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Woman's Hour: Words from Wise, Witty and Wonderful Women
For the last 70 years, the guests of Woman’s Hour have been entertaining listeners with their compelling combination of wit, warmth, insight and humour. Woman’s Hour has interviewed many of the biggest female names from entertainment, politics, the arts and beyond.
Words from Wise, Witty and Wonderful Women is a collection of quotes and extracts from 70 years of the Woman’s Hour archive, featuring some of the most memorable guests to appear on the programme, from Doris Lessing to Nora Ephron, Hilary Clinton to J.K. Rowling, and Bette Davis to Meryl Streep. Charting the social and political revolution that has taken place in women’s lives over the past 70 years, as well as the perennial aspects of female life, such as love, family, relationships, the workplace, sex, ageing, and food, this delightful book shares fascinating insights and sage advice from the wise and wonderful women that have graced the Woman’s Hour airwaves over the decades.
Words from Wise, Witty and Wonderful Women is a collection of quotes and extracts from 70 years of the Woman’s Hour archive, featuring some of the most memorable guests to appear on the programme, from Doris Lessing to Nora Ephron, Hilary Clinton to J.K. Rowling, and Bette Davis to Meryl Streep. Charting the social and political revolution that has taken place in women’s lives over the past 70 years, as well as the perennial aspects of female life, such as love, family, relationships, the workplace, sex, ageing, and food, this delightful book shares fascinating insights and sage advice from the wise and wonderful women that have graced the Woman’s Hour airwaves over the decades.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published March 2, 2017
8 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 7, 2025
3.5* rounded up
September 25, 2019
This was an easy read but it was the same few people over and over again. And sometimes, the quotes weren't even quote-worthy. It's like the woman in question just made an offhand comment and they decided to put it in the book because they needed to fill space. This disconnect jarred me to no end.
But otherwise, there were some quotes in there that really called to me and I sniffed through this pretty easily.
But otherwise, there were some quotes in there that really called to me and I sniffed through this pretty easily.
March 14, 2022
I was quite disappointed in this book after feeling excited to read it. A lot of the quotes and perspectives are from a small selection of women who aren’t particularly diverse and I don’t feel like this really captures the breadth of womens experiences
June 5, 2020
I'd dipped into this book several times before now, but this time, in Lockdown, I decided to read the whole thing.
It is a series of quotes from women who've been interviewed, or have spoken, on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour programme which has been on air since 1946. Some quotes are brilliant and thought provoking. Others meant nothing to me.
What I wanted to know was who had collated it? What criteria had they used for including a particular quote? I think Alison Maloney must have edited it, perhaps chosen the quotes, as least she's shown as the author on the Penguin website. I wanted the book to have an Introduction from her!
Not every quote had a date attached, whereas I’d have liked a date when every quote was aired and a note of the interviewer, if there was one. Several quotes from the same women, sometimes multiple ones in the same chapter, which just felt odd.
It is a series of quotes from women who've been interviewed, or have spoken, on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour programme which has been on air since 1946. Some quotes are brilliant and thought provoking. Others meant nothing to me.
What I wanted to know was who had collated it? What criteria had they used for including a particular quote? I think Alison Maloney must have edited it, perhaps chosen the quotes, as least she's shown as the author on the Penguin website. I wanted the book to have an Introduction from her!
Not every quote had a date attached, whereas I’d have liked a date when every quote was aired and a note of the interviewer, if there was one. Several quotes from the same women, sometimes multiple ones in the same chapter, which just felt odd.
February 24, 2023
A bizarre anthology that reflects a dated view of women and their lives.
Categorised into love, relationships, motherhood and work this book seems to fit into old stereotypes of women’s lives. I would have liked to see a broader range of women quoted, reflecting the dynamism of and dimensions of what it is to be a woman in the 21st century.
As a side note it was also uninspiring to see so many Conservative and Transphobic women quoted.
In all, this provided nothing new, radical or inspirational. If that’s what you’re looking for, there’s far better books out there.
Categorised into love, relationships, motherhood and work this book seems to fit into old stereotypes of women’s lives. I would have liked to see a broader range of women quoted, reflecting the dynamism of and dimensions of what it is to be a woman in the 21st century.
As a side note it was also uninspiring to see so many Conservative and Transphobic women quoted.
In all, this provided nothing new, radical or inspirational. If that’s what you’re looking for, there’s far better books out there.
September 3, 2021
DIPPER
A library book that obviously isn’t taken out much so I decided to give it a go. Nice and easy to dip into and I remember a lot of the interviews. I’ve listened since I was two - it used to be on after ‘listen with mother’ - so that’s 63 years! One bit that meant a lot to me was the illness and bereavement chapter as my husband has a terminal illness.
A library book that obviously isn’t taken out much so I decided to give it a go. Nice and easy to dip into and I remember a lot of the interviews. I’ve listened since I was two - it used to be on after ‘listen with mother’ - so that’s 63 years! One bit that meant a lot to me was the illness and bereavement chapter as my husband has a terminal illness.
May 28, 2023
So I think it’s more like 3 1/2 stars.
Like other reviewers have said, some of the quotes are amazing! Others I did wonder why they had been included. And there’s inevitably some guests I would like to have heard quotes from that are not in the book.
It’s a good, easy to read book, with some super inspiring quotes, which is why I gave it the score I did.
Like other reviewers have said, some of the quotes are amazing! Others I did wonder why they had been included. And there’s inevitably some guests I would like to have heard quotes from that are not in the book.
It’s a good, easy to read book, with some super inspiring quotes, which is why I gave it the score I did.
May 14, 2021
Glad I didn't give up too much of my time to this one, it's just a random selection of quotes, many of which are virtually meaningless because they lack necessary context, and that ultimately don't serve a lot of purpose for the reader. Disappointed, but not that surprised.
February 27, 2022
OK to have been able to dip in and out of but I really didn't like that it was straight quotes. Sometimes the speakers had mixed up their tenses/waylaid their thoughts and so not all of them were easy to follow
March 14, 2019
This is a lovely book to dip in and out of. Some interesting pieces, some amusing, some quite sad, from contributors to 'Woman's Hour'. Definitely a book that I will look at again and again.
July 26, 2020
Snippets of conversations sorted in to topic chapters. Definitely one to dip in and out of.
November 23, 2020
Pleasant quick read wish there had been more of a mix of women.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews