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Untold Resilience
A timely and uplifting book of true stories from 19 women whose resilience has seen them survive extraordinary global and personal tragedy.
What does it take to find courage in the midst of deprivation and devastation? Why are some people able to continue living with purpose, even when faced with loss and despair? How does our community turn challenge into triumph? And what can we learn from the exceptional women in our midst who have done just that?
It might feel like we are living in unprecedented times but ours is not the first generation to withstand upheaval as seismic as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused. In every town and suburb in Australia, there are women from older generations who have encountered unimaginable difficulties before; women who have endured and survived. Their stories are proof of the incredible resilience of the female spirit.
Based on hours of interviews from their homes during lockdown, in Untold Resilience the all-female journalistic team at Future Women uncovers the real-life accounts of a diverse and fascinating collection of women. In doing so they have drawn on the deep wisdom and perspective that can only be gained from a life fully lived.
Our history books have long been dominated by men’s triumphant tales but there are also lessons to be learned from the quiet, modest and largely untold experiences of women. With warmth and candour, 19 ordinary, and yet truly remarkable, individuals share their experiences of pandemic, poverty, famine, war, violence and discrimination.
Through these hope-filled stories from women who have gone before, we can find inspiration and comfort, and rebuild faith in our own futures.
What does it take to find courage in the midst of deprivation and devastation? Why are some people able to continue living with purpose, even when faced with loss and despair? How does our community turn challenge into triumph? And what can we learn from the exceptional women in our midst who have done just that?
It might feel like we are living in unprecedented times but ours is not the first generation to withstand upheaval as seismic as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused. In every town and suburb in Australia, there are women from older generations who have encountered unimaginable difficulties before; women who have endured and survived. Their stories are proof of the incredible resilience of the female spirit.
Based on hours of interviews from their homes during lockdown, in Untold Resilience the all-female journalistic team at Future Women uncovers the real-life accounts of a diverse and fascinating collection of women. In doing so they have drawn on the deep wisdom and perspective that can only be gained from a life fully lived.
Our history books have long been dominated by men’s triumphant tales but there are also lessons to be learned from the quiet, modest and largely untold experiences of women. With warmth and candour, 19 ordinary, and yet truly remarkable, individuals share their experiences of pandemic, poverty, famine, war, violence and discrimination.
Through these hope-filled stories from women who have gone before, we can find inspiration and comfort, and rebuild faith in our own futures.
224 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2020
9 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 27, 2023
Untold Resilience is a collection of many thoughts, some powerful words of wisdom and a few good yarns based on memory.
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I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I chose this but it wasn’t this. In saying that though, the short segments of life interviews of the 19 featured women paying it forward was done well and I am glad I chose audio as my platform as the change in voice overs was what gave this book life.
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The constant reference to covid irked me. I feel it was overdone. Appreciate it is when the book was put together but for me it didn’t need it’s own stage light.
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There were many one liners that I loved and others that made me smile. Here are a few that I jotted down:
-you have to work for what you want in life
-know what you can and can’t control
-you are not any better than anyone else but you are also as good as anyone else
-let go a little bit everyday
-shit happens, you face it, deal with it and get on with it
-it’s not what society decides for you. It’s what you take on and decide for yourself
-resilience isn’t a cloak you can put on to guard against tough times
-a small contribution can make a massive difference in someone’s world
-you can always learn something from another person
-focus on what you have, not what you don’t have
-if you have a pulse, you have a purpose
-I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it
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From the women who have gone before.. thank you for sharing your life stories fuelled with love, courage and survival. So many tragedies within on death, war and abuse, but yet so much light on experience, growth and love. Future women reflects an attitude, not an age. These women reflect a steadfastness of action and resilience, not a sex.
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One for female empowerment and inspiration.
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I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I chose this but it wasn’t this. In saying that though, the short segments of life interviews of the 19 featured women paying it forward was done well and I am glad I chose audio as my platform as the change in voice overs was what gave this book life.
.
The constant reference to covid irked me. I feel it was overdone. Appreciate it is when the book was put together but for me it didn’t need it’s own stage light.
.
There were many one liners that I loved and others that made me smile. Here are a few that I jotted down:
-you have to work for what you want in life
-know what you can and can’t control
-you are not any better than anyone else but you are also as good as anyone else
-let go a little bit everyday
-shit happens, you face it, deal with it and get on with it
-it’s not what society decides for you. It’s what you take on and decide for yourself
-resilience isn’t a cloak you can put on to guard against tough times
-a small contribution can make a massive difference in someone’s world
-you can always learn something from another person
-focus on what you have, not what you don’t have
-if you have a pulse, you have a purpose
-I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it
.
From the women who have gone before.. thank you for sharing your life stories fuelled with love, courage and survival. So many tragedies within on death, war and abuse, but yet so much light on experience, growth and love. Future women reflects an attitude, not an age. These women reflect a steadfastness of action and resilience, not a sex.
.
One for female empowerment and inspiration.
March 19, 2024
Women are the best!
November 24, 2024
Beautiful stories from incredible women!
January 10, 2021
Devastating stories however highly empowering for any woman to read. This read put my problems into perspective and made me appreciate what those woman that have gone before have endured to get where they are. Fascinating to see how times have changed in an arguably small time scale.
January 28, 2025
My grandmother gifted this to me at Christmas because she was so inspired by the stories and thought I might be too. She was correct in her prediction, as I was deeply moved by the incredible experiences lived by these women. It is so important to read about what the previous generations have suffered and survived, in order to give perspective to our own issues in the current world. Whether they were women escaping political conflict and forced to migrate, or indigenous women stolen away from their families, culture and community, all of these stories offered valuable insights into what it means to be resilient. They teach us how to overcome tragedy, grow stronger and even thrive in our individuality. We need only to listen and to share to find that there is a humanity that unifies us all no matter our age, gender nor ethnicity.
April 29, 2021
3.5 rounded up.
Untold Resilience is a collection of interviews with 19 ordinary yet remarkable women, who have survived and triumphed despite global and personal tragedies. The interviews were conducted during the challenging and abnormal times we are now living in during the COVID-19 pandemic, and cover the women's reflection of their times during war, pandemic, poverty and discrimination.
Their stories draw on the wisdom they gained throughout their lives, and give you a sense of hope during these challenging times. Whilst I read this over a couple of days, I think the stories would be best savoured over time, pulling them out when you are needing inspiration, comfort or faith.
Giving this one ⭐⭐⭐🌠 (3.5/5) but might have been higher if I had savoured them!
Untold Resilience is a collection of interviews with 19 ordinary yet remarkable women, who have survived and triumphed despite global and personal tragedies. The interviews were conducted during the challenging and abnormal times we are now living in during the COVID-19 pandemic, and cover the women's reflection of their times during war, pandemic, poverty and discrimination.
Their stories draw on the wisdom they gained throughout their lives, and give you a sense of hope during these challenging times. Whilst I read this over a couple of days, I think the stories would be best savoured over time, pulling them out when you are needing inspiration, comfort or faith.
Giving this one ⭐⭐⭐🌠 (3.5/5) but might have been higher if I had savoured them!
October 31, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, smashed through it in less than 24 hours! Sounds cliche, but I laughed and I cried. Perspective always brings me a great amount of clarity and there is an abundance in these pages.
Loved reading about a range of women from different backgrounds, would have just loved if a few of the stories were about younger women too; there are a lot out there who have overcome so much and we could learn a lot from them too.
Loved reading about a range of women from different backgrounds, would have just loved if a few of the stories were about younger women too; there are a lot out there who have overcome so much and we could learn a lot from them too.
December 23, 2020
A collection of inspiring real life stories from women who have triumphed through global and personal tragedy. We can learn so much from our elders, they have been through it all... war, pandemics, the deaths of loved ones, fleeing violence or seeking a fresh start, to be their authentic selves. Untold Resilience is all about hope and empowerment. The perfect book for 2020.
June 19, 2022
I don’t think this is a book that you can rate. The women in this book who share their stories are nothing but incredible and show resilience. It puts your little worries into perspective and offers the chance for reflection of the reader into their lives. It’s empowering and encouraging. I recommend to everyone.
February 16, 2022
Every story touches your emotions in some way. Some stories are more sombre or harrowing and while distressing to imagine, you know the woman made it through. A clear reminder that first world problems are nothing compared to those who survived war, refugee crisis, stolen generations and much more.
February 17, 2023
Future women opened my eyes up to the atrocities of humankind. It is equally heartbreaking and inspiring what these ‘ordinary’ women have gone through in their time. I wish I read this in amidst the worse of the pandemic in order to awaken myself to other peoples hardships in life.
December 19, 2020
A great read in these strange times; the range of women interviewed were both interesting and inspiring.
January 16, 2021
A wonderful collection of personal stories from BAMF Australian women. I would have rated it 5 stars but the collection is desperately in need of a decent edit.
February 21, 2021
Listened on BorrowBox from GRL.
Real life lived challenges from the past has put everything into perspective compared to current COVID times! Thanks for sharing your stories ladies.
Real life lived challenges from the past has put everything into perspective compared to current COVID times! Thanks for sharing your stories ladies.
March 14, 2021
Peoples' stories...always worth listening to! Well edited - narrators voices shone through. Some of the stories were very moving.
March 15, 2021
This is an easy read, but full of interesting and poignant stories. I loved reading these women’s stories and the lessons they had within. Highly recommended.
March 28, 2024
Great inspiring read, very much recommended
March 15, 2024
Really helped to put things into perspective - a powerful and simple reminder that life has and always will be tough, no matter where you are from in the world - while life can be filled with pain and challenges, it’s how we respond to those difficult situations and find the strength to keep going that builds not just resilience but character.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews