Arrestingly written…a stirring testament to unsung heroines

A well researched and entertaining read…a wonderful celebration of female pioneers

Robinson writes with an often witty touch, which only serves to throw into furious relief the seriousness of the resistance women faced . . . An excellent companion to Robinson's Bluestockings.

An entertaining guide, dipping into ladies’ journals of the time to add levity to what indeed is a serious message.

Jane Robinson’s book is a lesson in how unthinkingly we wear freedom. Well known as a writer and social historian excavating ordinary women’s lives, Robinson focuses this time on the emergence of lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, architects, scientists and churchwomen after the passing of the landmark law of 1919. Modern professional women will read it with a slow burn of anger and heightened respect for those whose actions, such a relatively brief time ago, made today possible . . . We ride on the shoulders of female giants — courageous, eccentric, clever pioneers. Robinson is a wryly amusing companion and this is an entertaining book, teeming with characters.

An important and crackingly good read

[Jane Robinson] has come up trumps again with this engrossing, often startling, and arrestingly-titled history of the pioneering women of the early 20th century who were among the first female doctors, lawyers, academics, architects and engineers.

A superb and energizing history of the professional women who paved the way for gender equality in law, medicine engineering and many other fields. These women were often derided, ostracised and opposed. They encountered newly made laws to keep them out of male-dominated professions and they overcame these barriers with extraordinary strength. They fought their wars in order to give us the freedom to make our own career choices. Deeply moving at times, this book deserves to be read by young and old to celebrate the achievements of an unforgettable group of women.

An engrossing account of the lives of pioneering women who, against the odds, forged careers in the fields of medicine, law, architecture, engineering, academia and the Church in post-First World War Britain . . . Rich in detail, here are the stories of ‘ordinary’ women, not celebrities, which makes the book all the more interesting.

A rich picture of the struggles and successes of those amazing women who trod so quietly to leave such a massive footprint and legacy behind them.

An engaging read bringing many brilliant and trailblazing women in the professions out of the shadow of anonymity to help inspire future generations.

A book of huge interest both to me and to anyone, man or woman, who wishes to understand how far we have come in gender equality – and presented in the most fascinating and appealing way

Inspiring to read about the courage, pragmatism and determination in these women forging careers and livelihoods in traditional professions. These stories of women from all backgrounds and social levels show the power of persistence and fortitude.

[Robinson] weaves an inspirational epic from the lives of countless determined, self-propelled women

Fantastic . . . A wonderful book and I recommend it. It will help you think about the world differently, but it will also help you think about yourself differently. A very entertaining exercise in a kind of social and cultural mindfulness.

Deliberately listening to other people and taking on their perspective is a rare skill, and a powerful tool . . . For readers, this book offers something more valuable: the opportunity to consider how truly strange we all are.

Wonderful . . . [on] that anthropological skill of looking at things from the outside.

Full of examples that make you see work and business differently.

A rattling good read . . . The book has loads of interesting vignettes about the use of anthropology, particularly in business.

Tett's examples of research are vivid, surprising and imaginative; their revelations are informative . . . Tett's book is lots of fun and could even create a few business converts to the anthropological cause.

It's hard to argue with her common-sense case that companies should strive to take an outsider's view . . . Packed full of insight, this has the power to change minds.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed reading this book . . . A terrific piece of work.

A compelling, readable argument for the business value of anthropology.