Visionary Women

How Rachel Carson, Jane Jacobs, Jane Goodall, and Alice Waters Changed Our World

By: Andrea Barnet

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Four influential women we thought we knew well—Jane Jacobs, Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall, and Alice Waters—and how they spearheaded the modern progressive movement

This is the story of four visionaries who profoundly shaped the world we live in today. Together, these women—linked not by friendship or field, but by their choice to break with convention—showed what one person speaking truth to power can do. Jane Jacobs fought for livable cities and strong communities; Rachel Carson warned us about poisoning the environment; Jane Goodall demonstrated the indelible kinship between humans and animals; and Alice Waters urged us to reconsider what and how we eat.

With a keen eye for historical detail, Andrea Barnet traces the arc of each woman’s career and explores how their work collectively changed the course of history. While they hailed from different generations, Carson, Jacobs, Goodall, and Waters found their voices in the early sixties. At a time of enormous upheaval, all four stood as bulwarks against 1950s corporate culture and its war on nature. Consummate outsiders, each prevailed against powerful and mostly male adversaries while also anticipating the disaffections of the emerging counterculture.

All told, their efforts ignited a transformative progressive movement while offering people a new way to think about the world and a more positive way of living in it.

Inspiring

Four inspiring women whose accomplishments should be known widely by adults and children. Bravo to all four.

Visionary Women

Really enjoyed learning more about these four amazing women, and liked the way the author tied them together. Wish I could have read this in high school.

Engagingly written

Great subject matter, wonderfully written and very enjoyable to listen to (the narrator matters!!!). I had never heard of Jane Jacobs so not only did I find out much more about the stories of those I was familiar with but also learned about another visionary person. I appreciated the summary which led me to consider examples of the legacies from these ladies' lives around where I live (Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas, the FW Zoo, Seasons 52, my own Frisco Environmental Services Department). So glad I pitched this book for my book club early on so that others might become familiar with the impactful work of Carson, Jacobs, Goodall, and Waters. Highly recommend.

Very creative

Andrea Barnet has put a lot of thought into these four short biographies. Not only to they tell about the women and their contributions but do so within the context of the times in which they lived. Really interesting.

Important Contributions

How four visionary women changed our thoughts in nature, environment, and ecology. Jane Jacobs, Rachael Carson, Jane Goodall, and Alice Waters lives, work, and contributions to society are presented. Their childhood and family dynamics are interesting. Some of the details of their work get lengthy but in areas of interest fascinating. I am tired of the trend of the lengthy discussion of some of their private lives in adulthood, especially the belabored details of their sexual choices. I realize the authors who now include this information in their books are trying to make the individuals seem more human and wanting us to understand and accept all their choices but I find the information too dragged out and really care more about the women’s research and accomplishments and could care less about their sexual preferences.