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mrs_v's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Amazing unknown information about specific women in the CIA and their involvement in various operations
vibeke_hiatt's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
This was an insightful, fascinating read. Since a lot of US history classes run out of time by the 20th century, there were many things I knew almost nothing about. This perspective made those events even more interesting.
There were a handful of times, though, when the author hinting at a story, then never came back to it. At times she said more about the men these women worked with than the women themselves, but this improved as the narrative progressed.
Overall, a book worth reading.
There were a handful of times, though, when the author hinting at a story, then never came back to it. At times she said more about the men these women worked with than the women themselves, but this improved as the narrative progressed.
Overall, a book worth reading.
reflectiverambling_nalana's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Holt once again brings names to the front that have been long buried in a way that encompasses not only their own accomplishments, but the tension, challenges, and atmosphere of a time. She does a wonderful job of painting not only each individual's journey but how they built upon one another's work directly and by influence in the program in general.
A very approachable writing style that doesn't wag fingers but paint the picture of a time and fleshes out a segment of American history. As much as she's focused on bringing credit to people who people of the era very much wanted to ignore, Holt is quick not to just call people out for their response that we now see as ridiculously outdated maybe even for the time it was being said, but to give credit to the men who stood up with these remarkable women. That is not to say that the claim is ever made that they wouldn't have gotten as far as they did without their support. It is more to highlight that throughout history, no matter what we're told is the common opinion, there are those who are independent thinkers.
"Wise Girls" additionally highlights the 'behind the scenes' clean up and fall out not just the very noticeable repercussions of WWII that usually gets skimmed over. The events seen in each woman's life span are incredibly. For someone of a younger generation, it was incredibly humbling to see just how much of society, science, and international relations so rapidly developed in what seems like an impossibly short time.
A very approachable writing style that doesn't wag fingers but paint the picture of a time and fleshes out a segment of American history. As much as she's focused on bringing credit to people who people of the era very much wanted to ignore, Holt is quick not to just call people out for their response that we now see as ridiculously outdated maybe even for the time it was being said, but to give credit to the men who stood up with these remarkable women. That is not to say that the claim is ever made that they wouldn't have gotten as far as they did without their support. It is more to highlight that throughout history, no matter what we're told is the common opinion, there are those who are independent thinkers.
"Wise Girls" additionally highlights the 'behind the scenes' clean up and fall out not just the very noticeable repercussions of WWII that usually gets skimmed over. The events seen in each woman's life span are incredibly. For someone of a younger generation, it was incredibly humbling to see just how much of society, science, and international relations so rapidly developed in what seems like an impossibly short time.
kleonard's review
3.0
Wise Girls focuses on the careers of several women involved with the founding and early years of the CIA. It's probably gonna sella lot of copies, and there's no doubt that the women chronicled here deserve the attention. But the writing is clunky, full of awkward transitions and forced connections that make it a less-that-stellar read. I understand the author's desire to show the interconnectedness of the women she covers, but a more linear or other structure would have served their stories better. I also look askance at the author's decision to call the women by their first names while referring to men by their last names; this practice is sexist and most editors will call authors on it. Maybe Holt and her editor wanted the women to seem more familiar or human, but using an old-fashioned, male-centric practice undermines the feminist argument that the book offers.
lefthandedlooney's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5