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On This Day She: Putting Women Back Into History, One Day At A Time
The tried and tested 'On This Day in History' format has elevated the stories of many people and their impact on the wider world. However, of those considered noteworthy by the Establishment, just a fraction are women. But this is not the whole story - not by half.
Our past is full of influential women, many of whom have been unfairly confined to the margins of history. Politicians, troublemakers, explorers, artists, writers, scientists and even the odd murderer; these women have shaped society around the globe.
From Beyoncé to Doria Shafik, Queen Elizabeth I to Lillian Bilocca, On This Day She sets out to redress this imbalance and give voice to both those already deemed female icons, alongside others whom the history books have failed to include: the good, the bad and everything in between - this is a record of human existence at its most authentic.
Our past is full of influential women, many of whom have been unfairly confined to the margins of history. Politicians, troublemakers, explorers, artists, writers, scientists and even the odd murderer; these women have shaped society around the globe.
From Beyoncé to Doria Shafik, Queen Elizabeth I to Lillian Bilocca, On This Day She sets out to redress this imbalance and give voice to both those already deemed female icons, alongside others whom the history books have failed to include: the good, the bad and everything in between - this is a record of human existence at its most authentic.
800 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2021
36 people are currently reading
568 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 10, 2021
From raising families to leading armies, women such as Catherine the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen Elizabeth I, Susan B. Anthony, Marie Curie and countless others have played a vital role in human civilization. Our past is full of influential women, many of whom have been unfairly confined to the margins of history.
As the title of the book says "Putting Women Back Into History One At A Time", many may interpret that "feminists rewriting history" or "a book talking about women who achieved the extraordinary", but this book is much more that that. It is not "a sugar-coating book to glorify women's achievements" but rather putting women back into history where they truly belong. Women have done pretty much everything - from committing heinous crimes to being a corrupt politician. There were badass inspiring women out there in the past whose names we hardly know today but the women who behaved badly deserves a place in history too to create the balance. Why only men win battles and commit crimes? Why hardly any women are mentioned in the history? Why these women will remain in the shadow while they were equal or steps ahead of men in their times?
We often come across this phrase "behave like a woman" - which is enough to interpret how the women are treated in the society. For example, the American mountaineer Annie Smith Peck was the third person to climb the Matterhorn in Switzerland but she was arrested because she wore knickerbockers. New York Times of 1876 wrote jokingly of women "abnormal and unconquerable thirst for trousers" - and this answers a lot how people have always shadowed women's achivements with all baseless accusations.
I highly recommend this important book to everyone. It is the best book you can gift to yourself or anyone! Each page amazed me of why I didn't know about her. Read this book, share with your friends, family and everyone. It is the best book one can read in Women's History Month and I am glad I read it!
Thank you Harper Collins In for the review copy.
As the title of the book says "Putting Women Back Into History One At A Time", many may interpret that "feminists rewriting history" or "a book talking about women who achieved the extraordinary", but this book is much more that that. It is not "a sugar-coating book to glorify women's achievements" but rather putting women back into history where they truly belong. Women have done pretty much everything - from committing heinous crimes to being a corrupt politician. There were badass inspiring women out there in the past whose names we hardly know today but the women who behaved badly deserves a place in history too to create the balance. Why only men win battles and commit crimes? Why hardly any women are mentioned in the history? Why these women will remain in the shadow while they were equal or steps ahead of men in their times?
We often come across this phrase "behave like a woman" - which is enough to interpret how the women are treated in the society. For example, the American mountaineer Annie Smith Peck was the third person to climb the Matterhorn in Switzerland but she was arrested because she wore knickerbockers. New York Times of 1876 wrote jokingly of women "abnormal and unconquerable thirst for trousers" - and this answers a lot how people have always shadowed women's achivements with all baseless accusations.
I highly recommend this important book to everyone. It is the best book you can gift to yourself or anyone! Each page amazed me of why I didn't know about her. Read this book, share with your friends, family and everyone. It is the best book one can read in Women's History Month and I am glad I read it!
Thank you Harper Collins In for the review copy.
August 1, 2023
Spodziewałam się czegoś innego, mogłam zajrzeć najpierw do środka. Takie podstawowe informacje o ważnych, inspirujących kobietach.
March 27, 2021
This is a book which will probably arouse many different emotional reactions in the reader: fascination, inspiration, astonishment, disgust, anger, depression… you name the life situation the reader is in, and that will determine his or her response to 'On This Day She' by Jo Bell, Tania Hershman and Ailsa Holland.
Many different women, across all periods of history and many nations, continents and cultures, are represented in this book. Their lives and achievements encompass the full range of human endeavour, and the vast majority you may never have heard of, because history chose not to include them in its pages. But the cumulative effect of reading their biographies, all arranged under days of the calendar, is disturbing and uplifting by turns.
Some of these women were enormously successful and influential in their own individual spheres; others were treated with gross injustice and / or met untimely and tragic deaths. Some of them are indeed now acknowledged and recognised for their achievements – for example, the woman who invented the game of Monopoly (Lizzy Magie) but who never received either the credit or the income from her invention, which instead went to Charles Darrow.
I do believe there are signs of encouragement. In our world today, we all know about Greta, Malala, An Sang Su Chi, Nicola Sturgeon, Jacinda Ardern, Angela Merkel. Looking at history, we all know the names of such women as Elizabeth I, or Agatha Christie, or Florence Nightingale, or Jane Austen, or Mother Teresa. We do have a number of prominent women in the world today, whom we need to support and honour. This book reminds us that there have been many, many gifted women throughout history who have not been so honoured; in fact, far from that, they have been crushed and denigrated and marginalised. There is still a very long way to go before all members of the human race are treated equally, regardless of gender, and the many other factors which divide us.
Whilst reading this book, one of the many thoughts that came to my mind was this: JK Rowling, whom many admire, is strongly opinionated. She expresses her opinions fearlessly in the public arena, which she has every right to do. But would her opinions receive the same response if she was a man?
This book makes you see history differently and through a new lens. Hard-hitting, discerning and sharp, the authors show us the way exceptional female movers and shakers have been rendered invisible by history. Much of this, the authors claim, is the consequence of a lazy use of “generic” language, and sentences framed to denigrate women and represent their role and purpose negatively. They give an example of this in the way in which Catherine of Aragon is summarised by history books as having “failed to provide Henry VIII with a male heir”. This can be rephrased as “Catherine and Henry had no surviving sons.” It’s still accurate, but the balance has been changed. Language needs to evolve to redress this false view of human life.
One astonishing quote in the book, from a man, explains that by ‘person’ he did not of course mean ‘woman’ – he only meant ‘man.’ This is certainly a step further from the assertion that of course the term ‘man’ is always taken by us all to mean ‘human beings.’ Personally I try to use the term ‘humankind’ as much as possible or ‘we’ or ‘human beings’. I do believe language has power; it determines our unconscious presumptions. The words we use do matter; they condition our attitude to the world, and lie behind all our prejudices and false judgements of others.
Among the entries in this books you will find archaeologists, nuclear physicists, mountaineers, peace activists, poets, novelists, artists, anti-slavery campaigners, environmentalists, human rights lawyers, anthropologists, fighter pilots, Viking warriors, nuclear scientist and many more. This book doesn’t presume that women have always been good. Tyrannical rulers are also included. The thesis of the book does not include moral judgements on that level; simply the invisibility of women in our histories.
You will find a woman who completed a course of undergraduate study at Cambridge University but were told she could not be awarded a degree because of being a woman; a female artist who created a famous self-portrait which was by default attributed to her husband; and numerous women who have been defined as ‘muses’ or ‘assistants’ to the more famous men in their lives, when they were in fact equal creators in their own right.
I highly recommend this book to all.
Many different women, across all periods of history and many nations, continents and cultures, are represented in this book. Their lives and achievements encompass the full range of human endeavour, and the vast majority you may never have heard of, because history chose not to include them in its pages. But the cumulative effect of reading their biographies, all arranged under days of the calendar, is disturbing and uplifting by turns.
Some of these women were enormously successful and influential in their own individual spheres; others were treated with gross injustice and / or met untimely and tragic deaths. Some of them are indeed now acknowledged and recognised for their achievements – for example, the woman who invented the game of Monopoly (Lizzy Magie) but who never received either the credit or the income from her invention, which instead went to Charles Darrow.
I do believe there are signs of encouragement. In our world today, we all know about Greta, Malala, An Sang Su Chi, Nicola Sturgeon, Jacinda Ardern, Angela Merkel. Looking at history, we all know the names of such women as Elizabeth I, or Agatha Christie, or Florence Nightingale, or Jane Austen, or Mother Teresa. We do have a number of prominent women in the world today, whom we need to support and honour. This book reminds us that there have been many, many gifted women throughout history who have not been so honoured; in fact, far from that, they have been crushed and denigrated and marginalised. There is still a very long way to go before all members of the human race are treated equally, regardless of gender, and the many other factors which divide us.
Whilst reading this book, one of the many thoughts that came to my mind was this: JK Rowling, whom many admire, is strongly opinionated. She expresses her opinions fearlessly in the public arena, which she has every right to do. But would her opinions receive the same response if she was a man?
This book makes you see history differently and through a new lens. Hard-hitting, discerning and sharp, the authors show us the way exceptional female movers and shakers have been rendered invisible by history. Much of this, the authors claim, is the consequence of a lazy use of “generic” language, and sentences framed to denigrate women and represent their role and purpose negatively. They give an example of this in the way in which Catherine of Aragon is summarised by history books as having “failed to provide Henry VIII with a male heir”. This can be rephrased as “Catherine and Henry had no surviving sons.” It’s still accurate, but the balance has been changed. Language needs to evolve to redress this false view of human life.
One astonishing quote in the book, from a man, explains that by ‘person’ he did not of course mean ‘woman’ – he only meant ‘man.’ This is certainly a step further from the assertion that of course the term ‘man’ is always taken by us all to mean ‘human beings.’ Personally I try to use the term ‘humankind’ as much as possible or ‘we’ or ‘human beings’. I do believe language has power; it determines our unconscious presumptions. The words we use do matter; they condition our attitude to the world, and lie behind all our prejudices and false judgements of others.
Among the entries in this books you will find archaeologists, nuclear physicists, mountaineers, peace activists, poets, novelists, artists, anti-slavery campaigners, environmentalists, human rights lawyers, anthropologists, fighter pilots, Viking warriors, nuclear scientist and many more. This book doesn’t presume that women have always been good. Tyrannical rulers are also included. The thesis of the book does not include moral judgements on that level; simply the invisibility of women in our histories.
You will find a woman who completed a course of undergraduate study at Cambridge University but were told she could not be awarded a degree because of being a woman; a female artist who created a famous self-portrait which was by default attributed to her husband; and numerous women who have been defined as ‘muses’ or ‘assistants’ to the more famous men in their lives, when they were in fact equal creators in their own right.
I highly recommend this book to all.
May 13, 2021
Really enjoyable insights into some familiar women from history and some not so familiar to me
April 21, 2023
important and fascinating
May 17, 2021
This is fabulous... In brief synopses , the authors highlight a woman whose contribution(s) may have been overlooked, glossed over or even stolen by a male colleague. There are famous, infamous and near unknown women of all time periods and all parts of the globe. I only wish my memory could retain some of these amazing bios. I have signed up for their Twitter following, so at least I can continue my journey discovering more about the unseen, unheard or diminished women of the world
December 28, 2022
An important and informative book that I highly recommend to everyone. The subject is definitely worth five stars, I just think the book could've been executed a little better.
I read a similar one recently written by a Finnish writer Maria Pettersson. She had organised the book in different categories such as female leaders, soldiers and criminals etc. I enjoyed that more and found it easier to focus on than this format.
Nevertheless a worthy read. Always makes me proud and a bit emotional to hear stories of different historical women no matter what their deeds were. It's just comforting to know that we were and always will be capable of extraordinary things.
I read a similar one recently written by a Finnish writer Maria Pettersson. She had organised the book in different categories such as female leaders, soldiers and criminals etc. I enjoyed that more and found it easier to focus on than this format.
Nevertheless a worthy read. Always makes me proud and a bit emotional to hear stories of different historical women no matter what their deeds were. It's just comforting to know that we were and always will be capable of extraordinary things.
April 23, 2023
To be completed
March 21, 2022
I’ve been reading this book for a year. A birthday present last year, I’ve read one entry per day.
This book has inspired me each and every day. It’s a triumph and every woman should have a copy!
This book has inspired me each and every day. It’s a triumph and every woman should have a copy!
April 12, 2022
Ostatnio w moje ręce wpadła książka napisana przez kobiety o kobietach - czyli "Niezwykłe. 366 kobiet, które zmieniły bieg historii".
Autorki zadedykowały tę pozycję "dla wszystkich kobiet, których życie nie zostało odnotowane w historii". Zastanówcie się, ile pań, które zapisały się w dziejach, przychodzi Wam w tym momencie do głowy? Czy pierwszą z nich jest Skłodowska-Curie? Czy macie może swoją kobiecą idolkę (albo mieli_ałyście za dzieciaka)?
Jeśli pomyślimy trochę dłużej, oczywiście pojawi się ich więcej: Amelia Earhart, Coco Chanel, Joanna d'Arc, Frida Khalo. Ale... czy jesteście w stanie wymienić aż 366?!
Ha! A autorki "Niezwykłych" właśnie na to się porwały - i udało im się ten cel osiągnąć, bo tak naprawdę historia ludzkości pełna jest kobiet (co nie powinno być ogromnym zaskoczeniem). Od razu zaznaczę, że nie wszystkie z przedstawionych tu postaci zrobiły coś dobrego, miały wkład w rozwój nauki, czy walczyły o nasze prawa. Poznamy również takie, które nie zostaną zapamiętane w pozytywny sposób.
Każda strona to kolejny dzień roku i powiązana z tą datą historia innej kobiety. Możecie czytać je więc pojedynczo, codziennie poznawać jedną z postaci, albo... pochłonąć wszystkie na raz!
Kolejne miesiące rozpoczynają też krótkie fragmenty, w których autorki poruszają wiele ciekawych aspektów. Przedstawiają na przykład interesujące spojrzenie na archeologię - jak stereotypowa potrafi być i jaki może to mieć wpływ na nasze wyobrażenie o przeszłości. Mówią o języku historii, który faworyzuje mężczyzn. Albo o tym, co spotykało kobiety, które postanowiły nosić spodnie.
Znajdziemy tutaj oczywiście postaci znane (w tym kilka Polek), ale jestem pewna, że przynajmniej o części bohaterek przeczytacie po raz pierwszy. I może dzięki tej książce zostaną z Wami na dłużej!
Autorki zadedykowały tę pozycję "dla wszystkich kobiet, których życie nie zostało odnotowane w historii". Zastanówcie się, ile pań, które zapisały się w dziejach, przychodzi Wam w tym momencie do głowy? Czy pierwszą z nich jest Skłodowska-Curie? Czy macie może swoją kobiecą idolkę (albo mieli_ałyście za dzieciaka)?
Jeśli pomyślimy trochę dłużej, oczywiście pojawi się ich więcej: Amelia Earhart, Coco Chanel, Joanna d'Arc, Frida Khalo. Ale... czy jesteście w stanie wymienić aż 366?!
Ha! A autorki "Niezwykłych" właśnie na to się porwały - i udało im się ten cel osiągnąć, bo tak naprawdę historia ludzkości pełna jest kobiet (co nie powinno być ogromnym zaskoczeniem). Od razu zaznaczę, że nie wszystkie z przedstawionych tu postaci zrobiły coś dobrego, miały wkład w rozwój nauki, czy walczyły o nasze prawa. Poznamy również takie, które nie zostaną zapamiętane w pozytywny sposób.
Każda strona to kolejny dzień roku i powiązana z tą datą historia innej kobiety. Możecie czytać je więc pojedynczo, codziennie poznawać jedną z postaci, albo... pochłonąć wszystkie na raz!
Kolejne miesiące rozpoczynają też krótkie fragmenty, w których autorki poruszają wiele ciekawych aspektów. Przedstawiają na przykład interesujące spojrzenie na archeologię - jak stereotypowa potrafi być i jaki może to mieć wpływ na nasze wyobrażenie o przeszłości. Mówią o języku historii, który faworyzuje mężczyzn. Albo o tym, co spotykało kobiety, które postanowiły nosić spodnie.
Znajdziemy tutaj oczywiście postaci znane (w tym kilka Polek), ale jestem pewna, że przynajmniej o części bohaterek przeczytacie po raz pierwszy. I może dzięki tej książce zostaną z Wami na dłużej!
January 1, 2024
I was disappointed with Sandi Toksvig's "Toksvig's Almanac" which has the same idea as this book - an article on a different woman for each day of the year. Toksvig has no photos, makes egregious mistakes (Cicero was not a 5th century BCE Greek, nor Keats a 17th century writer!), has vast differences in lengths of daily readings, fails to cite sources, has some pretty dismal arguments (eg comparing Jan-Dec 2012 with Dec 2018-September 2019 looks like cherry-picking of stats) and is surprisingly dull (I've noticed positive reviews tend to be for the audio version so maybe her delivery improves things).
"On This Day She" is much better. It is copiously illustrated, passages are similar lengths, sources and further reading are given and, even when I disagree with the authors ("the suffragette movement's occasionally violent methods" seems a bit euphemistic, paying equal prize money for tennis tournaments with a different number of sets is not "equal") I have to acknowledge that, considering the limitations of space, they make pretty good points as the start of a debate.
There are mistakes. Enheduanna, like Homer, may not have existed and, if she did, may have composed orally rather than being the world's first named "writer". The Tale of Genji was not the world's first novel - Chariton, Longus, Achilles Tatius, Heliodorus, Petronius and Apuleius wrote wonderful novels long before. (Curiously, Toksvig also calls Enheduanna a writer and The Tale of Genji the first novel. It's almost as if she were copying...) Constance Markievicz could not have been "Minister for Labour in the Irish Republic from 1919 to 1922" since Ireland only became a republic in 1949. Lord Byron was George Gordon not "Alfred" (I think they were thinking of Tennyson). And 9 November 1918 was not "just after the end of the First World War".
There is an irony that the article about Rosalind Franklin misattributes to her the taking of Photo 51, which was actually taken by Raymond Gosling under her supervision. The point of the article is that male scientists have sometimes unfairly got the credit for female scientists' work!
But these are minor cavils (hence the 5 points). It is a fascinating and very enjoyable book that should provoke discussion.
"On This Day She" is much better. It is copiously illustrated, passages are similar lengths, sources and further reading are given and, even when I disagree with the authors ("the suffragette movement's occasionally violent methods" seems a bit euphemistic, paying equal prize money for tennis tournaments with a different number of sets is not "equal") I have to acknowledge that, considering the limitations of space, they make pretty good points as the start of a debate.
There are mistakes. Enheduanna, like Homer, may not have existed and, if she did, may have composed orally rather than being the world's first named "writer". The Tale of Genji was not the world's first novel - Chariton, Longus, Achilles Tatius, Heliodorus, Petronius and Apuleius wrote wonderful novels long before. (Curiously, Toksvig also calls Enheduanna a writer and The Tale of Genji the first novel. It's almost as if she were copying...) Constance Markievicz could not have been "Minister for Labour in the Irish Republic from 1919 to 1922" since Ireland only became a republic in 1949. Lord Byron was George Gordon not "Alfred" (I think they were thinking of Tennyson). And 9 November 1918 was not "just after the end of the First World War".
There is an irony that the article about Rosalind Franklin misattributes to her the taking of Photo 51, which was actually taken by Raymond Gosling under her supervision. The point of the article is that male scientists have sometimes unfairly got the credit for female scientists' work!
But these are minor cavils (hence the 5 points). It is a fascinating and very enjoyable book that should provoke discussion.
March 3, 2021
A Twitter trend became so huge that it is compiled into a book. #onthisdayshe
.
A collection of 366 women for each day of the year from around the world.
.
The future is female. But, what about the women in the past? What about the women who contributed to their societies, stood up for their rights, and fought for their education, career, and life? What about women who were convicted fellows? Do we know them? If not, you must ask, why?
.
It’s not about right or wrong, it’s about giving each gender an equal status and redrafting our records by putting left out people either for good or bad back into history.
.
Ladies, let’s get ourselves down the pedestal and face the reality. Women aren’t sacred, they aren’t always inspiring but that does not make us any less, it makes us human.
.
History is easily manipulated. I believe that it is often found favouring the ruling people. History is full of brave, powerful, and great men. Although, it should be filled with brave, powerful, and great ‘people’.
.
People: a term which includes all genders.
.
By manipulating or erasing history, we deprive our future generations of the right to correct information. Let’s change that.
.
This book emphasis eliminating gender differences by putting women back into the picture in the fields where they are often neglected, such as science, crime, and politics. I cannot find a better book to suggest to you all to read this international women’s day. You will meet women who made history from all around the world.
.
I never knew women like Wangari Maathai (the first woman in Africa with a Ph.D. degree who later became Minister of Environment), Amrita Sher-Gill (a famous artist who won a gold medal for her painting), Jayaben Desai (a social worker), Josephine Cochran (woman who made life easier for so many women by inventing dishwasher) & the list goes on...On This Day She: Putting Women Back Into History, One Day At A Time
.
A collection of 366 women for each day of the year from around the world.
.
The future is female. But, what about the women in the past? What about the women who contributed to their societies, stood up for their rights, and fought for their education, career, and life? What about women who were convicted fellows? Do we know them? If not, you must ask, why?
.
It’s not about right or wrong, it’s about giving each gender an equal status and redrafting our records by putting left out people either for good or bad back into history.
.
Ladies, let’s get ourselves down the pedestal and face the reality. Women aren’t sacred, they aren’t always inspiring but that does not make us any less, it makes us human.
.
History is easily manipulated. I believe that it is often found favouring the ruling people. History is full of brave, powerful, and great men. Although, it should be filled with brave, powerful, and great ‘people’.
.
People: a term which includes all genders.
.
By manipulating or erasing history, we deprive our future generations of the right to correct information. Let’s change that.
.
This book emphasis eliminating gender differences by putting women back into the picture in the fields where they are often neglected, such as science, crime, and politics. I cannot find a better book to suggest to you all to read this international women’s day. You will meet women who made history from all around the world.
.
I never knew women like Wangari Maathai (the first woman in Africa with a Ph.D. degree who later became Minister of Environment), Amrita Sher-Gill (a famous artist who won a gold medal for her painting), Jayaben Desai (a social worker), Josephine Cochran (woman who made life easier for so many women by inventing dishwasher) & the list goes on...On This Day She: Putting Women Back Into History, One Day At A Time
April 5, 2021
𝗢𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗲: 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝘁 𝗔 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲
On This Day She: Putting Women Back Into History, One Day At A Time is an encyclopaedia of influential women from world history. This book throws light on all the women forgotten, slandered, libelled and eliminated from mainstream history, or we can also say that this book put forth the stories of women who have never been awarded the credit of their considerable involvement in various fields.
Our past is full of influential women, many of whom have been unfairly confined to the margins of history. Politicians, troublemakers, explorers, artists, writers, scientists and even the odd murderer; these women have shaped society around the globe.
From Aisha bint Abu Bakr to Doria Shafik, Queen Elizabeth I to Anita Hill, On This Day She strived to fill the rift of unevenness and give voice to both those already considered female icons, along with the others whom the history books have failed to include: irrespective of the fact whether they've done something good or bad ( must read this book before you make any argument).
A meticulously researched book, which celebrates the achievements of women, powerful and influential women who have shaped parallel world history.
I'll be more than happy to see this book in your bookshelves.
#readwithak
#onthisdayshe
On This Day She: Putting Women Back Into History, One Day At A Time is an encyclopaedia of influential women from world history. This book throws light on all the women forgotten, slandered, libelled and eliminated from mainstream history, or we can also say that this book put forth the stories of women who have never been awarded the credit of their considerable involvement in various fields.
Our past is full of influential women, many of whom have been unfairly confined to the margins of history. Politicians, troublemakers, explorers, artists, writers, scientists and even the odd murderer; these women have shaped society around the globe.
From Aisha bint Abu Bakr to Doria Shafik, Queen Elizabeth I to Anita Hill, On This Day She strived to fill the rift of unevenness and give voice to both those already considered female icons, along with the others whom the history books have failed to include: irrespective of the fact whether they've done something good or bad ( must read this book before you make any argument).
A meticulously researched book, which celebrates the achievements of women, powerful and influential women who have shaped parallel world history.
I'll be more than happy to see this book in your bookshelves.
#readwithak
#onthisdayshe
December 23, 2022
Love the premise and have surprisingly managed to keep this up all year. Some amazing women are included and it was very interesting.
That being said, the rating is low due to the execution of the book. There are multiple spelling and grammatical errors throughout, along with needlessly long sentences and clauses. All of this makes it difficult to read and follow, particularly when coupled with long names and historical facts. I also found that the descriptions for some women underrepresented what they had in fact achieved, and many were listed as “the first”, but it omitted what they had achieved to get where they had.
That being said, the rating is low due to the execution of the book. There are multiple spelling and grammatical errors throughout, along with needlessly long sentences and clauses. All of this makes it difficult to read and follow, particularly when coupled with long names and historical facts. I also found that the descriptions for some women underrepresented what they had in fact achieved, and many were listed as “the first”, but it omitted what they had achieved to get where they had.
December 17, 2022
(Finished a little early so I didn’t have to take it home)
Have absolutely loved having this to read every day, I learnt so much from this book and really enjoyed it. I loved the stance of writing women back into history regardless if they’re the hero or the villain, women are so often painted as the perfect romantic interest or the goddess who can do no wrong so it was nice to just see the human side of women represented. My only criticism is that some bios did seem more detailed and thought out that others.
Have absolutely loved having this to read every day, I learnt so much from this book and really enjoyed it. I loved the stance of writing women back into history regardless if they’re the hero or the villain, women are so often painted as the perfect romantic interest or the goddess who can do no wrong so it was nice to just see the human side of women represented. My only criticism is that some bios did seem more detailed and thought out that others.
November 24, 2021
What started as a Twitter project to highlight the stories of notable women throughout history who are too often overlooked and forgotten has resulted in this great collection of brief profiles of 366 women (or in some cases, groups of women) including artists, scientists, activists, politicians, murderers and more - one for each day of the year. Many of these ladies I knew about, but many more I did not - definitely learned quite a few interesting facts. A hugely enjoyable book.
February 14, 2022
A wonderful book of a huge range of women who have left their mark in history even if they have not been credited accordingly. So many women I have never heard of yet we undoubtedly would not be in the society we currently have, regarding the rights and the science or knowledge of anything, if it were not for the women, their knowledge, perseverance and discoveries. Beautiful.
October 22, 2021
Set out calendar style, each snippet outlines the work, achievements or - in some cases - crimes of women you may or may not have heard of. From authors to scientists to political activists to serial killers, this book is full of nothing but women, adding their stories back into 'his'tory.
dnf
December 9, 2021DNF @ 9 %
What I read so far has been extremely interesting and righr up my alley as a feminist and a history nerd, but alas, I think an audiobook is the wrong format to enjoy this book in. Maybe I'll try to get my hands on a physical or e-copy of this and then continue.
What I read so far has been extremely interesting and righr up my alley as a feminist and a history nerd, but alas, I think an audiobook is the wrong format to enjoy this book in. Maybe I'll try to get my hands on a physical or e-copy of this and then continue.
June 24, 2022
Loved this! Nice short chapters which make it easy to consume (some history books are very detailed and hard to take in). Interesting to learn not just about the forgotten women of history, but also those whose achievement was accredited to a man.
January 12, 2023
An essential counterweight to the systemic and broadly unacknowledged male bias of the historical record. Give it to your daughters for inspiration and to your sons for turning the tide (after reading it yourself, of course.)
August 10, 2024
Eye-opening collection of brief biographies of women, many of whom were overlooked by traditional history books. A great history lesson and a conduit to myriad previously unknown women (to me) to learn more about.
June 6, 2021
A good reminder of how unreal women are, not that I needed reminding.
October 8, 2022
The format of this didn't work for me; it felt too "pop quiz" like.
Perhaps it should have stayed as a Twitter thing.
Perhaps it should have stayed as a Twitter thing.
December 31, 2022
A fascinating collection of women who could be better known or remembered more accurately.
August 17, 2023
Jestem w połowie i odpuszczam może kiedyś do tego wrócę ale to nie dla mnie
July 26, 2024
Dipped into this over a couple of years and enjoyed it lots. The hardback is surprisingly heavy but the contents have a light touch. Really enjoyed it.
November 14, 2025
A perfect book to dip into whilst on holiday and it would also make a great present for a young teen, encouragement as to how far women can go and the impact they can make upon the world.
December 23, 2025
This was such an interesting read and I intended to read a section a day, but I fell behind and started listening to the audiobook instead and I found that I flew through it by listening. Love!!
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