Our Shoes, Our Selves: 40 Women, 40 Stories, 40 Pairs of Shoes

by Bridget Moynahan, Amanda Benchley

Ask any woman about her favorite pair of shoes, and you’re sure to get an answer that goes beyond their material design. In Our Shoes, Our 40 Women, 40 Stories, 40 Pairs of Shoes , actress Bridget Moynahan and journalist Amanda Benchley ask 40 accomplished women to recount the memories behind their most meaningful pair of shoes. This collection features stories from icons like Bobbi Brown, Danica Patrick, and Misty Copeland to intrepid reporters like Christiane Amanpour and Katie Couric to creative forces like Rupi Kaur, Maya Lin, and Gretchen Rubin. Beautifully illustrated with a portrait of each woman and her chosen shoes, the stories explore what most women already that what we wear can have power and significance beyond merely clothing our bodies. Our Shoes, Our Selves reveals these remarkable journeys, and the steps these inspiring women have taken to get there, with the hopes of encouraging all women to forge their own paths.Trim 8 x 10 inches

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

224 pages, Hardcover

Published April 9, 2019

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool book! The authors chose to highlight women from different walks of life (see what I did there) and the highlights are more than accounts of a single pair of shoes. They are stories that talk about what the shoes gave the wearer. This book is interesting, empowering, and meaningful (plus the shoes are rad). A shoe is sometimes more than a shoe, and it’s up to the wearer to decide that.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot possibly say enough about this book. I plan to go buy it so my future daughter can know just how much of a bad ass you have to be to walk a mile in ANY shoes as a woman. From sneakers, to combat boots, to stilettos, these stories made me feel like I can and will walk confidently wherever I so choose.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially a coffee table book that came to Bridget Moynahan during a shoe purge, “Our Shoes, Our Selves” is a fun collection of essays by many badass women-entrepreneurs and activists-that can be read in one sitting or at various bites from time to time. I loved it and enjoyed the entire thing in one sitting. I was inspired by the stories the various women told about why the shoes they picked were especially meaningful to them. Worth devouring in any way that suits your fancy.

[Wendelle]

This book is not just accounts of shoes by a diverse set of women from different professions, it's a book that lets shoes become a narrative device through which women introduce short accounts of their lives and the essential lessons they have learned and lived by.

[Mo Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this book. Empowering women telling empowering stories and it involves beautiful shoes! Makes me want to put on some gorgeous shoes and go change the world!

[Marianne Burr]

A very quick read. Didn't want to put it down.
A unique way of telling the stories of these inspiring women.

[elizabeth sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coffee table style of fun photography and short stories; great gift idea! I love that women’s shoes are an amazing analogy to so many things - the beautiful diversity of shapes, sizes, colors, styles, functions, economics v luxuries is so true of women as well. We can celebrate, admire and respect ALL the shoes. And just cause 5” stilettos or platform industrial boots are never gonna be my jam is all good, and makes me curious and interested in those who do. Loved reading stories of all kinds of women in this book! Let us all love all the moments - the sneakers enabling us to dash over finish lines to the high heels making the outfit sing.

What are your favorite pair? I have several... right now I resonated with Bobbi Brown’s story on loving a classic Adidas Stan Smith. But my most trusted preference is barefoot. Grounded, simple with a fab pedicure!

Bobbi Brown “I started my company with a simple philosophy that you should be who you are, wear just enough makeup so you feel good, and take care of yourself. Be happy, have fun and drink tequila.”

Christy Turlington Burns “I made the connection between the work of Every Mother Counts and running long distances, because long distances is one of the biggest barriers that prevents women from accessing health care of any kind.”

Katie Couric: “don’t get me wrong: I love beautiful things, not in the grand scheme of things, they just don’t matter that much to me. I mean, I’ve never been particularly materialistic, but since losing people I love, I always remember inanimate objects are ‘just things’ What I truly value are relationships.... but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a little more kick in my step when I’m wearing a great pair of shoes.”

Stacey Cunningham: “I realized my shoes were my center of gravity. Their importance rested on their ability to ground and energize me rather than impress my peers.”

Wendy Davis: “I’ll tell them about the importance of being in the arena fighting, rather than sitting things out on the sideline because we are afraid to stand up for something we believe in.”

Dr. Mae Jemison: “things happen in life. Our shoes go with us. What we wear on our feet in some ways represents who we are. But our shoes are not us. They are part of a costume. In that amphitheater that spring, I had my power shoes with me, but most important I had myself.”

Rachael Ray: “Oprah gave me an incredible piece of advice: to give back in a way that feels right to me and use what I love as a way to give back.”

Reshama Saujani: “to be brave - and part of being brave means being you, whether you want to wear a dress, pants, heels or sneakers. Just be you. I think many of us think there’s an image of what it means to be a powerful woman or change maker, and we decide to be someone other than ourselves. I think in this day and age you can smell inauthenticity in a second, and people don’t connect. When I am feeling insecure or like I have to fit into some kind of mold, I come back and think about wearing those late spade wedges that day.”

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

came out April 9, 2019. fashion photography (kindle store). professional photography (books). sports journalism. i am kind of confused by those ...i mean there are photos of the author of the story is that what it does mean by photos?? i wonder. i read Rosie Perez first ... it was lacking to me ...it was not that it wasn't moving ...touching stories from their lives but i thought it would be more earth shaking and so on. just saying.
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am i the only one that thinks or feels that a rating (star) is and can be effected by paying for a book ...like what i mean ...when you spend your hard earned money and it was a flop ... u get a bit more cheesed off ... i mean come on .. when you have a free book ...like a giveaway ...that means u didn't pay a dime you are less likely to get cheesed. hope that make some sense. i had some credits from Amazon ...not a huge amount .. . Amazon is making out like a silly person ... Beth has found some items i need this Feb 2024. can you believe it is FEBRUARY ...time is flying by ...can you believe it i spelled that correctly ...maybe i have to spell it in all caps??! LOL!!

[Aleyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitabın konusu çok ilgi çekici. Farklı kadınların kendi ayakkabılarıyla kurdukları bağlar ve bu bağlara sebep olan hikayeleri okuyabilmek beni fazlasıyla heyecanlandırmıştı. Ancak kitapta beklenmedik bir durum söz konusu oldu. Sıradan kişiler yerine ünlü ya da en azından bilinmiş insanlardan oluşan bir toplulukla karşılaştım. Bu durum bazen ayakkabı türlerine çeşitlilik getirmesi açısından artı olarak yer alsa da çoğu zaman ayakkabılarla olan bağların geri plana atılmasına ve kişilerin kendi işlerini anlattıkları bir ego okşanmasına dönüştürüyordu kitabı. Hatta kitabın ortalarında ardı ardına o kadar self-promoting hikayeleri okuduk ki kitaptan biraz kıl kaptım.

Yine de okuması kolay ve keyifli, pek çok ayakkabı türüne ve insana yer verdiği için de çeşitliydi. Her ne kadar gıcık kaptığım yanları olduğunu dile getirsem de kitabın fikri ve sunuş biçimi puanını yükseltiyor.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

You never really stop and think how many stories a pair of shoes can tell do you? I certainly have a few pairs - that I've kept for sentimental reasons - that could tell you a tale or two!

I eagerly devoured Our Shoes, Our Selves before breakfast. The stories are absolutely captivating and the woman behind them...what a bunch of powerhouses!

Each story is accompanied by a photograph of said shoes and a little knowledge about the owner.

You're probably thinking it's all Loboutins and designer footwear...try thinking along the lines of sneaks, tennis shoes and combat boots!

Fab coffee table tome and definitely a conversation starter.

[Marge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing book! A 4 star only because it was not a story but several short stories, about some amazing women and their connection to a pair of shoes - some beautiful, some comfortable, some just because. So many interesting people to research and learn their whole story. Photographs were beautiful - of people and shoes. There was a beautiful tribute to Kate Spade (but no picture of her shoes). Made me remember a little girl who worked so hard to earn a special pair of denim boots and made me wish I had a special pair too.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Shoes, Our Selves... inspiring images of influential women and their shoes, accompanied by personal essays depicting struggles faced as women and how they overcame obstacles and sexism in various careers. There was a good diversity represented through a range in ages, skin colors, religions, and social classes, but it is a very white centric book. Would love to see more differences between women.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given to me because I like Bridget Moynahan in one of my favourite TV shows. I really liked these short stories about admirable women. It was inspirational and the photography was excellent. I liked the idea of setting the book on the coffee table and reading one or two stories whenever the mood hit me.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really interesting to me. I thought for sure I was going to be reading about how everyone liked their high heeled stilettos and was really surprised at the shoes they kept for the memories. Especially liked Katie Couric and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, material possessions represent more than wealth, they represent memories of days gone by.

[Jodi Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly fun and inspiring read, read it in an hour while sitting outside. 40 inspiring women tell the story of their favorite pair of shoes and connect it to their lives. You will, laugh, smile, and even cry. Buy it for your mom, sister, and BFF, the proceeds go to charity. There is a story in this book everyone can relate to. Would also be a great graduation present for a young women.

[Tali Nay · Rating 3 out of 5]

These essays aren’t particularly well-written, but they’re not really supposed to be. These are women who are not writers but who have each made such huge differences in their respective fields, and I found reading, in their own words, the stories of their most influential pairs of shoes surprisingly empowering. I’d enjoy reading a volume 2.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many fabulous shoes and fabulous women! I loved this book. It featured so many women with different types and careers. I ended up googling like all of them. They have all had a great impact on people whether it’s through, law, charity, art or science. It was just a joy reading about them and their shoes.

The United Nude heels with the negative space heel and Barbra Bush’s Keds were probably my favorites!

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who prefers to be barefoot 24-7 I checked this book out of the library out of curiosity. I don’t understand the obsession with women’s shoes. I have known both men and women who love them more than chocolate. I didn’t get it then and I still don’t get it.

This is a well written book. I recommend it to anyone that like shoes. I’m not one of them.

[Brennan Sigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over the course of 4 months and loved it! I would pick it up in the evenings and just read 1 or 2 vignettes at a time. I loved learning about each woman’s experience and how she chose which pair of shoes to highlight. It made me think about what I would choose; I’m still pondering that one…

[Carly Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was just OK, I picked this book out from a free library in someone's yard. I never really got fully invested, and it took me a long time to finish it because of a lack of motivation on my part, but there was some empowerment of women. I actually wrote down two quotes from this book that moved me.

[Amanda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

Loved the concept, stories, inspirations, and women in this book! No matter what we put on our feet, we are all powerful and can accomplish so much once our mind is made up and our foundation is set.

[Amy Tuzzolino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unconventional, yet excellent bookclub choice. Reflective stories from incredible women which leads to outstanding discussions. Each person also brought their own pair of shoes to discuss a story of their own.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read every story and found them very moving and empowering. Good example of how being true to ourselves even in fashion makes us stand a little taller.

[MollyRN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a shoe freak, this book was just my style!

Loved the photographs!

[Chermaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was Amazing!
Think visual representation of walking a mile in someone's shoes.

[shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A variety of shoes and stories from inspiring women

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really neat, a nice coffee table/short browse kind of book with some really nice stories and inspiring women in it.

[Laura Luzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool book, great photos, and best of all great stories. Women are serious about their shoes.

[Theresa Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the idea of this book....kept reading hoping the stories were going to become more compelling!