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    An Unexpected Life

    A Memoir

    Author Gloria Steinem
    Hardcover
    $30.00 US
    Random House Group | Random House
    5"W x 7-1/2"H | 12 oz | 12 per carton
    On sale Sep 22, 2026 | 256 Pages | 9780593978177
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    Gloria Steinem offers an inspiring and candid memoir of her early life and the journey that made her one of the world’s most influential activists and storytellers, alongside a clear-eyed, urgent message for new generations about what the next chapters of the fight for equality will demand

    Before she became a feminist leader, Gloria Steinem was a curious child: going on road trips with her itinerant father, caring for her mother, and devouring every book she could find. In An Unexpected Life, Steinem reflects on the unlikely experiences and pivotal moments—from a childhood rat bite that opened her eyes to the dangers of poverty to the 1970 Women’s March honoring the right to vote—that shaped the visionary woman she would become.

    She shares her years living in India, learning from the nonviolent movement there, and her travels around the world advocating for women’s rights. Along the way, she honors the people who influenced her most, including trailblazers, writers, and thinkers who expanded her understanding of power, community, justice, and solidarity.

    Moving between past and present, Steinem examines the progress and setbacks of six decades of activism. As she reflects on the movements she helped build and the victories won for women’s and human rights, she also looks ahead, urging new generations to imagine bolder, more inclusive paths forward.

    Intimate, funny, and rich with hard-earned wisdom, An Unexpected Life offers readers the rare opportunity to learn directly from one of feminism’s most enduring voices as we continue the work of building a better future for all.
    © Beowulf Sheehan
    Gloria Steinem is a writer, political activist, and feminist organizer. She was a founder of New York and Ms. magazines, and has authored many books, including My Life on the Road, Moving Beyond Words, Revolution from Within, and Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. The organizations she co-founded include the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Women’s Media Center, and Equality Now. She has also produced documentaries, most recently, with Amy Richards, Woman, for VICELAND, a series on global violence against women. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. View titles by Gloria Steinem

    About

    Gloria Steinem offers an inspiring and candid memoir of her early life and the journey that made her one of the world’s most influential activists and storytellers, alongside a clear-eyed, urgent message for new generations about what the next chapters of the fight for equality will demand

    Before she became a feminist leader, Gloria Steinem was a curious child: going on road trips with her itinerant father, caring for her mother, and devouring every book she could find. In An Unexpected Life, Steinem reflects on the unlikely experiences and pivotal moments—from a childhood rat bite that opened her eyes to the dangers of poverty to the 1970 Women’s March honoring the right to vote—that shaped the visionary woman she would become.

    She shares her years living in India, learning from the nonviolent movement there, and her travels around the world advocating for women’s rights. Along the way, she honors the people who influenced her most, including trailblazers, writers, and thinkers who expanded her understanding of power, community, justice, and solidarity.

    Moving between past and present, Steinem examines the progress and setbacks of six decades of activism. As she reflects on the movements she helped build and the victories won for women’s and human rights, she also looks ahead, urging new generations to imagine bolder, more inclusive paths forward.

    Intimate, funny, and rich with hard-earned wisdom, An Unexpected Life offers readers the rare opportunity to learn directly from one of feminism’s most enduring voices as we continue the work of building a better future for all.

    Author

    © Beowulf Sheehan
    Gloria Steinem is a writer, political activist, and feminist organizer. She was a founder of New York and Ms. magazines, and has authored many books, including My Life on the Road, Moving Beyond Words, Revolution from Within, and Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. The organizations she co-founded include the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Women’s Media Center, and Equality Now. She has also produced documentaries, most recently, with Amy Richards, Woman, for VICELAND, a series on global violence against women. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. View titles by Gloria Steinem

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