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The Women Who Made New York
An illuminating, elegant history of New York City, told through the stories of the women who made it the most exciting and influential metropolis in the world
Read any history of New York City and you will read about men. You will read about men who were political leaders and men who were activists and cultural tastemakers. These men have been lauded for generations for creating the most exciting and influential city in the world.
But that's not the whole story.
The Women Who Made New York reveals the untold stories of the phenomenal women who made New York City the cultural epicenter of the world. Many were revolutionaries and activists, like Zora Neale Hurston and Audre Lorde. Others were icons and iconoclasts, like Fran Lebowitz and Grace Jones. There were also women who led quieter private lives but were just as influential, such as Emily Warren Roebling, who completed the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge when her engineer husband became too ill to work.
Paired with striking, contemporary illustrations by artist Hallie Heald, The Women Who Made New York offers a visual sensation -- one that reinvigorates not just New York City's history but its very identity.
Read any history of New York City and you will read about men. You will read about men who were political leaders and men who were activists and cultural tastemakers. These men have been lauded for generations for creating the most exciting and influential city in the world.
But that's not the whole story.
The Women Who Made New York reveals the untold stories of the phenomenal women who made New York City the cultural epicenter of the world. Many were revolutionaries and activists, like Zora Neale Hurston and Audre Lorde. Others were icons and iconoclasts, like Fran Lebowitz and Grace Jones. There were also women who led quieter private lives but were just as influential, such as Emily Warren Roebling, who completed the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge when her engineer husband became too ill to work.
Paired with striking, contemporary illustrations by artist Hallie Heald, The Women Who Made New York offers a visual sensation -- one that reinvigorates not just New York City's history but its very identity.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2016
77 people are currently reading
1118 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 18, 2023
Sadly, I was very disappointed by this book.
While there are a lot of wonderful women profiled, there were a number I felt did not “make” New York, even though they were famous, and there were some really relevant omissions. I would, for example, consider Jane Jacobs (who fought Robert Moses) to have a much better claim at “making” New York than Barbra Streisand, no matter how good a singer Ms. Streisand is.
Other than several such cases of fangirling, though, it was interesting, and I would have loved seeing the book live out to its potential.
While there are a lot of wonderful women profiled, there were a number I felt did not “make” New York, even though they were famous, and there were some really relevant omissions. I would, for example, consider Jane Jacobs (who fought Robert Moses) to have a much better claim at “making” New York than Barbra Streisand, no matter how good a singer Ms. Streisand is.
Other than several such cases of fangirling, though, it was interesting, and I would have loved seeing the book live out to its potential.
February 2, 2025
ah wanted to love this but sadly the execution was not there! it felt like Siri reading off hundreds of Wikipedia pages of short 2-3 line blurbs on famous women? I actually had to listen to it on less than 1X speed since it went to so fast. Also some of the language is outdated/offensive.
2.5/5 stars
2.5/5 stars
June 19, 2018
The Women Who Made New York provides well-researched sketches of dozens of women who made a significant impact on the city-- from colonial times to the present, from the relatively unknown to the famous to the infamous, from politicians to artists to intellects to activists and everything in between. I've had it on my nightstand for about a year and have been savoring it in small doses. Enthralling and illuminating, and not just for history buffs, New Yorkers or women.
May 20, 2022
Excellent short synopsis of women who made NYC what it is today. While making an impact in NYC they also made an impact on the rest of the world.
February 7, 2017
A lovely collection of some of the amazing women who made New York into the beloved city it is today. Peppered with fantastic illustrations by Hallie Heald, the book features women from all walks of life and careers, and showcases how they influenced the city and changed it. Some of my favorite women mentioned were Nora Ephron, Dorothy Parker, Nellie Bly, Edna Lewis (who was just featured on an episode of Top Chef which I found delightful), Emily Warren Roebling (who was featured this season on Drunk History), and so many more. Their stories were fascinating, and if anything, it made me want to seek out biographies for so many of them.
I always love to read history books about women since so few of them seem to be featured in my education, and this book was a lovely journey through their stories.
I always love to read history books about women since so few of them seem to be featured in my education, and this book was a lovely journey through their stories.
January 19, 2019
Approximately 120 biographies of famous, infamous, and unknown women who played significant roles in creating the character of New York City. The vignettes range from several paragraphs to several pages, depending on the historical information available or the author's interest n the individual. The book is beautifully produced, with delightful characateurs of a few of women done by Hallie Heald. However, the omission of photographs or sketches of most of the honorees significantly limits the overall impact of the book. Without the distinguishing face to associate with each person, the numerous individuals soon become one big blur.
July 21, 2019
I don't always cry but when I do it's about women's empowerment!!!
March 15, 2023
Kudo's to the author for this compilation of outstanding women of their time who truly made a difference or a lasting contribution to the city of New York as was the author's criteria for selection.
The book itself is a work of art beautifully illustrated and presented with black and gold markings throughout thanks to the work of Hallie Heald a New York stylist and illustrator. She is pictured alongside the author following the comprehensive listing of names in the three page index, eight and half page bibliography and acknowledgements -a scholarly and academic effort to say the least!
Author did a great job of highlighting those who have mostly come before us for their achievements and generosity. It would have been more meaningful if the author could have limited her content further and provided more on each of subject such as their upbringing, motivations, obstacles etc. Being old enough to remember some of those when they were in their prime Bette Midler, Gilda Radner, Joan Rivers, Gloria Steinem, Barbara Walters, etc. engaged me more in the presentation. To do likewise for the younger generations the author would I need to present more contemporaries but maybe that will come with a sequel. She did produce an enticing view of New York city's culture-how it is and how it came to be. I was particularly happy to see Iris Apfel included in the study-a very colorful personality who gave much to those trying to follow her steps in the world of fashion and design.
The book itself is a work of art beautifully illustrated and presented with black and gold markings throughout thanks to the work of Hallie Heald a New York stylist and illustrator. She is pictured alongside the author following the comprehensive listing of names in the three page index, eight and half page bibliography and acknowledgements -a scholarly and academic effort to say the least!
Author did a great job of highlighting those who have mostly come before us for their achievements and generosity. It would have been more meaningful if the author could have limited her content further and provided more on each of subject such as their upbringing, motivations, obstacles etc. Being old enough to remember some of those when they were in their prime Bette Midler, Gilda Radner, Joan Rivers, Gloria Steinem, Barbara Walters, etc. engaged me more in the presentation. To do likewise for the younger generations the author would I need to present more contemporaries but maybe that will come with a sequel. She did produce an enticing view of New York city's culture-how it is and how it came to be. I was particularly happy to see Iris Apfel included in the study-a very colorful personality who gave much to those trying to follow her steps in the world of fashion and design.
August 30, 2017
History books remember the men, but women were part of history too. Schelfo, with illustrations by Hallie Heald, honours the many women who built New York City, from the actual female engineers to the artists, philanthropists and fashion icons. Small criticisms — the book is sorted into categories and not everything feels like a good fit, and I dislike the author’s habit of creating segues from one woman to the next instead of just creating stand-alone entries. Still a great, interesting book to gives props to many amazing, inspiring women.
March 28, 2019
There were many women in this book whose stories I knew well, but so many more that were new to me. Many of these women made their marks through necessity, I.e. supporting themselves and their families. Others were motivated by desires too help the less fortunate. Women have contributed to New York City’s culture and growth from its inception. Reading this brought home to me the reminder that women have completely into their own in only the last century. We’ve come a long way in a short time.
April 22, 2022
Absolutely loved it! Having lived in NYC this really spoke to me in so many ways but even if you don't have a personal connection to NYC, there is so much to learn about so many amazing women who not only shaped NYC but also the US and even the world in some cases. Highly highly recommend! It's also a very easy read as you can just read about one woman at a time (1-3 pages) so great as a coffee table or display book too, although I often did not want to put it down because I wanted to know about the next one.
September 11, 2019
Thank you Netgalley for my review copy of this book.
The illustrations are the first thing I'd like to mention here as they are really quite lovely and highlight the stories in the book really well. It is lovely to have a book about important women in history - especially strong ones that shaped society as we know it. Women are largely forgotten in the history books so it must have taken a lot of research to find the detail this book has.
The illustrations are the first thing I'd like to mention here as they are really quite lovely and highlight the stories in the book really well. It is lovely to have a book about important women in history - especially strong ones that shaped society as we know it. Women are largely forgotten in the history books so it must have taken a lot of research to find the detail this book has.
December 19, 2018
What a nice way to honor women’s accomplishments in New York throughout history. Wonderful book to ignite knowledge. Just enough of a tidbit for each woman’s contribution and to dig further if one wishes. Great book! I heartily recommend this book for anyone interested in learning about New York’s famous (or nearly so) women.
February 26, 2019
This is a fun book, with a hugely eclectic collection of women whose short biographies add up to a vivid portrayal of a dynamic city. The illustrations are a welcome surprise revealing an essential humanity in each of their subjects, especially those that are so well known that their faces have become more like masks.
August 6, 2020
My favorite part of this list, as the book doesn't have an overall theme nor narrative, is the end about women in restaurants, and that have changed food in New York City. I did dislike how the author only included people who made a difference in NYC and ignored the rest of the state. There was some really remarkable women for good and bad in this book. I'm glad I read it.
June 13, 2022
This well-written and beautifully designed book is odd in that it looks like a young-adult book (large print, illustrated), but reads like an adult book. An ideal book for any New Yorker of any sexual persuasion or any feminist looking for inspiration. It is a great book for a teenager who needs an idea for a longer report (one hopes not from Wikipedia).
A fun book and gift.
A fun book and gift.
October 30, 2017
I love learning about history, I love New York history, and I love to hear about the triumphs of women - which is sometimes hard to find because people mostly only wrote about the triumphs of men for so long! This book combines all of that! I will read this more than once.
December 11, 2019
Lovely way to further appreciate the great city of New York. I’m also reading Gutsy Women and there is some crossover, but love to see the history of women appreciated and acknowledged.
Great categories from every walk of life. Loved reading this.
Great categories from every walk of life. Loved reading this.
September 21, 2021
Be Inspired Women!
This book is filled with the stories of women who will make you believe if they can do it; you can do something! It doesn’t have to be great or even remembered,but doing it will give you and the other women in your life confidence.
This book is filled with the stories of women who will make you believe if they can do it; you can do something! It doesn’t have to be great or even remembered,but doing it will give you and the other women in your life confidence.
July 4, 2017
Fun and inspiring read with clever illustrations.
November 26, 2017
This book was very interesting and I'm glad I read it, but I don't suggest you read it from cover to cover like I did, it felt kind of like reading a textbook.
December 3, 2017
Very cool stories of women, but more textbook like than narrative.
July 8, 2018
A great book to reference continually when looking for some rad inspirational women. Well worth the read. Illustrations and book design are cool too!
March 23, 2018
EXCELLENT
November 26, 2019
Superficial, Wikipedia-style sketches that prove unsatisfying.
April 5, 2020
Got this as a gift from one of my besties, and I absolutely love it! Super interesting to see who was profiled too.
February 11, 2021
I'll be looking for more in depth bios on many of the women featured. And, although the illustrations were lovely, this book would've been much more if it had photographs of these women.
April 7, 2022
This was fine. Fun at times, cringey at others.
February 21, 2025
2.5 Probably something I should have read in print, rather than in audiobook format.
June 11, 2019
An Inspirational Read
If you're looking for a brief history of why NYC is the way it is, then this book is for you! Scelfo provides readers a great insight into some amazing women. It's an easy, interesting read!
If you're looking for a brief history of why NYC is the way it is, then this book is for you! Scelfo provides readers a great insight into some amazing women. It's an easy, interesting read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews