100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century

by Ladies' Home Journal

Book Overview

This photo-filled celebration of extraordinary 20th-century women highlights women's contributions in politics, child care, science, education, athletics, literature, entertainment, art, and more.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0696208237
• ISBN13: 9780696208232
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Meredith Corporation
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 2.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 10.0" x 10.2"

Customer Reviews

Five Stars For Appeal, Three Stars For Choice of Women

After receiving this book as a birthday gift, I was initially delighted. The best thing about this book is certainly its "magazine-like" appeal. Its pages are glossy, the print is sharp, the layout is pleasantly modern, and best of all, the short, concise biographies of a widely diversified group of women are fascinating and effortlessly attention-grabbing. Indeed, this book is a godsend for people who ordinarily wouldn't want long, detailed historical books and biographies; "100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century" gives this type of person a glimpse of important history without boring them. And of course, needless to say, hardcore history buffs wouldn't want to be without this book...However, upon closer examination and further reading, a fundamental flaw present in this volume becomes obivious. Put simply, somehow it seems that some women in this book are simply not worthy of being named "most important." Before I go any further, I think it necessary to say that I understand that it's impossible to satisfy everyone when creating a book like this, but I still feel that selections could have been better. For example, why is Mary Quant included? I know that the mini skirt created quite a stir in the fashion world, but fashion is only so important. Sonja Heine? Revolutionizing the sport of figure skating is can hardly be considered a fundamental accomplishment of the century, at least by my book. Dorothy Parker? Maybe I'm missing something here, but when reading this book, it appeared that she basically drank, smoked, and told witty jokes. Madonna? I won't even go there. I suppose when I think of criteria for inclusion in a book like this, I would only consider truly intelligent women who changed society in a serious, unselfish way and affected large numbers of people. To be fair, I must say that many extremely deserving women also made it into this book-Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosalind Franklin, Rachel Carson, Carrie Chapman Catt, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Mary McLeod Bethune are all women I look up to. The final word? This is an attractive book and an enlightening read, yet a book whose "admittance criteria" seems sketchy and sometimes ineffective. However, if you can refrain from becoming indignant as you are reading if you find that you disagree with the author/editors' choices, you will find yourself enjoying the unique perspectives and opinions found in this book.

100 most important Women of the 20th century - one a year?

No longer silent in the last century, nor passive or confined to kitchens & bedrooms, women today can be in any profession they choose, thanks in great part to these most important women. With a Foreword by Barbara Walters, who needs no introduction & is herself an important woman of the latter part of the century & an Introduction by Myrna Blyth, Editor-in-Chief of the Ladies' Home Journal, this big book is packed with the lives & times of a marvelous host of movers & shakers of the female gender. Whatever you might think of the choices of notable & celebrated women, all make for fascinating reading & had me looking up biographies of many included in this easy-to-read, magazine-formatted book. Makes a great gift! .........................

good, made you glad to be a woman, but...

This book was good for learning a little about each person, however, I felt as though quite a few women were left out. I suppose that it is only 100 women, and they did have to include some from each area, but many in here didn't seem to have a significant impact. Many women who I feel had a significant impact weren't listed. I didn't feel as though each woman got equal coverage.

This is a great book for everyone.

One must suppose that Barbara Walters is correct by stating in the forward on page 8, "Every woman alive today owes an immeasurable debt to the women in this book." Although after having read the book, there are some of the women to whom one, such as I, can not relate.Some are these women one has read about; while others one has studied about in school. I think one is drawn to those women who have lived during one's lifetime or not too long before. Those who are not among my favorites are Gloria Steinem, Mary Quant, Martha Stewart, Jane Fonda, Madonna, and Helen Gurley Brown. Among those whom I admire the most are Mother Teresa; Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis; Diana, Princess of Wales; Eleanor Roosevelt; Betty Ford; Hillary Rodham Clinton; and Marilyn Monroe.Hillary Clinton states on page 22, "Our global future depends on the willingness of every nation to invest in its people, especially women and children." Mother Teresa said, "Each of us is merely a small instrument; all of us, after accomplishing our mission, will disappear." -page 53. Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with the statement, "It is better to light a candle that to curse the darkness." - page 46I highly recommend this book for everyone regardless of gender. Since I have subscribed to LADIES' HOME JOURNAL for many years, I have read about the more recent ladies. As a teenager, I can recall this magazine was always in my parents' home.