‘Oh No He Didn’t!: Brilliant Women and the Men Who Took Credit for Their Work’ by Wendy J. Murphy | LJ Review of the Day

This exceptional book’s stories of plagiarism showcase persistence and the insidious and enduring ways in which sexism informs and shapes the contemporary world. Murphy will motivate readers to challenge stereotypes.

Oh No He Didn’t!: Brilliant Women and the Men Who Took Credit for Their Work. Wendy J. Murphy. Cynren. Sept. 2024. 222p. ISBN 9781947976436. $29. SOC SCI

 Murphy (codirector, Women’s and Children’s Advocacy Project; And Justice for Some: An Exposé of the Lawyers and Judges Who Let Dangerous Criminals Go Free), an attorney specializing in women’s rights and violence against women and children, focuses her book on innovative and genius women throughout history and the men who took credit for their contributions to physics, astronomy, economics, the arts, and architecture. Utilizing archival material and other research, her book profiles many of these women. Her list includes Eunice Foote, who was the first to demonstrate the greenhouse effect; novelist/painter Zelda Fitzgerald, whose own husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald, put her words in his books; and so many others. Murphy draws from her own personal experiences too; a professor and then a student plagiarized her work. She writes with a jaded, edgy humor, with chapter titles like “A Woman Discovered Nuclear Fusion; a Man Got Her Prize” and “A Woman Invented Monopoly To Discourage Greed, Then a Greedy Man Stole It.” Her writing style is bold and relatable without sacrificing historical accuracy or seriousness. Each chapter ends with references to resources for further reading. VERDICT This exceptional book’s stories of plagiarism showcase persistence and the insidious and enduring ways in which sexism informs and shapes the contemporary world. Murphy will motivate readers to challenge stereotypes.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?