In 1973, a radical choice that Jill Derby made while under pressure changed the trajectory of her career from a potential profession in academia to that of a lifelong political activist. When You Dare to Say Yes is a decades-spanning account of how a conservative and conventional upbringing, which began in rural Nevada, evolved into progressive political activism that influenced the course of the state's education system and advanced women's gender equality in public life.

Derby's account of the awakening of her post-college experience living abroad and stories of her global travels infuse this memoir with an international perspective and entertaining vignettes. Ultimately, Derby shares her personal understanding of the transformative power of living among different cultures.