Everywoman: One Woman’s Truth About Speaking the Truth

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A passionate advocate for equality, her feminism isn’t academic, it’s real, earned from years working at the coalface of Women’s Aid.

She unearths a fascinating story about a fisherman's wife, Lillian Bilocca, who campaigned in the 1960s for safety on British trawlers after the death of fifty-eight fishermen. Authentic, wise and honest, I found so many resonances; there were moments I had to put it down to draw breath. The thin cardboard envelope the book was posted in had ripped and Royal Mail had to put it in one of their plastic envelopes. One thing I was disappointed with however, was that in a book which shines a light on the abuse faced by women who dare to speak out, there was no mention of Dianne Abbott, an MP for 30 plus years, a tireless activist, and former Shadow Home Secretary, who predictably and devastatingly receives half of all abuse aimed at MPs. This book focuses on violence against women, equality, sisterhood, motherhood, politics (especially British politics), and trolling.

A lot of respect for Jess reading this, she is so clearly someone who genuinely cares about others and wants to see the world become a better, fairer and more equal place.

Because 99% of abusive fathers get access, the system can't be loaded against them - access could mean in a staffed contact centre, but we won't know as Phillips doesn't bother to present more than one choice fact.It was empowering to read that she feels just as threatened and insecure as the rest of us when walking into an event or standing up and speaking about something; she explains that when under threat, she tends to expand rather than contract (I tend to do this, too, my worst examples being when about to go under anaesthetic: oh, I blush! Even if you don’t agree with Jess Phillips’ political views at all, this is an important book to read and I would highly recommend it.

Jess Phillips’s Everywoman is naughty, frank and a sizzling celebration of how being ordinary can change the world. It is safe to say that in the short time that Jess Phillips has been an MP, she has made an impact on public life. For me the most blinkered moment in the whole thing was when she asks the reader to think about their dad. She has worked with the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Communities and Local Government . You certainly don't need to have an interest in politics or agree with her policies to read this book.

Sensitive and funny, poignant and shocking, it gives a good insight into Jess- who she is and how she is, and of course, that wider world. Her experience working for a charity that helps women who have been victims of abuse has given her an insight into the worst that men can do to women. I would recommend this book to all women and to anyone who is interested in Jess Phillips; she shows that you can come from quite an ordinary place and go on to do quite remarkable things.

Observer_____________________This title now has a new cover and there is a chance that you may receive the edition with the old cover instead of the cover displayed here. Jess talks about her upbringing and the struggle of balancing having a family and maintaining her political career and she talks openly about the sacrifices she has had to make to continue doing her job. Here, she talks about politicians being human and her tendency to put her foot in her mouth, but it doesn’t always feel as guileless as that. That latter idea is tinged with sadness, though: Jo Cox — a passionate advocate for sorority — was a friend.This book was not written for me, and I know this because the last line told me I'm kick-ass, as all women are.