Off With Her Head by Eleanor Herman Summary
Overview of Off With Her Head
Discover how powerful women - from Cleopatra to Hillary Clinton - have faced identical smear tactics for 3,000 years. NYT bestselling author Eleanor Herman exposes history's "Misogynist's Handbook," revealing why successful women still trigger society's deepest fears.
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Key takeaways
The Timeless War Against Women in Power
History reveals a disturbing pattern: powerful women face identical attacks across millennia. From ancient Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut to modern figures like Hillary Clinton, women who seek authority encounter the same sexist playbook-labeled as whores, witches, ugly, shrill, and power-hungry. This organized vilification has enforced patriarchal control for over three thousand years through what Eleanor Herman calls "the Misogynist's Handbook." Most disturbing is how this hatred manifests not just in criticism but in calls for violence-today's "Lock her up!" chants are merely civilized versions of "Off with her head!" The bloodlust directed at powerful women reveals misogyny's most dangerous face, with figures like Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer facing threats of lynching and even a kidnapping plot. Perhaps most surprising? Women perpetuate this hatred too-52 percent of misogynistic tweets come from women, showing how deeply we've internalized these ancient patterns of control.
The Cultural Foundations of Female Blame and Ambition
The Beauty Paradox of Female Leadership
The Impossible Voice and Presence Standards
The Mysterious "Unlikability" Factor and Dehumanization
The Smile Mandate and Trust Issues
Breaking the Cycle: The 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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