Uncover the Jet-Age Tale of the Women of Pan Am: A Journey Around the World

Linda C.: This book, based on many hundreds of hours of interviews and research, tells the story of the beginning of the feminist revolution, the war in Vietnam, the changing role of flight attendants, and the economic impact to businesses who expanded to meet the needs of the U.S. government only to be dumped when the need was no longer there.

The beginning of this book was a bit dry as it chronicled the path three women took to become stewardesses. But the beginning set up background for the rest of the book. By the end, I was crying with empathy and appreciation for the women who were highlighted.

United States on Sep 06, 2023

Suzann Stamps: As a young girl growing up in the 60’s and 70’s contemplating what were considered gender appropriate careers, jobs such as nursing, teaching, and secretarial work held no appeal for me. In my young mind, by far the most glamorous, exciting career choice was stewardess. Who wouldn’t want to be jetting off to exotic cities while wearing a snappy designer uniform? Come Fly The World certainly touches on the glamorous side of the job, the all night parties, the shopping, and the independence allowed these women in a paternalistic era. I picked up this book for the parties but found it to be much more than a frivolous read. Author, Julia Cooke, weaves together the stories of several Pan Am stewardesses of the era to tell a fascinating, well researched story . These women were not just pretty, trim, and pleasant. They were required to be bi-lingual and many held bachelor and advanced degrees. Shut out of other jobs due to the inequality of the times, they found kindred spirits in the other stewardesses of Pan Am looking for adventure and independence. The book parallels the role of stewardess with the plight of women in the 60’s and 70’s. The women of Pan Am founded trade...

United States on Jul 22, 2021

jacqueline abbott: Book in excellent condition, thank you.

United Kingdom on May 28, 2021

SaraB: I am all kinds of obsessed with this book! I haven’t swallowed a book whole like that in a long time. I cannot get enough of these fascinating stories of women in the 1960s flying around the world, going to places so far flung and out of the norm for women of that era. If you like your wanderlust with a sense of breaking tradition and not subscribing the the societal norms that America lays out for women, this is the book for you. It follows a multitude of stewardesses throughout their time working for Pan Am and is soaked through with the history of the jet-set era: Cold War, Vietnam, Civil Rights, plus it’s interlaced with wild stories of the adventures these women got to have in places like Hong Kong, Accra, Guam, India, -- basically the whole world. Cooke also showed how stewardesses were at the forefront of the feminist movement as they demanded things like not having to resign when they got married, being allowed to work past the age of 30, being able to enter managerial positions within the airline, and not being laid off for weight gain.

If you’re expecting a tight narrative focus on just a one or two women, it’s not really that because it jumps around a bit...

United States on May 01, 2021

UFGBOY: Very interesting

United Kingdom on Apr 24, 2021

euroboy: Great read for plane and crew buffs!

United Kingdom on Apr 22, 2021

Zelda the Cat: <i> Thank you to NetGalley and Julia Cooke for a free copy to provide an unbiased review</I>

I am pretty feminist. I am fairly opinionated. I am fairly lucky that I live in the time period in which I lived because if I worked in this industry I would be fired before I was even on board my first flight. This book was extremely eye opening in the treatment of early <i>stewardesses</i> and women in general.

I was originally drawn to this novel because of the cover and the retro feel. But it quickly turned into a narrative on the time period, the impact of air travel on modern culture, and the insane treatment of women and unrealistic expectations placed on them. As a history teacher there were a lot of nuggets that I did not know - PanAm's role in Vietnam for instance.

While I enjoyed and found this fascinating, I also found it a bit all over the place and tedious in some points. It was not a quick read (<i>not that I rated it based on that fact</I>) but chocked full of data and anecdotes that give you a true understanding of the industry.

United States on Mar 22, 2021