The Education of a Woman: The Life of Gloria Steinem [Hardcover]

Carolyn G. Heilbrun (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

From a troubled Toledo childhood, through the founding of Ms. , to the present, an insightful biography of Gloria Steinem examines the complex life and varied career of a woman who became one of the most visible spokepersons for the women's movement. 60,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Noted feminist scholar and Columbia Univ. humanities professor emerita Heilbrun has produced an admiring yet searching biography of outspoken women's movement pioneer Gloria Steinem. Written with Steinem's cooperation, it defends the cofounder of Ms. magazine against criticism that she compromised her radical feminist ideals by hobnobbing with the wealthy and powerful and by pushing feminism toward the political mainstream. Steinem is presented as an "uncompromising, boundary-crossing" leader who lost touch with herself through workaholic commitment to causes and turned to introspection and psychotherapy at the age of 52. Born in 1934, raised in Michigan and Ohio, Steinem cared for her "sometimes crazy" divorced mother, who had repeated mental breakdowns, while she admired and forgave her irresponsible father, a traveling antiques and jewelry salesman. Steinem's decision never to marry and her numerous romantic affairs (with director Mike Nichols, publisher Tom Guinzberg, real estate magnate Mortimer Zuckerman, etc.) are viewed in the context of early emotional deprivation. Heilbrun etches an acid portrait of Steinem's arch rival, Betty Friedan, and plunges readers into the 1970s heyday of the contemporary feminist movement. Photos.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Heilbrun, the accomplished literary scholar (Writing a Woman's Life, LJ 10/15/88) and mystery author under the nom de plume Amanda Cross, offers her interpretation of a complex and admirable subject, feminist avatar Gloria Steinem. Unhappily, the result is disappointing, in part because it seems premature with Steinem only 60 and still active in the women's movement. But the book suffers from more serious imperfections as well. Though Heilbrun discusses at length Steinem's relationship with her mother, she neglects connections with Steinem's father and her sister. A large share of the book treats Steinem's numerous celebrity liaisons; while legitimate in a posthumous examination, such discussion is inescapably tawdry when the subject is still living. Finally and most puzzling, the writing lacks polish. Long quotations are awkwardly integrated, and some sentences require rereading. The definitive work is still to be written, but this one will nevertheless attract a large audience.
-?Cynthia Harrison, Federal Judicial Ctr., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 451 pages
• Publisher: The Dial Press; 1st edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385313713
• ISBN-13: 978-0385313711
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,131,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific and enlightening book!, June 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Education of a Woman: The Life of Gloria Steinem (Paperback)

I have admired Gloria Steinem since I came to this country in the 70's to go to college. She has had to make some tough choices in her life and I respect her greatly for the path she took. I particularly liked to read about her early years, her childhood and family, prior to the more public New York life of the sophisticated writer and feminist persona she became. After reading this book, I feel that I understand much better where her strong motivation came from. The author deserves much praise for this biography.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are interested in Gloria Steinem this is THE BOOK!!!, July 10, 2003

By 

Emily - See all my reviews

This review is from: Education of a Woman: The Life of Gloria Steinem (Paperback)

I read this book nonstop while on a lengthy car trip. I found it to be incredibly interesting, informative, well-researched, and enjoyable to read. If you've ever wondered how Gloria Steinem got to be the icon that she is, this book explains it all. Whether you are researching Steinem or just looking for an interesting non-fiction, this book is for you!!

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative but would appreciate a more feminist perspective., October 27, 2011

By 

Angela "ABrinskele" (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Education of a Woman: The Life of Gloria Steinem (Kindle Edition)

I love reading everything I can find on Gloria Steinem but found myself wishing she had written this herself.
The information is detailed and interesting for sure. I appreciated all the research the author did about the subjects life including not only her career but her struggles with her unstable mother and mostly absent father as well as Steinem's feelings about this over her lifetime.
But I got very tired of the almost obsessive way the author discussed Steinem's great appeal to men over and over and over again.
I understand that another woman less attractive to the masses may have never gotten as far as Steinem and I honestly believe that is true, however, the author's constantly repeating the fact that she was attractive to men says much more about the author's perspective than it does about her amazing, brilliant and courageous subject.