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Coming on February 24, 2026. Preorder Now

A vivid portrait of the unsung American women from 1776 to today who changed the course of history in their fight for freedom and helped shape a more perfect union

A multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist with nearly three decades of experience covering the biggest stories in the world, Norah O’Donnell has made it her mission to shed light on untold Women’s stories. Now, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, O’Donnell focuses that passion on the American heroines who helped change the course of history.

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About Norah

  • "A moving portrait of resilience, and progress, reminding us that America’s strength has always owed much to the determination of its women..

    —Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global

  • "By skillfully weaving together individual stories of groundbreaking women, this terrific book reveals the central, though often hidden, role that women have played at every stage of our country’s history."

    —Doris Kearns Goodwin

  • "In an era when progress feels fragile, We the Women is a vital reminder of the importance of women’s contributions to our history and a call to action for anyone committed to carrying forward the work that they began."

    —Melinda French Gates

  • "Troublemakers and codebreakers, soldiers and doctors, poets and athletes and heroines all. A lively, engaging account of women who helped shape the nation, even if the historians sometimes failed to notice."

    —Susan Page

  • "A fascinating book with the colorful tales of more than thirty risk-takers, visionaries, and pioneers."

    —Walter Isaacson

  • "Emmy Award-winning journalist O’Donnell, assisted by Brower, pays homage to scores of women who played a decisive role in the nation’s history. Her capacious roundup of hidden heroes includes abolitionists and suffragists, writers and artists, scientists, lawyers, and teachers. An inspiring contribution to the 250th celebration of the nation’s founding."

    —Kirkus Reviews

  • "In We the Women, Norah O’Donnell brings long-overdue attention to the trailblazers, adventurers, inventors, organizers, and everyday women who built this country in ways history too often overlooked. It is a powerful testament to the extraordinary women who shaped America, and an essential reminder that their contributions are a vital part of our shared history."

    —Billie Jean King, sports icon and equality champion