In Praise of Difficult Women

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What to expect

From Frida Kahlo and Elizabeth Taylor to Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, and Lena Dunham, this witty narrative explores what we can learn from the imperfect and extraordinary legacies of twenty-nine iconic women who forged their own unique paths in the world.

Smart, sassy, and unapologetically feminine, In Praise of Difficult Women is an ode to the bold and charismatic women of modern history. Bestselling author Karen Karbo spotlights the spirited rule breakers who charted their way with little regard for expectations: Amelia Earhart, Helen Gurley Brown, Edie Sedgwick, Hillary Clinton, Amy Poehler, and Shonda Rhimes, among others. Their lives—imperfect, elegant, messy, glorious—provide inspiration and instruction for the new age of feminism we have entered. Karbo distills these lessons with wit and humor, examining the universal themes that connect us to each of these mesmerizing personalities today: success and style, love and authenticity, daring and courage. Being “difficult,” Karbo reveals, might not make life easier, but it can make it more fulfilling—whatever that means for you.

Critics Review

  • “Absolutely delightful…Absorbing, inspiring, and often surprising portraits that raise important questions about femininity and culture, power, and bravery.”

    Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author

  • “You’ll need two copies!”

    Stacy Schiff, New York Times bestselling author

  • “Refreshingly frank, Karbo’s book celebrates women who forged provocative identities and found life fulfillment despite the odds they faced. Inspiring reading about women who have shown ‘that it’s all right to occupy our humanity.’”

    Kirkus Reviews

  • “Part biography, part inspiration, all parts fascinating…A wise and hilarious reminder of the importance of being a pain in the ass. Keep it by your bedside.”

    Meghan Daum, bestselling author of The Unspeakable

  • “In this marvelous book, Karen Karbo illuminates the paths of women who refused to shut up, sit down, hold still, behave, or smile on anyone’s terms but their own.”

    Lidia Yuknavitch, author of The Misfits Manifesto

  • “In twenty-nine takes, Karen Karbo catalogs the ways in which a woman rankles: She can be independent, exacting, impatient, persistent, opinionated, angry, ambitious, confident, or just plain visible. You’ll need two copies!”

    Stacy Schiff, author of The Witches

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