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Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth, and Power
The story of how women made the world rich
How many female entrepreneurs, economic revolutionaries, merchants, and industrialists can you name? You would be forgiven for thinking that, until very recently, there were none at all.
But what about Phryne, the richest woman in ancient Athens, who offered to pay to rebuild the walls of Thebes after the city was razed by Alexander the Great? Or what about Priscilla Wakefield, the writer who set up the first English bank for women and children? And, just as important, what about the everyday women who, paid only a pittance, labored for the profit of others?
From the most successful women of their day to those who struggled to make ends meet, Economica takes you on a journey that begins in the Stone Age and ends in the twenty-first century, spanning the world’s historic centers of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Peru, the Indus Valley, the Roman Empire, the Islamic Empire, China, Europe, and the United States. By shining a light on the women whose contributions to the economy have been hidden for far too long, Economica is more than a history of women—it is a more accurate economic history of us all.
How many female entrepreneurs, economic revolutionaries, merchants, and industrialists can you name? You would be forgiven for thinking that, until very recently, there were none at all.
But what about Phryne, the richest woman in ancient Athens, who offered to pay to rebuild the walls of Thebes after the city was razed by Alexander the Great? Or what about Priscilla Wakefield, the writer who set up the first English bank for women and children? And, just as important, what about the everyday women who, paid only a pittance, labored for the profit of others?
From the most successful women of their day to those who struggled to make ends meet, Economica takes you on a journey that begins in the Stone Age and ends in the twenty-first century, spanning the world’s historic centers of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Peru, the Indus Valley, the Roman Empire, the Islamic Empire, China, Europe, and the United States. By shining a light on the women whose contributions to the economy have been hidden for far too long, Economica is more than a history of women—it is a more accurate economic history of us all.
480 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2025
65 people are currently reading
4424 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 5, 2025
An interesting and enjoyable look at the history of world economics through the lens of women's participation in business. By necessity, the book does not go into any depth, but for the casual reader will be enough. It's well researched and written in an engaging tone - no dry academic writing here!
August 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
The economic influence of women over the centuries is something that generally gets wildly understated. Women are not noticed or appreciated for their contributions to the home economy or indeed the world economy in most cases, and this book makes note of that with a variety of case studies.
We follow what is essentially prehistory through to the modern era and see the contributions women have made to the economy, from early hunter-gatherer approaches to the first female billionaire.
There’s certainly something to be said for how much is canvassed in this book, but it does come at the detriment of how much information is provided on the events and people described. This book is definitely not as detailed as it could be, and it’s a shame, because I would have liked to learn more about the topics covered.
In addition, I feel like the writing style is good, but it could have gone a little more serious in places to fully cover the topics in the book. All in all, I found this one interesting, but very much a starter insight into the economic contribution of women.
The economic influence of women over the centuries is something that generally gets wildly understated. Women are not noticed or appreciated for their contributions to the home economy or indeed the world economy in most cases, and this book makes note of that with a variety of case studies.
We follow what is essentially prehistory through to the modern era and see the contributions women have made to the economy, from early hunter-gatherer approaches to the first female billionaire.
There’s certainly something to be said for how much is canvassed in this book, but it does come at the detriment of how much information is provided on the events and people described. This book is definitely not as detailed as it could be, and it’s a shame, because I would have liked to learn more about the topics covered.
In addition, I feel like the writing style is good, but it could have gone a little more serious in places to fully cover the topics in the book. All in all, I found this one interesting, but very much a starter insight into the economic contribution of women.
December 6, 2025
Decent history with surprising support for capitalism as opposed to soy democracy.
Could have done without the constant framing of men being "afraid" of women.
Could have done without the constant framing of men being "afraid" of women.
October 12, 2025
Well paced and I loved the tone, but I was looking for a much more sophisticated look at women and the economy, and this is more like a freshman survey world history course that remembered to include women in it.
I appreciate what the author was trying to do here and I do think there are some folks out there who might benefit from reading this (sad news: those people will not read this). It’s essentially a very long, very complete argument that economies fail when women aren’t allowed to or are restricted in their participation in the economy.
And…yes. But also…duh. I think perhaps a closer examination of a selection of the included topics would have better served both that general purpose as well as to further enlighten those who already understood the basics.
I am by NO means any kind of expert on the economy or the history of social economics, and there just wasn’t a lot here aside from anecdotal details that I didn’t already know. And again, the broader argument that all of this information is serving is not exactly earth shattering.
It’s just a lot of examples designed to be a completist account of women’s economic role in major societies throughout history, and more examination of fewer examples would have allowed for a more thoughtful and meaningful text.
The tone of this was exceptionally good and I have no doubt that the author is more than capable of delving into far greater nuance on any of the many eras and locations she touches on here. And while I think this would be a great read for an intro to World Civ class, for the more knowledgeable reader, it feels like a review session.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I appreciate what the author was trying to do here and I do think there are some folks out there who might benefit from reading this (sad news: those people will not read this). It’s essentially a very long, very complete argument that economies fail when women aren’t allowed to or are restricted in their participation in the economy.
And…yes. But also…duh. I think perhaps a closer examination of a selection of the included topics would have better served both that general purpose as well as to further enlighten those who already understood the basics.
I am by NO means any kind of expert on the economy or the history of social economics, and there just wasn’t a lot here aside from anecdotal details that I didn’t already know. And again, the broader argument that all of this information is serving is not exactly earth shattering.
It’s just a lot of examples designed to be a completist account of women’s economic role in major societies throughout history, and more examination of fewer examples would have allowed for a more thoughtful and meaningful text.
The tone of this was exceptionally good and I have no doubt that the author is more than capable of delving into far greater nuance on any of the many eras and locations she touches on here. And while I think this would be a great read for an intro to World Civ class, for the more knowledgeable reader, it feels like a review session.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
July 14, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My opinions are my own and are freely given.
As a general rule, books about economics are dry and stupid and boring (although I am sure some people might disagree with me). I was convinced that it was impossible for an economist to write about the topic in even the most interesting way. Then I found this book.
I was immediately interested in the topic and requested the book, thinking more about the historical aspect than the economy one. It was amazing. I actually went to double-check that the author wasn't actually a historian.
I learned so much from this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for their next non-fiction book.
As a general rule, books about economics are dry and stupid and boring (although I am sure some people might disagree with me). I was convinced that it was impossible for an economist to write about the topic in even the most interesting way. Then I found this book.
I was immediately interested in the topic and requested the book, thinking more about the historical aspect than the economy one. It was amazing. I actually went to double-check that the author wasn't actually a historian.
I learned so much from this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for their next non-fiction book.
October 24, 2025
This is an ambitious book that aims to both chronicle women’s economic contributions and give a comprehensive explanation for them, thus providing something for both the elusive ‘general reader’ who might not know women worked outside the home before the twentieth century and more knowledgeable readers. The thesis of the book is that civilizations flourish and recede with women’s freedom: in the latter parts of the book, there is a particular focus on what Bateman sees as the relatively equal West versus the East.
However, while interesting facts pepper the narrative and Bateman is respectful of the household as well as outside economy, the end product ended up falling short. I found the writing style, for one, to be both a slog to read and characterized by the overuse of em dashes. The conversational tone sometimes featured anachronistic moralizing (such as criticizing Augustus for not respecting women’s ability to make their own choices, an obsession with veiling as a sign of women’s oppression, and anger at the Greeks for having a male-only democracy). There was so much to cover that the arguments sometimes didn’t get as much elaboration as they should have. Much of the book studies women in isolation, making it difficult to measure women’s economic contributions in context. Most importantly, there are times where I feel Bateman’s thesis is just plain wrong. I will address two such cases– classical Athens and ancient Rome.
Like all complex societies, Athenian society had wealth disparity, but how much is the subject of debate. Much recent work, siding more with the modernist than primitivist view of the ancient economy, argues that Athens was actually quite economically equal by premodern standards; and while literary sources often claim they were poor, recent research shows Athens was financially well-off and prosperous. This reality, which Bateman largely ignores in the Greece section, does not line up with her thesis and presentation of an almost dystopian misogynist world. While Athens was indeed quite misogynistic even by ancient standards, Bateman’s picture is far too negative and reminiscent of long debunked views of the ‘Oriental seclusion’ of citizen wives. Her point also contradicts itself, claiming in one section that Herodotus’ lurid account of Lydian women was because women were invisible in the markets and streets of Athens, but later pointing out how poorer women had to work as vendors. Women were also able to work in medicine as midwives, despite the later Agnodice myth, and some medical recipes are attributed to women. It is also in this section that Bateman revives the hypothesis that Crete was a matriarchal “peaceful island paradise”, which many modern scholars feel has more in common with Arthur Evans’ fantasies than reality.
The ancient Rome section, meanwhile, dates the beginning of women’s decline to Augustus’ adultery legislation, despite the imperial period being considered a time of (internal) peace and prosperity. Bateman makes the bizarre claim this legislation came about as a result of the devaluation of working women, when it is clear from both ancient and modern accounts that it was aimed at the elite: Bateman also ignores debates on how effective this legislation was. The argument also overlooks how many of Bateman’s examples of empowered women come from the post-Augustan era, i.e the exact opposite legacy she’s attributing to the Augustan age. These examples, both positive and pessimistic, also frequently jump between centuries without sufficient analysis.
There are some more quibbles worth mentioning– the claim that Persian dominion was light would no doubt offend the Egyptians; Cleopatra’s reign with her brothers is cited as evidence of “more gender-equal Egyptian culture”, when it was in fact enabled by the practice of co-rule distinctive to the Macedonian Ptolemaic era; stating that Roman women were not citizens during the Republic, despite an entire lengthy 2024 book thoroughly debunking this; the old claim of witch trials being a reaction against powerful women will have early modern historians groaning; it is said that Spartan women did not have to cover their bodies, but evidence suggests they were expected to veil their heads upon marriage; and the curious statement that the Glorious Revolution led to the rise of merit instead of status.
Above all, however, was the troublesome equivalence of women working with freedom. This went hand in hand with the disturbing adulation towards female billionaires, CEOs current and hypothetical, and AI programmers– at one point, she even says that “women’s economic freedom was the real underlying cause” of the rise of capitalism, and seems to think this is a good thing. Many modern Western women work much harder than any of them but will only ever be the CEO of their apartment kitchen. The main reason, past and present, of why women work is because they are economically disadvantaged, and the fact that she can apply for more types of jobs does not make her any less so.
Overall, despite an interesting topic, I would advise giving this one a pass.
However, while interesting facts pepper the narrative and Bateman is respectful of the household as well as outside economy, the end product ended up falling short. I found the writing style, for one, to be both a slog to read and characterized by the overuse of em dashes. The conversational tone sometimes featured anachronistic moralizing (such as criticizing Augustus for not respecting women’s ability to make their own choices, an obsession with veiling as a sign of women’s oppression, and anger at the Greeks for having a male-only democracy). There was so much to cover that the arguments sometimes didn’t get as much elaboration as they should have. Much of the book studies women in isolation, making it difficult to measure women’s economic contributions in context. Most importantly, there are times where I feel Bateman’s thesis is just plain wrong. I will address two such cases– classical Athens and ancient Rome.
Like all complex societies, Athenian society had wealth disparity, but how much is the subject of debate. Much recent work, siding more with the modernist than primitivist view of the ancient economy, argues that Athens was actually quite economically equal by premodern standards; and while literary sources often claim they were poor, recent research shows Athens was financially well-off and prosperous. This reality, which Bateman largely ignores in the Greece section, does not line up with her thesis and presentation of an almost dystopian misogynist world. While Athens was indeed quite misogynistic even by ancient standards, Bateman’s picture is far too negative and reminiscent of long debunked views of the ‘Oriental seclusion’ of citizen wives. Her point also contradicts itself, claiming in one section that Herodotus’ lurid account of Lydian women was because women were invisible in the markets and streets of Athens, but later pointing out how poorer women had to work as vendors. Women were also able to work in medicine as midwives, despite the later Agnodice myth, and some medical recipes are attributed to women. It is also in this section that Bateman revives the hypothesis that Crete was a matriarchal “peaceful island paradise”, which many modern scholars feel has more in common with Arthur Evans’ fantasies than reality.
The ancient Rome section, meanwhile, dates the beginning of women’s decline to Augustus’ adultery legislation, despite the imperial period being considered a time of (internal) peace and prosperity. Bateman makes the bizarre claim this legislation came about as a result of the devaluation of working women, when it is clear from both ancient and modern accounts that it was aimed at the elite: Bateman also ignores debates on how effective this legislation was. The argument also overlooks how many of Bateman’s examples of empowered women come from the post-Augustan era, i.e the exact opposite legacy she’s attributing to the Augustan age. These examples, both positive and pessimistic, also frequently jump between centuries without sufficient analysis.
There are some more quibbles worth mentioning– the claim that Persian dominion was light would no doubt offend the Egyptians; Cleopatra’s reign with her brothers is cited as evidence of “more gender-equal Egyptian culture”, when it was in fact enabled by the practice of co-rule distinctive to the Macedonian Ptolemaic era; stating that Roman women were not citizens during the Republic, despite an entire lengthy 2024 book thoroughly debunking this; the old claim of witch trials being a reaction against powerful women will have early modern historians groaning; it is said that Spartan women did not have to cover their bodies, but evidence suggests they were expected to veil their heads upon marriage; and the curious statement that the Glorious Revolution led to the rise of merit instead of status.
Above all, however, was the troublesome equivalence of women working with freedom. This went hand in hand with the disturbing adulation towards female billionaires, CEOs current and hypothetical, and AI programmers– at one point, she even says that “women’s economic freedom was the real underlying cause” of the rise of capitalism, and seems to think this is a good thing. Many modern Western women work much harder than any of them but will only ever be the CEO of their apartment kitchen. The main reason, past and present, of why women work is because they are economically disadvantaged, and the fact that she can apply for more types of jobs does not make her any less so.
Overall, despite an interesting topic, I would advise giving this one a pass.
May 18, 2025
I loved this book. An important book documenting economic history for women across the globe from the beginning of documented evidence. Written in an easy to read style, it is engaging, thought provoking and I learnt many things. Thank you to the author, please write more non-fiction! Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
July 2, 2025
This is precisely the form of nonfiction book that works best for me. One, a subject I’m interested in; two, a pleasant, conversational tone; three, endless amounts of trivia, both old and new — I knew that the author of the first book was a Sumerian woman; I did not know that half the workers involved in building the pyramids were women! — and four, well researched with a giant bibliography.
However, I found this book … so depressing. Reading over the loss of rights women faced in ancient Athens, Rome and Egypt, and more modern Iran, I can’t help but look around at the world around me and see these same events happening now. The growing push to turn women from equal partners to “protected” and pregnant. To read about how long it took women just to get their own credit card, let alone the right to vote. Only 54 years ago a woman in the United States couldn’t have her own credit card. Even today women can’t make choices about their own reproductive choices without worrying about a future husband.
The world has come so far in accepting women as beings able to work for their own money, and we still have so far to go. I don’t think we’ll reach equality in my lifetime, let alone equity, but … this book does remind me that, though it may not happen in my lifetime, it will happen someday. The world is a better place, economically speaking, when both men and women (and nonbinary people) are all active in the work force, when parents have the resources to see to the health and education of their child and more — to have resources and energy to see to the advancements of arts and luxury.
If you’re interested in history, economics, and trivia in a well written book, you’ll enjoy this one. If you’re looking for more feminist writing, this checks off that box, too. This is another book that, having finished the ARC, I’m looking to get a physical copy of for my own shelf. I do honestly recommend it.
Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
However, I found this book … so depressing. Reading over the loss of rights women faced in ancient Athens, Rome and Egypt, and more modern Iran, I can’t help but look around at the world around me and see these same events happening now. The growing push to turn women from equal partners to “protected” and pregnant. To read about how long it took women just to get their own credit card, let alone the right to vote. Only 54 years ago a woman in the United States couldn’t have her own credit card. Even today women can’t make choices about their own reproductive choices without worrying about a future husband.
The world has come so far in accepting women as beings able to work for their own money, and we still have so far to go. I don’t think we’ll reach equality in my lifetime, let alone equity, but … this book does remind me that, though it may not happen in my lifetime, it will happen someday. The world is a better place, economically speaking, when both men and women (and nonbinary people) are all active in the work force, when parents have the resources to see to the health and education of their child and more — to have resources and energy to see to the advancements of arts and luxury.
If you’re interested in history, economics, and trivia in a well written book, you’ll enjoy this one. If you’re looking for more feminist writing, this checks off that box, too. This is another book that, having finished the ARC, I’m looking to get a physical copy of for my own shelf. I do honestly recommend it.
Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
November 11, 2025
This book covers thousands of years of economic history, so we only get a small taste of what was happening in the economic lives of women. Yes, it would have been great to learn more about the Indus Valley culture, or the true cultural impact of Roman women who maintained female slaves, but those detailed accounts are for other books. This was always going to be a frustrating read since it just can't do any particular time period justice.
I think the author did a good job of keeping this approachable.
I found this book incredibly depressing, since it shows that women lose as soon as they become independent and economically powerful. Every. Single. Time. Thousands of years, every region of the world. Women gain, and then they are forced back home. Sometimes it's brutal - enslavement or physical such as binding the feet of 50% of Chinese women. Sometimes it's cultural - disapproval of women who work or laws preventing women from holding certain jobs or married women from working.
I've always known that women have rights only because men allow us to have rights. Decades ago the Taliban showed me that I was right. For all of the author's praise for women's rights in China, we know that it's not all rainbows and unicorns for their women. Lax laws and even more lax enforcement against domestic violence. Same with stalking.
Still, it's good to know the history, because it can help us look for more creative ways to fight back. I would have loved a more in-depth exploration of how women's rights were successfully eroded because of the potential loss of children. Now that many women are not having children, are we more protected? I'll have to read a different book to find out.
I think the author did a good job of keeping this approachable.
I found this book incredibly depressing, since it shows that women lose as soon as they become independent and economically powerful. Every. Single. Time. Thousands of years, every region of the world. Women gain, and then they are forced back home. Sometimes it's brutal - enslavement or physical such as binding the feet of 50% of Chinese women. Sometimes it's cultural - disapproval of women who work or laws preventing women from holding certain jobs or married women from working.
I've always known that women have rights only because men allow us to have rights. Decades ago the Taliban showed me that I was right. For all of the author's praise for women's rights in China, we know that it's not all rainbows and unicorns for their women. Lax laws and even more lax enforcement against domestic violence. Same with stalking.
Still, it's good to know the history, because it can help us look for more creative ways to fight back. I would have loved a more in-depth exploration of how women's rights were successfully eroded because of the potential loss of children. Now that many women are not having children, are we more protected? I'll have to read a different book to find out.
December 9, 2025
The author makes a compelling case that the prosperity of societies depends on the freedom of their women to work.
One thing that stood out to me was women's (in)visibility & respectability politics; where a woman's virtue depended on being hidden/confined lest she be seen as "damaged goods."
What surprised me, however, was how much women themselves became enforcers of the system. For example, middle class women often framed the paid labour of poorer women as unfashionable & morally suspect, which insulated their own daughters from competition on the marriage market.
This gendered gatekeeping meant that women helped build a moral economy where virtue was measured by idleness and isolation, one that had visible consequences on the wider economy. It’s interesting to consider how seclusion functioned as a form of social currency.
The Middle East still suffers from this exclusion of women; until recently, China did as well. I'm still relatively baffled by this obsession with women's virginity, but a clear conclusion I've drawn from this book is that gender restrictions are never just cultural quirks, but economic constraints with civilisational consequences.
As a casual reader, I appreciated the book’s accessibility. It doesn’t get bogged down in dense theory, though that sometimes means the historical contributions of women feel like an afterthought to the grand narrative of civilisation.
One thing that stood out to me was women's (in)visibility & respectability politics; where a woman's virtue depended on being hidden/confined lest she be seen as "damaged goods."
What surprised me, however, was how much women themselves became enforcers of the system. For example, middle class women often framed the paid labour of poorer women as unfashionable & morally suspect, which insulated their own daughters from competition on the marriage market.
This gendered gatekeeping meant that women helped build a moral economy where virtue was measured by idleness and isolation, one that had visible consequences on the wider economy. It’s interesting to consider how seclusion functioned as a form of social currency.
The Middle East still suffers from this exclusion of women; until recently, China did as well. I'm still relatively baffled by this obsession with women's virginity, but a clear conclusion I've drawn from this book is that gender restrictions are never just cultural quirks, but economic constraints with civilisational consequences.
As a casual reader, I appreciated the book’s accessibility. It doesn’t get bogged down in dense theory, though that sometimes means the historical contributions of women feel like an afterthought to the grand narrative of civilisation.
October 8, 2025
This book will have a special place on my shelf with Rosalind Miles' "Who Cooked the Last Supper" and Philippa Gregory's "Normal Women." Victoria Bateman explores centuries of women's contributions to human society, from the first "hunter-gatherer" societies to the employment and wage gaps of today. She takes a deep dive into societies in which women were equal, often sacred beings, illustrates how that equality was shattered, and explains how women have continued to support and shape societies and the success of those societies based on how women and their work are valued (or not in many cases). Women comprise at least half of the human population (probably a bit more, actually) and yet we have had to fight for the right to have the ability to work outside the home (while still doing 90% of the housework and childcare), the ability to go to school, (elementary and high school for some young girls, never mind college). Woman founded businesses are scrutinized and then celebrated when they fail. To this day, we still don't have agency over our own damn bodies. Books like "Economica" show just how valuable we women are, how intelligent and capable we are, and how very flawed society is. I very strongly recommend this book. It should be required reading in colleges.
August 15, 2025
Big thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read this before publication.
Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power is an ambitious, readable, and well-researched retelling of economic history with women at its centre. Spanning millennia and continents, Bateman restores the overlooked contributions of both famous and everyday women, from ancient traders to industrialists, arguing that economies flourish when women’s freedoms are secured.
The book’s global sweep is its strength, offering vivid case studies that challenge male-centred narratives. While its breadth means some topics get less depth, Bateman’s accessible style and clear feminist framing make it a compelling corrective to traditional histories.
It was engaging, vital, and wide ranging and a landmark account of women’s role in shaping the world economy.
Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power is an ambitious, readable, and well-researched retelling of economic history with women at its centre. Spanning millennia and continents, Bateman restores the overlooked contributions of both famous and everyday women, from ancient traders to industrialists, arguing that economies flourish when women’s freedoms are secured.
The book’s global sweep is its strength, offering vivid case studies that challenge male-centred narratives. While its breadth means some topics get less depth, Bateman’s accessible style and clear feminist framing make it a compelling corrective to traditional histories.
It was engaging, vital, and wide ranging and a landmark account of women’s role in shaping the world economy.
November 3, 2025
This is an ambitious and deeply researched book that reframes the history of global economics through the contributions of women. From early hunter-gatherer societies of the Stone Age to the present, Bateman highlights long-overlooked figures and offers a necessary feminist rewriting of economic history.
It is an informative and clearly academic read, a bit slow at times for those without an economics background, but still incredibly valuable. I especially appreciated how it introduced me to Dr. Victoria Bateman’s wider work as a feminist economist who challenges sexism in economics and beyond. Economica reflects her passion and her commitment to restoring women to their rightful place in the story of economic progress, which feels both overdue and inspiring.
Thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy.
It is an informative and clearly academic read, a bit slow at times for those without an economics background, but still incredibly valuable. I especially appreciated how it introduced me to Dr. Victoria Bateman’s wider work as a feminist economist who challenges sexism in economics and beyond. Economica reflects her passion and her commitment to restoring women to their rightful place in the story of economic progress, which feels both overdue and inspiring.
Thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy.
October 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview of this book.
Firstly, as a fan of women’s history and nonfiction in general, I enjoyed how well researched this book was. For the general reader not incredibly interested in economics, this book will be a fun but dense read. It may have been more impactful to focus on fewer examples. However, the concept of this book drew me in and will also (with the right framing) draw others in as well. On a minor note, I loved the cover art!
Firstly, as a fan of women’s history and nonfiction in general, I enjoyed how well researched this book was. For the general reader not incredibly interested in economics, this book will be a fun but dense read. It may have been more impactful to focus on fewer examples. However, the concept of this book drew me in and will also (with the right framing) draw others in as well. On a minor note, I loved the cover art!
November 27, 2025
Most important topic I have ever read about. Fascinating story of the influence and impact that women have always had on the economy. Countries throughout history have ultimately failed when they shame women and devalue and usurp their contributions. Shame on organized religion for their action and role and shame on jealous, small inside misogynistic, patriarchal men, they know better.
November 23, 2025
i really liked seeing how important textiles have been as an industry for so long and how women have been connected to them. i have never been able to understand economics but this made it pretty easy for me.
September 25, 2025
-Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!-
Women be working...
Beautifully written and extremely well researched, Economica is THE book on women's work (in every sense of the word). I was absolutely engrossed in the history and writing, and I can't even being to say how much I learned while reading!
Women be working...
Beautifully written and extremely well researched, Economica is THE book on women's work (in every sense of the word). I was absolutely engrossed in the history and writing, and I can't even being to say how much I learned while reading!
Read
October 17, 2025Yowzer. Way too long. A pithier version would have been more memorable for me.
November 4, 2025
4.5 stars
December 28, 2025
Good reframing with some strong explanations and concepts, some very strong historical structural claims based on anecdotes and small samples and very approachable tempo.
January 2, 2026
2026 and men are still the problem
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews