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A review by yellowbinge
World-Changing Women: 150 Women Who Rewrote the Histories of Ancient Egypt, Israel, Greece and Rome by Paul Chrystal
informative
medium-paced
2.0
Publishing date: 30.11.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I wanted to read more nonfiction this year. Started off by learning a bit about women, but I think this was the wrong book to start with. Here are some off my problems:
- World changing is a very strong word to use, especially when most (if not all) the women in the book had extraordinary roles but could do next to nothing to actually change anything
- The entries feel like a wikipedia entry, and other reviews have mentioned that the contents seem to be rewrites of existing articles
- I wish the women were more connected, or that the author attempted to draw more lines between them instead of just "these women were from the same place/time"
- Even more diversity, more countries, more eons/centuries, would really add more flavour. I understand that a lot of well know women were from the places and times in the book, but diversity often adds that oomph
Even with these problems in mind, I did to some degree enjoy my time with the book. I learnt about women I didn't know existed, and about some roles I wouldn't think could be occupied by women at their times. Some information was gained, but my hunger was not sated.
An okay introduction into influential women, but for those who have a deeper hunger for info, this isn't the one to reach out for.
2 stars, okay read but left me wanting more.
TLDR: Easily "googleable" info and the women weren't that world-changing after all
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I wanted to read more nonfiction this year. Started off by learning a bit about women, but I think this was the wrong book to start with. Here are some off my problems:
- World changing is a very strong word to use, especially when most (if not all) the women in the book had extraordinary roles but could do next to nothing to actually change anything
- The entries feel like a wikipedia entry, and other reviews have mentioned that the contents seem to be rewrites of existing articles
- I wish the women were more connected, or that the author attempted to draw more lines between them instead of just "these women were from the same place/time"
- Even more diversity, more countries, more eons/centuries, would really add more flavour. I understand that a lot of well know women were from the places and times in the book, but diversity often adds that oomph
Even with these problems in mind, I did to some degree enjoy my time with the book. I learnt about women I didn't know existed, and about some roles I wouldn't think could be occupied by women at their times. Some information was gained, but my hunger was not sated.
An okay introduction into influential women, but for those who have a deeper hunger for info, this isn't the one to reach out for.
2 stars, okay read but left me wanting more.
TLDR: Easily "googleable" info and the women weren't that world-changing after all