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  • Women's Work

  • The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times
  • By: Elizabeth Wayland Barber
  • Narrated by: Donna Postel
  • Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (25 ratings)
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Women's Work cover art

Women's Work

By: Elizabeth Wayland Barber
Narrated by: Donna Postel
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Summary

New discoveries about the textile arts reveal women's unexpectedly influential role in ancient societies. 

Twenty thousand years ago, women were making and wearing the first clothing created from spun fibers. In fact, right up to the Industrial Revolution the fiber arts were an enormous economic force, belonging primarily to women. 

Despite the great toil required in making cloth and clothing, most books on ancient history and economics have no information on them. Much of this gap results from the extreme perishability of what women produced, but it seems clear that until now descriptions of prehistoric and early historic cultures have omitted virtually half the picture. 

Elizabeth Wayland Barber has drawn from data gathered by the most sophisticated newer archaeological methods - methods she herself helped to fashion. In a "brilliantly original book" (Katha Pollitt, Washington Post Book World), she argues that women were a powerful economic force in the ancient world, with their own industry: fabric.

©1994 Elizabeth Wayland Barber (P)2019 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Women's Work

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Interesting listen

loved this book and leaning alot more than just the role of women in society past. thank you

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completely enjoyable

I really loved this book, such a great deep dive into woman's history without feeling niche or dry.
managed to balance a large volume of information without feeling overwhelming or preaching. I was genuinely disappointed to finish the book. the narrator was also good, very chill.

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facinating

just engrossed it was facinating to hear the history of fibre and looms brilliant. book

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Interesting but best enjoyed in graphic form

This is a very visual book. Not sure if it's that suited to the audio format. Otherwise very interesting!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not as great as expected

I took a long time to get through this one, I expected to love it due to the title. The story teller didn't grab me with their telling of it. Disappointed.

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2 people found this helpful