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Women & Power: A Manifesto Hardcover – Illustrated, December 12, 2017

by Mary Beard (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,362 ratings
Editors' pick Best History
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New York Times Bestseller
One of the Guardian's "100 Best Books of the 21st Century" ― "A modern feminist classic."

From the internationally acclaimed classicist and New York Times best-selling author comes this timely manifesto on women and power.

At long last, Mary Beard addresses in one brave book the misogynists and trolls who mercilessly attack and demean women the world over, including, very often, Mary herself. In Women & Power, she traces the origins of this misogyny to its ancient roots, examining the pitfalls of gender and the ways that history has mistreated strong women since time immemorial. As far back as Homer’s Odyssey, Beard shows, women have been prohibited from leadership roles in civic life, public speech being defined as inherently male. From Medusa to Philomela (whose tongue was cut out), from Hillary Clinton to Elizabeth Warren (who was told to sit down), Beard draws illuminating parallels between our cultural assumptions about women’s relationship to power―and how powerful women provide a necessary example for all women who must resist being vacuumed into a male template. With personal reflections on her own online experiences with sexism, Beard asks: If women aren’t perceived to be within the structure of power, isn’t it power itself we need to redefine? And how many more centuries should we be expected to wait?
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  1. Print length
    128 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Liveright
  4. Publication date
    December 12, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    4.8 x 0.6 x 7.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781631494758
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1631494758
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Based on Beard’s lectures on women’s voices and how they have been silenced, Women & Power was an enormous publishing success in the “#MeToo”’ year 2017. An exploration of misogyny, the origins of “gendered speech” in the classical era and the problems the male world has with strong women, this slim manifesto became an instant feminist classic."
― The Guardian, "The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century"

"[A] sparkling and forceful manifesto…The book is a straight shot of adrenaline."
― Parul Sehgal, New York Times

"Beard's thrilling manifesto turns to ancient times to find the seeds of misogyny, beginning with Homer's Odyssey (the first instance of a woman told to shut up) and continuing through Elizabeth Warren's 2017 silencing in the Senate. An irresistible call for women to speak up, act and redefine their power."
― People

"Beard is our most famous classicist, with a gift for bringing ancient Greece and Rome alive on the page like no one else. She is a writer of exceptional erudition and biting wit, and reading her is always a pleasure. This latest manifesto...is no exception…Beard has written an indictment, perhaps her most uncompromising to date, of an ancient past that she is hardly asking us – has never unequivocally asked us – to celebrate. As far as women are concerned, in relation to this ancestral legacy, there is very little to be proud about…The question I finally take from this brilliant book is: what would such power – no rape, no guns, no shutting up of women – look like?"
― The Guardian

"There’s something about Women & Power that ensures it stands out from the rest though. Beard’s is a manifesto firmly grounded in rigorous academic study made legible for the masses, and her proposal for change as radical as it is reasonable and – we can but hope – realistic."
― The National

"A pithy exploration of misogyny’s tangled cultural roots. Based on a series of lectures, this slim volume draws on Beard’s deep knowledge of the classical world and her personal experience as a target of online sexist abuse. She reflects on the gendered structures of power, from voiceless women in Ovid’s Metamorphoses to feminists “reclaiming” Medusa. With clearsightedness and wry humour, this self-described “gobby woman” proves public speech is no longer the preserve of maleness. More power to her."
― Financial Times

"An urgent feminist cri de coeur, spot-on in its utterly reasonable plea that a woman ‘who dares to open her mouth in public’ actually be given a hearing.'"
― Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Mary Beard is a fearless writer with the gift of writing the right book at the right moment, and I’ve been emboldened by her brilliant analysis of women’s voice and role in society since antiquity, Women & Power."
― Diana Athill, The Guardian

"At just a little over 100 pages, Women & Power: A Manifesto may seem slight, but don't let its size fool you. This book speaks volumes and will not be silenced by Telemachus or anyone else."
― Sarah E. Bond, Forbes

"A clear, rich, subversive and witty argument about what power has meant to Western civilization from ancient times, and how its meaning could be changed in the future."
― Anita Felicelli, San Francisco Chronicle

"Beard always fights back, with humor and the confidence of intellectual authority…It’s fun to read Women & Power. Beard’s slim, elegant, well-illustrated book would fit nicely into a Christmas stocking."
― Elaine Showalter, The Washington Post

About the Author

Mary Beard is the author of the best-selling The Fires of Vesuvius and the National Book Critics Circle Award–nominated Confronting the Classics and SPQR. A popular blogger and television personality, Beard is a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books. She lives in England.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1631494759
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Liveright; Illustrated edition (December 12, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781631494758
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1631494758
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.8 x 0.6 x 7.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,362 ratings

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Mary Beard

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,362 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book to be a good, cleverly written read. They say it's insightful and teases out complex notions. Readers describe the book as brilliantly incisive and well-chosen illustrations.

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ReadabilityThought provokingIncisivenessShortness
34 customers mention "Readability"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a good, thought-provoking read with well-written essays. They also describe the author as powerful and the book as a short read full of history and knowledge.

"...Beard's writing style is magnetic & her story-telling abilities are profound. You won't want to stop turning the pages!..." Read more

"...In deceptively simple easygoing language she teases out complex notions, places them in a historical timeline and context, and on the whole..." Read more

"...very small book consisting of two essays by Dr. Beard, and the essays are quite good for what they are...." Read more

"...This may be the only way to end misogyny. Nevertheless, This is a good read with lots of thought provoking references to classical Greece." Read more

28 customers mention "Thought provoking"28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and brilliant. They say it teases out complex notions and places them in a historical context. Readers also mention the book is well-researched, inspiring, and empowering. They appreciate the historical perspective the author takes and its relevancy to political events.

"...There's also a number of historic artifacts and illustrations included in the book which had an enriching, positive effect on the text as a..." Read more

"...In deceptively simple easygoing language she teases out complex notions, places them in a historical timeline and context, and on the whole..." Read more

"...Each page is filled with insightful analysis and historical context, making it both enlightening and inspiring." Read more

"...Nevertheless, This is a good read with lots of thought provoking references to classical Greece." Read more

7 customers mention "Incisiveness"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book brilliantly incisive, with well-chosen illustrations. They say it provides an interesting and well-thought-out perspective. Readers also mention the book gives them perspective, imagery, and insight into the roots of the present day problem.

"...packaging is charming—high-quality paper, beautiful design, well-chosen illustrations—which is a good thing, because the essays themselves are more..." Read more

"A masterpiece, cleverly written, entertaining, an incisive look into a time and people whose lives and decisions influence our present!..." Read more

"Smart, thoughtful and full of revealing insights....Mary Beard is a classicist whose wide-ranging mind and extensive knowledge brings a new..." Read more

"Brilliantly incisive, this book clarifies the underlying assumptions, biases and power dynamics of a still deeply patriarchal society...." Read more

4 customers mention "Shortness"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be short, punchy, and impactful. They also say it's powerful and informative.

"...The book is short, powerful & incredibly interesting...." Read more

"Short, sweet, to the point. I enjoyed her thinking." Read more

"Short but informative..." Read more

"Short but powerful..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Mary Di Valerio
5.0 out of 5 stars Short, Punchy, & Impactful Read
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
After reading some positive remarks made by Hillary Clinton about this book, I impulsively ordered it & I am so glad that I did! The book is short, powerful & incredibly interesting. Beard is an incredible teacher & her exploration of the cultural underpinnings of misogyny in modern society is riveting. The concept of a person's voice, who is allowed to have a voice & how society reacts to women using their voice vs. how they react to a man using his voice was central to the book. Beard starts off by exploring gendered voices in Greco-Roman societies, showing how oppressive ideas and norms from these classical cultures continue to influence society in the present day.
The book itself has wide margins, which is great if you like to annotate text like me. There's also a number of historic artifacts and illustrations included in the book which had an enriching, positive effect on the text as a whole.
Beard's writing style is magnetic & her story-telling abilities are profound. You won't want to stop turning the pages! I definitely recommend this book to men and women alike!
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Charlotte W.
4.0 out of 5 stars POWERFUL
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2020
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Mary Beard is a proven resource: classicist, feminist, and very clear, engaging writer. In deceptively simple easygoing language she teases out complex notions, places them in a historical timeline and context, and on the whole simplifies a discussion that really IS simple but has been made complicated by being fragmented and politicized. Beard is also humane and has a wry sense of humor. So if you are looking for a quick review of the basis for much confusion and rage around "the woman question," this book is easy to hold, easy to read, easy to absorb. The 4 instead of 5 stars I gave (I'd give it 4.8 stars if I could) reflect a wish at the end of the book that she would look into the present and future with wise advice and, I guess, some comfort for the reader. Classics light? Perhaps. But she does that better than anyone else.
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John P. Jones III
5.0 out of 5 stars Sadly, still topical…
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2018
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Mary Beard is a Professor at Cambridge in the UK, specializing in the study of the Greek and Roman classics. One of her most famous works is “SPQR – A History of Ancient Rome,” which has been on the Best Seller Lists. Regrettably, I have yet to read it, but hope to soon. Beard provides some perspective from the ancient world to reflect on the on-going issue of women’s access to power, which would hopefully include power over their own bodies. This work is a collection of two separate lectures that she has given: “The Public Voice of Women” and “Women in Power.”

Of late, I’ve found myself referencing “The Odyssey” a lot, with the portrayal of the bad homecoming Odysseus experienced when he returned from Troy. Beard, in her first lecture, also draws a lesson from this work, specifically when the son of Odysseus and Penelope, Telemachus, essentially tells his mom to shut up, get back to the loom, ‘cause the men are speaking. And things have not changed much in two and a half millenniums, a point Beard underscores with a cartoon from “Punch,” in which Mrs. Triggs makes a point in a Board meeting, and the Chairman asks if another male would be willing to make the same point (with the idea that then it would be “heard.”) Beard goes on to ruminate on exactly what must occur for women to be “heard,” particularly in public, besides speech lessons to emulate a deep gravelly voice.

In the second essay, Beard introduced me to “Herland,” by Charlotte Gilman, first published in 1915, about a land that contained only women, a marvelous utopia that was tidy and peaceful, and “even the cats had stopped killing the birds!” I had to chuckle, regrettably, as she documents the negative reactions, seemingly unconsciously, in the main steam media when a woman assumes a position of power, noting that it was called a “power grab.” Yes, women are making substantial progress in acquiring elective offices, and perhaps a better, and maybe fairer world will result. Yet there is definitely a backlash. I had not seen it before, but there was a cartoon of Trump as Perseus, who had decapitated Hillary Clinton, who was portrayed at Medusa. Wow!

I’ve read my share of “feminist classics,” starting with Betty Frieden’s “The Feminine Mystique” in the ‘60’s, followed thereafter in 1970, by Simone de Beauvoir’s seminal work, “The Second Sex.” As with some other issues from back then (like no more war!), I really thought we’d be much further along in developing fair and equitable relations between men and women, involving power, and yes, changing the diapers. Two steps forward, and one step back, or is it the other way around, as Susan Faludi has argued in “Backlash”.

Beard presents not a hint of what I would consider the next level of evolution: once one has power, and one is conscientious in its use, one finds it an utter relief to give it up and let someone else do it and concentrate on “smelling the roses” instead! Nonetheless, for Beard’s ability to use the classics to provide perspective on the on-going contemporary dilemmas involving women’s efforts to obtain fairer and more equitable relations (coupled with some male allies), she deserves 5-stars.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Megan Hamilton
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must read for all women
Reviewed in Canada on September 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
As a speaking coach, I use this book in every single workshop that I teach. It is a fundamentally important book that helps us understand that it’s actually not just all in our heads, and in fact, there are centuries of bias against women speakers, whether the bias is apparent or not. This book will help you realize what you’re up against, and where we can’t unravel patriarchy in one sitting, we can finally know for certain that bias exists, and move through it anyway.
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Linei Matz
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must-read!
Reviewed in Brazil on August 6, 2023
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Beard clarifies why so few women 'take the risk' to try to reach higher positions in politics and claims that power (and our view of women in power) must change if we really want more of them as presidents and congresspeople. Excellent reading!
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Linei Matz
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must-read!
Reviewed in Brazil on August 6, 2023
Beard clarifies why so few women 'take the risk' to try to reach higher positions in politics and claims that power (and our view of women in power) must change if we really want more of them as presidents and congresspeople. Excellent reading!
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Personaymedia
5.0 out of 5 stars SABIDURIA Y LUCIDEZ FEMINISTA
Reviewed in Spain on February 11, 2018
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El libro recoge dos discursos de Mary Beard sobre cómo la historia ha apartado reiteradamente a la mujer del discurso público y cómo esos esquemas persisten en nuestros dias. Es un libro breve y divertido, ni dogmático ni populista. Mary Beard es una historiadora de primera cuyos documentales sobre Roma y el mundo antiguo, producidos por BBC han dado la vuelta al mundo. En España se pueden encontrar en Movistar+.
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DE A
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
Reviewed in France on January 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book is simply written but the content is very witty and educative. We still have a lot to learn on women's condition and it is always useful to go back to the roots of the problem to understand its consequences in modern times
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Bobbie
5.0 out of 5 stars Hey, I'm a woman. Listen to me!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
Thought-provoking, humorous, engaging, fewer than 100 pages with fascinating illustrations, based on two lectures the author gave in 2014 and 2017. Her thesis (developed with reference to Western culture starting with the ancient Greeks and Romans, and, among other things, to the virulent sexist abuse she receives on social media each time she speaks on the telly) is that, while some women (including herself) may smash some glass ceilings, and even if gradually there is better childcare provision, equal wages, etc, women in general won’t achieve equal power and respect until we all (men and women) disentangle and discard maleness from our understanding of what ‘power’ is.
Here’s a quote from her peroration: “What I have in mind is the ability to be effective, to make a difference in the world, and the right to be taken seriously... It is power in that sense that many women feel they don’t have – and that they want. Why the popular resonance of ‘mansplaining’ (despite the intense dislike of the term felt by many men)? It hits home for us because it points straight to what it feels like not to be taken seriously...”
She deals among many topics with the way that some women, famously Margaret Thatcher, have lowered their voices. This had me wondering – is the increasingly common habit of “vocal fry” (see Wikipedia article) among women on the radio, particularly American women, a bid for “masculine” authority? Are they damaging their vocal chords (and paining my ear) in order to be taken seriously? I (a woman) find it so hard to listen, I press the off button.
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