4000 Years of Uppity Women - Vicki León

The book is a compilation of Leon's previous work. It is divided into four parts: ancient history, medieval era, renaissance era, and the new world era (which ends at 1899). It is indeed intersectional, I will give it that. There are women profiled from across class, race, ethnicity, religious, and sexual and gender orientations. That is the big plus for this book.

 

The "profiles" were shallow in information provided, sort of like Wikipedia. And the choices in women profile seem a little too out there for a book that is titled "Uppity Women." For example, one "woman" profiled was a newborn named Virginia Dare, the first English female born on North American soil. Since the child was born on Roanoke Island, she didn't have much of chance to grow up to be "uppity." Also, there was some big names missing (Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony just to name a few). Rather, it seems the author wanted to highlight the more obscure women/facts in history, such as balloonists and women in trade who often were paid by customers in tobacco rather than currency.

 

The writing itself brought it down a star. The author tries to be snarky funny, but it comes across as childish and trying to be hip. These women profiled did deeds that stand on their own, they don't need comments from the peanut gallery or cutesy nicknames.

 

In the end, 2 stars.