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We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America
A vivid portrait of the unsung American women from 1776 to today who changed the course of history in their fight for freedom and helped shape a more perfect union
“This terrific book reveals the central, though often hidden role that women have played at every stage of our country’s history.”—Doris Kearns Goodwin
Over a decades-long, distinguished career, award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell has made it her mission to shed light on untold women’s stories. Now, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, O’Donnell focuses that passion on the American heroines who helped change the course of history.
We the Women presents a fresh look at American history through the eyes of women, introducing us to inspiring patriots who demanded that the country live up to the promises made 250 years ago in the Declaration of “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Since the signing of that document, the pressing question from women has Why don’t those unalienable rights apply to us?
Through extensive research and interviews, as well as historical documents and old photos, O’Donnell curates a compelling portrait of these fierce fighters for freedom. From Mary Katherine Goddard, who printed the first signed Declaration of Independence, to the Forten family women, who were active in the abolition and suffrage movements and were considered the “Black Founders” of Philadelphia, to the first women who served in the armed forces even before they had the right to vote, O’Donnell brings these extraordinary women together for the first time, and in doing so writes the American story anew.
“This terrific book reveals the central, though often hidden role that women have played at every stage of our country’s history.”—Doris Kearns Goodwin
Over a decades-long, distinguished career, award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell has made it her mission to shed light on untold women’s stories. Now, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, O’Donnell focuses that passion on the American heroines who helped change the course of history.
We the Women presents a fresh look at American history through the eyes of women, introducing us to inspiring patriots who demanded that the country live up to the promises made 250 years ago in the Declaration of “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Since the signing of that document, the pressing question from women has Why don’t those unalienable rights apply to us?
Through extensive research and interviews, as well as historical documents and old photos, O’Donnell curates a compelling portrait of these fierce fighters for freedom. From Mary Katherine Goddard, who printed the first signed Declaration of Independence, to the Forten family women, who were active in the abolition and suffrage movements and were considered the “Black Founders” of Philadelphia, to the first women who served in the armed forces even before they had the right to vote, O’Donnell brings these extraordinary women together for the first time, and in doing so writes the American story anew.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 26, 2026
I read to 47% and just could not get myself to finish the rest!
I was hoping that each of these women’s stories would be told in a more story like fashion, but they read almost completely as factual, dictionary, excerpts of a lot of dates and information about their lives, but they did not feel emotionally compelling at all.
While I enjoyed getting to hear about little known women throughout the history of the United States, who had a massive impact on its development, I didn’t feel like their stories were told in an emotionally compelling way I felt like I was mostly given the facts and the details of what they did and when and I wanted this to be a more evocative emotional experience.
But maybe my expectations were off in starting this book because I don’t typically read history. However, even the biographies & memoirs I have read had a much more story like and emotional connection than this one did. I felt like I was reading out of a history textbook and I just got bored very easily with that
I would still recommend to my audience based on just the powerful little known stories that were being pulled to the light to give empowerment to women’s strong role in our nations history, but since I did not love this myself, and it’s not really the type of book format that I enjoyed I’m giving it three stars..
I was hoping that each of these women’s stories would be told in a more story like fashion, but they read almost completely as factual, dictionary, excerpts of a lot of dates and information about their lives, but they did not feel emotionally compelling at all.
While I enjoyed getting to hear about little known women throughout the history of the United States, who had a massive impact on its development, I didn’t feel like their stories were told in an emotionally compelling way I felt like I was mostly given the facts and the details of what they did and when and I wanted this to be a more evocative emotional experience.
But maybe my expectations were off in starting this book because I don’t typically read history. However, even the biographies & memoirs I have read had a much more story like and emotional connection than this one did. I felt like I was reading out of a history textbook and I just got bored very easily with that
I would still recommend to my audience based on just the powerful little known stories that were being pulled to the light to give empowerment to women’s strong role in our nations history, but since I did not love this myself, and it’s not really the type of book format that I enjoyed I’m giving it three stars..
February 27, 2026
In the introduction the author says she does not focus on the most well known women in American history like Abigail Adams because, well, they're already pretty well known. She focuses on the women that she never heard of, or knew little about. As a seasoned news correspondent she presumes that we haven't heard of them either, or know little about them if we have. That's pretty much true.
The glaring exception is Eleanor Roosevelt. Because nobody who focuses on women in American history can resist writing about her, right?
The book is structured chronologically by roughly 50-year time periods, with each period offering sketches of a few pages per woman. This means we get a summary of each life, not much in depth detail. But this is made up for by the copious numbers of women she gets into this book.
The sketches read as a little breezy, with the author inserting bits of exclamatory commentary at different points in italics. Like this!
This conversational style, and the brevity of each sketch, would make this an excellent book to give to a teenager or young woman to provide a quick survey of the different periods of the development of women's rights in America. Roughly speaking, we move from the Revolutionary period, to the mid-19th century and Seneca Falls Convention, to the Suffragists in the late 19th and early 20th century, to Second Wave Feminism in the mid-20th century. There's also a final section on more contemporary women that covers the author's lifetime.
The glaring exception is Eleanor Roosevelt. Because nobody who focuses on women in American history can resist writing about her, right?
The book is structured chronologically by roughly 50-year time periods, with each period offering sketches of a few pages per woman. This means we get a summary of each life, not much in depth detail. But this is made up for by the copious numbers of women she gets into this book.
The sketches read as a little breezy, with the author inserting bits of exclamatory commentary at different points in italics. Like this!
This conversational style, and the brevity of each sketch, would make this an excellent book to give to a teenager or young woman to provide a quick survey of the different periods of the development of women's rights in America. Roughly speaking, we move from the Revolutionary period, to the mid-19th century and Seneca Falls Convention, to the Suffragists in the late 19th and early 20th century, to Second Wave Feminism in the mid-20th century. There's also a final section on more contemporary women that covers the author's lifetime.
March 3, 2026
We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America
By: Norah O'Donnell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre/tags: History, women time forgot
What I liked:
This non-fiction read like fiction. I listened to it on audio while doing yard work.
Good to know before picking this up:
While there were some new women introduced in this, there were a fair amount I was familiar with because I read a historical fiction of their lives.
By: Norah O'Donnell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre/tags: History, women time forgot
What I liked:
This non-fiction read like fiction. I listened to it on audio while doing yard work.
Good to know before picking this up:
While there were some new women introduced in this, there were a fair amount I was familiar with because I read a historical fiction of their lives.
March 6, 2026
This was so informative but a little too history book for me. I still loved learning about all the women, though!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So important. So informative. But also so dry.
We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America by Norah O'Donnell enlightens readers about many “hidden heroes” throughout American history, era by era. Some names will be familiar, but others will feel like long-overdue introductions. O’Donnell does an excellent job shedding light on women often left out of traditional history books. She shares stories of women of all races, across socioeconomic backgrounds, and at varying levels of prominence.
I particularly enjoyed learning more about Constance Baker Motley. I had encountered her name while studying the civil rights movement and teaching Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” but I had no idea just how lasting her impact was on our judicial system.
Eunice Newton Foote was a name I had never encountered prior to this book—which is a shame, as she was the first known American woman to have her discoveries published in scientific journals in the field of physics. Her work on the greenhouse effect predated findings later attributed to a male scientist. Beyond her scientific endeavors, she was also a signer of the Declaration of Sentiments advocating for women’s rights.
The stories of these remarkable women are clearly well researched, though often brief, as O’Donnell works to include as many noteworthy figures as possible across nearly 250 years of history. By the end, I had a running list of women I’d love to read more about—perhaps in a richer, more immersive narrative (I’m a historical fiction junkie, after all).
This book serves as a strong introductory survey of many important women who deserve far more space in our collective history.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Norah O’Donnell for the advanced copy of the book. We the Women is out February 24th. All opinions are my own.
http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose
We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America by Norah O'Donnell enlightens readers about many “hidden heroes” throughout American history, era by era. Some names will be familiar, but others will feel like long-overdue introductions. O’Donnell does an excellent job shedding light on women often left out of traditional history books. She shares stories of women of all races, across socioeconomic backgrounds, and at varying levels of prominence.
I particularly enjoyed learning more about Constance Baker Motley. I had encountered her name while studying the civil rights movement and teaching Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” but I had no idea just how lasting her impact was on our judicial system.
Eunice Newton Foote was a name I had never encountered prior to this book—which is a shame, as she was the first known American woman to have her discoveries published in scientific journals in the field of physics. Her work on the greenhouse effect predated findings later attributed to a male scientist. Beyond her scientific endeavors, she was also a signer of the Declaration of Sentiments advocating for women’s rights.
The stories of these remarkable women are clearly well researched, though often brief, as O’Donnell works to include as many noteworthy figures as possible across nearly 250 years of history. By the end, I had a running list of women I’d love to read more about—perhaps in a richer, more immersive narrative (I’m a historical fiction junkie, after all).
This book serves as a strong introductory survey of many important women who deserve far more space in our collective history.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Norah O’Donnell for the advanced copy of the book. We the Women is out February 24th. All opinions are my own.
http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved the late ABC News/NPR journalist Cokie Roberts’ books on women in American History. Picking up the torch, CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, along with best-selling author Kate Anderson Brower have presented their own list of admirable women in United States history.
Unless you have already read Roberts’ books, you may not have read a lot about women’s history. I happened to be watching Ken Burns’ American Revolution while reading this book, and one of the names that everyone on my social media was heralding was Phyllis Wheatley, the black poet, as well as Mercy Otis Warren. I had read about Wheatley and Warren previously, so she wasn’t a surprise. I learned a bit more about them, and I think many people will be picking up this book as a continuation on the American History they learned on PBS
These and many more lost stories are coming to light at the perfect time. More needs to be done to amplify the sacrifices and contributions women made in our nation’s history. There are only a few women statues in the U.S. Capitol, yet many of the women featured in this book SHOULD have statues made to honor them.
Just as an aside, I requested this book from NetGalley before Norah O’Donnell’s exclusive interview with 🍊🤡 and was appalled by the capitulation and lack of pushback from her. It seems she is not quite the heroic woman like the ones she and Anderson Brower write about. I applaud this book, but at the same time, I’m very disappointed.
I absolutely loved the late ABC News/NPR journalist Cokie Roberts’ books on women in American History. Picking up the torch, CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, along with best-selling author Kate Anderson Brower have presented their own list of admirable women in United States history.
Unless you have already read Roberts’ books, you may not have read a lot about women’s history. I happened to be watching Ken Burns’ American Revolution while reading this book, and one of the names that everyone on my social media was heralding was Phyllis Wheatley, the black poet, as well as Mercy Otis Warren. I had read about Wheatley and Warren previously, so she wasn’t a surprise. I learned a bit more about them, and I think many people will be picking up this book as a continuation on the American History they learned on PBS
These and many more lost stories are coming to light at the perfect time. More needs to be done to amplify the sacrifices and contributions women made in our nation’s history. There are only a few women statues in the U.S. Capitol, yet many of the women featured in this book SHOULD have statues made to honor them.
Just as an aside, I requested this book from NetGalley before Norah O’Donnell’s exclusive interview with 🍊🤡 and was appalled by the capitulation and lack of pushback from her. It seems she is not quite the heroic woman like the ones she and Anderson Brower write about. I applaud this book, but at the same time, I’m very disappointed.
February 25, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC of "We the Women" by Norah O'Donnell and Kate Anderson Brower, it is much appreciated!
"We the Women" offers fascinating snapshots of women history has tried to forget. Some of these women were familiar to me from my Women's Studies classes in college as well as my own reading. Other women, such as the Revolutionary-era wax sculptor and spy Patience Lovell Wright; Civil War heroine Dr. Mary Edwards Walker; Susan and Susette La Flesche, advocates for First Nation Peoples; and the female teams of telephone switchboard operators of World War I, were completely new to me.
How is it that these and many other women featured in this book are missing from history books? I minored in Women's Studies and never heard of some of these women. What is wrong with this society where the work of women--some in service to this country--is completely passed over so we only learn about men and their achievements (or failures and wrongdoings)? Women make up more than half of the human race globally, and yet we and our foremothers continue to struggle to be seen in the shadows.
Read this book, learn the names, and give these women their due. They helped to make this country, they helped win wars, they made lasting change.
"We the Women" offers fascinating snapshots of women history has tried to forget. Some of these women were familiar to me from my Women's Studies classes in college as well as my own reading. Other women, such as the Revolutionary-era wax sculptor and spy Patience Lovell Wright; Civil War heroine Dr. Mary Edwards Walker; Susan and Susette La Flesche, advocates for First Nation Peoples; and the female teams of telephone switchboard operators of World War I, were completely new to me.
How is it that these and many other women featured in this book are missing from history books? I minored in Women's Studies and never heard of some of these women. What is wrong with this society where the work of women--some in service to this country--is completely passed over so we only learn about men and their achievements (or failures and wrongdoings)? Women make up more than half of the human race globally, and yet we and our foremothers continue to struggle to be seen in the shadows.
Read this book, learn the names, and give these women their due. They helped to make this country, they helped win wars, they made lasting change.
November 11, 2025
What an incredible look at a few of America's unsung women who shaped and paved our country into the land of the tree and home of the brave. They finally get the recognition they deserve in this book and I wish their stories are shared in schools today so their legacies will never die. As a mom who will be homeschooling, I'll be adding to this in my chapter of the American Revolution once my daughter is old enough to understand and be in school. As someone who is a huge history buff (my username has the word history in it for a reason), this book is a great reference and very well researched and sourced and I'm so very grateful I had to the chance to read this book for myself!
I would absolutely LOVE to buy a physical copy once it's fully released to add to my home library! This would be perfect and I can't wait!!
I would love to take this opportunity to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
I would absolutely LOVE to buy a physical copy once it's fully released to add to my home library! This would be perfect and I can't wait!!
I would love to take this opportunity to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Net Galley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.
What a perfect read to celebrate that start of Women’s History Month in a few weeks!
I commend the authors for all of the time and research they dedicated to telling the important stories of these women.
Women have played an incredibly important role in American history, and it isn’t discussed nearly enough.
The book was structured and well-organized, with details about women from the 1770s to 1970s.
I appreciate that the authors chose to feature women who are lesser known, I unfortunately hadn’t heard of about 75% of the women in this book. You won’t find Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, or RBG, but you will find Charlotte Forten, Mary Katherine Goddard, and Patsy Mink.
A very important, inspirational, and eye-opening read!
What a perfect read to celebrate that start of Women’s History Month in a few weeks!
I commend the authors for all of the time and research they dedicated to telling the important stories of these women.
Women have played an incredibly important role in American history, and it isn’t discussed nearly enough.
The book was structured and well-organized, with details about women from the 1770s to 1970s.
I appreciate that the authors chose to feature women who are lesser known, I unfortunately hadn’t heard of about 75% of the women in this book. You won’t find Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, or RBG, but you will find Charlotte Forten, Mary Katherine Goddard, and Patsy Mink.
A very important, inspirational, and eye-opening read!
March 2, 2026
It will never not upset me the way that the history of anyone who isn't a white man gets pushed aside when this book is proof that the history of women is just as and perhaps even more important to highlight.
I was pleasantly surprised by this because sometimes when picking up a history book the writing can be dry. Just like sometimes when a book proclaims to be a history of women it ends up being a history of WHITE women only. So I was happy to discover that the writing was engaging and informative without veering towards dry and that the book highlighted women of all races, ages and economic backgrounds.
I also appreciated how this chose to focus on the history of lesser known women (there were a few chapters that focused on more famous women). Not only did I enjoy this, but I also learned a lot.
I was pleasantly surprised by this because sometimes when picking up a history book the writing can be dry. Just like sometimes when a book proclaims to be a history of women it ends up being a history of WHITE women only. So I was happy to discover that the writing was engaging and informative without veering towards dry and that the book highlighted women of all races, ages and economic backgrounds.
I also appreciated how this chose to focus on the history of lesser known women (there were a few chapters that focused on more famous women). Not only did I enjoy this, but I also learned a lot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an important book about some really remarkable women in American history that most of us have never heard about. Paraphrasing Norah O'Donnell, "None of these people were in any of my history books!" I am in awe of the bravery, pioneering spirit, and perseverance of these women in the face of systemic sexism, and racism, throughout American history. This book, written in an easy to read conversational style, consists of 35 realtively short chapters, each devoted to individual women who shaped history from the American Revolution to the present. As the subtitle states these are "The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America." This should be required reading. Highly recommended
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy
February 25, 2026
This book opened my eyes to how much of American history I was never taught. We the Women shines a light on the courageous, often overlooked women who helped shape the country while fighting to claim the very rights promised in its founding documents.
I appreciated how human and accessible the stories felt well researched but never heavy. Learning about figures like Mary Katherine Goddard and the Forten family women added powerful depth to the narrative of America’s past.
It’s inspiring, thought-provoking, and a meaningful reminder that the fight for equality has always included women at the forefront, even when history forgot to mention them.
I appreciated how human and accessible the stories felt well researched but never heavy. Learning about figures like Mary Katherine Goddard and the Forten family women added powerful depth to the narrative of America’s past.
It’s inspiring, thought-provoking, and a meaningful reminder that the fight for equality has always included women at the forefront, even when history forgot to mention them.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advanced copy of this book.
This is a collection of stories about women who have shaped America through their perseverance, courage, and ambition. Some of these women are known, but the readers are likely to read stories of history that are unknown to them. These women will provide inspiration are you learn more about how they worked to ensure equality and rights for all. Each story in contained in a single chapter and is easy to read.
This is a collection of stories about women who have shaped America through their perseverance, courage, and ambition. Some of these women are known, but the readers are likely to read stories of history that are unknown to them. These women will provide inspiration are you learn more about how they worked to ensure equality and rights for all. Each story in contained in a single chapter and is easy to read.
February 27, 2026
An excellent book about the many women that have shaped the history of America. These unsung hero’s are so deserving of the recognition that Norah has so thoughtfully curated. Each chapter is an education for the reader and a page turner mixing the past with the present. Everyone should know who these women are and the impact they have made to our country. Norah O’Donnell has done just that with her powerful prose.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Ballentine Books and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
This book was excellent! I learned so much about the women that shaped our country. I had heard of some of these women, but some were brand new to me. All I can say is it was a fantastic read, and everyone should read it!
This book was excellent! I learned so much about the women that shaped our country. I had heard of some of these women, but some were brand new to me. All I can say is it was a fantastic read, and everyone should read it!
February 28, 2026
Obviously not every significant woman in history could be profiled in this book, but I was surprised by some omitted, including Madam CJ Walker. Others who only received honorable mentions should have been expounded upon too, like Sandra Day O’Connor and Shirley Chisholm in place of those better known like Eleanor Roosevelt.
March 8, 2026
Was so excited to read this book especially because it’s March, which is women’s history month. A great time to celebrate women. Audiobook narration by Nora was excellent. Unfortunately, the book was not. Too many chapters about too many women and too little time spent on them. It was a basic, quick overview with not much substance was bored and skipped around. Would not recommend.
March 8, 2026
Learning about the women was very interesting. It was really disappointing that she had to put men down to lift women up and often referred to a women vs men. If we truly want to be a We the People, stop putting one down to left the other. Many women have sons and don’t need you saying negative things about men.
March 4, 2026
Standing on the shoulder of giants as we strain to pull that arc closer justice.
March 6, 2026
Is it absolutely perfect? No. But it’s an amazing detail of women throughout America’s history. Inspired to keep fighting the good fight.
March 9, 2026
This book has a ton of information. It is not really my choice of reading, but was reading as part of a reading challenge. If you are a lover of history you would love this book.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews