Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors and Trailblazers Who Changed History, Sam Maggs
Published October 4th 2016 by Quirk Books
Hardcover, 240 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher
Ever heard of Allied spy Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim woman whom the Nazis considered “highly dangerous”? Or German painter and entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian, who planned and embarked on the world’s first scientific expedition? How about Huang Daopo, the inventor who fled an abusive child marriage only to revolutionize textile production in China?
Women have always been able to change the world, even when they didn’t get the credit. In Wonder Women, author Sam Maggs introduces you to pioneering female scientists, engineers, mathematicians, adventurers, and inventors—each profile a study in passion, smarts, and stickto-itiveness, complete with portraits by Google doodler Sophia Foster-Dimino, an extensive bibliography, and a guide to present-day women-centric STEM organizations.
Basically Sam Maggs has found the way to my feminist non-fiction book nerd heart with this delightful book of portrayals of awesome women. I was totally head over heals when Maggs referred to German mathematician and physicist Amalie Emmy Noether as “a total BAMF from the beginning”. I love non-fiction that is just fun to read on top of being full of great information. Wonder Women doesn’t take itself too seriously even while dealing with seriously amazing moments in history. Each “chapter” is no more than 4 pages so you’re getting information but are definitely left wanting to know more.
I hadn’t heard of the majority of the women Maggs features in Wonder Women which was really cool too. Marie Curie is obviously amazing – but I liked that she got a paragraph versus Bessie Coleman who had a section to herself. Side bar – Is it just me that wanted to know more about Bessie Coleman everytime I drive to O’Hare? It can’t be just me right?
Maggs gives us women from all over the world which was great – every time period, every religion, sexual orientation. I can’t imagine how much research she had to do to go far back into women’s history in places like China and India. So I will say Maggs must be a BAMF herself! Wonder Women is funny and witty and tells the story of every kind of woman. I want to put a copy into the hands of all the smart ladies I know!
“It’s made to believe
Women are same as Men;
Are you not convinced
Daughters can also be heroic?
Wang Zhenyi
Thank you so much Quirk Books for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Gun In Act One 
Sounds wonderful! Maybe a bit like Rachel Swaby’s Headstrong? I know I’ve seen this cover somewhere already. I hope it was in the “on order” section of the library!
Yes! I really liked Headstrong as well. Very similar format – more humor.
Cool wonder women 🙂
I’m excited for this one – glad you liked it!
This looks FANTASTIC. Definitely going on my Christmas wishlist for sure. You might like Maggs’ other book, The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy too.
Totally on my list now!
I loved this book so much, I wanted to hug Sam Maggs for her inclusiveness. I don’t think you could get much more diverse than the women in this book!
Yes! This book was fantastic for inclusiveness.
I loved what she was trying to do with the book but ultimately it sort of failed with me. I wanted MORE of pretty much everything, except for all of her asides and pop culture references.
I saw your review – Did you read Headstrong? I think that gave great snapshots of amazing women without the asides and snark. I think those work well for me because I read nonfic in the morning on my commute and if I’m laughing I stay awake!
I have not. I will have to check it out!