A collection of articles from Vanity Fair written by women journalists, about women. The collection includes articles about names you will know - like Audrey Hepburn, Michelle Obama, Barbara Bush, Monica Lewinsky, Hillary Clinton. and some names that may be new to you. Some of the pieces in the anthology are stronger than others, which is surprising given the back catalogue of Vanity Fair material.

The idea of a collection of articles written by women and about women was amazing to me. Unfortunately, this just didn't do it for me. I've actually never read Vanity Fair, and a lot of these articles seemed to be long just for the sake of taking up space, and lacked enough substance to keep me interested.

Vanity Fair editor in chief Radhika Jones has put together a compelling mix of essays written by women about women. The subjects are famous, but they represent a wide range of walks of life, from Mexican artist Frida Kahlo to legendary Hollywood actress Meryl Streep to former First Lady Michelle Obama and England's Queen Elizabeth II. The essays are divided into eight groups: The comedians, The White House, Society and Style, The Renegades, The Musicians, The House of Windsor, The Stars and Their Own Words, a final section of public figures engaged in self-reflection. What pulls them together and sets them apart from other celebrity profiles is what Jones herself characterizes as the "unflinching nature of the writer's gaze." Vanity Fair doesn't do light. They do deep dives with impeccable prose. They aren't breaking new ground here-- all of the essays were previously published in the magazine--but their insight and instincts as cultural observers are top tier.

Vanity Fair’s Women on Women is a 2019 Penguin Press publication.

Fascinating women, fascinating lives!

This is a strong collection of profiles of the women who appeared in Vanity Fair Magazine over the years. All were influential in their way, some were controversial, all are interesting and unique!

I’ve been a long-time subscriber to Vanity Fair and today it is the only magazine I still take. While I may have read some of these profiles over the years, there were many that were before my time- such as Emily Post. I was most surprised by the profile on Barbara Bush. Matronly grandmother? I think not!!

Others profiled included several other first ladies, including Michelle Obama, and the royals- Grace Kelly, Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth. Actresses and musicians from Tina Turner to Meryl Streep and important feminist icons like Gloria Steinem. From Cher to Lady Gaga, the book covers roughly four decades.

The book also includes articles examining two of the most prominent feminist issues of today- The #MeToo movement and the Silicon Valley Boy’s Club.

The book also serves as a profile of the magazine itself, showing the various ways the publication as evolved and changed and the influence it has had on society from a feminine standpoint.

Overall, this a very interesting compilation of profiles and articles. It is a short book, an easy read, and is a book one can put down and pick back up easily, read between other books, or while sitting in waiting rooms, or on your lunch break. But, once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down!!

Great history, strong women, thoughtful, eye-opening articles-all reminding me of why I continue to support this publication! Thank you, Vanity Fair!



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This collections of articles is an interesting and entertaining read that talks about women and it's full of food for thought.
I liked the well written articles and was happy to read about famous women and women in general.
An interesting read, highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This was one of those books where I connected more with some parts than others, which often happens with a more essay collection style book. It was the perfect book to dip in and out of and I came away with some new knowledge and some renewed admiration for others. I enjoyed the collection of varied voices, writing styles, and powerful messages that were compiled in this. If you are interested in reading about some empowered and influential women, definitely check this one out.

While I do occasionally read magazine and news articles (on my phone when I’m bored at work), it’s not something I’m in the habit of doing. But I do really love reading about influential women. Because who doesn’t need more great women to look up to and emulate? So when I saw Vanity Fair’s Women on Women, a collection of profiles on amazing women like Gloria Steinem and Michelle Obama, I knew I had to read it.

I think this would be a great book to dip into when you’re in the mood. In the mood to read about Tina Turner or Lady Gaga? Pick up this book. Want to learn more about Meryl Streep or Princess Diana? They’re in here, too. This isn’t the kind of book you sit down and read all at once (which I, unfortunately, attempted). It’s the kind of book that’s easy to read in pieces, and would be great if you’re the type of reader who needs breaks in between reading other things.

As for the profiles themselves, some were better than others, but I did enjoy them all. My favorites were fairly unexpected, though. I went into this thinking I would love the profiles of Michelle Obama and Gloria Steinem and Hillary Clinton. And while I did enjoy those, the ones that made the biggest impression on me were the profiles of Barbara Bush and Frida Kahlo. I think it might be because I didn’t know very much about them, so I enjoyed learning about them even more. The profiles of Tina Fey, Julia Child, Elizabeth I, and Lady Gaga were also highlights for me.

If you want to learn more about influential women you may or may not know about, I think this is a great place to start. I enjoyed reading about the women I wasn’t as familiar with, and liked the fresh perspective on those I had read about previously.

A collection of articles from the past thirty six years articles written by women about women.Stand out articles are about women icons like Whoopi Tina Fay the artist Frieda Kahalo and many others.A book to dip in and out of interesting entertaining group of articles.#netgalley#penguinpress.

Vanity Fair's Women on Women is a collection of articles from the backlog, written about women, by women. It features pieces on Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Hillary Clinton, Frida Kahlo, and many others.

As is true of most works like this, some pieces are more interesting or better written than others. I found a couple pretty dry, but that's just the nature of the beast here.

The stand-out pieces to me were about Frida Kahlo and Gloria Steinem.

While I enjoyed this book, it wasn't a showstopper by any means. A nice book if you want to refamiliarize with women you already know about or get to know more about women you might not've learned enough about.

Vanity Fair's Women on Women, edited by Radhika Jones with David Friend is an interesting collection of articles and essays from the past thirty-six years previously published in Vanity Fair about women you might think you know, but there are some big surprises in here. I came away from reading this book with admiration and a renewed sense of sisterhood.

Making Whoopi by Janet Coleman

Whoopi Goldberg is a rebel to the core, “The critics hadn’t seen any black woman doin’ what I’m doin.” She’s an artistic genius with humility and a refreshing lack of ego. By being herself back in the day and pressing cultural and social issues with her “Spook Show” she became the woman we all know and love.

What Tina Wants by Maureen Dowd

Tina Fey comes off as hard working and the good kind of old fashioned with deep integrity that leads by doing the work herself and a woman who makes her personal relationships and family a priority.

Household names you know such as Barbara Bush, Emily Post, Frida Khalo, Michelle Phillips all had their say. To summarize the message: women with drive, talent and ambition 'the struggle is real,’ just might be the understatement of the century.

Topics run the gamut from celebrity parenting, to being the “good wife,” feminism, and being a trailblazer are covered with aplomb, verve and style.

The #MeToo movement is also discussed and I was truly glad to see more brave women in the finance world talking about their stories and shaking their fists at the old establishment in order to do so.

It is impossible to comment on all of the pieces in this book, but it was well worth my time. Taking it slow gave me the opportunity to truly enjoy the style, message and voice of each individual piece.

My favorite quote was from Tina Turner, “I am happy that I’m not like anybody else. Because I really do believe that if I was different I might not be where I am today. You asked me if I ever stood up for anything. Yeah I stood up for my life.”

Say it louder for everyone in the back Tina!

If you are curious about interesting, empowered women and who they are below the surface, along with some juicy commentary from people who knew or know them you will truly enjoy reading, Vanity Fairs Women on Women.”

Many thanks to Penguin Press and Ms. Radhika Jones for proving this ARC to me via Netgalley.