Book Review | The Small and Mighty

The Small but Mighty
Twelve unsung American’s who changed the course of history, from the founding to the civil rights movement.

Author: Sharon McMahon
Genre: Nonfiction, History, Civic Engagement
Pages / Hours: 320 Pages | 10 hours
Format: Listened
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a mix of historical storytelling, civic education, and encouragement. I felt it was a mix of Brené Brown, someone who can distill big ideas into something digestible, relatable, and empowering with the historical storytelling found in the podcasts of American Scandal and American History Tellers. Sharon McMahon’s approach is a mix of education, laughter and inspiration; helping you learn while laughing and thinking deeply about the role you play in our world.

My Favorite Quotes, Passages, or Takeaways:

• You don’t have to be powerful to make a difference, small actions have mighty impact.
• Humor and hope belong in hard conversations.
• The 12 “small and mighty” individuals highlighted in Sharon McMahon’s book include: Gouverneur Morris, Clara Brown, Virginia Randolph, The Hello Girls, Claudette Colvin, Katharine Lee Bates, Inez Milholland, Maria de Lopez, Rebecca Brown Mitchell, Anna Thomas Jeanes, Daniel Inouye, and Booker T. Washington

“So no, America is not “the worst it’s ever been” today, despite what some news anchors might be trying to convince you of, because if they can make you afraid, they can gain your attention and your money. Has anyone been beaten half to death on the floor of the Senate over the topic of whether it’s cool to enslave people this week? No? Okay.”

Sharon McMahon, The Small & Mighty

There are countless nuggets, quotes, reflections and ideas she shared, while I enjoyed listening to the book, I would recommend reading it for those that like to highlight or take note of quotes and passages.

Final Thoughts:
I LOVED this book. I learned lots of new things, and left feeling hopeful and inspired. It’s absolutely going on my “most recommended” list. I also appreciated the humor and how relevant Sharon made the stories feel, connecting the dots between moments in history and what’s happening in the world today.

Where to find this book:
Check your local library (many have the audiobook available too—like Hoopla and Libby!). If you’re purchasing, consider supporting independent bookstores. I don’t have one in our area, so I love the option of buying online with Bookshop.org. They support independent bookstores, and you can even choose which one.

Browse my Bookshop.org list to find The Small but Mighty and more of my favorite recommendations. This has been my go-to place for purchasing books while supporting small, independent bookshops.

Let’s talk books! Are you going to add it to your list? Or have you listened to or read The Small but Mighty already? What did you take away from it? Drop your thoughts or similar recommendations in the comments!