100 Influential Women: A Ranking Past and Present (Paperback)

~ Deborah Felder (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The author of several children's books, Felder has compiled a ranking of 100 eminent women plus 49 others who received honorable mention. Unfortunately, the methodology for choosing and ranking the names is not well described. Professors in women's studies departments at American colleges and universities were asked to choose the ten most influential women from a list of 150 names. The number of surveys distributed and the number actually returned are not mentioned; the rankings turn out to be based on the author's opinions ("my choices," she mentions in the introduction). There is no clear way to explain why, for instance, Elizabeth I ranks number 16 after Simone de Beauvoir but ahead of Rosa Parks. Other dictionaries of women's biography are more comprehensive and more clear-cut in their methodology. Index to Women of the World from Ancient to Modern Times: A Supplement (LJ 3/15/89) and Notable American Women (LJ 3/15/72) are only two of many. A marginal purchase at best.?Patricia A. Beaber, Trenton State Coll. Lib., N.J.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

The latest in the series that includes The Black 100 and The Jewish 100 , this is an irresistible book by nature of its accessible format and gutsy ranking of important people. There's a gamelike element to reading this: who's number 1? 100? Can't stand the suspense? The first influential woman in this diverse and illustrious group is Eleanor Roosevelt. Felder is unequivocal in this choice, stating flatly that in spite of the controversies generated by this project, Roosevelt was her "number one from the beginning." Felder's succinct profile of each notable woman is quite passionate and surprisingly full of information. Oh yes, number 100: Lucille Ball. Felder fills the tremendous range her first and last choices imply with such women as Margaret Sanger (3), Rosa Parks (17), George Eliot (27), Rachel Carson (30), and Katharine Hepburn (96). Science, the arts, politics, the law--you name it and Felder has an obvious or intriguing candidate. Just in case you have the "what about . . ." urge, there's also an impressive Honorable Mention list. Donna Seaman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 374 pages
• Publisher: Citadel (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806519762
• ISBN-13: 978-0806519760
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,343,032 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Overall very good but the author needs to do more research, March 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The 100 Most Influential Women of All Time: A Ranking Past and Present (Hardcover)

I read this book and was very impressed with the women featured and the research that had gone into it until I reached Queen Victoria. Ms. Felder stated that Queen Victoria had commissioned the Victoria Cross for bravery where it was in fact her husband, Prince Albert, who commissioned the medal in his wifes name. It is of course a small point but it had me wondering what else was inaccurate in her book. Saying that though, her choices revealed women that I had not even heard of or realised their contribution to society as a whole, so where I would have easily given 4 stars as I found the book very educational I must deduct at least 1 for lack of research.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for everyone!, October 3, 2001

By A Customer

This is a book that young adults (middle school) and older can read, enjoy, and learn from. It's great to browse through...each piece is about three pages long and includes a photo or drawing. Any such listing is of course going to be controversial...and that's part of the author's purpose. Who do you think is in it? Who should be? Is Mother Jones (number 14) more influential than Elizabeth I (number 16)? And who was Ida Tarbell? In the end, it's not the ranking that matters but the stories. Well done!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Most Important Books of the Decade, May 20, 2000

By A Customer

I have learned a great deal from reading this book. It is important for all women and men to know these influential women and what they did to affect our world. When read completely, this book can change how we as women perceive ourselves. Using Woman Studies professors as judges was a stroke of genius. I think the editors need to brush up some errors in facts and pictures, and rerelease it.