This book is a lot more interesting than it sounds. It's basically a collection of biographical (or autobiographical) essays about various important figures in the women's movement--including Gloria Steinem, Andrea Dworkin, Harriet Lerner and many, many others. Yes, the book is long, and sometimes it's overly academic, but it deserves a place on every feminist's bookshelf.

None of the reviews mention the fact of Sanger's deep involvement with the pre-WWII Nazi movement and her racist devotion to the practice of eugenics. Any in-depth study of Sanger's life would surely reveal these involvements; a cleansed portrait of Ms. Sanger as this one apparently is can only be the product of a politically correct agenda.

Based on these reviews, I won't be buying or reading this book.

I've just finished reading this book for a women's history class. I found it hard to put down. It's a shame that it is out of print, as Margaret Sanger's life story, and her struggle for the reproductive rights of women and female autonomy, make for enlightening reading. Ellen Chesler put in an enormous amount of work, documenting every detail, and weaving the whole into a very readable book. I would definitely recommend this to any reader, not only those interested in the empowerment of women, but also those NOT interested in it, since it might change their minds! Definitely an important work, and an important woman, for gaining an understanding of how the 20th century has been shaped.