"The Redwing Blackbird's Song" is a book of hope and inspiration for all those who aspire to lead. Dr. Susan Phillips Speece, has written a warm, funny and at times heart warming account of growing up in the Midwest, but with a passion for becoming a scientist. The author's reflections on the little girl growing up in a sleepy suburb of Chicago, venturing out on her own to explore her environment, reveals the character of the woman she will become. She shares the struggles of a young woman to balance family and career and the abject fear one faces when one is stalked. Dr. Phillips Speece is a down-to-earth woman who knows how to laugh. She also breaks the stereotypic mold of scientist. Even the pointed attempt of a college professor to have her leave his course did not deter the author from reaching her goal. Inspired by her own mother and her paternal grandmother, Dr. Phillips Speece realized the importance of reaching out to others while still keeping her goals in sight. "The Redwing Blackbird's Song" is enriched by Dr. Phillips Speece's photography.