An entertaining almanac giving insight into the lives of all sorts of fascinating women. Warmly read by the author.

A fine collection of stories about women that have been overlooked and who rightly should be more well known. Toksvig is as always charming and engaging. A delightful and educational book wonderfully narrated. The only flaw is catching the names of some of the women mentioned. Not being sure how the names are spelt makes it more challenging to do further reading. Overall decent enough way to spend a few days.

What a fabulous book, so much information its hard to take it all in at the time. Based around famous and infamous women throughout time and many little known facts, although I did know about the Olney pancake race! Some fascinating myths and legends as well, very entertaining.
I listened to audio version and made a few notes along the way to go back to, but now can't find them, so will have to read again and place markers in the book. Each chapter is a month so the sort of book you can leave on a coffee table and come back to without losing your focus.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the copy.

If you are wanting to learn interesting and new facts or just sit back and enjoy a beautifully read book, this is the audio book for you. Sandi manages to mix historical detail and her own style of humour exceptionally well. I couldn’t help chuckling along to some of her one liners and she manages to mix in her own style of sarcasm that’s not too overbearing.

This book celebrates the stories of important women of history. Some known to most people but others obscure from the pages of history. It was fascinating hearing about the lives of these women and their impact on the world today. Mixed in are some delightful poems and fascinating folklore stories.

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip through history and sure hope this isn’t the last I hear from Sandi.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I was given a free copy of this audio book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

An almanac featuring significant dates from women throughout history. Some I had heard of but most I hadn’t. I’ll need honest, I didn’t know what an almanac was in the first place, so that was the first thing I learned. Toksvig writes of history being ‘the recollections of old men who weren’t there in the first place’ and I agree that that sums so much of what we know up. The lives and experiences of over half the population for thousands of years erased as the majority of ‘facts’ filtered through the male lens. The book contained funny and obscure festivals and important dates from around the world, as well as monthly poems. Lighthearted but definitely with heavier and sometimes shocking subject matter.

I loved it. I loved that the audio book was narrated by Sandi Toksvig herself as this made her dry wit shine throughout. I think it was really nice to dip in and out of - a 10 minute listen in the shower or whilst out walking the dogs. A brilliant listen but I think for me, this is a book that I would like a hard copy of. Because there are so many women mentioned, it’s hard to remember names or spelling for later research, because who doesn’t love to fall down a good Google rabbit hole? The author admits herself that she’s only scratching the surface and encourages the reader to delve deeper into the women who have been forgotten about through history.

What a lovely way to meander through the year. As a huge fan of anything Sandi Toksvig does, I was eager to read this and I'm happy to see that it would make a perfect companion throughout the year. It's even better to get an audiobook that's narrated by the author, giving the experience of each story told as intended.

This book is perfect for just about anyone with any interest in history. It covers such a wide range of women and accomplishments that everyone will find sections that intrigue them. I certainly found myself going down an internet rabbit hole about many people who piqued my interest. What's even better is that many of these women will be unfamiliar to you even though they shouldn't be. It's not filled with all the same people you've already read about in similar books, at least not ones that I've read.

While I really enjoyed listened to Toksvig's fantastic narration, I do think I'd recommend it as a physical copy, It's one that you're pretty likely to want to flick through and come back to. But if you prefer an audiobook, I wouldn't be turned off entirely. She does a great job with something that's fairly difficult to read out loud and it will still be a fascinating time.

This is a wonderful book, an absolute treasure trove of information for anyone interested in ... well, anything really.

Broken down into months, you are treated to a miscellany of information about the month itself before Toksvig delves into a brief biography of women throughout the world who were born or died in this month and the reason why they are noteworthy. Whilst many will be familiar with the likes of Ada Lovelace or Heddy Lamar, most of the names will be totally unfamiliar, which is the point. Rather than a full biography, this book acts as an amuse-bouche, tempting you off to do your own fuller research into the lives of so many remarkable women.

Now for the hard decision: book or audiobook? I listened to the audiobook version and it was a real joy. Although it is in many ways a difficult book to read aloud, Sandi Toksvig makes it seem a doddle and listening to it is genuinely enjoyable and extremely companiable, like spending time with an especially erudite friend. BUT, it’s easier to follow up on ‘leads’ and bookmark interesting finds if you have a hard copy. My solution: indulge in both, I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC which really was a hidden gem.

"Women have always done these things. And they will continue to do so."

This is one of those non-fictions that I don't think could or should have been written by anyone else. Toksvig is respectful, hilarious and unapologetically feminist. Her Almanac does it's best to balance between the absolute fact, and how we (as modern feminists) respond to those facts. Prime examples are for women Pre 400 BC who managed to make their way into history, but not without the classifications of 'courtesan, prostitute or harlot.' Or certain Asian scientists, who proved theories that other men won Nobel prizes for.

Toksvig gives just enough to whet our appetites, and I've now got a long list of people I'd very much like to research further.

As I said above, all of this is done with hilarity. Even in those moments where women have been erased from history, Toksvig wraps them in the blanket of her humour, protecting them whilst giving them the notoriety they duly deserve.

'Hang on to your womb, it's going to be a bumpy ride.' Sandi will take your from 1st January to 31st December introducing you to marvellous women from all through ages from across the globe. Did you know the most successful pirate that headed the red flag fleet was a woman? Want to know the real story of Pocahontas? Then get this book!

I listened to the audio version and was not sure how it work but Sandi's carried out of with her usual good humour. Fair warning, I love listening to her podcasts, so was pre-disposed to like this attempt to bring stories of side-lined and marginised woman to life. I can see myself buying the physical copy for friends.

I love Sandi Toksvig. My love for her knows no bounds and all I really want to do is tickle her brain. She just knows so many amazing things and her latest book Toksvig's Almanac is proof of that. It is a celebration of all the amazing - and times not so valued or remembered - fascinating things that women have done through the years. These women have been forgotten or hidden by history and it seems that Toksvig will not stand for it. I, for one, salute this.
I learned so much about so many women that I knew so little about when I read Toksvig's Almanac. So many things have been forgotten or shoved to one side or retold to suit a patriarchal society that I know that I need books like this to help me understand the basics of a broader picture.
Toksvig's Almanac really is the gift that keeps on giving. It is not a one time read. This could be read over and over again and it gives you a scope of things to research further. It is a book for all girls and one that should be gifted to everyone you know.
Toksvig's Almanac 2021 - An Eclectic Meander Through the Historical Year by Sandi Toksvig is available now.
For more information regarding Sandi Toksvig (@sanditoksvig) please visit www.sanditoksvig.com.
For more information regarding Trapeze (@TrapezeBooks) please visit www.instagram.com/trapeze_books/.

This was my first ever Almanac and I am glad it was Sandi who introduced me to it!

Her self narrated Audiobook is delivered with wit and makes is a very enjoyable listen.

First book I have ever read that has intrigued me so much I have further researched some of the fascinating figures.

Thank you very much for this ARC.

Toksvig’s Almanac 2021, narrated in Sandi’s inimitable style, is an absolute delight. It’s informed, intelligent, funny, entertaining and I’ve learned so many snippets about a diverse range of subjects. Who knew, for instance, that the world’s 3 day body painting championships are held annually in Klagenfurt, Austria? It may seem irrelevant, but the structure of the almanac is such that the stories of numerous individuals are interspersed with other quirky things.

I like Sandi Toksvig. She’s unique and her compilation is everything I might have expected and more. It’s a genuine taster; there are so many people I knew little about and i want to know more. The audio version is great to listen to but I think the paper version is one I’ll be buying as it’s easy then to dip in and out and notate any references that catch the ear or eye. There’s something in this for everyone and I’ll definitely be listening to it again.

My thanks to the publisher for an audio review copy via Netgalley.

This was a great and funny book, but it also had a serious point to make, particularly about how women have been treated historically. I learned a lot.

#Herstory is not reflected in history and Sandy, in her frank and amusing style makes it clear she's trying to find out who the key women in history were and rewrite history. If I was a teacher this would be an excellent way to help learners understand how the world has changed and that it is slow. but women are being included more and more in all walks of life across the globe.
Sandy's delightful, irreverent, and humorous style comes through in her writing and her delivery. I'm not sure anyone else would have been as good at narrating her novel as her writing reflects her familiar on-screen persona.
Although she says she's not going to be comprehensive 'it’s not possible' she does go back in time to the Greek and Roman myths. Then goes around the world telling us in a lovely story telling style about other key moments where the women got there first or supported the men who think they got there first.
Each chapter is short and good for a tea break and makes you feel she's there with you in her conversational style. I came away smiling from most chapters as she uses her witty tone to show that both men and women did nothing to help the female cause. That motherly tone of ‘you know you could do better’ that is used so often in QI.
It's a well-written and comprehensive novel and her style does not make you feel like you're read a textbook. It's a very easy to read and a well-paced audiobook as Sandy takes the reader through history.
There is some meandering in places, where you wonder the relevance of some of her content, but she does make it all clear in her meandering way. It feels very much you are having several conversations with a friend over time, the style changes with the subject, content and time of day.
A thoroughly enjoyable listen for all ages.
I was given a free copy by netgalley.com for my fair and honest review.

Sandi Toksvig is an incredible mind. She is also greatly underappreciated (at least in my circle of peers). This book is very necessary as we need more histories of women. The lives of women are still underrepresented in history and considering we make up 51% of the world's population, I find this staggering. I hope this book is found, read and enjoyed across the planet.

Oh my word. Why has this book not been shouted about from the rooftops?!! It is a feminist manifesto as strong as any I’ve read. This made me think so deeply about women in history. Why this book hasn’t been promoted like Mary Beard’s Women and Power or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All be Feminists just boggles my mind. A phenomenal piece of work which really was lifted by Toksvig’s hilarious narration of the book. I loved her before but now my adoration knows no bounds. She lifted women up so beautifully, mixing wit and wisdom. Funny anecdotes sit among heartbreaking injustices. And then at the end, the most rousing call to arms. Phenomenal.

Sandi Toksvig's passion for history is inspring. I'm not a history buff but the history of women, and women's rights, is important to me. And this Almanac was an insightful look into women who have been sadly forgotten but who achieved incredible things. Toksvig as a narrator is outstanding, she intersperses humour with facts, so the audiobook was an absolute joy to listen to. I particularly enjoyed the poem of the month and highlighting why these incredible women were erased from history and how we can learn from that.

Toksvig’s Almanac is a hugely entertaining journey through the year linking each date with women who should be familiar names but, in most cases, aren’t. As the author herself says, this book was always going to be incomplete as there are so many women whose stories remain untold. History generally remembers those who write it and that is usually men. Nevertheless, the book is bursting with fascinating stories of women from all over the world, from all walks of life and from many different periods of history.

As well as being very interesting and informative, the book is also, as you might expect given the author, very funny. Sandi Toksvig tells her stories with passion and wit and encourages the reader (or in my case the listener) to look further into each women’s story as she can only touch upon their lives in this book.

I listened to the audiobook version of this and as you can imagine, it was a joy to listen to. Sandi Toksvig is very easy to listen to and brought the stories of the women to life with her charming way of relating each tale. I also enjoyed finding out about folklore from around the world associated with each month and listening out for the ‘tinkle’ that signified the poem of the month. Listening to the book at the start of the year, I was concerned to learn that January is the month I’d be most likely to be eaten by a wolf! Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be many around my area this year…

As a physical book, this would be great to dip in and out of. As an audiobook, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to a few days worth of stories at a time when I was out for a walk or in the car. Toksvig’s Almanac is a warm tribute to forgotten women, well written, clever and very amusing.

This is absolutely brilliant. Toksvig is as joyous and witty as I hoped. After listening to January I decided I needed a paper copy to fully appreciate it.

This is everything I thought it would be and more! I listened to the audiobook as I was lucky enough to receive a free copy through NetGalley. It has kept me company on car journeys and as I've pottered around the house.
I wasn't sure how what is essentially a book of facts would translate to audio format, but as it was read by Sandi herself in her usual relaxed way, it all came across as really interesting and not boring at all.
It is chock a block with facts and information, and I kept pausing to research the amazing women she speaks of. I will be buying the paperback version to reference back to, it's such a joy to have all of these amazing stories told so well yet so succinctly!

My only criticism would be that it's been given a year in the title. I hope it doesn't put anyone off it in future years, as whether it's 2021 or not, this book is funny, entertaining and informative.