... 50 percent memoir, 50 percent advice manual and 100 percent heart ... A book aimed at incentivizing people to run for local office could read the way sawdust tastes, but Martini spices up her subject with pithy humor, wry backhands directed at the patriarchy and (most important) clear advice on how to follow her lead ... This is not your standard focus-group-approved politician fare; it’s an honest, in-the-moment, firsthand account of a disappointed mother’s foray into local politics ... Martini tells it like it is, doling out levelheaded instruction while condemning Trump enablers with fiery scorn ... isn’t sexy or scandal-ridden — and that’s the point.
... humorous and thoughtful ... Martini’s approach is simultaneously lighthearted and enlightening, brimming with practical advice on how (and why), if you want to enact real change, your local government is the place to start. It’s a fast-paced, easy read that serves as a reminder that the world isn’t hopeless ... If you feel any discontent with your government, either national or local, Somebody’s Gotta Do It serves as a reminder that your rage can be the basis for making real change.
Using humor and anecdotes, Martini shows the importance of running for local office and helps provide a broader understanding of local government. Readers interested in learning about government organization and policy, and those who might want to run for office one day will enjoy the insights and lessons offered throughout.
... fresh and funny ... [Martini] doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges, from five-hour meetings to family time lost to doorbell-ringing, but she frequently offers strategies for meeting them, and her overall message is hopeful: Democracy works—at least at the local level ... Comic relief—and lots of useful tips—from a journalist with a side hustle as a county official.
... entertaining ... Offering self-deprecating humor, practical advice, and insights into obscure but important issues, Martini elevates her story above the minutiae of county board proceedings. The result is a useful guide for those contemplating the plunge into electoral politics.
