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circlesofflame's review
2.0
This book had a weird, slightly uncomfortable, tone... increasingly common against feminist texts trying to be what they think of as modern, with wry humour oozing off the page.
This book didn't discuss anyone that I wasn't already aware of or tell me anything I didn't already know. In that sense, it might be a good introduction to the topic, if you're not put off by judgemental digs and poor attempts at humour.
This book didn't discuss anyone that I wasn't already aware of or tell me anything I didn't already know. In that sense, it might be a good introduction to the topic, if you're not put off by judgemental digs and poor attempts at humour.
amberlyswords's review
4.0
I really enjoy this book and found it a interesting and helpfully also I enjoy the little notes in the book. I love the Illustrations in the book and the only at put me off was how text was set out.
grace_rogue's review against another edition
2.0
The stories of fifty strong women over the centuries was fascinating. Each woman was strong in her own ways, both a heroine and villain in her own story, and a product of the time they lived in and the aspects of that time that they disagreed with.
HOWEVER,
This book itself is not good, imo. The authors give their own little takes and perspectives of the women and their stories. EVERY SINGLE AUTHOR POV MADE ME WANT TO THROW THIS BOOK AT A WALL. The authors dissed historical radical women's movements as OTT and excessive rather than recognizing their value in kickstarting a public movement. They laughed at the very insecurities which the patriarchy has utilized against women for time indefinite- body shape, care giving, and in some cases dramatism.
When a feminist based book calls for women to scrap care giving roles to instead pursue something "useful" like an engineering degree- they are not liberating women. They are only forcing them into a formatted role which the authors believe is more effective or useful- not one the women who choose to be care givers wish to pursue.
My biggest issue with this book was that the authors seemed to be more invested in convincing women to see their antiquated view of feminism as the correct one, rather than opening the possibility for increased personal autonomy and self-searching for women in this day and age.
I'd rec this book to people who want to be introduced to some barrier smashing women from a wide variety of backgrounds and times. But I would encourage that this not be the basis upon which you base or critique your view of feminism. Read more into these amazing women and their stories, and maybe (as I have done) take the authors notes in this book with a pinch of salt and a healthy dose of respect for people expressing their views.... regardless of how you feel about the views.
HOWEVER,
This book itself is not good, imo. The authors give their own little takes and perspectives of the women and their stories. EVERY SINGLE AUTHOR POV MADE ME WANT TO THROW THIS BOOK AT A WALL. The authors dissed historical radical women's movements as OTT and excessive rather than recognizing their value in kickstarting a public movement. They laughed at the very insecurities which the patriarchy has utilized against women for time indefinite- body shape, care giving, and in some cases dramatism.
When a feminist based book calls for women to scrap care giving roles to instead pursue something "useful" like an engineering degree- they are not liberating women. They are only forcing them into a formatted role which the authors believe is more effective or useful- not one the women who choose to be care givers wish to pursue.
My biggest issue with this book was that the authors seemed to be more invested in convincing women to see their antiquated view of feminism as the correct one, rather than opening the possibility for increased personal autonomy and self-searching for women in this day and age.
I'd rec this book to people who want to be introduced to some barrier smashing women from a wide variety of backgrounds and times. But I would encourage that this not be the basis upon which you base or critique your view of feminism. Read more into these amazing women and their stories, and maybe (as I have done) take the authors notes in this book with a pinch of salt and a healthy dose of respect for people expressing their views.... regardless of how you feel about the views.
courfeyrad's review
2.0
like.... this book is fine. its very trendy and accessible but singularly lacking in any kind of depth. there is absolutely nothing here that you couldnt find on a wikipedia page or viral twitter thread.
its an interesting and eclectic mix of notable women, but i did have some issues. firstly, i didnt like how the whole book took a very reductive tone to a lot of the women presented, simplifying their rich and varied lives to twist them into whatever shallow teachable moment the authors thought would be relevant to a 21st century woman, sometimes completely misrepresenting their lives in the process. this is just not something i vibed with at all.
i also particularly disliked how it glossed over coco chanel's nazi collaboration. hans gunther von dincklage wasnt a "dashing german". he was a nazi. its briefly mentioned in the afterword that the women in this book werent all saints and its their "achievements" that really matter or whatever, but honestly it would have been so easy to leave out this one well known literal nazi in favour of literally any other female fashion designer. or at the very least like, mention it? dont just dance around it - say it outright. its one thing to be "morally complex". its another thing entirely to be a nazi. i found it especially baffling that this was largely omitted, as the book made no qualms about detailing marie stopes pro-eugenics opinions, for example. i mean, if you're going to actively choose to include contraversial women in your hashtag girlboss pop feminism book, the least you can do is present the full facts.
also that one little bit in the afterword about "lets big up the boys too" really pissed me off lmao. just because a small handful of men in history weren't raging violent misogynists doesnt mean we have to endlessly praise them for it. the bar is literally in hell.
its an interesting and eclectic mix of notable women, but i did have some issues. firstly, i didnt like how the whole book took a very reductive tone to a lot of the women presented, simplifying their rich and varied lives to twist them into whatever shallow teachable moment the authors thought would be relevant to a 21st century woman, sometimes completely misrepresenting their lives in the process. this is just not something i vibed with at all.
i also particularly disliked how it glossed over coco chanel's nazi collaboration. hans gunther von dincklage wasnt a "dashing german". he was a nazi. its briefly mentioned in the afterword that the women in this book werent all saints and its their "achievements" that really matter or whatever, but honestly it would have been so easy to leave out this one well known literal nazi in favour of literally any other female fashion designer. or at the very least like, mention it? dont just dance around it - say it outright. its one thing to be "morally complex". its another thing entirely to be a nazi. i found it especially baffling that this was largely omitted, as the book made no qualms about detailing marie stopes pro-eugenics opinions, for example. i mean, if you're going to actively choose to include contraversial women in your hashtag girlboss pop feminism book, the least you can do is present the full facts.
also that one little bit in the afterword about "lets big up the boys too" really pissed me off lmao. just because a small handful of men in history weren't raging violent misogynists doesnt mean we have to endlessly praise them for it. the bar is literally in hell.
ailin_g's review against another edition
5.0
We need more books like this!
Outraged that I didn’t learn about any of these legends in school, or that I’ve heard about so few of them since.
This book provides 50 counter-arguments to any meninist question about why history doesn’t include female scientists/musicians/war heroes etc. Just read about these rulers, thought leaders and movement starters to remember that women have always achieved as much as men - our stories have just been written out of HIStory..
Outraged that I didn’t learn about any of these legends in school, or that I’ve heard about so few of them since.
This book provides 50 counter-arguments to any meninist question about why history doesn’t include female scientists/musicians/war heroes etc. Just read about these rulers, thought leaders and movement starters to remember that women have always achieved as much as men - our stories have just been written out of HIStory..
galy's review against another edition
3.0
Fifty stories about fifty women through history.
It was interesting learning about some of these women I didn't know about and discovering some new things about the ones I did know about.
I have to say some of the stories got my attention more than others but overall I enjoyed reading this book.
It was interesting learning about some of these women I didn't know about and discovering some new things about the ones I did know about.
I have to say some of the stories got my attention more than others but overall I enjoyed reading this book.
redheadreading's review
3.0
A fun little read, which serves as a good introduction to some cool women throughout history and gives you a potted summation of them. I would say it's a little light on the advice side of things, most chapters just explore the person in relation to a topic (e.g. body positivity, female friendship, dealing with bullying) but most of the problem solving itself is slightly cliched, surface-level sound bites of positivity. Whilst history lovers might be disappointed by the lack of depth, it does serve as a nice jumping off point for further research. Would definitely make a good gift for a teenage or young adult reader though!
millysreads's review
4.0
Finally finished this book after over three months, I'm ashamed to say it took me so long but I phased in and out of a reading mindset over the past few months and have been too busy with everything else 😂
Regardless, I absolutely adored this book! It's a mix of two of my favourite things: history and badass women. 100% would recommend to anyone who wants to be inspired by some of history's greatest women. It'll be a book and I keep coming back to so that I can draw inspiration from it and I know it'll stay on my bookshelf for years to come!
Regardless, I absolutely adored this book! It's a mix of two of my favourite things: history and badass women. 100% would recommend to anyone who wants to be inspired by some of history's greatest women. It'll be a book and I keep coming back to so that I can draw inspiration from it and I know it'll stay on my bookshelf for years to come!