In Defense of Witches by Mona Chollet Summary
Overview of In Defense of Witches
Witches weren't supernatural - they were women who threatened patriarchy. Mona Chollet's acclaimed feminist manifesto reveals how witch hunt mentalities still target independent women today. Le Monde calls it "brilliant" for exposing the chilling truth: society still fears women who defy expectations.
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Key takeaways
The Witch Hunt That Never Ended
Imagine a world where a woman's independence is considered so threatening that she must be eliminated. This isn't ancient history-the witch hunts that claimed up to 100,000 lives (80% women) occurred during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, not the Middle Ages. These weren't the actions of religious zealots or uneducated peasants; civil courts conducted most trials, with educated elites leading sophisticated media campaigns against "dangerous" women. The widely distributed "Malleus Maleficarum" (Hammer of Witches) explicitly stated that "male witches are of small concern," viewing women as weak-minded and lustful. Any woman risked accusation for stepping out of line-whether for talking back, being too social or too solitary, missing church or attending too devoutly. Their bodies were violated through "witch pricking," stripped, shaved, and tortured beyond imagination. Why did this happen? The witch hunts coincided with women gaining social power and independence. Women were systematically excluded from businesses and professions while married women lost legal rights through reintroduced Roman law. The witch hunts served as violent correction, putting women "back in their place" through terror and public spectacle. What's most disturbing isn't just this history, but how it continues shaping our present. The persecution of witches reinforced prejudices and repressed certain female behaviors and lifestyles - creating negative associations that still produce censorship, barriers, hostility, and violence today.
The Radical Independence That Still Terrifies
The Unforgivable Choice Not to Mother
The Crime of Growing Older While Female
When Women's Knowledge Becomes Dangerous
Medicine's War on Women's Bodies
Reclaiming the Witch: A Path Forward
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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