Dinners With Ruth

Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships is a 2022 book by author and National Public Radio (NPR) correspondent Nina Totenberg. In her work, Totenberg reflects on her long-lasting friendship with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, discussing their personal and professional highs and lows across their 50 years of friendship. Through a personal and confessional tone, Totenberg reveals the sexist, inhospitable work environments both she and Ginsburg faced as they began careers in journalism and law in the 1960s and 1970s. She also celebrates the supportive relationship they formed with each other and other women colleagues, exploring how these relationships helped them progress as people and professionals. Totenberg hopes that her memories of her relationship with Ginsburg remind readers of the value of friendship and instill a desire to continue to cultivate strong bonds in their own lives.

This guide refers to the Kindle edition of this work.

Summary

In her Prologue, Totenberg explains that she was close friends with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whom she refers to simply as “Ruth,” for over 50 years. While both women are well-known for their successful careers—Bader as a Supreme Court Justice and Totenberg as an NPR radio host—the author emphasizes that they did not bond over work, always keeping firm boundaries between their work obligations and their relationship with each other.