We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America by O'Donnell, Norah

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A vivid portrait of the unsung American women from 1776 to today who changed the course of history in their fight for freedom and helped shape a more perfect union

"This terrific book reveals the central, though often hidden role that women have played at every stage of our country's history."--Doris Kearns Goodwin

Over a decades-long, distinguished career, award-winning journalist Norah O'Donnell has made it her mission to shed light on untold wom­en's stories. Now, in honor of America's 250th birthday, O'Donnell focuses that passion on the American heroines who helped change the course of history.

We the Women presents a fresh look at American his­tory through the eyes of women, introducing us to inspiring patriots who demanded that the country live up to the prom­ises made 250 years ago in the Declaration of Independence: "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Since the signing of that document, the pressing question from women has been: Why don't those unalienable rights apply to us?

Through extensive research and interviews, as well as historical documents and old photos, O'Donnell curates a compelling portrait of these fierce fighters for freedom. From Mary Katherine Goddard, who printed the first signed Declaration of Independence, to the Forten family women, who were active in the abolition and suffrage movements and were considered the "Black Founders" of Philadelphia, to the first women who served in the armed forces even before they had the right to vote, O'Donnell brings these extraordinary women together for the first time, and in doing so writes the American story anew.

Author: Norah O'Donnell,Kate Andersen Brower
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 02/24/2026
Pages: 416
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.56lbs
Size: 9.48h x 6.39w x 1.32d
ISBN: 9780593727027

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2026
Booklist 02/01/2026

About the Author
Norah O'Donnell is a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist with nearly three decades of experience covering the biggest stories in the world and conducting impactful, news-making interviews. She is CBS News's senior correspondent, focused on big interviews and projects for the network, and spent more than five years as the anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News, the oldest and most revered evening news broadcast in America. O'Donnell anchors CBS News election specials and is a 60 Minutes contributing correspondent. She is married to Geoff Tracy, known as Chef Geoff, and is the mother of three children.

Kate Andersen Brower is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Residence and First Women, also a New York Times bestseller, as well as Team of Five, First In Line, and the children's books Exploring the White House and The Hill. The Residence inspired a television series of the same name produced by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix. Her book Elizabeth Taylor is the first authorized biography of the icon. She covered the Obama administration for Bloomberg News. She is also a former CBS News staffer and Fox News producer. Kate has written for The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and The Washington Post. She lives outside of Washington, D.C., with her husband and their three young children.