When Women Ruled the World

By: Kara Cooney

Narrated by: Kara Cooney

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

This riveting narrative explores the lives of six remarkable female pharaohs, from Hatshepsut to Cleopatra - women who ruled with real power - and shines a piercing light on our own perceptions of women in power today.

Female rulers are a rare phenomenon - but thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, women reigned supreme. Regularly, repeatedly, and with impunity, queens like Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra controlled the totalitarian state as power brokers and rulers. But throughout human history, women in positions of power were more often used as political pawns in a male-dominated society.

What was so special about ancient Egypt that provided women this kind of access to the highest political office? What was it about these women that allowed them to transcend patriarchal obstacles? What did Egypt gain from its liberal reliance on female leadership, and could today's world learn from its example?

Celebrated Egyptologist Kara Cooney delivers a fascinating tale of female power, exploring the reasons why it has seldom been allowed through the ages and why we should care.

©2018 Kara Cooney (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Edifying

Kara Cooney Ph.D. points out that ancient Egypt was punctuated by periods of rule by women. Many women ruled as regents for their young sons; then advised them privately when they took the throne in their teens.

Cooney reviews the reign of six female pharaohs of the Ptolemaic period that ruled in their own right. They are: Merineth, Neferusobeck, Nefertiti, Tawosret, Hatshepsut and Cleopatra. The author discusses their similarities and differences of their reigns. Cooney describes how Hatshepsut and Cleopatra took and held power. The book is well written and meticulously researched. Cooney reveals how these women survived in a male-dominated world. The author points out that women in ancient Egypt had the right to own property, and the right to divorce. I found the book interesting and could not help but make comparisons in my mind to women’s rights today.

I found the book most interesting and will look for more books by the author. Kara Cooney is a Professor of Egyptology at UCLA. The books nine hours and fifteen minutes. Kara Cooney narrated the book herself.

Valuable insight

As always, Kara Cooney provides a great story into arguably the world's greatest ancient civilization, Egypt. She provides a revealing, thought provoking approach to women in power, and highlights how each woman Pharoah handled their individual reigns. She ends on a high note, offering valuable insight into the benefits of a woman being in charge of any given society and how the six known female Pharoahs in history can provide guidance for us today through example alone. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested.

Brilliant !

Well presented fascinating book. It speaks to and more throughly addresses rulers usually glossed over or ignored. The author is also an excellent narrator.

Insightful and Engaging

I really enjoyed listening to this book by Kara Cooney. It is well written and she read it so well, I easily listened to it over three days! I would highly recommend this book, regardless of your interest in Ancient Egypt.

A worthwhile journey

I enjoyed the book, as it acquaints us with mostly little known female rulers of ancient Egypt. I don't believe present events excessively intruded in the presentation. Even though historical knowledge has a value in itself, it can also enlighten our present and put our values in perspective.

If I have a criticism, it is that some of the book"s statements could have been better supported, or should have been dropped altogether--the comparison between Jesus and Cleopatra chief among them.

What's more central to the purpose of the book, it seems that its conclusions, about the temperate qualities of female rulers, are not supported by evidence presented in the book. It seems women were allowed to rule for dynastic reasons (as will be the case in early modern Europe); their supposedly more nurturing style had little to do with it.

Excellent book

Not sure that women ruling only during crisis proves that Egypt was more comfortable with female rulers.

I didn't finish the book

So, let me say at the outset that, in all fairness, I did not finish this book. Part of the reason lies in the overall tone of victimization that permeates the book. As women, we need to really stop caring what men or anyone else thinks of us. I don't give energy to a man's view of my body, appearance or talent. To me. true feminism lies in developing personal power. It does not lie in mobilizing ourselves against men.

However, the thing that turned me off about the whole book was when she said that Cleopatra was the most successful of all the Egyptian queens. What?! As a woman of color, I find this statement insulting. I highly doubt that the only white queen of the bunch also happens to be the most successful. How absolutely galling, yet completely in line with the white feminism movement. Very disappointing,

refreshing and informative

Great book for anyone/everyone who likes to see history from all perspectives, not confirming to the tales told by those in power. This book gives you a fresh perspective without bias patriarchal opinions, only narrating these stories from archaeological evidence and critical thinking. Entertaining and informative all the way.

Fascinating, upsetting, gripping read

I absolutely loved this audiobook! It has all of the weird, twisted drama of Game of Thrones with all of the upsetting inequalities of how unfairly women are treated when they come to power (cue memories of Hillary’s loss to Trump, Sarah Palin’s skewering in the media, Michelle Obama labeled as angry and meddling, and the list goes on and on...). I don’t know if the best or the worst part is the fact that it’s real. Kara Cooney presented the compelling argument that women should rule the world because of their grace, patience, and familial ties. That those qualities should be far more valued than power, violence, strength, and sexual vigor. But the cruel reality is that not only are women not valued for their inherent tendencies but they are also demonized when they put on the trappings of male power. She shows how Egypt used women to save itself but then would also strip them of the credit, erasing them from history once the tragedy or the threat was abated or passed on. Listen to these stories. Women should be remembered for their strengths. Women should be given power. And women should be allowed to rule as women and not have to hide behind or through the patriarchy.

A fascinating dive into ancient Egypt!

Kara Cooney's examination of Ancient Egypt's female pharaohs is really interesting! It's always fun to learn new things about something you've been studying for years! I can't stop talking about different parts of this book to people.