to endure similar situations. It takes courage to stand up for whats right and it helps to right many wrongs... such encouragement was provided clearly in the book. Megyn is also unapologetic about being feminist (although she does not like the word feminist because it is apparently conflated with castration). Many women see feminism as a movement of gender equality not a movement of female domination. Not sure if this view of female domination is limited to republicans because my liberal friends don't feel like they need to castrate anyone in order to become equal. The confusion here is frankly baffling, but everyone is free to interpret as they wish and should be allowed to without judgement, which is how Megyn leaves it. There is acknowledgement in the book about Hillary's nomination being something to be proud of... which I hope is something more women will come to believe.I understand that Megyn is a journalist, but the lines between fact and fiction seem blurred... I wonder if much of this comes from a career in law making her more of a lawyer than a journalist in the way she perceives her job. I wonder if arguing for both sides or being open minded (so open minded that your brain falls out as some would say) makes one start to believe that their particular fiction is now fact. I strongly believe that "the truth is the truth, even if no one believes it and lies are lies even if everyone believes them". When equal time is given to two arguments, it may mean that both arguments have equal merit. When a "journalist" consistently refuses to question merit... it is difficult to say that they did their job ethically.Megyn went in to work for Fox not as a Republican or a Democrat. Even if someone goes in to work for Fox being an independent thinker... the echo chamber there could arguable change the person. Such is the bubble of Fox that criticism from Jon Stewart (and I remember watching the particular segment) was dismissed without any insightful thinking in the book. The segment on the Daily Show showed a pattern of thought culminating in the stance post childbirth of women needing maternity leave only after the issue personally affected her. Sure Megyn may never have wanted the government to provide that, but doesn't that ignore the "fates" of millions of women whose employers do not offer the same benefits that Fox offered Megyn? Isn't this the point Stewart was making... and if so, why is that mean? Dick Cheney ignored the plight of gay and lesbians until his own daughter came out and then he was all for equality. Why must half the population fail to empathize until something personally happens to them? There can be no copout by saying "journalism" as if it is a safe word every time something difficult is on the table and one need to take a proper stand.The grit and determination in getting where she is now is impressive. To read a story of someone working to get where they are is always inspiring and I hope many women will be inspired. But here too the liberal-conservative divide becomes apparent. If at an extreme a conservative is all about personal responsibility... that is the stance that Megyn takes. She clearly seems to find all her successes a result of her personal convictions and work. I do not doubt that in the least. The advice she has for women out there that feel "passed over" is to just work harder... excellence will help you rise about the pack.. there is a capitalistic argument there (your boss will not deny you your promotion if you only excel!). Facts do not support this hypothesis because it would mean that less than 5% of women in business are working hard since only less than 5% have become CEO's of fortune 500 companies. Whether we like it or not... for every Megyn that worked hard and made it big... there are a 100 or a 1000 Megyn's that didn't and there are a 100 or a 1000 "Joe's" that did while not really working as hard. Gender bias is real... maybe we shouldn't become victims but to offer "personal responsibility" as the most important factor in success ignores the reality of the workplace. In this section, a more data driven insight may have led to a complete narrative.Finally, there was one sentence in the book that frankly annoyed me. A flippant comment about how Megyn's three year old child could have negotiated a better deal with Iran than John Kerry. This is one of the main reasons intelligent and informed people don't like to watch Fox News... this idea that a three year old who cannot find Iran on a map would be superior to a qualified Secretary of State in negotiating an important international agreement is the reason we have an orange president elect. The damaging rhetoric at Fox is almost in every cell of every important person that works at Fox. They obviously believe all of it and are rightly in their bubble of Bullshit Mountain. For a while a couple of months ago I wondered if Megyn would sign with Fox for another year.. now I know... she cannot possible go anywhere else. She is firmly at home.

I have always admired Megyn Kelly. Now I Absolutely love and admire her! What a strong woman! This book is hardly the traditional this is me, brag fest. Megyn Kelly shares her life's story, not to brag, but inspire, doesn't sugar coat how hard she had to work, even things she scrificed to follow her dreams, but remained positive, strong and supported females to seek their dreams. I am left Aww Struck! This is a must read book! So we'll written. Thank you Megyn Kelly for sharing your life, the motivation, positive thinking, and girls can be tough, smart and successful too. Just all of it! Read this book! It will not disappoint!

I was surprised at how hard she had to work to get where she is today. A real strong personality who is true to herself, whilst remaining a good mother wife , sister colleague and friend .Well educated and able to bring lived experiences to support and validate her opinions .A real engrossing book .

I am Canadian and have heard of Megyn Kelly, have reviewed some of her work on You tube, sorry I don't watch Fox News. However I am very much a newsie (much like a foodie only for news) so I review daily the perspective of many different news agency and media including the talk shows. I don't usually purchase biographies however I felt compelled to purchase this one in order to get Megyn personal insights into as she says "the year of the trump". I read this book in less than 4 hours in one sitting, I found it very well written and honest. And I enjoyed her sharing of her family and I recognized the truth of her commitment to telling the story, when she wrote about her Nana asking if she was hungry and she said no and her Nana said I'll make you a sandwich. It's a connection with the reader who knows this Nana in their own life. You can't make them up. So I relished the balance of the book, fell in love with Doug and Her children. Stories like this don't have to be full of big meetings with larger personalities and interviews that she already done. I Loved the simplicity of the story. She said we could either take it or leave it. I take it. Good Work

interesting to read and a great gift fo the incoming holidays. do no trust all the negative reviews... could that be an orchestrated effort from a certain someone. read for yourself and draw your own conclusion. for me it's certainly worth the money.

I have followed Megyn since first seeing her during the day on Fox News. I once sent a message to Bill O'Reilly, whom I have been following for at least 12 years, that as and when he decided to retire, he should be replaced by Megyn. That was well before she replaced Gretta at 9pm.Best wishes,David O'Halloran

I really enjoyed this book. Interesting how much education this lady had and how hard she worked to achieve her present status. If most people think TV reporters are there because of their looks will be wrong. Megyn earned every promotion and honour. Also a great insight into how Trump can ruin a person's life with his vicious tweets. I read this book in two days. The only thought I was left with was that it could have used a bit of editing, but then I am not a book critic, just an avid reader.Ruth Adams