I'd never previously heard of the Katherine Gibbs school, but I've heard of multiple go their graduates. A feminist uprising clad in white wrist length gloves, the school was a bastion of class and propriety, and its graduates were confident and determined. At a time when women were supposed to be dainty and quiet, pretty and pleasing, this school taught women to strive for whatever they wanted. This book is well researched and informative, as well as inspiring. The audio was well read and entertaining.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the digital copy of this audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Expect Great Things is the latest in a long line of books about women in history that were looked over despite their accomplishments because most histories until the past few decades was written by white men. I had never heard of the Katharine Gibbs School, yet when I got immersed into the book I realized that I should have known about the founder because she really did change the world of academics and jobs for women.

Katharine Gibbs was a woman who was left a widow with two small children and almost penniless. She vowed that she would one day prepare other women so they did not end up like her. And she did. The Katharine Gibbs School that she founded taught women life skills and work skills that previously had been the prevue of men. For the most part, men were secretaries to important people, but Gibbs school changed all of that. Women secretaries revolutionized the workforce in the United States.

We as a society need to keep reading and writing about women’s history and bringing these stories to light. I am so glad I got to know Katharine Gibbs and all the women that went on to successful careers with VIPs.

This book was narrated by Eliza Foss, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever listened to something else with her, but I would definitely listen to something Foss narrated again. She has a great voice for audio!