An Unexpected Life: A Memoir
Sep 2026 · Sold by Random House
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In her final memoir, Gloria Steinem offers a candid, inspiring portrait of her early life and journey as an activist, while looking ahead to the next chapters of the fight for equality—a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of feminism’s most enduring voices.
“In revisiting the equal-rights movements Steinem helped build, she offers wisdom to new generations.”—Vanity Fair
“An Unexpected Life is a luminous act of remembrance and generosity.”—Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author of Bad Feminist
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 inspiration as we continue the work of building a better future for all.
“In revisiting the equal-rights movements Steinem helped build, she offers wisdom to new generations.”—Vanity Fair
“An Unexpected Life is a luminous act of remembrance and generosity.”—Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author of Bad Feminist
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 inspiration as we continue the work of building a better future for all.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In her final memoir, Gloria Steinem offers a candid, inspiring portrait of her early life and journey as an activist, while looking ahead to the next chapters of the fight for equality—a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of feminism’s most enduring voices.
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About the author
Gloria Steinem was a writer, activist, and cofounder of Ms. magazine. A bestselling author and pioneering journalist, she was a central figure in feminist movements worldwide for more than six decades. Gloria’s home is the heart of Gloria’s Foundation and has become renowned as a magnetic and life-changing center for feminists and activist thinkers from around the world. Gloria Steinem passed away on September 2, 2026.
Gloria Steinem was a writer, activist, and cofounder of Ms. magazine. A bestselling author and pioneering journalist, she was a central figure in feminist movements worldwide for more than six decades. Gloria’s home is the heart of Gloria’s Foundation and has become renowned as a magnetic and lif...
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