A New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts Bestseller!
For fans of Hidden Figures, comes the incredible true story of the women heroes who were exposed to radium in factories across the U.S. in the early 20th century, and their brave and groundbreaking battle to strengthen workers’ rights, even as the fatal poison claimed their own lives…
In the dark years of the … claimed their own lives…
In the dark years of the First World War, radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright. Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these “shining girls” are the luckiest alive — until they begin to fall mysteriously ill. And, until they begin to come forward.
As the women start to speak out on the corruption, the factories that once offered golden opportunities ignore all claims of the gruesome side effects. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America’s early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights that will echo for centuries to come. A timely story of corporate greed and the brave figures that stood up to fight for their lives, these women and their voices will shine for years to come.
Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the “wonder” substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives…
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I enjoyed it, it was well written
Hard to believe this tradedy happened in our country.
This is a real horror story. The latter stages of radiation poisoning are too horrific to contemplate.
That it really happened to those girls in the 1920-1939
What a shame & the company was in denial on all
That these women endured it was so sad all that they went through
Such a sad but true part of history all should know & read
An excellent book about the strength of women in U.S. History
Informative, educational, eye-opener.
It went right to my 10 best list before I even finished it.
I knew nothing about the impact that radium had on the girls working in the factories who painted radium on watches. The story was an eye-opener. Their fight for justice was impressive. The cover-ups, disturbing. I recommended this book to my book club.
I had not even heard about “The Radium Girls” until I read their stories. Their stories are tragic and unforgettable. Justice came in the end but not before so many had lost their lives at such a young age. It emphasizes profit and greed over human life. An extra ordinary book.
History of the radium industry in this country. It is doubtful that many people are aware of this. Scary to think that this could actually take place and few were interested in trying to stop it except the victims. Hard to read at times but enlightening.
It read more like an accounting than a story. Very dry. (Eg. this happened, then this happened, then this happened, etc.) It was repetitive, redundant. Victim after victim seeking the same treatments for the same ailments brought on by the same actions. Trial after trial with very little variation. The author has an antiquated voice and cadence and a false, stilted way of describing the victims and circumstances. Almost like she (the author) is trying to do an imitation of someone who lives in the early 1900’s. I couldn’t finish it. Pity. It’s a fascinating, historically important series of everyday events that played out by way of naïveté, deception and ignorance that had devastating consequences for hundreds and set precedents which impact today’s workers.
A really eye-opening account of the effects of radioactive poisoning and how it was dismissed by so many simply because it occurred in women. Even though it killed Marie Curie too . . .
This book is the tragic story of the young women who went to work painting radium dials on clocks and watches during the early part of the twentieth century. They were told that the radium paint that was used was safe and were encouraged to place the paint brushes in their mouths in order to enhance accuracy. It is a story of corporate greed and callousnes in the face of devastating occupational illnesses suffered by the women. It is also the story of how they fought back.This book is well researched and written. It kept me reading latevinto the night because I wanted to findvout about the outcomes of the trials. It isnot for the faint of heart. The descriptions of the occupational illnesses are gruesome. The ending wasmind-blowing. It is a must read.
We’ll researched and well-written, this is a tribute to the women and a strong indictment of corporate greed. It’s especially relevant today as worker rights are eroded while CEO’s are given record-breaking salaries and benefits
Whether you are not familiar with this story (I was not) or you know the history, this book is fascinating. Very well researched, the writing style of this author allows the reader to actually get to know these women through the written word. It’s a sad and tragic story, but the Lord used these girls and women to change laws relating to occupational disease and injury. As I stated above, very inspirational.
Great book but be prepared to be grossed out. Radiation poisoning is not pretty
Radium Girls tells a true story about the young women who worked in a factory painting watch dials and guages that were installed in military craft using radium paint. This may seem like a dry subject but the author documents the effects of the use of the paint on the physical wellbeing of these women in vivid and heartbreking detail. Through the diaries and letters of the women and their medical records, the women come to life in endearing and tragic ways. The book also describes how a large corporation failed the women through their greed and lack of regulation or oversight. Their story and how they fought back was groundbreaking and changed the way employees are protected. I found this book very hard to put down and highly recommend it!
This carefully-researched work documents the lives of many of the girls who worked in two dial-painting factories in the early 1900s. Soon after the discovery of radium’s ability to help stop cancerous growth, it became a wonder element. Young girls were hired to work in factories to paint the luminous dial on watches and on some items used in the war. When the girls began developing severe health problems from their use of radium, neither their employers nor state laws helped or protected them. This is their tragic story.
Riveting!
Boring and repetitive writing style. Informative as to the radium issue and company coldness, and medical field ignorance and callousness.
I had a hard time making myself finish the book.