During her life, Margaret Mead embodied many roles for the American public: sage, scientist, nonconformist, peace crusader, and archetypal grandmother. As a cultural icon, she represented a new kind of woman who balanced marriage and motherhood with a career, emphasizing the importance of scholarship in everyday life. Even today, memoirs of successful women scientists are rare, making this autobiography, first published in '72, a unique insight into a pioneering woman's journey. In chapters like "On Being a Granddaughter" and "The Pattern My Family Made Me," Mead reflects on the wisdom imparted by her maternal grandmother and the legacy of her ancestors, which fueled her desire for a meaningful career aligned with her values. The narrative includes vivid depictions of bohemian life in 1920s NYC, her early experiences at the American Museum of Natural History with mentor Franz Boas and friend Ruth Benedict, and her first field trip to Samoa to study adolescent girls. Toward the end, in "On Being a Grandmother," she contemplates the legacy she leaves for her descendants and humanity. This reissued autobiography will resonate with those eager to learn about a remarkable woman who navigated a world often unwelcoming to women's dreams and achievements.
Nancy Lutkehaus Books
